Native Plants in Florida
The native plants that belong in Florida gardens — grouped by sun, soil, and wildlife value.
30 native plants suit Florida's ecoregions and USDA zones 8–11. Below they're grouped by how you'd use them — full sun, shade, wet soil and rain gardens, dry, drought-prone ground, deer-resistant picks, pollinators, birds and hummingbirds — with a species table and when to plant.
Data updated: August 2026Sources & method · Corrections
When to plant natives in Florida
Plant after your last spring frost — the milder south is essentially frost-free, the colder north warms up around March 26. Fall is often even better for perennials and shrubs — the soil is still warm and roots settle before winter, ahead of the first frost around November 12 in the north, with the south essentially frost-free.
For full sun
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa
- Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata
- Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
- Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis
- Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata
- Common Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
- Rattlesnake Master Eryngium yuccifolium
- Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Indian Grass Sorghastrum nutans
- Pink Muhly Grass Muhlenbergia capillaris
- Lanceleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata
For shade
- Wild Columbine Aquilegia canadensis
- Woodland Phlox Phlox divaricata
- Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
- Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dentatum
- Oakleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia
- Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida
- Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia
For wet soil & rain gardens
- Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata
- Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
- Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata
- Common Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
- Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
- Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
- Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dentatum
- American Elderberry Sambucus canadensis
- Inkberry Holly Ilex glabra
For dry, drought-prone spots
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa
- Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis
- Rattlesnake Master Eryngium yuccifolium
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Indian Grass Sorghastrum nutans
- Pink Muhly Grass Muhlenbergia capillaris
- Lanceleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata
- American Beautyberry Callicarpa americana
- New Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus
- Crossvine Bignonia capreolata
- Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Deer-resistant
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa
- Wild Columbine Aquilegia canadensis
- Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis
- Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata
- Rattlesnake Master Eryngium yuccifolium
- Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Indian Grass Sorghastrum nutans
- Pink Muhly Grass Muhlenbergia capillaris
- Lanceleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata
- American Beautyberry Callicarpa americana
- New Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus
For pollinators
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa
- Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata
- Wild Columbine Aquilegia canadensis
- Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
- Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis
- Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata
- Common Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
- Rattlesnake Master Eryngium yuccifolium
- Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
- Woodland Phlox Phlox divaricata
- Lanceleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata
- Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
- Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dentatum
- American Beautyberry Callicarpa americana
For birds
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Indian Grass Sorghastrum nutans
- Pink Muhly Grass Muhlenbergia capillaris
- Lanceleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata
- Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
- Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dentatum
- American Beautyberry Callicarpa americana
- American Elderberry Sambucus canadensis
- Inkberry Holly Ilex glabra
- Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida
- Trumpet Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens
For hummingbirds
- Wild Columbine Aquilegia canadensis
- Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
- Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
- Woodland Phlox Phlox divaricata
- Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
- New Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus
- Trumpet Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens
- Crossvine Bignonia capreolata
Identify Florida wildflowers by color
| Bloom color | Native wildflowers (typical U.S. bloom) |
|---|---|
| Blue | Wild Lupine — Blue-violet (Apr–Jun), Woodland Phlox — Lavender-blue (Apr–May) |
| Gold | Black-Eyed Susan — Golden yellow (Jun–Sep), Lanceleaf Coreopsis — Bright gold (May–Jul) |
| Magenta | Dense Blazing Star — Magenta (Jul–Aug) |
| Orange | Butterfly Weed — Vivid orange (Jun–Aug) |
| Pink | Swamp Milkweed — Rose pink (Jul–Aug), Obedient Plant — Pink (Aug–Sep) |
| Red | Wild Columbine — Red & yellow (Apr–Jun), Cardinal Flower — Electric scarlet (Jul–Sep) |
| White | Common Boneset — Foamy white (Aug–Sep), Rattlesnake Master — Greenish-white (Jun–Aug) |
Bloom months are a typical window across the species' U.S. range, not a local calendar — the same plant opens weeks later in the north and at altitude than it does in the south. Use it for ordering the season, and let the plants in front of you set the dates.
All 30 native plants for Florida
| Plant | Type | Sun | Soil moisture | Height | Typical bloom (U.S.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 1.5–3 ft | Jun–Sep |
| Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1.5–2.5 ft | Jun–Aug |
| Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 3–4 ft | Jul–Aug |
| Wild Columbine Aquilegia canadensis | Perennial wildflower | Part sun / Shade | Dry / Medium | 1–2.5 ft | Apr–Jun |
| Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis | Perennial wildflower | Part sun / Full sun | Wet / Medium | 2–4 ft | Jul–Sep |
| Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 1–2 ft | Apr–Jun |
| Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Medium / Wet | 2–4 ft | Jul–Aug |
| Common Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 3–5 ft | Aug–Sep |
| Rattlesnake Master Eryngium yuccifolium | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 3–5 ft | Jun–Aug |
| Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 2–4 ft | Aug–Sep |
| Woodland Phlox Phlox divaricata | Perennial wildflower | Part sun / Shade | Medium | 10–15 in | Apr–May |
| Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum | Fern | Part sun / Shade | Wet / Medium | 2–4 ft | — |
| Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium | Ornamental grass | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 2–4 ft | — |
| Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii | Ornamental grass | Full sun | Dry / Medium / Wet | 4–7 ft | — |
| Switchgrass Panicum virgatum | Ornamental grass | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium / Wet | 3–6 ft | — |
| Indian Grass Sorghastrum nutans | Ornamental grass | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 4–7 ft | — |
| Pink Muhly Grass Muhlenbergia capillaris | Ornamental grass | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 2–3 ft | Sep–Oct |
| Lanceleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 1.5–2 ft | May–Jul |
| Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 5–10 ft | Jun–Aug |
| Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dentatum | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun / Shade | Medium / Wet | 6–10 ft | May–Jun |
| American Beautyberry Callicarpa americana | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 4–7 ft | Jun–Jul |
| American Elderberry Sambucus canadensis | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 6–12 ft | Jun–Jul |
| New Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 2–3.5 ft | May–Jul |
| Oakleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia | Shrub | Part sun / Shade | Medium | 4–8 ft | May–Jul |
| Inkberry Holly Ilex glabra | Evergreen shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 4–8 ft | May–Jun |
| Eastern Redbud Cercis canadensis | Small tree | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Dry | 20–30 ft | Mar–Apr |
| Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida | Small tree | Part sun / Shade | Medium | 15–25 ft | Apr–May |
| Trumpet Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens | Vine | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 8–15 ft | Apr–Sep |
| Crossvine Bignonia capreolata | Vine | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Dry | 25–50 ft | Apr–May |
| Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia | Vine | Full sun / Part sun / Shade | Dry / Medium | 30–50 ft | Jun |
Bloom months are a typical window across the species' U.S. range, not a local calendar — the same plant opens weeks later in the north and at altitude than it does in the south. Use it for ordering the season, and let the plants in front of you set the dates.
Confirm any plant is native to your county with your state Native Plant Society before planting.
The Florida natives worth asking for
The natives worth asking for in Florida — with the botanical name to say at the counter, so you get the plant that feeds something.
The complete Native Plants of Florida
The native plants that belong in your yard — what to plant for pollinators, by zone, with bloom timing and a species table.
Want it on paper? See the printable Native Plants of Florida.