Brownsville, TX Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

UDC section 4.6.3.A lists promoting native and adaptable, drought-tolerant species among the purposes of the landscaping standards. The Approved Plant Materials tables that follow carry Sabal palm, Texas ebony, anacua, cedar elm, honey mesquite, live oak, Texas mountain laurel, Texas lantana, and desert yaupon, alongside adapted ornamentals. Any required planting must draw from those tables, though a registered landscape architect may submit alternative species with water-demand performance measures to the City Forester for case-by-case approval. Where more than five trees are required, at least two species must be used. Under the high-quality design scoring system, certifying half a site as a Texas Wildscape or Monarch Waystation earns ten points toward Level 1 or Level 2 design.