Natives to Grow in GULF 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

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 Tolerance	Dry Tolerance	Salt Tolerance	Butterfly Plant	Wildlife Plant	Photo	More Info
Acer saccharum subsp. floridanum Florida maple	TS	w	d				USF Herbarium
Aesculus pavia red buckeye	TS	w					USF Herbarium	Floridata.com
Aletris lutea yellow colic-root	WF	W					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Alnus serrulata hazel alder	TS	W					USF Herbarium
Amorpha fruticosa false indigo-bush, bastard-indigo	SH	w					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Amorpha herbacea cluster-spike indigo-bush	WF						USF Herbarium
Amsonia tabernaemontana easterm bluestar		W					USF Herbarium
Andropogon gerardii big bluestem	GR	w					USF Herbarium
Andropogon glomeratus bushy bluestem	GR	W					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Andropogon virginicus broomsedge bluestem	GR	w						Institute for Regional Conservation
Apios americana American groundnut	VN	w					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Aristida spiciformis bottlebrush grass	GR	w					USF Herbarium
Aristida stricta var. beyrichiana wiregrass	GR	w	D				USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Asclepias humistrata sandhill milkweed	WF		D		B		USF Herbarium
Asclepias perennis aquatic milkweed	WF	W			B		USF Herbarium
Asclepias tuberosa butterflyweed	WF		D	S	B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Asplenium platyneuron ebony spleenwort	FN	w	d				USF Herbarium
Baccharis halimifolia groundsel bush	SH	w	D	S			USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Bacopa caroliniana blue waterhyssop	GC	W			B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Balduina uniflora one-flower honeycomb-head	WF	w	D		B		USF Herbarium
Baptisia alba white wild indigo	WF	w	D				USF Herbarium	Floridata.com
Betula nigra river birch	TL	w					USF Herbarium	US Forest Service fact sheet
Bignonia capreolata crossvine	VN	w					USF Herbarium
Boehmeria cylindrica small-spike false-nettle	WF	W			B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Calamintha coccinea scarlet savory	SH		D	D	B	L	USF Herbarium
Callicarpa americana beautyberry	SH	w	D	S		L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Campsis radicans trumpet-vine	VN	w	D	s			USF Herbarium	Floridata.com
Carphephorus odoratissimus vanilla-plant, deer's tongue	WF	w	d		B		USF Herbarium
Carphephorus paniculatus deer tongue, hairy trilisa	WF	w	d		B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Carphephorus pseudoliatris bristle-leaf chaffhead	WF	w			B		USF Herbarium
Carpinus caroliniana hornbeam	TS	w				L	USF Herbarium	US Forest Service fact sheet
Carya glabra pignut hickory	TL		D			L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Carya pallida sand hickory	TL		D			L
Castanea pumila Ashe's chinquapin, trailing chinquapin	SH					L	USF Herbarium
Chamaecrista fasciculata sleeping plant, partridge-pea	WF		D		B	L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Chamaecyparis thyoides Atlantic white cedar	TS	W					USF Herbarium
Chionanthus virginicus fringe tree	TS	w				L	USF Herbarium	US Forest Service Fact Sheet
Chrysopsis gossypina hairy goldenaster	WF		D	S			USF Herbarium
Cladium jamaicense saw-grass	GR	W		S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Clematis crispa swamp leather flower	WF	W					USF Herbarium
Clethra alnifolia sweet pepperbush	SH	w		S	B		USF Herbarium	Floridata.com
Cliftonia monophylla black titi, spring titi, buckwheat-tree	SH	W					USF Herbarium
Commelina erecta sandhill dayflower	WF		D				USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Conoclinium coelestinum mistflower	WF	w			B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Conradina canescens false-rosemary	WF		D				USF Herbarium
Coreopsis floridana Florida tickseed	WF	W					USF Herbarium
Coreopsis nudata swamp tickseed	WF	W					USF Herbarium
Cornus florida flowering dogwood	TS	w	d			L	USF Herbarium	UF Extention Service (EDIS)
Cornus foemina stiff cornel, swamp dogwood	TS	W			B	L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Crataegus viridis green hawthorn	TS	W				L	USF Herbarium
Cyrilla racemiflora titi	SH	w	d	S			USF Herbarium
Doellingeria reticulata white-top aster	WF						USF Herbarium
Dryopteris ludoviciana southern wood fern	FN	W					USF Herbarium
Eragrostis elliottii Elliott's lovegrass	GR	w	d	S		L		Institute for Regional Conservation
Eragrostis spectabilis purple lovegrass	GR	w	d			L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Eriogonum tomentosum wild buckwheat	WF		D		B		USF Herbarium
Eryngium yuccifolium button snakeroot	WF	W					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Erythrina herbacea coralbean, Cherokee bean	SH		D	S	B	L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Euonymus americanus American strawberry-bush	SH	w					USF Herbarium	Floridata.com
Fraxinus caroliniana water ash	TS	W			B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Gaillardia pulchella blanket-flower, gaillardia	WF		D	S	B		USF Herbarium
Gelsemium rankinii odorless jessamine	VN	w			B		USF Herbarium
Gelsemium sempervirens yellow jesamine, Carolina jasamine	VN	w	D		B		USF Herbarium
Habenaria repens water-spider rein orchid	WF	W					USF Herbarium	OrchidWeb
Halesia carolina little silverbell, Carolina silverbell	TS	w					USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Helenium amarum pasture sneezeweed	WF	w					USF Herbarium
Helenium pinnatifidum southeastern sneezeweed	WF	W					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Helianthus angustifolius swamp sunflower; narrow-leaved sunflower	WF	W			B	L	USF Herbarium
Helianthus debilis subsp. cucumerifolius cucumberleaf beach sunflower	WF		D	S	B	L
Hibiscus aculeatus pineland hibiscus	WF						USF Herbarium
Hibiscus grandiflorus swamp rosemallow	WF	W				L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Hibiscus laevis halberd-leaf rosemallow	WF	W				L	USF Herbarium
Hypericum brachyphyllum coastalplain St. John's wort	SH	w		s			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Hypericum hypericoides St. Andrew's-cross	WF	w	d				USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Hypericum tetrapetalum four-petal St. Peter's-wort	WF	w					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Ilex ambigua Carolina holly, sand holly	TS		D			L	USF Herbarium
Ilex cassine dahoon holly	TS	w	d		B	L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Ilex cassine var. myrtifolia myrtle-leaf holly	TS	w				L	USF Herbarium	FDEP
Ilex glabra inkberry, gallberry	SH	w	d	S		L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Ilex opaca American holly	TL		d			L	USF Herbarium	US Forest Service Fact Sheet
Ilex verticillata winterberry	SH	W				L	USF Herbarium	FDEP
Ilex vomitoria yaupon holly	TS	w	D	S		L	USF Herbarium	FDEP
Ipomoea cordatotriloba tievine	VN	w					USF Herbarium
Ipomoea imperati beach morningglory	VN		D	S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Ipomoea pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis railroadvine, lavender goatfoot morning-glory	GC		D	S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Ipomoea sagittata glades morning-glory	VN	w					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Iris virginica Virginia iris, southern blue-flag	WF	W					USF Herbarium
Itea virginica Virginia-willow	SH	W					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Juniperus virginiana eastern red cedar	TL		D	S		L	USF Herbarium	US Forest Service Fact Sheet
Justicia angusta Everglades water-willow, pineland water-willow	WF	W					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Kosteletzkya virginica saltmarsh mallow	SH	W					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Lachnanthes caroliana redroot	WF	w	d		B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Liatris chapmanii slender-headed blazing-star	WF				B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Liatris gracilis slender blazing-star	WF	w			B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Liatris spicata spiked blazing-star	WF	w	D		B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Liatris tenuifolia blazing-star	WF		D		B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Licania michauxii gopher-apple	GC		D	s	B	L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Lilium catesbaei pine lily	WF	w					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Liquidambar styraciflua sweetgum	TL	w	d				USF Herbarium	US Forest Service Fact Sheet
Lobelia cardinalis cardinal flower	WF	W			B	L	USF Herbarium	Floridata.com
Lonicera sempervirens coral honeysuckle	VN		d		B	L	USF Herbarium
Lycium carolinianum Christmasberry	SH	w	D	S			USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Lyonia ferruginea rusty lyonia	SH		D		B	L	USF Herbarium
Lyonia lucida fetterbush, shiny lyonia	SH	w	d	s		L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Magnolia grandiflora southern magnolia	TL		d			L	USF Herbarium	US Forest Service Fact Sheet
Magnolia virginiana sweet-bay	TL	W			B	L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Mitchella repens partridge berry	GC	w	d			L	USF Herbarium	Connecticut Botanical Society
Morus rubra red mulberry	TL	w				L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Myrica cerifera wax myrtle	SH	w	d	S	B	L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Nymphaea odorata white water-lily	AQ	A					USF Herbarium	Floridata.com
Nymphoides aquatica floating hearts	AQ	A					USF Herbarium
Nyssa ogeche ogeechee tupelo	TS	W				L		US Forest Service Fact Sheet
Nyssa sylvatica black gum	TL		d			L	Biological Research Assoc.	US Forest Service Fact Sheet
Opuntia humifusa prickly-pear cactus	WF		D				USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Osmunda cinnamomea cinnamon fern	FN	W				L	USF Herbarium
Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis royal fern	FN	W				L	USF Herbarium
Parthenocissus quinquefolia woodbine, Virginia creeper	VN	w	D				USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Paspalum vaginatum seashore paspalum	GR	w	d					UF - info
Peltandra virginica green arum	AQ	A					USF Herbarium
Penstemon australis slender beardtongue	WF						USF Herbarium
Penstemon multiflorus manyflower beardtongue	WF		D		B		USF Herbarium
Persea borbonia red bay	TL	w	D	S	B	L	USF Herbarium	US Forest Service Fact Sheet
Persea palustris swamp bay	TS	W			B	L	USF Herbarium
Phlox pilosa downy phlox	WF						USF Herbarium
Photinia pyrifolia red chokeberry	SH	w					USF Herbarium
Phyla nodiflora frogfruit	GC	w	D	S	B		USF Herbarium
Pinckneya bracteata hairy fever tree	TS	W					USF Herbarium
Pinus clausa sand pine	TL		D	s		L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Pinus elliottii slash pine	TL	w	D	s		L	Biological Research Assoc.	Hernando Chapter
Pinus palustris longleaf pine	TL		D		B	L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Pinus taeda loblolly pine	TL	w	D			L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Pityopsis graminifolia silk-grass	WF		D		B		USF Herbarium
Poinsettia cyathophora painted-leaf	WF		d				USF Herbarium
Polygonella polygama jointweed, Octoberflower	WF		D				USF Herbarium
Pontederia cordata pickerelweed	AQ	A			B	L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Pteridium aquilinum bracken fern	FN		d	s			USF Herbarium
Quercus chapmanii Chapman's oak	TS		D	s		L	USF Herbarium
Quercus geminata sand live oak	TS		D	s		L	USF Herbarium	NC State University
Quercus laurifolia laurel oak	TL	w	a	s		L	USF Herbarium	UF Extention Service (EDIS)
Quercus lyrata overcup oak	TL	W				L	USF Herbarium
Quercus myrtifolia myrtle oak	TS		D			L	USF Herbarium
Quercus virginiana live oak	TL	w	D	s	B	L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Rhexia alifanus tall meadow-beauty, savanna meadowbeauty	WF	W					USF Herbarium
Rhexia cubensis meadow-beauty	WF	W					USF Herbarium
Rhexia mariana pale meadow-beauty	WF	W					USF Herbarium
Rhododendron canescens wild azalea, Piedmont azalea, pink azalea	SH	w					USF Herbarium
Rhus copallinum winged sumac	SH		D				USF Herbarium	US Forest Service Fact Sheet
Rhynchospora colorata fineleaf whitetop sedge	WF	w					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Rudbeckia hirta blackeyed-susan	WF				B	L	USF Herbarium
Sabal palmetto cabbage palm	TL	w	D	s		L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Sabatia bartramii Bartram's marsh-pink	WF	W					USF Herbarium
Salvia lyrata lyre-leaved sage	WF	w	d		B		USF Herbarium	Floridata.com
Sambucus nigra var. canadensis elderberry	SH	w		s		L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Saururus cernuus lizard's-tail	AQ	W					USF Herbarium
Scirpus californicus giant bulrush	GR	A				L	USF Herbarium
Scirpus cyperinus woolgrass	GR	W				L	USF Herbarium
Scutellaria integrifolia rough skullcap	WF	w					USF Herbarium
Serenoa repens saw palmetto	SH	w	D	s	B	L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Silphium asteriscus starry rosinweed	WF		D				USF Herbarium
Sisyrinchium angustifolium pointed blue-eyed-grass	GC	w	d	s	B		USF Herbarium
Solidago fistulosa hollow goldenrod	WF	W		S	B		USF Herbarium
Solidago sempervirens seaside goldenrod	WF	w	d	S	B		USF Herbarium
Sorghastrum secundum lopsided Indiangrass	GR	w	D	S			USF Herbarium
Spartina alterniflora saltmarsh cordgrass	GR	w	d	S		L	USF Herbarium
Spartina patens marshhay cordgrass	GR	W		S		L
Sporobolus junceus pineywoods dropseed	GR		D
Styrax americanus American snowbell	TS	w					USF Herbarium
Symphyotrichum adnatum scaleleaf aster	WF				B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Symphyotrichum concolor eastern silver aster	WF		d		B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Symphyotrichum dumosum bush aster	WF	w					USF Herbarium
Taxodium ascendens pond cypress	TL	w	d	S		L	Biological Research Assoc.	US Forest Service Fact Sheet
Taxodium distichum bald cypress	TL	w	d			L	USF Herbarium	US Forest Service Fact Sheet
Teucrium canadense wood-sage	WF	W		S			USF Herbarium
Thalia geniculata alligator flag	AQ	A				L	USF Herbarium
Thelypteris kunthii widespread maiden fern	FN	w				L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Tilia americana var. caroliniana American basswood	TL	w			B		USF Herbarium	US Forest Service Fact Sheet
Triadenum virginicum marsh St. John's-wort	WF	W					USF Herbarium
Trichostema dichotomum forked bluecurls	WF		D		B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Tripsacum dactyloides eastern gamagrass, Fakahatchee grass	GR	w		S		L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Ulmus americana American elm	TL	w	d		B		USF Herbarium	US Forest Service Fact Sheet
Uniola paniculata sea oats	GR		D	S			USF Herbarium
Vaccinium arboreum sparkleberry	TS		D	S	B	L	USF Herbarium
Vaccinium corymbosum highbush blueberry	SH	w				L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Vaccinium darrowii Darrow's blueberry	SH	w	d			L	USF Herbarium
Vaccinium myrsinites shiny blueberry	SH		D		B	L	USF Herbarium
Vaccinium stamineum deerberry	SH					L	USF Herbarium
Verbesina virginica frostweed	WF	w	d	s	B		USF Herbarium
Vernonia angustifolia narrow-leaf ironweed	WF		d		B		USF Herbarium
Vernonia gigantea tall ironweed	WF	w			B		USF Herbarium
Viburnum dentatum southern arrowwood	SH	w	d				USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Viburnum nudum possum haw	SH	W					USF Herbarium	Florida DEP
Viola lanceolata long-leaf violet	WF	W					USF Herbarium
Woodwardia virginica chain fern	FN	W					USF Herbarium
Yucca filamentosa Adam's needle	WF		D	S	B		USF Herbarium