Xeriscaping in Austin means a Hill Country native landscape. It has to handle Zone 9a heat, about 36 inches of rain that tends to arrive in floods, and thin soil over limestone. As of September 2026, Austin Water's WaterWise Landscape rebate pays up to $3,000 to convert healthy lawn to native and adapted plants (Austin Water). Austin has been under Conservation Stage watering restrictions since September 2025, so a drip-watered bed of cenizo, salvia and muhly is less work than a St. Augustine lawn on a one-day-a-week schedule.
Austin growing conditions
| Factor | Austin | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) | 9a across the metro (78701, 78745, Lakeway 78734, Pflugerville 78660) | USDA |
| Annual precipitation | 36.25 inches (Camp Mabry) | NOAA 1991–2020 normals |
| Median last spring frost | February 20 | NOAA |
| Median first fall frost | December 3 | NOAA |
| Soils | Thin, rocky soil over limestone west of I-35; heavy blackland clay to the east | Local observation |
Thirty-six inches sounds generous, but it comes unevenly. Long summer droughts over 100°F alternate with sudden heavy storms. A good Austin xeriscape has to survive both, so drainage and deep roots matter as much as drought tolerance.
- West side (Hill Country): shallow caliche and limestone. Plant in pockets, build berms, and choose plants native to rocky slopes.
- East side (Blackland Prairie): heavy clay that swells and cracks. Add expanded shale or compost to beds, and avoid low spots for anything that hates wet feet.
- Freezes are occasional but can be severe. Pick plants rated to zone 8 for exposed sites, even though Austin is 9a.
Look up your address with our Austin zone lookup.
Austin rebates (as of September 2026)
| Program | Amount | Cap | Key requirement | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WaterWise Landscape Rebate | Per-sq-ft rate not published | Up to $3,000 | Approval before work; 75% healthy turf; over 50% plant cover; spray capped | Austin Water FAQs |
| WaterWise Rainscape Rebate | $0.50/sq ft converted (100 sq ft min) | $1,500 | Features that capture and hold rainwater | Austin Water |
| Landscape Survival Tools | Mulch, compost and core aeration | Up to $120 | Austin Water customer | Austin Water |
| Rainwater Harvesting | Based on storage capacity | Up to $5,000 | Rain barrel or cistern | Austin Water |
| Irrigation Upgrade | Equipment upgrades | Up to $1,000 | Existing irrigation system | Austin Water |
Key WaterWise Landscape rules from Austin Water:
- Get approval before you start. Work done before approval doesn't qualify, and a site visit may be required.
- At least 75% of the area must be healthy turf. Dead lawns don't qualify.
- Native and adapted plants covering more than 50% of the area at maturity, planted in the spring or fall installation windows. Rebates for fall installations aren't issued before October 1.
- Cap or convert spray heads in the converted area to drip.
- Limited hardscape: a residential gravel path up to 3 feet wide and a gravel or stone patio up to 200 sq ft. Artificial turf and permeable concrete don't qualify.
Austin Water estimates that converting a 500 sq ft turf area could save up to 930 gallons a month (FAQs). Austin publishes the $3,000 cap but not the per-square-foot rate on its live pages, so confirm your amount in the Conservation Hub application.
Watering rules: Conservation Stage
"As of Sept. 2, 2025, Austin is under Conservation Stage Water Use Restrictions" (Austin Water). For homes:
| Method | Days | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic or manual irrigation systems | 1 day/week (even addresses Thursday, odd Wednesday) | Midnight–10 a.m. or 7 p.m.–midnight |
| Hose-end sprinklers and drip | 2 days/week (even Thursday and Sunday, odd Wednesday and Saturday) | Midnight–10 a.m. or 7 p.m.–midnight |
A lawn on one watering day a week in August struggles. Established native beds on drip do fine with two.
HOA rules: Texas protects drought-resistant landscaping
Texas Property Code §202.007 says an HOA may not include or enforce a provision that "prohibits or restricts a property owner from… using drought-resistant landscaping or water-conserving natural turf." It also protects drip irrigation, rain barrels and composting. HOAs can still regulate "the installation or use of gravel, rocks, or cacti," set visibility limits on irrigation equipment, and require water-conserving turf when a new lawn is planted (Tex. Prop. Code §202.007). Submit your plan for review, and design it so it doesn't depend entirely on gravel and cactus.
The Hill Country plant palette
Shrubs: cenizo (Texas sage), agarita, flame acanthus, dwarf yaupon holly and evergreen sumac.
Perennials: autumn sage (Salvia greggii), blackfoot daisy, damianita, mealy blue sage, rock penstemon, zexmenia and four-nerve daisy. All keep blooming through heat. Blanket flower, gaura and coneflower also do well.
Grasses: Gulf muhly (pink clouds in fall), Lindheimer's muhly, sideoats grama (the state grass) and little bluestem. More in our ornamental grasses guide.
Accents: red yucca, twistleaf yucca, spineless prickly pear and century plant.
Trees: live oak, Texas redbud, desert willow and Mexican plum. For shade on the east side, bur oak handles clay.
Texas A&M AgriLife's Earth-Kind landscaping program has research-based plant picks for Central Texas.
Design notes: built for drought and flood
- Plant in berms and pockets. On limestone, build soil up rather than digging down.
- Slow the water down. Rain gardens, swales and a dry creek bed turn storm runoff into deep watering, and they can qualify for the Rainscape rebate.
- Shade first. A live oak or redbud on the west side does more for summer comfort than any other plant.
- Keep it looking cared for. Clean edges and a limestone border keep a native garden from looking neglected.
From our installs: In hot climates, plants set out in fall almost always do better than spring-planted ones. Austin's median first frost isn't until early December, which gives October plantings two months of root growth before winter and a full spring before the heat.
Getting started this fall
- Apply through Austin Water's Conservation Hub before touching the lawn, and schedule a site visit if one is required.
- Measure and photograph the healthy turf. At least 75% of the area has to qualify.
- Kill the grass by solarizing or sheet mulching (methods compared), and cap the spray heads in the new beds.
- Plant in the fall window with more than 50% mature cover in mind, then add 3 inches of mulch.
- Add a rain garden where runoff collects, and ask Austin Water whether it can also qualify for the Rainscape rebate.
Hire it out
For turf removal, drip conversion and rebate paperwork, browse the landscape pros listed for Austin. Ask whether they've completed WaterWise Landscape projects, and compare bids against our cost guide.
More Texas guides: San Antonio, Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston. Other states' programs are in the national rebate directory.
Frequently asked questions
Does Austin pay you to remove your lawn?
Yes. As of September 2026, Austin Water's WaterWise Landscape rebate pays up to $3,000 for converting healthy turf to native and adapted plants. You need approval before starting, and at least 75% of the area must be healthy grass.
What are Austin's watering days right now?
Austin has been under Conservation Stage since September 2, 2025. Automatic sprinkler systems run one day a week (even addresses Thursday, odd Wednesday), and hose-end sprinklers and drip run two days a week. All watering must happen between midnight and 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. and midnight.
What zone is Austin, Texas?
Austin is Zone 9a on the 2023 USDA map. Hard freezes are uncommon but can be severe, so choose plants hardy to zone 8 for exposed spots.
Can my HOA stop me from xeriscaping in Texas?
No. Texas Property Code §202.007 prohibits HOAs from banning drought-resistant landscaping or water-conserving turf. HOAs can still regulate gravel, rock and cactus and review your plan.
When should I plant in Austin?
October and November are best, since roots establish before winter and spring. Late February to April, after the median last frost around February 20, is second best.
