Leander, TX Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

Native and adapted plants are not just allowed in Leander, they are encouraged and in many cases required. The city's landscape standards state that "All plantings must be drought-tolerant and native to Texas," and the city recommends the regional Grow Green Native and Adapted Landscape Plant Guide as a resource. Article VI (Site Standards) directs landscapes toward "low water demanding" designs using preferred plant lists, consistent with Leander's overall water-conservation strategy. For residents in HOA neighborhoods, Texas Property Code Section 202.007 reinforces this by prohibiting an HOA from enforcing covenants that restrict "drought-resistant landscaping or water-conserving natural turf," while allowing the HOA to require a plan for review to maintain reasonable aesthetic compatibility; an HOA may not unreasonably deny such a plan or call it aesthetically incompatible. Leander's water-efficiency rebates further support native landscaping by paying "$.50 per square foot, up to $2,000" for converting healthy turf grass to native plantings (minimum 200 square feet), through the LCRA WaterSmart program. Note that the city's site standards prohibit synthetic or artificial lawns or plants in lieu of required plantings, so native and adapted live plants are the preferred path to meeting landscape requirements.