Native Landscaping in San Jose, CA
San Jose residents can access Santa Clara Valley Water's Landscape Conversion Rebate — $2/sq ft (up to $3,000) for replacing high-water lawns with low-water native landscaping. The Bay Area's mild climate supports a wide range of California-native plants.
Up to $3,000 ($2/sq ft) through Valley Water
Available Rebate Programs
Landscape Conversion Rebate
Up to $3,000 ($2/sq ft)Santa Clara Valley Water
Rebate of $2 per square foot for converting approved high-water lawns and pools to low-water landscapes. Funding available through June 30, 2026 or until depleted. Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.
- Must be a Santa Clara Valley Water customer
- Applications accepted in order received
- Must replace with low-water or native landscaping
- Artificial 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 San Jose
These native plants are well-adapted to the San Francisco Bay Area ecoregion and have growth habits that work well in HOA-conscious front yard designs.
Coffeeberry
Frangula californica
Versatile evergreen shrub with glossy leaves. Adaptable to sun or shade, neat form.
Hummingbird Sage
Salvia spathacea
Fragrant magenta flowers in shaded areas. Excellent ground cover under trees.
Coast Live Oak
Quercus agrifolia
Iconic Bay Area evergreen tree. Provides year-round canopy and wildlife habitat.
California Fescue
Festuca californica
Elegant native bunchgrass for shaded areas. Fine texture and blue-green color.
Sticky Monkey Flower
Diplacus aurantiacus
Compact shrub with orange or yellow flowers spring through fall. Very drought-tolerant.
Ceanothus
Ceanothus spp.
California lilac — stunning blue flowers in spring. Many cultivars from ground covers to large shrubs.
Explore the full native plant library in the Pollinator Patch app, filtered by your specific ecoregion.
HOA Landscaping in San Jose
San Jose and Silicon Valley have many planned communities, especially in South San Jose, Evergreen, and Almaden areas. California's AB 1164 protects drought-tolerant landscaping from HOA restrictions. Valley Water's rebate documentation 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 San Jose
- Valley Water's rebate funding runs through June 30, 2026 — apply while funds remain available.
- Apply online at valleywater.dropletportal.com and track your project status digitally.
- Bay Area natives differ from Southern California natives — choose species adapted to the cooler, fog-influenced climate.
- The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum and Hidden Villa in Los Altos Hills are great places to see native California plants.
Plan Your San Jose Native Yard
Pollinator Patch helps you pick the right native plants for San Jose's San Francisco Bay Area ecoregion, design an HOA-conscious layout, and generate documentation for rebate applications.