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The city's Beautification Commission is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Beautification Awards, and this year's program comes with a patriotic twist: a new category created to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence.
The America250 Patriotic Native Plantings Award will recognize the best red, white and blue native plantings at residential, business and community properties. The commission is encouraging residents to replace a small patch of grass with native plants in the three colors, and asking businesses to display native plant containers in patriotic colors at their entrances. Preference will be given to long-term native installations over temporary seasonal displays.
The idea harkens back to 1976, when "patriotic gardens" were planted across Alexandria to mark the nation's bicentennial. For the 250th anniversary, the commission and the city have set a challenge of getting at least 250 Alexandria property owners to plant patriotic natives this spring.
Suggested plants include white wood aster, Virginia sweetspire, white coneflower and white yarrow for white; wild red columbine, cardinal flower, red trillium, scarlet beebalm and Indian pink for red; and blue false indigo, Virginia bluebells, wild blue phlox, great blue lobelia and blue-eyed grass, among others, for blue.
Native plants offer benefits beyond aesthetics, the commission notes. They are typically lower maintenance and less expensive to sustain once established, drought-resistant, supportive of pollinators and beneficial insects, and effective at stabilizing soil, filtering stormwater and reducing the urban heat island effect.
Beyond the new category, the 2026 awards will again recognize standouts in public art, such as murals, statues and sculptures; architecture; residential and residential street beautification; and community and commercial properties. The residential street category honors groupings of at least three properties on one street — roughly one to two city blocks — that collectively enhance the streetscape through cohesive design and sustainable landscaping.
Judging across all categories is limited to features visible from the public right-of-way; backyards are not eligible. Properties listed for sale are also ineligible, as are properties that have won an award within the last seven years, though individuals and organizations may win multiple times in that period for different properties.
Recipients are selected based on criteria that include the use of sustainable practices and materials; incorporation of native, non-invasive plants; water conservation features such as rain barrels and rain gardens; permeable walkways and driveways; no-mow lawns and reduced turf grass; elimination of pesticides; contributions to the tree canopy; and creative architectural or artistic design.
The commission will canvass half of the city for awards this year, with the remaining half reviewed in 2027.
Self-nominations are welcome. The online nomination form asks for the nominator's contact information, the award category, the nominee's address, and a description of the property's sustainable practices and other qualifying features. Nominators can also flag notable attributes such as solar panels, rain barrels, permeable walkways, native plants, city stormwater credits or flood mitigation grants, and wildlife certifications from programs such as Homegrown National Park, Monarch Waystation, the National Wildlife Federation's Backyard Habitat or the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance's Wildlife Sanctuary.
Nominators are also asked to email a photo of the property to alxbeautification@gmail.com, with the property's address in the subject line.
Nominations are open until midnight on Wednesday, July 15. The full award criteria, the nomination form, and a list of suggested native species are available at alexandriava.gov/beautification.
