NSIS: Florida Native Plants

Click on a family name for more information about the Florida native plants within the family
and which butterflies, birds, and other wildlife the plants attract.

A

here and in the plant family listings is a link to photographs of plants in that family.

Family	Botanical Name	Common Name	Region	Type

Acanthus	Acanthaceae
	Dyschoriste oblongifolia	Twinflower	NCS	p
	Justicia crassifolia	Large-flowered water willow	N	p
	Justicia ovata	Water willow	NCS	p
	Ruellia caroliniensis	Wild petunia	NCS	p
	Ruellia malacosperma	(no common name)	S	p
Agave	Agavaceae
	Yucca aloifolia	Spanish bayonet	NCS	s
	Yucca filamentosa	Adam's needle	NC	p
	Yucca flaccida	Bear-grass	NCS	p
Amaryllis	Amaryllidaceae
	Crinum americanum	Swamp lily	NCS	p
	Hymenocallis latifolia	Spider lily	CS	p
	Hymenocallis palmeri	Alligator lily	CS	p
	Zephyranthes atamasco	Atamasco-lily	C	p
	Zephyranthes simpsonii	Rain-lily	NCS	p
	Zephyranthes treatiae	Zephyr-lily	NC	p
Bald Cypress	Taxodiaceae
	Taxodium ascendens	Pond cypress	NCS	t
	Taxodium distichum	Bald cypress	NCS	t
Bay Cedar	Surianaceae
	Suriana maritima	Bay cedar	CS	s/t
Bayberry	Myricaceae
	Myrica cerifera	Wax myrtle	NCS	s/t
	Myrica heterophylla	Northern bayberry	NC	s/t
Bellflower	Campanulaceae
	Lobelia cardinalis	Cardinal flower	NC	p
	Lobelia glandulosa	Glades lobelia	NCS	p
	Lobelia paludosa	White swamp lobelia	NCS	p
	Lobelia puberula	Downy lobelia	NC	p
Bignonia	Bignoniaceae
	Bignonia capreolata	Cross vine	NCS	p, v
	Campsis radicans	Trumpet vine	NC	p, v
Birch	Betulaceae
	Alnus serrulata	Alder	N	s
	Carpinus caroliniana	American hornbeam	NC	t
	Ostrya virginiana	Eastern hophornbeam	NC	s/t
Borage	Boraginaceae
	Cardia sebestena	Geiger tree	S	t
	Heliotropium angiospermum	Scorpion-tail	CS	p
	Heliotropium curassavicum	Seaside heliotrope	NCS	p
Buckeye	Hippocastanaceae
	Aesculus pavia	Red buckeye	NC	s/t
Buckthorn	Rhamnaceae
	Ceanothus americanus	New Jersey tea	NC	s
	Ceanothus microphyllus	Little leaf red root	NC	s
	Colubrina arborescens	Coffee colubrina	S	s/t
Buckwheat	Polygonaceae
	Coccoloba diversifolia	Pigeon plum	S	t
	Coccoloba uvifera	Sea grape	CS	s/t
Cactus	Cactaceae
	Opuntia humifusa	Prickly pear	NCS	p
	Opuntia stricta	Coastal prickly pear	NCS	p
Caltrop	Zygophyllaceae
	Guaiacum sanctum	Lignum vitae	S	t
Caper	Capparaceae
	Capparis cynophallophora	Jamaica caper	NCS	s/t
	Capparis flexuosa	Bay-leaved caper	NCS	s/t
	Polanisia tenuifolia	Pineland catchfly	NCS	a
Carrot	Apiaceae
	Daucus carota	Wild carrot	NC	b
	Daucus pusillus	Small Queen Anne's lace	NC	a
	Eryngium aromaticum	Big button snakeroot	NCS	b/p
	Eryngium baldwinii	Matted-button snakeroot	NCS	b/p
	Sanicula canadensis	Snakeroot	NC	b
Cashew	Anacardiaceae
	Rhus copallina	Winged sumac	NCS	s/t
	Metopium toxiferum	Poisonwood	S	t
Citrus	Rutaceae
	Amyris elemifer	Torchwood	CS	t
	Ptelea trifoliata	Hop-tree	NC	s/t
	Zanthoxylum clava-herculis	Hercules club	NCS	s/t
	Zanthoxylum fagara	Wild lime	NCS	s/t
Coco Plum	Chrysobalanaceae
	Chrysobalanus icaco	Cocoplum	CS	s/t
	Licania michauxii	Gopher apple	NCS	s
Custard Apple	Annonaceae
	Asimina angustifolia	Narrow-leaf pawpaw	NC	s
	Asimina obovata	Flag pawpaw	NCS	s
	Asimina parviflora	Small-fruited pawpaw	NC	s/t
	Asimina pygmaea	Dwarf pawpaw	NC	s/t
	Asimina reticulata	Flatwoods pawpaw	NCS	s
	Asimina triloba	Pawpaw	N	s/t
Cycad	Cycadaceae
	Zamia floridana	Coontie	NCS	s
Cypress	Cupressaceae
	Chamaecyparis thyoides	Atlantic white cedar	NC	t
	Juniperus silicicola	Southern red cedar	NCS	t
Daisy	Compositae
	Aster caroliniensis	Climbing aster	NCS	p
	Aster walteri	Walter's aster	NCS	p
	Bidens pilosa	Spanish needles	NCS	a
	Borrichia frutescens	Sea oxeye daisy	NCS	p
	Carphephorus corymbosus	Florida Paintbrush	NCS	p
	Cirsium	Thistle	NCS	b
	Coreopsis	Tick-seed	NCS	p
	Echinacea purpurea	Purple coneflower	NCS	p
	Eupatorium coelestinum	Mistflower	NCS	p
	Gaillardia pulchella	Gaillardia	NC	a
	Garberia fruticosa	Garberia	NC	s
	Helianthus angustifolius	Narrow-leaved sunflower	NCS	p
	Helianthus debilis	Beach sunflower	NCS	a
	Liatris	Blazing star	NCS	p
	Pityopsis graminifolia	Silkgrass	NCS	p
	Rudbeckia hirta	Black-eyed Susan	NCS	b
	Solidago fistulosa	Goldenrod	NCS	p
	Stokesia laevis	Stoke's aster	NC	p
Dayflower	Commelinaceae
	Commelina erecta	Erect dayflower	NCS	p
	Commelina diffusa	Spreading dayflower	NCS	a
	Tradescantia ohiensis	Spiderwort	NCS	p
Dogbane	Apocynceae
	Amsonia ciliata	Bluestar	NC	p
	Nerium oleander	Oleander	NCS	s
Dogwood	Cornaceae
	Cornus amomum	Bush dogwood	N	s
	Cornus florida	Flowering dogwood	NC	t
	Cornus foemina	Wild dogwood	NCS	s
Ebony	Ebenaceae
	Diospyros giniana	Persimmon	NCS	t
Elm	Ulmaceae
	Celtis laevigata	Hackberry	NCS	t
	Trema floridanum	Florida trema	CS	t
	Ulmus alata	Winged elm	NC	t
	Ulmus americana	American elm	NC	t
	Ulmus crassifolia	Cedar elm	N	t
Evening- Primrose	Onagraceae
	Guara angustifolia	Southern guara	NCS	p
	Ludwigia peruviana	Primrose willow	NCS	s
	Oenothera speciosa	Showy primrose	NC
Figwort	Scrophulariaceae
	Bacopa caroliniana	Blue hyssop	NCS	p
	Bacopa innominata	Round-leaf water-hyssop	NC	p
	Bacopa monnieri	Smooth water-hyssop	NCS	p
Four Oclock	Nyctaginaceae
	Guapira discolor	Blolly	CS	s/t
Goodenia	Goodeniaceae
	Scaevola plumieri	Inkberry	CS	s
Goosefoot	Chenopodiaceae
	Salicornia bigelowii	Annual glasswort	NCS	a
	Salicornia virginica	Perennial glasswort	NCS	p
	Suaedda linearis	Sea-blight	NCS	a
Grape	Vitaceae
	Parthenocissus quinquefolia	Virginia Creeper	NCS	p, v,
	Vitis rotundifolia	Muscadine grape	NC	p, v
Grass	Poaceae
	Andropogon gerardii	Big bluestem	NCS	p
	Andropogon glomeratus	Bush bluestem	NCS	p
	Andropogon virginicus	Broomsedge	NCS	p
	Buchloe dactyloides	Buffalo grass	NCS
	Chasmanthium latifolium	Inland sea oats	NCS
	Eragrostis spectabilis	Purple lovegrass	NCS	p
	Erianthus giganteus	Sugarcane plumegrass	NCS
	Koeleria	Junegrass	NCS
	Muhlenbergia capillaris	Pink muhlygrass	NCS	p
	Panicum hemitomon	Maidencane	NCS
	Panicum virgatum	Switch grass	NCS
	Sorghastrum nutans	Indian grass	NCS
	Sporobolus junceus	Pineywoods dropseed	NCS	p
Greenbrier	Smilacaceae
	Smilax auriculata	Wild-bamboo	NCS	p, v
	Smilax glauca	Wild sarsaparilla vine	NC	p, v
	Smilax laurifolia	Catbrier	NCS	p, v
	Smilax smallii	Lanceleaf greenbrier	NCS	p, v
	Smilax walteri	Coral greenbrier	NC	p, v
Heath	Ericaceae
	Befaria racemosa	Tarflower	NC	s
	Gaylusscia dumosa	Dwarf huckleberry	NCS	s
	Lyonia lucida	Fetterbush	NCS	s
	Rhododendron	Azalea	NC	s
	Oxydendrum arboreum	Sourwood	N	t
	Vaccinium arboreum	Sparkleberry	NC	t
	Vaccinium darrowii	Darrow's blueberry	NC	s
	Vaccinium fuscatum	Highbush blueberry	NC	s
	Vaccinium myrsinites	Shiny blueberry	NCS	s
Holly	Aquifoliaceae
	Ilex cassine	Dahoon holly	NCS	s/st
	Ilex glabra	Gallberry	NCS	s
	Ilex opaca	Scrub holly	NC	s/st
	Ilex vomitoria	Yaupon holly	NCS	s/st
Honeysuckle	Caprifoliaceae
	Lonicera sempervirens	Coral honeysuckle	NCS	p, v
	Sambucus canadensis	Elderberry	NCS	s
	Viburnum nudum	Possum haw	NC	s/t
	Viburnum obovatum	Walter's viburnum	NCS	s/t
	Viburnum rufidulum	Rusty black haw	NC	s/st
Iris	Iridaceae
	Iris hexagona	Anglepod Blue-flag	NCS	p
	Iris virginica	Blue-flag iris	NC	p
	Sisyrinchium atlanticum	Blue-eyed grass	NCS	p
Laurel	Lauraceae
	Lindera benzoin	Spice bush	N	s
	Nectandra coriacea	Lancewood	S	s/t
	Persea borbonia	Redbay	NCS	s/t
	Persea humilis	Silk bay	C	t
	Persea palustris	Swamp bay	NCS	s/t
	Sassafras albidum	Sassafras	NC	s/t
Leadwort	Plumbaginaceae
	Limonium carolinianum	Sea lavender	NCS	p
	Plumbago scandens	Wild plumbago	NC	p
Legume	Fabaceae
	Aeschynomene viscidula	Shy leaf	NCS	a
	Amorpha fruticosa	Leadplant	NCS	s
	Caesalpinia crista	Gray nicker	CS	s
	Cassia chamaecrista	Partridge pea	NCS	a
	Cassia chapmanii	Bahama cassia	S	s
	Cassia nictitans	Sensitive plant	NCS	a
	Cassia occidentalis	Coffee senna	NCS	a
	Cercis canadensis	Eastern redbud	N	t
	Crotalaria pallida	Rattlebox	NCS	a
	Dalea carnea	Dalea	NCS	p
	Dalea feayi	Globe headed prairie clover	NC	p
	Dalea pinnata	Summer farewell	NCS	p
	Dalea pinnata var. adenopoda	White prairie clover	NCS	p
	Desmodium lineatum	Beggar's tick	NC	p
	Erythrina herbacea	Coral bean	NCS	p, s/t
	Galactia floridana	Florida milk pea	NCS	p
	Galactia elliottii	White milk pea	NCS	p, v
	Lupinus diffusus	Sky-blue lupine	NCS	p
	Lupinus perennis	Sundial lupine	N	p
	Lupinus villosus	Lady lupine	NCS	p
	Lysiloma bahamense	Wild tamarind	S	t
	Melilotus alba	White sweet clover	NCS	b
	Melilotus indica	Sour sweet clover	NCS	a
	Pithecellobium keyense	Blackbead	S	s/t
	Pithecellobium unguis-cati	Cat claw	S	s/t
	Sophora tomentosa	Necklace pod	S	p
	Stylosanthes hamata	Southern pencil flower	NCS	p
	Trifolium incarnatum	Crimson clover	NC	a
	Trifolium repens	White clover	NCS	p
	Vicia acutifolia	Vetch	NCS	p, v
	Vicia floridana	Florida vetch	NCS	p
	Vicia ocalensis	Ocala vetch	C	p
	Vicia sativa	Sand vetch	N	a
Madder	Rubiaceae
	Casasia clussiifolia	Seven-year apple	S	s/t
	Cephalanthus occidentalis	Buttonbush	NCS	s/t
	Chiococca alba	Snowberry	NCS	s
	Ernodea littoralis	Golden creeper	NCS	s
	Hamelia patens	Firebush	CS	s/t
	Psychotria nervosa	Wild coffee	NCS	s
	Randia aculeata	White indigo berry	NCS	s
Magnolia	Magnoliaceae
	Liriodendron tulipifera	Tuliptree	NC	t
	Magnolia grandiflora	Southern magnolia	NCS	t
	Magnolia virginiana	Sweetbay	NCS	t
Mallow	Malvaceae
	Abutilon permolle	Indian mallow	S	s
	Hibiscus aculeatus	Crimson-eyed rose mallow	N	p
	Hibiscus coccineus	Scarlet rose mallow	NCS	s
	Hibiscus grandiflorus	Swamp hibiscus	NCS	p
	Hibiscus virginica	Seashore mallow	NCS	p
	Malvaviscus arboreus	Turk's cap	NCS	s
	Sida cordifolia	Wire weed	NCS	p
Maple	Aceraceae
	Acer negundo	Box elder	NC	t
	Acer rubrum	Red maple	NCS	t
	Acer saccharinum	Silver maple	N	t
	Acer saccharum	Florida sugar maple	N	t
Milkweed	Asclepiadaceae
	Asclepias curassavica	Scarlet milkweed	NCS	a
	Asclepias humistrata	Purple milkweed	NC	p
	Asclepias incarnata	Swamp milkweed	NCS	p
	Asclepias longiflora	Florida milkweed	NCS	p
	Asclepias pedicellata	Pedicellate milkweed	NCS	p
	Asclepias perennis	White milkweed	NC	p
	Asclepias tuberosa	Butterfly weed	NCS	p
	Asclepias variegata	Variegated milkweed	N	p
Mint	Labiatae
	Conradina canescens	Wild rosemary	NC	p
	Piloblephis rigida	Pennyroyal	NCS	p
	Salvia azurea	Blue sage	NC	p
	Salvia coccinea	Tropical sage	NCS	p
	Salvia lyrata	Lyre-leaf sage	NCS	a
	Salvia riparia	Southern sage	NCS	a
Mistletoe	Loranthaceae
	Phoradedron serotinum	Mistletoe	NCS	p
Morning Glory	Convolvulaceae
	Ipomoea alba	Moonflowers	CS	p, v
	Ipomoea cordatotriloba	Morning glory	NCS	v
	Ipomoea imperati	Beach morning glory	NCS	p, v
	Ipomoea indica	Morning glory	CS	p, v
	Ipomoea sagittata	Glades morning glory	NCS	p, v
Mulberry	Moraceae
	Ficus aurea	Strangler fig	S	t
	Ficus citrifolia	Shortleaf fig	S	t
	Morus rubra	Red mulberry	NCS	t
Mustard	Brassicaceae
	Brassica kaber	Wild mustard	NCS	a
	Brassica rapa	Field mustard	NC	a
	Cakile edentula	Northern sea rocket	NC	a
	Cakile lanceolata	Southern sea rocket	CS	a
	Capsella bursa-pastoris	Shepherd's purse	N	a
	Lepidium virginicum	Pepper grass	NCS	a
Myrsine	Myrsinaceae
	Ardisia escalloniodides	Marlberry	CS	s
	Myrsine floridana	Myrsine	CS	s/t
Myrtle	Myrtaceae
	Calyptranthes pallens	Spicewood	S	s/t
	Eugenia axillaris	White stopper	S	s/t
	Eugenia confusa	Redberry stopper	S	t
	Eugenia foetida	Spanish stopper	S	s/t
Oak	Fagaceae
	Fagus grandifolia	American beech	N	t
	Quercus alba	White oak	N	t
	Quercus laevis	Turkey oak	NC	t
	Quercus laurifolia	Laurel oak	NCS	t
	Quercus michauzii	Basket oak	NC	t
	Quercus myrtifolia	Myrtle oak	NCS	t
	Quercus nigra	Water oak	NCS	t
	Quercus shumardii	Shumard oak	NC	t
	Quercus virginiana	Live oak	NCS	t
Olive	Oleaceae
	Chionanthus virginicus	Fringe tree	NC	s/t
	Forestiera segregata	Florida privet	NCS	s
	Fraxinus caroliniana	Pop ash	NC	t
	Fraxinus pennsylvanica	Green ash	NC	t
	Osmanthus americanus	Wild olive	NC	s/t
Palm	Arecaceae
	Coccothrinax argentata	Silver palm	S	t
	Roystonea elata	Royal palm	S	t
	Sabal etonia	Scrub palmetto	NCS	s
	Sabal minor	Dwarf palmetto	NCS	s
	Sabal palmetto	Cabbage palm	NCS	t
	Sabal repens	Saw palmetto	NCS	s
	Thrinax morrisii	Key thatch palm	S	t
	Thrinax radiata	Florida thatch palm	S	t
Passionflower	Passifloraceae
	Passiflora incarnata	Maypop	NCS	p, v
	Passiflora lutea	Yellow maypop	NCS	p, v
	Passiflora multiflora	Passion vine	NCS	p, v
	Passiflora suberosa	Corky-stemmed passion-flower	NCS	p, v
Phlox	Polemoniaceae
	Ipomopsis rubra	Standing cypress	NC	b
	Phlox divaricata	Blue phlox	N	p
	Phlox floridana	Florida phlox	NC	p
	Phlox nivalis	Trailing phlox	NC	p
	Phlox subulata	Creeping phlox	C	p
Pine	Pinaceae
	Pinus clausa	Sand pine	NCS	t
	Pinus elliottii	Slash pine	NCS	t
	Pinus glabra	Spruce pine	NC	t
	Pinus palustris	Longleaf pine	NCS	t
	Pinus taeda	Loblolly pine	NC	t
Pipevine	Aristolochiaceae
	Aristolochia tomentosa	Wooly pipevine		v
Quassia	Simaroubaceae
	Alvaradoa amorphoides	Mexican Alvaradoa	S	t
	Picramnia pentandra	Bitterbush	S	s
	Simarouba glauca	Paradise tree	CS	t
Rose	Rosaceae
	Amelanchier arborea	Serviceberry	N	s/t
	Crataegus flava	Summer haw	NC	t
	Crataegus marshallii	Parsley haw	NC	t
	Malus angustifolia	Southern crabapple	N	s/t
	Prunus americana	Wild plum	NC	t
	Prunus angustifolia	Chickasaw plum	NC	s/t
	Prunus serotina	Wild cherry	NC	t
	Prunus umbellata	Flatwoods plum	NC	s/t
	Rosa palustris	Swamp rose	NC	p
	Rubus argutus	Highbush blackberry	NC	s
	Rubus cuneifolius	Sand blackberry	NCS	s
	Rubus trivialis	Southern dewberry	NCS	s
Saltwort	Bataceae
	Batis maritima	Saltwort	NCS	s
Sapodilla	Sapotaceae
	Chrysophyllum oliviforme	Satin leaf	CS	t
	Dipholis salicifolia	Willow bustic	S	t
	Mastichodendron foetidissimum	Mastic	CS	t
Sedge	Cyperaceae
	Cyperus planifolius	Coastal sedge	S	p
	Dichromena colorata	Fine leaved whitetop sedge	NCS	p
	Dichromena latifolia	Giant whitetop sedge	NCS	p
Soapberry	Sapindaceae
	Cardiospermum halicacabum	Balloon vine	NCS	a, v
	Dodonaea viscosa	Varnish leaf	NCS	s/t
Spurge	Euphorbiaceae
	Ateramnus lucidus	Crabwood	S	s/t
	Croton capitatus	Woolly croton	NC	s
	Croton glandulosus	Tropic croton	NCS	s
	Croton linearis	Pineland croton	CS	s
	Drypetes lateriflora	Guiana plum	S	s/t
	Poinsettia cyathophora	Painted leaf	NCS	s
	Poinsettia heterophylla	Wild poinsettia	NCS	p
	Poinsettia pulcherrima	Poinsettia	CS	s
Star Anise	Illiciaceae
	Illicium floridanum	Florida anise	N	s/t
	Illicium parviflorum	Yellow anise	N	s/t
Sweet- Pepperbush	Clethraceae
	Clethra alnifolia	Sweet pepperbush	N	s
Sweetleaf	Symplocaceae
	Symplocos tinctoria	Sweetleaf	NC	s/t
Torchwood	Burseraceae
	Bursera simaruba	Gumbo limbo	S	t
Tupelo	Nyssaceae
	Nyssa aquatica	Water tupelo	NCS	t
	Nyssa biflora	Blackgum	NCS	t
	Nyssa ogeche	Ogeechee tupelo	NCS	t
	Nyssa sylvatica	Sour gum	NCS	t
Verbena	Verbenaceae
	Avicennia germinans	Black mangrove	NCS	s/t
	Callicarpa americana	Beautyberry	NCS	s
	Duranta repens	Golden dewdrop	CS	s/t
	Lantana depressa	Pineland lantana	NCS	p
	Lantana involucrata	White lantana	NCS	s
	Phyla lanceolata	Tall matchhead	N	p
	Phyla nodiflora	Matchhead	NCS	p
	Stachytarpheta jamaicensis	Blue porterweed	CS	p
	Verbena bonariensis	Purple top	NCS	p
	Verbena tampensis	Tampa vervain	NCS	p
Walnut	Juglandaceae
	Carya aquatica	Water hickory	NCS	t
	Carya floridana	Scrub hickory	NCS	t
	Carya glabra	Pignut hickory	NC	t
White Mangrove	Combretaceae
	Conocarpus erectus	Buttonwood	NCS	s/t
	Laguncularia racemosa	White mangrove	NCS	s/t
Willow	Salicaceae
	Salix caroliniana	Carolina willow	NCS	t
	Salix floridana	Florida willow	C	t
	Salix nigra	Black willow	N	t

N=north C=central S=south a=annual b=biennial p=perennial s=shrub t=tree v=vine
	Butterfly nectar plant Butterfly host plant	Food resource for birds (non-nectar) Nectar plant for hummingbirds
	Good source of food and/or shelter for wildlife

[ Butterfly Host Plant Families | Butterfly Nectar Plant Families | Hummingbird Nectar Plant Families ]
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