PWP Offers to Pay Most of the Tab for Native Plant Kits That Replace Thirsty Lawns

[Updated]  For $75 and a few hours of digging, a Pasadena homeowner can tear out a patch of lawn and put down roots that belong here.

Pasadena Water and Power has partnered with TreePeople, the Los Angeles-based environmental nonprofit, to offer its residential customers a $75 rebate on native plant garden kits — covering more than 60 percent of the standard $150 price.

The program, branded “Pasadena Plants Native,” is now in its third year with a higher rebate than the $60 offered in 2025 and is limited to first-time participants while supplies last, according to a Pasadena Water and Power social media announcement.

Each kit includes 10 one-gallon California native plants pre-selected for a 100-square-foot garden space, along with a native-plant installation guide, a “plant-by-number” site map, and educational materials, according to the TreePeople website. Customers choose from themed palettes — among them Sunshine Superbloom, Splendid Silhouettes, and Pollinator’s Paradise — that group species by sunlight needs and garden goals. The plants, grown by local nurseries including Growing Works and TreePeople’s own facility, are designated by TreePeople for fall planting, according to the organization’s website.

PWP customers can purchase one discounted kit at the rebated price. In the 2025 program cycle, additional kits could be purchased at the full $120 retail price; it was not clear from the 2026 announcement whether the same option applies. To participate, customers visit TreePeople.org/Native-Garden-Kit and complete a brief survey that verifies their address and utility eligibility. Within two business days, they receive an email with a rebate code and ordering instructions, the announcement stated.

The rebate program fits within PWP’s broader push to reduce residential water consumption through landscaping changes. The utility, a community-owned, not-for-profit department of the City of Pasadena serving more than 65,000 electric customers and nearly 38,000 water customers, also offers a $2-per-square-foot turf replacement rebate through its partnership with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California for residents who swap grass for drought-tolerant plantings, according to the utility’s website. Outdoor landscaping accounts for a significant share of residential water use in the city.

Native plants require less irrigation once established because they evolved in Southern California’s Mediterranean climate of dry summers and mild, wet winters. The kits are designed to make the transition from turf to native landscaping straightforward for homeowners who may not know where to start, according to TreePeople’s program description.

TreePeople, founded in 1973 by Andy Lipkis when he was 18 years old, has planted more than two million trees across the Los Angeles area and operates educational and conservation programs throughout Southern California. Casandra “Cassie” Rauser, who holds a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from UC Irvine, was appointed chief executive officer in October 2025 following a nationwide search. The nonprofit is headquartered at Coldwater Canyon Park.

David M. Reyes, who was appointed General Manager of Pasadena Water and Power effective May 5, 2025, oversees a department with an annual operating and capital budget of approximately $450 million, according to a City of Pasadena announcement. Under his leadership, PWP has expanded rebate offerings including a solar and battery storage pilot launched in April 2026.

The native garden kit program is available only through partner water agencies, according to the TreePeople website. Other Southern California utilities, including Burbank Water and Power, have offered their own rebates through the same TreePeople program in prior seasons, though the rebate amount varies by agency.

Kits are available for pickup only — not shipped — and quantities are limited. The program runs while supplies last.

For more information: TreePeople.org/Native-Garden-Kit or PWP Customer Service at 626-744-4005.