Native Landscaping in Irvine, CA
Irvine residents can earn $3/sq ft through the IRWD Turf Replacement Program, plus an extra $100/tree (up to 5 trees). Free landscape design assistance is available. As a master-planned city, Irvine has extensive HOA presence — but California law protects drought-tolerant landscaping.
$3/sq ft turf replacement + $100/tree bonus
Available Rebate Programs
Turf Replacement Program
$3/sq ft (max 5,000 sq ft)IRWD + MWDOC + Metropolitan Water District
Rebate of $3 per square foot for turf removal, with a 250 sq ft minimum and 5,000 sq ft maximum. Additional $100/tree rebate (up to 5 trees). Free landscape design assistance available for participants.
- Must be an IRWD water customer
- Pre-approval required — do not remove grass until "Letter to Proceed" received
- Must replace with water-efficient, climate-appropriate landscaping
- Artificial turf not eligible
SoCal Water$mart Turf Replacement
$2/sq ft base (stacks with local)Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Base rebate of $2/sq ft for residential projects up to 5,000 sq ft, plus $100/tree (max 5 trees). Stacks with local water agency rebates. Apply through the SoCal Water$mart portal.
- Must be a customer of a participating MWD member agency
- Pre-approval required
- Projects must include California Friendly or native plants
- Synthetic turf not eligible
Rebate programs change regularly. Always confirm details directly with the program provider before applying. View all California programs.
Recommended Native Plants for Irvine
These native plants are well-adapted to the Southern California Coast and Southern California Chaparral ecoregions and have growth habits that work well in HOA-conscious front yard designs.
California Sagebrush
Artemisia californica
Soft silver-gray mounding shrub. Clean form works well in Irvine's HOA-conscious designs.
Coast Rosemary
Westringia fruticosa
Though not CA-native, this drought-tolerant shrub mimics rosemary and is widely accepted in SoCal HOAs.
Matilija Poppy
Romneya coulteri
Showy white flowers with golden centers — "fried egg flower." A dramatic California native.
Bladderpod
Peritoma arborea
Fast-growing coastal native with yellow flowers. Excellent for quick landscape establishment.
Catalina Ironwood
Lyonothamnus floribundus
Unique evergreen tree with shaggy red bark and fernlike leaves. Striking specimen tree.
Blue-eyed Grass
Sisyrinchium bellum
Delicate purple-blue flowers. Low-growing perennial perfect for borders and edging.
Explore the full native plant library in the Pollinator Patch app, filtered by your specific ecoregion.
HOA Landscaping in Irvine
Irvine is one of the most HOA-governed cities in California — nearly every residential neighborhood falls under an HOA. California's drought-tolerant landscaping protections (AB 1164) are especially relevant here. The IRWD program's free design assistance creates documentation that can support HOA proposals.
HOA-Conscious Design Tips
- Start with clean edges and defined bed shapes — structure signals care more than plant choice.
- Place shorter plants near the street and taller ones near the house for a tidy layered look.
- Use mulch between plants to signal intentional planting and reduce bare-soil concerns.
- Repeat 2–3 plant species for a cohesive, planned appearance rather than a random mix.
Local Tips for Irvine
- Do not remove turf until you receive a "Letter to Proceed" from IRWD/MWDOC.
- Take advantage of the free landscape design assistance offered to program participants.
- Orange County has alkaline soils in many areas — choose plants that tolerate higher pH.
- Roger's Gardens in Corona del Mar and Tree of Life Nursery in San Juan Capistrano specialize in California natives.
Plan Your Irvine Native Yard
Pollinator Patch helps you pick the right native plants for Irvine's Southern California Coast and Southern California Chaparral ecoregions, design an HOA-conscious layout, and generate documentation for rebate applications.