Natives to Grow in SARASOTA 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
Acacia farnesiana sweet acacia	TS		D	S	B	L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
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
Agave decipiens false sisal	SH		D				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
Amorpha herbacea cluster-spike indigo-bush	WF						USF Herbarium
Andropogon virginicus broomsedge bluestem	GR	w						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
Aristida spiciformis bottlebrush grass	GR	w					USF Herbarium
Aristida stricta var. beyrichiana wiregrass	GR	w	D				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
Asimina incana polecat bush, flag pawpaw	SH					L	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
Bejaria racemosa tarflower	SH	w	D				USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Berlandiera subacaulis common greeneyes, Florida greeneyes	WF		D				USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Blechnum serrulatum swamp fern	FN	W				L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Boehmeria cylindrica small-spike false-nettle	WF	W			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
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
Carya floridana scrub hickory	TS		D	S		L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Carya glabra pignut hickory	TL		D			L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
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
Chionanthus virginicus fringe tree	TS	w				L	USF Herbarium	US Forest Service Fact Sheet
Chrysobalanus icaco coco-plum	SH	w	D	S	B		Biological Research Assoc.	Institute for Regional Conservation
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 uvifera seagrape	TS		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
Coreopsis leavenworthii Leavenworth's tickseed	WF	w			B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Cornus foemina stiff cornel, swamp dogwood	TS	W			B	L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Crinum americanum string lily, swamp lily	WF	W		S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Crossopetalum rhacoma rhacoma		W	D	S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Dalea carnea hammock prairie-clover	WF	w	D		B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
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
Doellingeria reticulata white-top aster	WF						USF Herbarium
Dyschoriste oblongifolia twinflower, oblongleaf twinflower	GC	w	d		B		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
Eustoma exaltatum seaside gentian	WF	w		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
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 sempervirens yellow jesamine, Carolina jasamine	VN	w	D		B		USF Herbarium
Gossypium hirsutum wild cotton	WF		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 angustifolius swamp sunflower; narrow-leaved sunflower	WF	W			B	L	USF Herbarium
Helianthus debilis subsp. cucumerifolius cucumberleaf beach sunflower	WF		D	S	B	L
Helianthus debilis subsp. vestitus west coast beach sunflower	WF		D	S	B	L	USF Herbarium
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 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 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 myrtifolium myrtle-leaf St. John's-wort	WF	w					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 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 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 vomitoria yaupon holly	TS	w	D	S		L	USF Herbarium	FDEP
Ipomoea alba moonflower	VN	w					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Ipomoea cordatotriloba tievine	VN	w					USF Herbarium
Ipomoea hederifolia scarlet morningglory	VN		D		B		USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
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 hexagona prairie iris	WF	W					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Itea virginica Virginia-willow	SH	W					USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Iva frutescens bigleaf marsh-elder	WF	W	D	S			USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Iva imbricata seacoast sumpweed	WF	w	D	S			USFS Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Juncus effusus soft rush	GR	W		S			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
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 graminifolia blazing-star	WF				B
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
Lupinus diffusus sky blue lupine	WF		D	s	B		USF Herbarium
Lycium carolinianum Christmasberry	SH	w	D	S			USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
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
Mitchella repens partridge berry	GC	w	d			L	USF Herbarium	Connecticut Botanical Society
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
Muhlenbergia capillaris hairgrass	GR	w	d	s		L	USF Herbarium	Institute for Regional Conservation
Myrica cerifera wax myrtle	SH	w	d	S	B	L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Nephrolepis exaltata wild Boston fern	FN	w					USF Herbarium	Floridata.com
Nuphar advena cowlily, spatterdock	AQ	A					USF Herbarium
Nymphaea elegans blue water-lily	AQ	A					Biological Research Assoc.
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
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
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
Phoebanthus grandiflorus phoebanthus	WF		D		B		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 unguis-cati cat's-claw, catclaw blackbead	SH		D	S	B	L	USF Herbarium
Pityopsis graminifolia silk-grass	WF		D		B		USF Herbarium
Poinsettia cyathophora painted-leaf	WF		d				USF Herbarium
Polygonella myriophylla Small's jointweed	WF		D				USF Herbarium
Pontederia cordata pickerelweed	AQ	A			B	L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Prunus caroliniana cherry-laurel, laurel cherry	TS		D		B	L	USF Herbarium	US Forest Service Fact Sheet
Prunus umbellata hog plum, flatwoods plum	TS		D		B	L	USF Herbarium
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
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 incana bluejack oak	TL		D			L	USF Herbarium
Quercus inopina scrub oak	TS		D			L	USF Herbarium
Quercus laevis turkey oak	TL		D			L	USF Herbarium
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
Rhexia mariana pale 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 minor dwarf palmetto	SH	W				L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Sabal palmetto cabbage palm	TL	w	D	s		L	USF Herbarium	Hernando Chapter
Sabatia bartramii Bartram's marsh-pink	WF	W					USF Herbarium
Sagittaria lancifolia lance-leaved arrowhead	AQ	A				L	USF Herbarium
Salvia coccinea scarlet sage, tropical sage	WF		D	s	B		USF Herbarium	Floridata.com
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
Scaevola plumieri beachberry	SH		D	S			USF Herbarium
Scutellaria integrifolia rough skullcap	WF	w					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
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 bakeri sand cordgrass	GR	w		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
Suriana maritima bay-cedar	SH	w	D	S			USF Herbarium
Symphyotrichum carolinianum climbing aster	VN	W			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
Tradescantia ohiensis Ohio spiderwort	WF	w	D				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
Verbena tampensis Tampa 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
Viburnum obovatum small viburnum	SH	w	d		B	L	USF Herbarium	Florida DEP
Viola lanceolata long-leaf violet	WF	W					USF Herbarium
Viola sororia violet	WF	w					USF Herbarium
Woodwardia areolata netted chain fern	FN	W				L	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