Natives to Grow in DADE County
Species listed on this page are found naturally in the county and adapt to garden conditions. Unquestionably, this page reflects the biases and experience of the author as well as recommendations from chapters and individual gardeners. Be sure to match the requirements of plants that interest you to conditions at your planting site!
Please be Responsible
Buy your plants or get them from a friend
Collecting from the wild can be harmful and may be illegal
- Key
- FN-- fern, TS -- small tree, TL -- large tree, WF -- wildflower, GC -- groundcover, GR -- grass, SH -- shrub, VN -- vine
- w -- does well in moist places, W -- requires moist places, naturally a wetland species
- A -- aquatic, good for planting in an area that is typically flooded such as a pond
- d -- relatively drought tolerant, may need supplemental moisture during very dry periods, D -- very drought tolerant
- s -- some salt tolerance, S -- high salt tolerance
- B -- butterfly plant (larval food or nectar source)
- L -- provides food or good cover for wildlife
Click on the column heading to sort the plants based on that characteristic.
Species Form Wet
ToleranceDry
ToleranceSalt
ToleranceButterfly
PlantWildlife
PlantPhoto More
InfoAcacia choriophylla
tamarindillo, thornless acaciaTS D S B USF Herbarium Acoelorraphe wrightii
parotis palmTS w S Biological Research Assoc. Institute for Regional Conservation Acrostichum danaeifolium
giant leather fernFN W s L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Adiantum capillus-veneris
Venus maidenhair fernFN USF Herbarium Agave decipiens
false sisalSH D USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Aletris lutea
yellow colic-rootWF W USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Amyris elemifera
torchwoodw D USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Andropogon virginicus
broomsedge bluestemGR w Institute for Regional Conservation Angadenia berteroi
pineland allamandaWF w d S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Annona glabra
pond-apple, custard-appleTS W S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Apios americana
American groundnutVN w USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Ardisia escallonioides
marlberry, marbleberrySH w D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Argusia gnaphalodes
sea-lavender, sea-rosemarySH USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Aristida stricta var. beyrichiana
wiregrassGR w D USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Asclepias incarnata
swamp milkweedWF W B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Asclepias perennis
aquatic milkweedWF W B USF Herbarium Asclepias tuberosa
butterflyweedWF D S B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Asimina obovata
flag pawpawSH D L USF Herbarium Archbold Biological Station Baccharis halimifolia
groundsel bushSH w D S USF Herbarium Hernando Chapter Bacopa caroliniana
blue waterhyssopGC W B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Bejaria racemosa
tarflowerSH w D USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Berlandiera subacaulis
common greeneyes, Florida greeneyesWF D USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Blechnum serrulatum
swamp fernFN W L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Bletia purpurea
pinepinkWF w USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Boehmeria cylindrica
small-spike false-nettleWF W B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Borrichia arborescens
sea ox-eye daisyWF W D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Bourreria succulenta
strongbarkWF D S B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Bursera simaruba
gumbo-limboTL D S B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Byrsonima lucida
locustberrySH w D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Callicarpa americana
beautyberrySH w D S L USF Herbarium Hernando Chapter Calyptranthes pallens
pale lidflower, spicewoodSH D USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Calyptranthes zuzygium
myrtle-of-the-riverSH S USF Herbarium - images Institute for Regional Conservation Canavalia rosea
seaside bean. BaybeanGC D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Canella winterana
wild cinnamonSH D s USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Canna flaccida
golden cannaWF W B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Capparis cynophallophora
Jamaica caper-treeSH D S B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Capparis flexuosa
bay-leaved caper-treeSH w D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Celtis laevigata
hackberry, sugarberryTL w B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Cephalanthus occidentalis
buttonbushSH W B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Chamaecrista fasciculata
sleeping plant, partridge-peaWF D B L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Chiococca alba
snowberrySH w D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Chrysobalanus icaco
coco-plumSH w D S B Biological Research Assoc. Institute for Regional Conservation Chrysophyllum oliviforme
satinleafTL D s Biological Research Assoc. Institute for Regional Conservation Citharexylum spinosum
fiddlewoodTL D S B USF Herbarium Cladium jamaicense
saw-grassGR W S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Clematis baldwinii
pine-hyacinthWF W USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Clusia rosea
balsam-appleWF D S USF Herbarium US Forest Service Fact Sheet Coccoloba diversifolia
pigeon plumTS D S L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Coccoloba uvifera
seagrapeTS D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Coccothrinax argentata
silver thatch palmTS w D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Colubrina arborescens
greenheartD S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Colubrina elliptica
soldierwoodD S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Commelina erecta
sandhill dayflowerWF D USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Conocarpus erectus
buttonwoodTS W D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Conoclinium coelestinum
mistflowerWF w B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Conradina grandiflora
large-flowered conradinaWF D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Cordia globosa
bloodberry, butterfly-sageD B L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Cordia sebestena
geiger treeD S USF Herbarium US Forest Service Fact Sheet Coreopsis floridana
Florida tickseedWF W USF Herbarium Coreopsis leavenworthii
Leavenworth's tickseedWF w B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Crinum americanum
string lily, swamp lilyWF W S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Crossopetalum ilicifolium
quailberry, ChristmasberrySH W D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Crossopetalum rhacoma
rhacomaW D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Dalea carnea
hammock prairie-cloverWF w D B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Dalea feayi
prairie-cloverWF D B USF Herbarium Dodonaea viscosa
varnish leafSH D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Eragrostis elliottii
Elliott's lovegrassGR w d S L Institute for Regional Conservation Eragrostis spectabilis
purple lovegrassGR w d L USF Herbarium Hernando Chapter Ernodea littoralis
beach-creeperSH D S USF Herbarium Erythrina herbacea
coralbean, Cherokee beanSH D S B L USF Herbarium Hernando Chapter Eugenia axillaris
white stopperSH D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Eugenia confusa
ironwood, red-berry stopperSH D USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Eugenia foetida
Spanish stopper, boxleaf stopperSH D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Eugenia rhombea
red stopper, spiceberrySH D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Exothea paniculata
inkwoodTL D S USF Herbarium Ficus aurea
strangler figTL w D L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Ficus citrifolia
wild banyan-treeTL L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Flaveria linearis
yellowtopWF w d S B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Forestiera segregata
Florida privetSH w D S B L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Gaillardia pulchella
blanket-flower, gaillardiaWF D S B USF Herbarium Genipa clusiifolia
seven-year-appleSH D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Gossypium hirsutum
wild cottonWF D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Guajacum sanctum
lignum-vitaeTL D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Guapira discolor
blolly, beefwoodTS D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Gymnanthes lucida
crabwoodTS D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Habenaria repens
water-spider rein orchidWF W USF Herbarium OrchidWeb Hamelia patens
firebushSH w d S B L USF Herbarium Palmetto Article - E. Smith Helenium amarum
pasture sneezeweedWF w USF Herbarium Helenium flexuosum
winged sneezeweedWF w d USF Herbarium Helenium pinnatifidum
southeastern sneezeweedWF W USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Helianthus debilis
east coast beach sunflowerGC D S B L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Helianthus debilis subsp. vestitus
west coast beach sunflowerWF D S B L USF Herbarium Heliotropium angiospermum
scorpion-tailWF d B L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Heliotropium curassavicum
seaside heliotropeWF w s B USF Herbarium Heliotropium polyphyllum
pineland heliotropeWF w d s B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Hibiscus grandiflorus
swamp rosemallowWF W L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Hymenocallis latifolia
mangrove spiderlily, perfuned spiderlilyWF w d S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Hymenocallis palmeri
alligator-lilyWF w USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Hypericum brachyphyllum
coastalplain St. John's wortSH w s USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Hypericum hypericoides
St. Andrew's-crossWF w d USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Hypericum myrtifolium
myrtle-leaf St. John's-wortWF w USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Hypericum tetrapetalum
four-petal St. Peter's-wortWF w USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Ilex cassine
dahoon hollyTS w d B L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Ilex glabra
inkberry, gallberrySH w d S L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Ilex krugiana
Krug's hollyTS D S L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Ipomoea alba
moonflowerVN w USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Ipomoea cordatotriloba
tievineVN w USF Herbarium Ipomoea imperati
beach morninggloryVN D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Ipomoea pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis
railroadvine, lavender goatfoot morning-gloryGC D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Ipomoea sagittata
glades morning-gloryVN w USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Iva frutescens
bigleaf marsh-elderWF W D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Iva imbricata
seacoast sumpweedWF w D S USFS Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Jacquemontia pentanthos
skyblue jacquemontia, skyblue clustervineWF USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Jacquemontia reclinata
beach jacquemontiaWF Jacquinia keyensis
joewoodTS w D S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Justicia angusta
Everglades water-willow, pineland water-willowWF W USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Kosteletzkya virginica
saltmarsh mallowSH W USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Krugiodendron ferreum
black ironwood, leadwoodD S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Lachnanthes caroliana
redrootWF w d B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Laguncularia racemosa
white mangroveTS W S USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Lantana depressa
gold lantanaSH D S B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Lantana involucrata
wild lantanaSH D S B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Liatris chapmanii
slender-headed blazing-starWF B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Liatris garberi
Garber's blazing-starWF W d B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Liatris gracilis
slender blazing-starWF w B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Liatris spicata
spiked blazing-starWF w D B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Liatris tenuifolia
blazing-starWF D B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Licania michauxii
gopher-appleGC D s B L USF Herbarium Hernando Chapter Lyonia lucida
fetterbush, shiny lyoniaSH w d s L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Lysiloma latisiliquum
wild-tamerindWF D S B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Lythrum alatum var. lanceolatum
loosestrifeWF W USF Herbarium Magnolia virginiana
sweet-bayTL W B L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Melanthera nivea
snow squarestemWF w B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Morus rubra
red mulberryTL w L USF Herbarium Hernando Chapter Mosiera longipes
long-stalked stopper, trailing eugeniaSH USF Herbarium Muhlenbergia capillaris
hairgrassGR w d s L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Myrcianthes fragrans
Simpson's ironwood, twinberrySH d s B L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Myrica cerifera
wax myrtleSH w d S B L USF Herbarium Hernando Chapter Nephrolepis biserrata
giant swordfernFN w USF Herbarium Nephrolepis exaltata
wild Boston fernFN w USF Herbarium Floridata.com Nuphar advena
cowlily, spatterdockAQ A USF Herbarium Nymphaea mexicana
yellow water-lilyAQ A USF Herbarium Nymphaea odorata
white water-lilyAQ A USF Herbarium Floridata.com Nymphoides aquatica
floating heartsAQ A USF Herbarium Ocotea coriacea
lancewoodUSF Herbarium Oplismenus hirtellus
bristle basketgrassGR USF Herbarium Opuntia humifusa
prickly-pear cactusWF D USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Opuntia stricta
erect prickly-pear cactusWF D S USF Herbarium Osmunda cinnamomea
cinnamon fernFN W L USF Herbarium Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis
royal fernFN W L USF Herbarium Palafoxia feayi
palafoxSH D USF Herbarium Parthenocissus quinquefolia
woodbine, Virginia creeperVN w D USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Paspalum vaginatum
seashore paspalumGR w d UF - info Passiflora incarnata
passion vineVN D s B L USF Herbarium Hernando Chapter Passiflora suberosa
corky passion-flowerVN D s B L USF Herbarium Hernando Chapter Peltandra virginica
green arumAQ A USF Herbarium Penstemon multiflorus
manyflower beardtongueWF D B USF Herbarium Pentalinon luteum
wild allamandaVN W D S B USF Herbarium Hernando Chapter Peperomia obtusifolia
Florida peperomiaGC w USF Herbarium Persea borbonia
red bayTL w D S B L USF Herbarium US Forest Service Fact Sheet Persea palustris
swamp bayTS W B L USF Herbarium Phyla nodiflora
frogfruitGC w D S B USF Herbarium Picramnia pentandra
Florida bitterbushSH D S USF Herbarium Piloblephis rigida
pennyroyalWF D B USF Herbarium Pinus clausa
sand pineTL D s L USF Herbarium Hernando Chapter Pinus elliottii
slash pineTL w D s L Biological Research Assoc. Hernando Chapter Piscidia piscipula
Jamaica-dogwood, fish-poison treeTL D S USF Herbarium Pithecellobium keyense
Florida Keys blackbeadTS D B L USF Herbarium Pithecellobium unguis-cati
cat's-claw, catclaw blackbeadSH D S B L USF Herbarium Pityopsis graminifolia
silk-grassWF D B USF Herbarium Poinsettia cyathophora
painted-leafWF d USF Herbarium Polygonella polygama
jointweed, OctoberflowerWF D USF Herbarium Pontederia cordata
pickerelweedAQ A B L USF Herbarium Hernando Chapter Pseudophoenix sargentii
Florida cherry-palmTS D S Psychotria ligustrifolia
Bahama wild-coffeeSH w USFS Herbarium Psychotria nervosa
shiny-leaf wild-coffeeSH w d s B L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Psychotria sulzneri
dull-leaf wild-coffeeSH w L USF Herbarium Pteridium aquilinum
bracken fernFN d s USF Herbarium Pteris bahamensis
Bahama brake fernFN d USF Herbarium Quercus chapmanii
Chapman's oakTS D s L USF Herbarium Quercus geminata
sand live oakTS D s L USF Herbarium NC State University Quercus laurifolia
laurel oakTL w a s L USF Herbarium UF Extention Service (EDIS) Quercus myrtifolia
myrtle oakTS D L USF Herbarium Quercus virginiana
live oakTL w D s B L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Randia aculeata
white indigo berrySH w D S USF Herbarium Rapanea punctata
myrsineSH w d s USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Rhizophora mangle
red mangroveTS W s USF Herbarium Rhus copallinum
winged sumacSH D USF Herbarium US Forest Service Fact Sheet Rhynchospora colorata
fineleaf whitetop sedgeWF w USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Rivina humilis
rouge plantSH D s B L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Roystonea regia
royal palmTL W D USF Herbarium Rudbeckia hirta
blackeyed-susanWF B L USF Herbarium Sabal etonia
scrub palmettoSH D s B L USF Herbarium Sabal palmetto
cabbage palmTL w D s L USF Herbarium Hernando Chapter Sabatia bartramii
Bartram's marsh-pinkWF W USF Herbarium Sagittaria lancifolia
lance-leaved arrowheadAQ A L USF Herbarium Salvia coccinea
scarlet sage, tropical sageWF D s B USF Herbarium Floridata.com Sambucus nigra var. canadensis
elderberrySH w s L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Sapindus saponaria
wingleaf soapberrySH D USF Herbarium Saururus cernuus
lizard's-tailAQ W USF Herbarium Scaevola plumieri
beachberrySH D S USF Herbarium Senna ligustrina
privet sennaSH w d B USF Herbarium Senna mexicana var. chapmanii
Chapman's sensitive plantSH D B USF Herbarium Serenoa repens
saw palmettoSH w D s B L USF Herbarium Hernando Chapter Sesuvium portulacastrum
sea-purslaneGC W S USF Herbarium Sideroxylon foetidissimum
mastic, false mastic, wild oliveTS D S L USF Herbarium Palmetto Article - C. Hugel Sideroxylon salicifolium
willow-busticTS w d s L USF Herbarium Palmetto Article - C. Hugel Sideroxylon tenax
buckthornTS D S L USF Herbarium Palmetto Article - C. Hugel Simarouba glauca
paradise tree, bitterwood.TL D S USF Herbarium Sisyrinchium angustifolium
pointed blue-eyed-grassGC w d s B USF Herbarium Solidago fistulosa
hollow goldenrodWF W S B USF Herbarium Solidago odora var. chapmanii
sweet goldenrodWF w B USF Herbarium Solidago sempervirens
seaside goldenrodWF w d S B USF Herbarium Sophora tomentosa var. truncata
yellow necklacepodSH w D S B L USF Herbarium Sorghastrum secundum
lopsided IndiangrassGR w D S USF Herbarium Spartina alterniflora
saltmarsh cordgrassGR w d S L USF Herbarium Spartina patens
marshhay cordgrassGR W S L Sporobolus junceus
pineywoods dropseedGR D Stachytarpheta jamaicensis
blue porterweedGC D S B USF Herbarium Suriana maritima
bay-cedarSH w D S USF Herbarium Swietenia mahagoni
West Indian mahoganyTL D S USF Herbarium US Forest Service Fact Sheet Symphyotrichum adnatum
scaleleaf asterWF B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Taxodium ascendens
pond cypressTL w d S L Biological Research Assoc. US Forest Service Fact Sheet Taxodium distichum
bald cypressTL w d L USF Herbarium US Forest Service Fact Sheet Tetrazygia bicolor
Florida tetrazygiaSH w d USF Herbarium Teucrium canadense
wood-sageWF W S USF Herbarium Thalia geniculata
alligator flagAQ A L USF Herbarium Thelypteris kunthii
widespread maiden fernFN w L USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Thrinax morrisii
brittle thatch palmTS D USF Herbarium US Forest Service Fact Sheet Thrinax radiata
Florida thatch palmTS D S USF Herbarium Trichostema dichotomum
forked bluecurlsWF D B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Tripsacum dactyloides
eastern gamagrass, Fakahatchee grassGR w S L USF Herbarium Hernando Chapter Tripsacum floridanum
Florida gamagrassGR w d S L Uniola paniculata
sea oatsGR D S USF Herbarium Vaccinium myrsinites
shiny blueberrySH D B L USF Herbarium Vallesia antillana
pearl berryUSF Herbarium Verbena maritima
coastal vervainWF D B USF Herbarium Verbesina virginica
frostweedWF w d s B USF Herbarium Viola lanceolata
long-leaf violetWF W USF Herbarium Woodwardia virginica
chain fernFN W USF Herbarium Ximenia americana
tallowwoodSH D s L USF Herbarium Hernando Chapter Zamia pumila
arrowroot, coontieGC D S B Biological Research Assoc. Zanthoxylum clava-herculis
Hercules-clubTS w D S B L USF Herbarium Zanthoxylum fagara
wild-limeTS D s B USF Herbarium Institute for Regional Conservation Zephyranthes simpsonii
Simpson's zephyr lilyWF w d USF Herbarium


