Natives to Grow in PALM BEACH 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 rubrum red maple	TL	w				L	USF Herbarium	US Forest Service fact sheet
Acrostichum danaeifolium giant leather fern	FN	W		s		L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Aletris lutea yellow colic-root	WF	W					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Amorpha fruticosa false indigo-bush, bastard-indigo	SH	w					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Amyris elemifera torchwood		w	D				USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Andropogon brachystachyus short-spike bluestem	GR	w					UF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Andropogon virginicus broomsedge bluestem	GR	w						Institute for Regional Conservation
Annona glabra pond-apple, custard-apple	TS	W		S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Apios americana American groundnut	VN	w					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Ardisia escallonioides marlberry, marbleberry	SH	w	D	S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Argusia gnaphalodes sea-lavender, sea-rosemary	SH						USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Arisaema triphyllum jack-in-the-pulpit	WF	W					USF Herbarium
Aristida spiciformis bottlebrush grass	GR	w					USF Herbarium
Aristida stricta var. beyrichiana wiregrass	GR	w	D				USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Asclepias incarnata swamp milkweed	WF	W			B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Asclepias perennis aquatic milkweed	WF	W			B		USF Herbarium
Asclepias tuberosa butterflyweed	WF		D	S	B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
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
Bejaria racemosa tarflower	SH	w	D				USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Blechnum serrulatum swamp fern	FN	W				L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Bletia purpurea pinepink	WF	w					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Boehmeria cylindrica small-spike false-nettle	WF	W			B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Bursera simaruba gumbo-limbo	TL		D	S	B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Callicarpa americana beautyberry	SH	w	D	S		L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Canavalia rosea seaside bean. Baybean	GC		D	S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Canna flaccida golden canna	WF	W			B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Capparis cynophallophora Jamaica caper-tree	SH		D	S	B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Capparis flexuosa bay-leaved caper-tree	SH	w	D	S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Carphephorus corymbosus coastal-plain chaffhead	WF		D		B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
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
Carya floridana scrub hickory	TS		D	S		L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Celtis laevigata hackberry, sugarberry	TL	w			B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Cephalanthus occidentalis buttonbush	SH	W			B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Chamaecrista fasciculata sleeping plant, partridge-pea	WF		D		B	L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Chiococca alba snowberry	SH	w	D	S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Chrysobalanus icaco coco-plum	SH	w	D	S	B		Biological Research Assoc.	Institute for Regional Conservation
Chrysophyllum oliviforme satinleaf	TL		D	s			Biological Research Assoc.	Institute for Regional Conservation
Chrysopsis scabrella rough-leaf goldenaster	WF		D	S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Citharexylum spinosum fiddlewood	TL		D	S	B		USF Herbarium
Cladium jamaicense saw-grass	GR	W		S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Clematis baldwinii pine-hyacinth	WF	W					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Coccoloba diversifolia pigeon plum	TS		D	S		L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Coccoloba uvifera seagrape	TS		D	S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Coccothrinax argentata silver thatch palm	TS	w	D	S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Commelina erecta sandhill dayflower	WF		D				USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Conocarpus erectus buttonwood	TS	W	D	S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Conoclinium coelestinum mistflower	WF	w			B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Conradina grandiflora large-flowered conradina	WF		D	S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Coreopsis floridana Florida tickseed	WF	W					USF Herbarium
Coreopsis leavenworthii Leavenworth's tickseed	WF	w			B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Crinum americanum string lily, swamp lily	WF	W		S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Dalea carnea hammock prairie-clover	WF	w	D		B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Dalea feayi prairie-clover	WF		D		B		USF Herbarium
Diospyros virginiana persimmon	TS	w	D			L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Dodonaea viscosa varnish leaf	SH		D	S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
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
Ernodea littoralis beach-creeper	SH		D	S			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
Eugenia axillaris white stopper	SH		D	S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Eugenia foetida Spanish stopper, boxleaf stopper	SH		D	S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Exothea paniculata inkwood	TL		D	S			USF Herbarium
Ficus aurea strangler fig	TL	w	D			L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Flaveria linearis yellowtop	WF	w	d	S	B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Forestiera segregata Florida privet	SH	w	D	S	B	L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Gordonia lasianthus loblolly-bay	TL	W				L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Gossypium hirsutum wild cotton	WF		D	S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Guapira discolor blolly, beefwood	TS		D	S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Habenaria repens water-spider rein orchid	WF	W					USF Herbarium	OrchidWeb
Hamelia patens firebush	SH	w	d	S	B	L	USF Herbarium	Palmetto Article - E. Smith
Helenium amarum pasture sneezeweed	WF	w					USF Herbarium
Helenium pinnatifidum southeastern sneezeweed	WF	W					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Helianthus debilis east coast beach sunflower	GC		D	S	B	L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Heliotropium angiospermum scorpion-tail	WF		d		B	L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Heliotropium curassavicum seaside heliotrope	WF	w		s	B		USF Herbarium
Heliotropium polyphyllum pineland heliotrope	WF	w	d	s	B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Hibiscus furcellatus sleepy hibiscus				s			USF Herbarium
Hibiscus grandiflorus swamp rosemallow	WF	W				L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Hymenocallis latifolia mangrove spiderlily, perfuned spiderlily	WF	w	d	S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Hymenocallis palmeri alligator-lily	WF	w					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Hypericum hypericoides St. Andrew's-cross	WF	w	d				USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Hypericum reductum matted sandweed	WF		D				USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Hypericum tetrapetalum four-petal St. Peter's-wort	WF	w					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Ilex cassine dahoon holly	TS	w	d		B	L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Ilex glabra inkberry, gallberry	SH	w	d	S		L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Ipomoea alba moonflower	VN	w					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
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
Itea virginica Virginia-willow	SH	W					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Iva imbricata seacoast sumpweed	WF	w	D	S			USFS Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Jacquemontia reclinata beach jacquemontia	WF
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
Krugiodendron ferreum black ironwood, leadwood			D	S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Lachnanthes caroliana redroot	WF	w	d		B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Laguncularia racemosa white mangrove	TS	W		S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Lantana involucrata wild lantana	SH		D	S	B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Liatris chapmanii slender-headed blazing-star	WF				B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Liatris garberi Garber's blazing-star	WF	W	d		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
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
Lupinus diffusus sky blue lupine	WF		D	s	B		USF Herbarium
Lyonia lucida fetterbush, shiny lyonia	SH	w	d	s		L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Lythrum alatum var. lanceolatum loosestrife	WF	W					USF Herbarium
Magnolia virginiana sweet-bay	TL	W			B	L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Melanthera nivea snow squarestem	WF	w			B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Monarda punctata dotted horsemint	WF		d	s	B	L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Morus rubra red mulberry	TL	w				L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Myrcianthes fragrans Simpson's ironwood, twinberry	SH		d	s	B	L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Myrica cerifera wax myrtle	SH	w	d	S	B	L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Nephrolepis biserrata giant swordfern	FN	w					USF Herbarium
Nephrolepis exaltata wild Boston fern	FN	w					USF Herbarium	Floridata.com
Nuphar advena cowlily, spatterdock	AQ	A					USF Herbarium
Nymphaea mexicana yellow water-lily	AQ	A					USF Herbarium
Nymphaea odorata white water-lily	AQ	A					USF Herbarium	Floridata.com
Nymphoides aquatica floating hearts	AQ	A					USF Herbarium
Ocotea coriacea lancewood							USF Herbarium
Oplismenus hirtellus bristle basketgrass	GR						USF Herbarium
Opuntia humifusa prickly-pear cactus	WF		D				USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Opuntia stricta erect prickly-pear cactus	WF		D	S			USF Herbarium
Osmunda cinnamomea cinnamon fern	FN	W				L	USF Herbarium
Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis royal fern	FN	W				L	USF Herbarium
Palafoxia feayi palafox	SH		D				USF Herbarium
Palafoxia integrifolia many-wings	WF		D				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
Passiflora suberosa corky passion-flower	VN		D	s	B	L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Peltandra virginica green arum	AQ	A					USF Herbarium
Pentalinon luteum wild allamanda	VN	W	D	S	B		USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Peperomia obtusifolia Florida peperomia	GC	w					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
Phyla nodiflora frogfruit	GC	w	D	S	B		USF Herbarium
Piloblephis rigida pennyroyal	WF		D		B		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
Pithecellobium keyense Florida Keys blackbead	TS		D		B	L	USF Herbarium
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
Polygonella robusta largeflower jointweed, sandhill wireweed	WF		D				USF Herbarium
Pontederia cordata pickerelweed	AQ	A			B	L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Psychotria nervosa shiny-leaf wild-coffee	SH	w	d	s	B	L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Psychotria sulzneri dull-leaf wild-coffee	SH	w				L	USF Herbarium
Pteridium aquilinum bracken fern	FN		d	s			USF Herbarium
Pteris bahamensis Bahama brake fern	FN		d				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 myrtifolia myrtle oak	TS		D			L	USF Herbarium
Quercus virginiana live oak	TL	w	D	s	B	L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Randia aculeata white indigo berry	SH	w	D	S			USF Herbarium
Rapanea punctata myrsine	SH	w	d	s			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Rhexia cubensis meadow-beauty	WF	W					USF Herbarium
Rhizophora mangle red mangrove	TS	W		s			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
Rivina humilis rouge plant	SH		D	s	B	L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Rudbeckia hirta blackeyed-susan	WF				B	L	USF Herbarium
Ruellia caroliniensis Carolina wildpetunia	WF	w	D	s			USF Herbarium
Sabal etonia scrub palmetto	SH		D	s	B	L	USF Herbarium
Sabatia bartramii Bartram's marsh-pink	WF	W					USF Herbarium
Sagittaria lancifolia lance-leaved arrowhead	AQ	A				L	USF Herbarium
Sagittaria latifolia wapato, common arrowhead	AQ	W				L	USF Herbarium	Connecticat Botanical Society
Sambucus nigra var. canadensis elderberry	SH	w		s		L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Saururus cernuus lizard's-tail	AQ	W					USF Herbarium
Scaevola plumieri beachberry	SH		D	S			USF Herbarium
Scirpus californicus giant bulrush	GR	A				L	USF Herbarium
Senna ligustrina privet senna	SH	w	d		B		USF Herbarium
Serenoa repens saw palmetto	SH	w	D	s	B	L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Sesuvium portulacastrum sea-purslane	GC	W		S			USF Herbarium
Sideroxylon foetidissimum mastic, false mastic, wild olive	TS		D	S		L	USF Herbarium	Palmetto Article - C. Hugel
Sideroxylon reclinatum smooth buckthorn	TS	w	d	S		L	USF Herbarium	Palmetto Article - C. Hugel
Sideroxylon salicifolium willow-bustic	TS	w	d	s		L	USF Herbarium	Palmetto Article - C. Hugel
Simarouba glauca paradise tree, bitterwood.	TL		D	S			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 odora var. chapmanii sweet goldenrod	WF	w			B		USF Herbarium
Solidago sempervirens seaside goldenrod	WF	w	d	S	B		USF Herbarium
Sophora tomentosa var. truncata yellow necklacepod	SH	w	D	S	B	L	USF Herbarium
Sorghastrum secundum lopsided Indiangrass	GR	w	D	S			USF Herbarium
Spartina alterniflora saltmarsh cordgrass	GR	w	d	S		L	USF Herbarium
Spartina bakeri sand cordgrass	GR	w		S		L	USF Herbarium
Spartina patens marshhay cordgrass	GR	W		S		L
Sporobolus junceus pineywoods dropseed	GR		D
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis blue porterweed	GC		D	S	B		USF Herbarium
Suriana maritima bay-cedar	SH	w	D	S			USF Herbarium
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
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 myrsinites shiny blueberry	SH		D		B	L	USF Herbarium
Verbena maritima coastal vervain	WF		D		B		USF Herbarium
Verbesina virginica frostweed	WF	w	d	s	B		USF Herbarium
Vernonia gigantea tall ironweed	WF	w			B		USF Herbarium
Viola lanceolata long-leaf violet	WF	W					USF Herbarium
Woodwardia virginica chain fern	FN	W					USF Herbarium
Ximenia americana tallowwood	SH		D	s		L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Yucca filamentosa Adam's needle	WF		D	S	B		USF Herbarium
Zamia pumila arrowroot, coontie	GC		D	S	B		Biological Research Assoc.
Zanthoxylum clava-herculis Hercules-club	TS	w	D	S	B	L	USF Herbarium
Zanthoxylum fagara wild-lime	TS		D	s	B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Zephyranthes simpsonii Simpson's zephyr lily	WF	w	d				USF Herbarium