Native Landscaping in Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville falls within the St. Johns River Water Management District, giving homeowners access to conservation cost-share rebates of up to $10,000. North Florida's climate bridges the subtropical and temperate zones, supporting a unique mix of native plants not found in South Florida.
Up to $10,000 through SJRWMD cost-share
Available Rebate Programs
Water Conservation Rebate Program
Up to $10,000 (50% cost-share)St. Johns River Water Management District
Up to 50% cost-share reimbursement with a $10,000 annual cap per applicant. Eligible projects include smart irrigation controllers, irrigation conversions, landscape soil amendments, and irrigation evaluations.
- Must be within the St. Johns River Water Management District
- Submit application before starting work
- Provides 50% cost-share reimbursement
- Fiscal year runs through September 30
Rebate programs change regularly. Always confirm details directly with the program provider before applying. View all Florida programs.
Recommended Native Plants for Jacksonville
These native plants are well-adapted to the North Florida ecoregion and have growth habits that work well in HOA-conscious front yard designs.
Eastern Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana
Evergreen conifer native to North Florida. Dense, columnar form provides year-round structure and privacy screening.
Swamp Sunflower
Helianthus angustifolius
Tall native perennial with masses of golden blooms in fall. Handles Jacksonville's occasional wet soils.
Walter's Viburnum
Viburnum obovatum
Versatile evergreen native — use as a hedge, specimen, or small tree. White spring flowers attract pollinators.
Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Vivid purple berries in fall provide wildlife value and visual interest. Does well in North Florida's partial shade.
Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Cotton-candy pink plumes in October create dramatic curb appeal with minimal maintenance.
Coral Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
Semi-evergreen vine with scarlet flowers spring through fall. Native alternative to invasive Japanese honeysuckle.
Stokes' Aster
Stokesia laevis
North Florida native with lavender-blue flowers. Low-growing perennial ideal for front-yard borders.
Explore the full native plant library in the Pollinator Patch app, filtered by your specific ecoregion.
HOA Landscaping in Jacksonville
Jacksonville has large HOA-governed communities including Nocatee, World Golf Village, Durbin Crossing, and the Beaches communities. As the largest city by area in the continental U.S., landscaping standards vary widely across neighborhoods. The SJRWMD cost-share program provides official documentation that supports water-conservation landscape proposals to HOA boards.
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 Jacksonville
- SJRWMD requires pre-approval before starting work — submit your application at sjrwmd.com before purchasing plants.
- The Duval County Extension Office runs a Master Gardener program with free plant clinics every week at local farmer's markets.
- North Florida's occasional freezes (USDA Zone 9a) mean you can grow temperate natives like Eastern Red Cedar that won't survive in South Florida.
- Native Plant Consulting in St. Augustine and Sundance Native Nursery offer plants suited to Northeast Florida's sandy coastal plain soils.
Plan Your Jacksonville Native Yard
Pollinator Patch helps you pick the right native plants for Jacksonville's North Florida ecoregion, design an HOA-conscious layout, and generate documentation for rebate applications.