Native Plants

Native Plant List for North Florida and South Florida

Last updated: November 10, 2026

This is a "starter" list of native plants for Florida. It is intended for residential or commercial landscapers who want to create attractive and varied native landscapes. Florida is long enough to hold two very different gardens. North Florida — the panhandle and the upper peninsula, roughly USDA zones 8a–9a — gets real winter freezes, grows deciduous hardwoods and azaleas, and loses its tender plants in a hard year. South Florida, below Lake Okeechobee in zones 10–11, is frost-free in most years and grows tropical hammock trees such as gumbo limbo and mahogany that would not survive a Tallahassee January. Soils run from deep acid sand in the central ridge and flatwoods to limestone rock in the Keys and marl and muck around the Everglades, so match the plant to your site as well as to your zone.

How to Read This List

The Region column shows where each plant is native in Florida, based on county records in the Atlas of Florida Plants: N = North and Central Florida (the panhandle and the peninsula above Lake Okeechobee), S = South Florida (the southern peninsula and the Keys), N+S = native in both. Sun, soil moisture and height codes are explained in the Legend table at the bottom of the page. Every plant here is native to Florida, not merely naturalized.

North and South Florida Trees

Common Name	Scientific Name	Sun	Moisture	Height	Region	Comments
Red Maple	Acer rubrum	F-P	W-A	40-60 ft	N+S	Red flowers and samaras in late winter
Florida Maple	Acer saccharum subsp. floridanum	P-F	A	25-40 ft	N	Southern sugar maple; good fall color
Pond Apple	Annona glabra	F-P	W	25-40 ft	N+S	Swamp tree with apple-sized fruit
River Birch	Betula nigra	F-P	W-A	40-60 ft	N	Peeling cinnamon bark; for wet ground
Gumbo Limbo	Bursera simaruba	F	A-D	30-50 ft	N+S	Peeling red bark; fast, wind-firm shade
Eastern Redbud	Cercis canadensis	F-P	A-D	15-25 ft	N	Rosy pink flowers before the leaves
Fringe Tree	Chionanthus virginicus	P-F	A	12-20 ft	N	Fragrant white spring fringe; slow grower
Satinleaf	Chrysophyllum oliviforme	F-P	A-D	25-30 ft	N+S	Coppery leaf undersides flash in the wind
Pigeon Plum	Coccoloba diversifolia	F-P	A-D	25-40 ft	N+S	Hammock tree; smooth mottled bark
Seagrape	Coccoloba uvifera	F	A-D	15-30 ft	N+S	Round leathery leaves; top salt tolerance
Green Buttonwood	Conocarpus erectus	F	W-D	20-40 ft	N+S	Coastal workhorse; shears into a hedge
Flowering Dogwood	Cornus florida	P	A	15-25 ft	N	Spring bloom; needs some shade in Florida
Loblolly Bay	Gordonia lasianthus	F-P	W-A	30-50 ft	N+S	White camellia-like flowers in summer
Dahoon Holly	Ilex cassine	F-P	W-A	20-30 ft	N+S	Red berries on female trees; takes wet soil
American Holly	Ilex opaca	P-F	A	25-40 ft	N+S	Evergreen; needs a male plant for berries
Southern Red Cedar	Juniperus virginiana	F	A-D	25-40 ft	N+S	Salt tolerant evergreen; good screen
Sweetgum	Liquidambar styraciflua	F	W-A	50-70 ft	N+S	Star leaves and fall color; spiny seed balls
Tulip Poplar	Liriodendron tulipifera	F-P	A	60-90 ft	N	Fast and tall; orange-green tulip flowers
Southern Magnolia	Magnolia grandiflora	F-P	A	50-70 ft	N+S	Evergreen; large fragrant summer flowers
Sweetbay Magnolia	Magnolia virginiana	F-P	W-A	30-50 ft	N+S	Silver-backed leaves; lemon-scented flowers
Red Mulberry	Morus rubra	F-P	A	30-50 ft	N+S	Summer fruit for birds; keep it off paving
Red Bay	Persea borbonia	F-P	A	25-40 ft	N+S	Host for palamedes swallowtail; laurel wilt risk
Slash Pine	Pinus elliottii	F	W-A	60-80 ft	N+S	Common pine of flatwoods and yards
Longleaf Pine	Pinus palustris	F	A-D	60-80 ft	N+S	Fire-adapted; grass stage before it shoots up
Chickasaw Plum	Prunus angustifolia	F	A-D	10-20 ft	N	Thicket-forming; early white bloom, edible fruit
Black Cherry	Prunus serotina	F-P	A-D	30-60 ft	N	Heavy fruit crop for birds; brittle wood
Sand Live Oak	Quercus geminata	F	D	20-40 ft	N+S	Evergreen scrub oak for deep, dry sand
Laurel Oak	Quercus laurifolia	F-P	W-A	40-60 ft	N+S	Fast shade; shorter lived than live oak
Myrtle Oak	Quercus myrtifolia	F	D	10-25 ft	N+S	Small scrub oak of sandhills and coastal scrub
Live Oak	Quercus virginiana	F	A-D	40-80 ft	N+S	Broad evergreen shade tree; very wind and salt tolerant
Red Mangrove	Rhizophora mangle	F	W	20-30 ft	N+S	Prop-rooted shoreline tree; trimming is regulated
Florida Royal Palm	Roystonea regia	F	W-A	50-80 ft	N+S	Massive gray trunk; needs room and warmth
Cabbage Palm	Sabal palmetto	F-P	W-D	30-50 ft	N+S	State tree; hurricane and salt tough
Paradise Tree	Simarouba glauca	F-P	A-D	30-50 ft	N+S	Glossy hammock tree; fast and wind-firm
West Indian Mahogany	Swietenia mahagoni	F	A-D	35-50 ft	N+S	Fine-textured shade tree for South Florida
Pond Cypress	Taxodium ascendens	F	W-A	40-60 ft	N+S	Finer texture than bald cypress; cypress domes
Bald Cypress	Taxodium distichum	F-P	W-A	50-70 ft	N+S	Deciduous conifer; knees in wet ground
Winged Elm	Ulmus alata	F-P	A-D	30-50 ft	N	Corky winged twigs; tough small shade tree

North and South Florida Shrubs

Common Name	Scientific Name	Sun	Moisture	Height	Region	Comments
Marlberry	Ardisia escallonioides	P-S	A-D	8-15 ft	N+S	Fragrant white sprays; native, unlike coral ardisia
Tarflower	Bejaria racemosa	F-P	A-D	4-8 ft	N+S	Sticky fragrant white-pink flowers; scrub plant
Sea Oxeye Daisy	Borrichia frutescens	F	W-D	2-4 ft	N+S	Yellow daisies; thrives in salt spray
American Beautyberry	Callicarpa americana	P-F	A-D	4-8 ft	N+S	Magenta berry clusters in fall
Buttonbush	Cephalanthus occidentalis	F-P	W	6-12 ft	N+S	Pincushion flowers; pond edges and rain gardens
Cocoplum	Chrysobalanus icaco	F-P	W-A	6-15 ft	N+S	Dense hedge; edible plum-like fruit
Sweet Pepperbush	Clethra alnifolia	P-F	W-A	4-8 ft	N	Fragrant white summer spikes for wet shade
Varnishleaf	Dodonaea viscosa	F	A-D	8-15 ft	N+S	Glossy leaves, papery capsules; salt tough
Coral Bean	Erythrina herbacea	F-P	A-D	4-8 ft	N+S	Scarlet spikes for hummingbirds; dies back
Spanish Stopper	Eugenia foetida	F-P	A-D	10-15 ft	N+S	Tight columnar hedge; black fruit for birds
Florida Privet	Forestiera segregata	F-P	A-D	8-15 ft	N+S	Fine-textured native hedge; bird fruit
Firebush	Hamelia patens	F-P	A-D	6-12 ft	N+S	Orange-red tubes all summer for hummingbirds
Oakleaf Hydrangea	Hydrangea quercifolia	P-S	A	6-8 ft	N	Big white panicles; ravine slopes in the panhandle
Gallberry	Ilex glabra	F-P	W-A	4-8 ft	N+S	Evergreen; key nectar source for bees
Yaupon Holly	Ilex vomitoria	F-P	A-D	12-20 ft	N	Red berries; takes hard shearing
Fetterbush	Lyonia lucida	P-F	W-A	4-8 ft	N+S	Pink urn flowers in spring; acid wet soils
Wax Myrtle	Morella cerifera	F-P	W-D	10-20 ft	N+S	Fast evergreen screen; waxy blue fruit
Simpson's Stopper	Myrcianthes fragrans	F-P	A-D	12-20 ft	N+S	Fragrant flowers, red fruit, peeling bark
Myrsine	Myrsine cubana	F-S	A-D	6-15 ft	N+S	Narrow upright shrub; berries hug the stems
Wild Coffee	Psychotria nervosa	P-S	A	4-8 ft	N+S	Glossy quilted leaves; red fruit for birds
Jamaica Caper	Quadrella jamaicensis	F-P	A-D	6-12 ft	N+S	Showy purple-stamened flowers; very drought tough
White Indigoberry	Randia aculeata	F-P	A-D	4-10 ft	N+S	White fruit; tough coastal thicket shrub
Florida Flame Azalea	Rhododendron austrinum	P	A	8-12 ft	N	Fragrant orange-gold spring bloom
Pinxter Azalea	Rhododendron canescens	P	W-A	6-12 ft	N	Fragrant pink spring bloom in moist woods
Elderberry	Sambucus canadensis	F-P	W-A	8-12 ft	N+S	Fast, floppy; flat white flowers then berries
Saw Palmetto	Serenoa repens	F-P	A-D	4-8 ft	N+S	Backbone of flatwoods; nearly indestructible
Necklacepod	Sophora tomentosa var. truncata	F	A-D	6-10 ft	N+S	Yellow spikes; hummingbird magnet near the coast
Sparkleberry	Vaccinium arboreum	F-P	A-D	10-20 ft	N+S	Tree-like blueberry; peeling bark, white bells
Shiny Blueberry	Vaccinium myrsinites	F-P	A-D	1-2 ft	N+S	Low evergreen blueberry of pine flatwoods
Walter's Viburnum	Viburnum obovatum	F-P	W-A	8-15 ft	N+S	White spring bloom; shears into a hedge
Coontie	Zamia integrifolia	P-F	A-D	2-3 ft	N+S	Only native cycad; atala butterfly host

North and South Florida Flowering Perennials & Wildflowers

Common Name	Scientific Name	Sun	Moisture	Height	Region	Comments
Pinewoods Milkweed	Asclepias humistrata	F	D	1-2 ft	N+S	Pink monarch host for deep dry sand
Butterfly Milkweed	Asclepias tuberosa	F	A-D	1-2 ft	N+S	Orange monarch host; resents being moved
Golden Canna	Canna flaccida	F-P	W	2-4 ft	N+S	Clear yellow flowers; pond edge or rain garden
Florida Paintbrush	Carphephorus corymbosus	F	A-D	2-3 ft	N+S	Rosy-purple fall heads in dry pine sand
Partridge Pea	Chamaecrista fasciculata	F	A-D	1-3 ft	N+S	Yellow legume; sulphur butterfly host
Blue Mistflower	Conoclinium coelestinum	F-P	W-A	1-3 ft	N+S	Fuzzy blue clusters; spreads by runners
Lanceleaf Tickseed	Coreopsis lanceolata	F	A-D	1-2 ft	N	Big golden daisies in spring; dry sun
Leavenworth's Tickseed	Coreopsis leavenworthii	F-P	W-A	1-3 ft	N+S	Florida's state wildflower; reseeds freely
String Lily	Crinum americanum	F-P	W	2-3 ft	N+S	Spidery white fragrant flowers in wet ground
Twinflower	Dyschoriste oblongifolia	F-P	A-D	6-12 in	N+S	Lavender ground cover; buckeye butterfly host
Purple Coneflower	Echinacea purpurea	F-P	A	2-3 ft	N	Rare in the wild here; widely sold and planted
Yellowtop	Flaveria linearis	F	W-D	2-3 ft	N+S	Flat gold heads; blooms through fall and winter
Beach Verbena	Glandularia maritima	F	A-D	6-12 in	N+S	Florida endemic; purple mat for hot dry sand
Swamp Sunflower	Helianthus angustifolius	F	W-A	4-6 ft	N+S	Tall gold fall bloom; pinch in summer
Dune Sunflower	Helianthus debilis	F	A-D	1-2 ft	N+S	Sprawling yellow daisies; beach-front tough
Scorpion-tail	Heliotropium angiospermum	F-P	A-D	1-3 ft	N+S	Curled white flower spikes nearly year round
Scarlet Rosemallow	Hibiscus coccineus	F-P	W	4-6 ft	N+S	Huge red flowers; marsh and rain garden
Blue Flag Iris	Iris virginica	F-P	W	2-3 ft	N	True native iris for pond edges
Slender Blazing Star	Liatris gracilis	F	A-D	2-3 ft	N+S	Rosy fall spikes in dry pine sand
Cardinal Flower	Lobelia cardinalis	P-F	W	2-4 ft	N	Scarlet hummingbird spikes; keep it wet
Sunshine Mimosa	Mimosa strigillosa	F-P	A-D	4-6 in	N+S	Pink powderpuffs; mowable lawn substitute
Dotted Horsemint	Monarda punctata	F	A-D	2-3 ft	N+S	Stacked pink bracts; swarmed by pollinators
Fogfruit	Phyla nodiflora	F-P	W-D	3-6 in	N+S	Tough flat ground cover; three butterfly hosts
Narrowleaf Silkgrass	Pityopsis graminifolia	F	A-D	1-2 ft	N+S	Silvery grassy foliage; yellow fall daisies
Pickerelweed	Pontederia cordata	F-P	W	2-3 ft	N+S	Blue spikes for pond shallows
Black-eyed Susan	Rudbeckia hirta	F-P	A-D	1-3 ft	N+S	Long summer bloom; short-lived but reseeds
Wild Petunia	Ruellia caroliniensis	F-P	A-D	1-2 ft	N+S	Lavender trumpets daily; the native Ruellia
Azure Blue Sage	Salvia azurea	F	A-D	3-5 ft	N+S	Sky-blue fall spikes; pinch early to keep it short
Lyreleaf Sage	Salvia lyrata	P-F	A	1-2 ft	N+S	Pale blue spikes over a flat basal rosette
Starry Rosinweed	Silphium asteriscus	F	A-D	3-5 ft	N+S	Yellow daisies all summer; very tough
Blue-eyed Grass	Sisyrinchium angustifolium	F-P	W-A	6-12 in	N+S	Small blue iris-family flowers in spring
Seaside Goldenrod	Solidago sempervirens	F	W-D	2-4 ft	N+S	Thick leaves; gold fall plumes on dunes
Blue Porterweed	Stachytarpheta jamaicensis	F-P	A-D	1-3 ft	N+S	Sprawling blue spikes; butterfly nectar staple
Stokes' Aster	Stokesia laevis	F-P	A	1-2 ft	N	Big lavender-blue flowers in late spring
Elliott's Aster	Symphyotrichum elliottii	F-P	W-A	3-5 ft	N+S	Lavender fall bloom in moist ground
Ohio Spiderwort	Tradescantia ohiensis	F-P	A	1-3 ft	N	Blue morning flowers; cut back when leggy
Frostweed	Verbesina virginica	P-F	A	3-6 ft	N+S	White fall flowers; ice ribbons after a freeze
Giant Ironweed	Vernonia gigantea	F-P	W-A	4-7 ft	N+S	Deep purple heads in late summer
Atamasco Lily	Zephyranthes atamasca	P-F	W-A	6-12 in	N	White rain lily; state-listed, buy nursery stock

North and South Florida Grasses & Sedges

Common Name	Scientific Name	Sun	Moisture	Height	Region	Comments
Wiregrass	Aristida stricta	F	A-D	1-3 ft	N+S	Fuel of the longleaf fire cycle; dry sand
Sawgrass	Cladium jamaicense	F	W	4-8 ft	N+S	Everglades sedge; leaf edges cut, site carefully
Elliott's Lovegrass	Eragrostis elliottii	F	A-D	1-2 ft	N+S	Blue-green leaves, airy white seed heads
Purple Lovegrass	Eragrostis spectabilis	F	A-D	1-2 ft	N+S	Purple haze of seed heads in late summer
Pink Muhly Grass	Muhlenbergia capillaris	F	A-D	2-4 ft	N+S	Pink fall clouds; the classic native accent grass
Switchgrass	Panicum virgatum	F	W-A	3-6 ft	N+S	Upright clump; good screen and bird cover
Starrush Whitetop	Rhynchospora colorata	F-P	W-A	1-2 ft	N+S	White star bracts; sedge for wet edges
Little Bluestem	Schizachyrium scoparium	F	A-D	2-4 ft	N	Blue-green clump turning russet in fall
Lopsided Indiangrass	Sorghastrum secundum	F	A-D	3-5 ft	N+S	One-sided gold seed heads in fall
Sand Cordgrass	Spartina bakeri	F	W-A	3-5 ft	N+S	Fine green fountain; pond banks and swales
Saltmeadow Cordgrass	Spartina patens	F	W-A	2-3 ft	N+S	Soft dune and marsh grass; very salt tolerant
Fakahatchee Grass	Tripsacum dactyloides	F-P	W-A	4-6 ft	N+S	Bold arching clump; cut back hard in winter
Dwarf Fakahatchee	Tripsacum floridanum	F-P	A-D	2-3 ft	N+S	Compact South Florida native; evergreen clump
Sea Oats	Uniola paniculata	F	A-D	3-6 ft	N+S	Dune builder; protected, plant nursery stock

North and South Florida Ferns

Common Name	Scientific Name	Sun	Moisture	Height	Region	Comments
Giant Leather Fern	Acrostichum danaeifolium	P-F	W	6-10 ft	N+S	Huge fern for wet South Florida shade
Boston Fern	Nephrolepis exaltata	P-S	W-A	2-3 ft	N+S	The native one; avoid invasive sword ferns
Royal Fern	Osmunda spectabilis	P-F	W	3-5 ft	N+S	Coarse, almost shrub-like; wet ground
Cinnamon Fern	Osmundastrum cinnamomeum	P-S	W	3-4 ft	N+S	Cinnamon fertile fronds in spring
Resurrection Fern	Pleopeltis michauxiana	P-S	A-D	4-8 in	N+S	Rides oak limbs; curls brown, greens with rain
Bracken Fern	Pteridium aquilinum	F-P	A-D	2-4 ft	N+S	Aggressive colonizer; give it room
Southern Shield Fern	Thelypteris kunthii	P-S	W-A	2-3 ft	N+S	Fast deciduous ground cover for dry shade
Netted Chain Fern	Woodwardia areolata	P-S	W	1-2 ft	N+S	Spreads into a carpet in wet shade
Virginia Chain Fern	Woodwardia virginica	P-F	W	2-3 ft	N+S	Upright fronds for bogs and pond edges

North and South Florida Vines

Common Name	Scientific Name	Sun	Moisture	Height	Region	Comments
Crossvine	Bignonia capreolata	F-P	A	20-30 ft	N	Orange-red trumpets in early spring
Trumpet Creeper	Campsis radicans	F-P	W-D	25-40 ft	N+S	Orange hummingbird trumpets; vigorous, prune hard
Carolina Jessamine	Gelsemium sempervirens	F-P	A-D	15-20 ft	N+S	Yellow winter bloom; all parts toxic
Railroad Vine	Ipomoea pes-caprae	F	A-D	30-50 ft	N+S	Pink morning glories that bind beach sand
Coral Honeysuckle	Lonicera sempervirens	F-P	A	10-15 ft	N	Coral tubes for hummingbirds; not invasive
Virginia Creeper	Parthenocissus quinquefolia	F-S	W-D	30-50 ft	N+S	Five leaflets; scarlet fall color, bird fruit
Maypop	Passiflora incarnata	F-P	A-D	10-20 ft	N+S	Showy purple flowers; spreads by root suckers
Corkystem Passionflower	Passiflora suberosa	P-F	A-D	10-15 ft	N+S	Host for zebra longwing and gulf fritillary
Climbing Aster	Symphyotrichum carolinianum	F-P	W-A	8-12 ft	N+S	Fragrant pink-lavender asters in late fall
Muscadine Grape	Vitis rotundifolia	F-P	A-D	20-40 ft	N+S	Edible grapes; needs a strong support

Sun Exposure	Soil Moisture	Drought Tolerance
F = Full Sun	W = Wet	E = Excellent
P = Part Sun	A = Average	G = Good
S = Shade	D = Dry	M = Moderate
		P = Poor

Plant Native
Looking for a nursery that carries native Florida plants?

Browse our native plant nursery directory: Florida

Featured photo: Purple passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) by Christina Butler, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

ExploreFarming Gardening How-To Native Plants Nurseries Reviews

Recent Posts

Most Used Categories