Native plants · Florida

Native plants of Hernando County

502 plant species are recorded as native to Florida in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Hernando County by USDA PLANTS. 219 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 2 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Hernando County, Florida

Native species: 502 Typical Florida county: 385 (median of 67 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 219 Typical Florida county: 170
Share by type (all 502 native species): Percent of the 502 native species in each growth type

Tree 14% (68)
Shrub 5% (23)
Wildflower (forb) 50% (249)
Grass or grass-like 22% (110)
Vine 7% (35)
Fern 3% (17)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (50%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (22%).

Recorded native ranges can include long-established populations that spread from gardens; check your state’s native plant society list for local guidance. How native status is decided.

ZIP codes mainly in this county fall in USDA hardiness zones 9a to 9b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 219

Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.

Garden-ready native plants of Hernando County, Florida
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
aloe yucca Yucca aloifolia	Tree	15 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 7a
American basswood Tilia americana	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
American beautyberry Callicarpa americana	Shrub	6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6b
American cupscale Sacciolepis striata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5b
American elm Ulmus americana	Tree	120 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
American holly Ilex opaca	Tree	40 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American lotus Nelumbo lutea	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
American pokeweed Phytolacca americana	Wildflower (forb)	7.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American spongeplant Limnobium spongia	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	High	Zone 5a
American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
bald cypress Taxodium distichum	Tree	130 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
bighead rush Juncus megacephalus	Grass or grass-like	3.1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8b
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
black mangrove Avicennia germinans	Tree	30 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
blackgum Nyssa sylvatica	Tree	95 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
blue mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
boxelder Acer negundo	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
bristlystalked sedge Carex leptalea	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
broadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
broadleaf signalgrass Urochloa platyphylla	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 9a
broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
brownseed paspalum Paspalum plicatulum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 8a
bursting-heart Euonymus americanus	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
bushy bluestem Andropogon glomeratus	Grass or grass-like	6.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
bushy seaside tansy Borrichia frutescens	Shrub	2.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 9a
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
butterweed Packera glabella	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 10b
cabbage palmetto Sabal palmetto	Tree	90 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 9a
Canada germander Teucrium canadense	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis	Wildflower (forb)	5.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
Carolina desert-thorn Lycium carolinianum	Shrub	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 9a
Carolina elephantsfoot Elephantopus carolinianus	Wildflower (forb)	2.7 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
Carolina fanwort Cabomba caroliniana	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
Carolina redroot Lachnanthes caroliana	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8b
cat greenbrier Smilax glauca	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
cedar elm Ulmus crassifolia	Tree	90 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea	Fern	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
climbing hempvine Mikania scandens	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
coast cockspur grass Echinochloa walteri	Grass or grass-like	6.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 10b
coastal plain willow Salix caroliniana	Tree	33 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7b
common blue violet Viola sororia	Wildflower (forb)	4 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
common evening primrose Oenothera biennis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
common maidenhair Adiantum capillus-veneris	Fern	1.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
common persimmon Diospyros virginiana	Tree	55 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
common rush Juncus effusus	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
coral greenbrier Smilax walteri	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
dahoon Ilex cassine	Tree	26 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8b
deerberry Vaccinium stamineum	Shrub	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
dense blazing star Liatris spicata	Wildflower (forb)	4.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
devil's darning needles Clematis virginiana	Vine	15 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
devil's walkingstick Aralia spinosa	Tree	20 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
dwarf huckleberry Gaylussacia dumosa	Shrub	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
dwarf palmetto Sabal minor	Tree	9 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
eastern annual saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum subulatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
eastern baccharis Baccharis halimifolia	Tree	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7a
eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides	Tree	190 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
eastern gamagrass Tripsacum dactyloides	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
eastern redbud Cercis canadensis	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
eastern swampprivet Forestiera acuminata	Tree	33 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
eastern woodland sedge Carex blanda	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
eggleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium ovale	Grass or grass-like	1.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 6a
fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
false daisy Eclipta prostrata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 10b
false indigo bush Amorpha fruticosa	Shrub	15 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum	Tree	28 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
fetterbush lyonia Lyonia lucida	Shrub	6.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7b
field paspalum Paspalum laeve	Grass or grass-like	2.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
Florida bully Sideroxylon reclinatum	Shrub	2 ft	—	—	Zone 7a
Florida hopbush Dodonaea viscosa	Tree	15 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 9a
flowering dogwood Cornus florida	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
forked rush Juncus dichotomus	Grass or grass-like	2.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 8b
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11b
frost grape Vitis vulpina	Vine	83 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
graybark grape Vitis cinerea	Vine	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
green arrow arum Peltandra virginica	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
groundnut Apios americana	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
Gulf Coast spikerush Eleocharis cellulosa	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8b
Gulf Sebastian-bush Ditrysinia fruticosa	Shrub	12 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5b
hairawn muhly Muhlenbergia capillaris	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
hairy chaffhead Carphephorus paniculatus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 8a
hairy lespedeza Lespedeza hirta	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
haspan flatsedge Cyperus haspan	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8a
hilograss Paspalum conjugatum	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 8b
hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana	Tree	45 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
inkberry Ilex glabra	Shrub	8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6a
Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
Jesuit's bark Iva frutescens	Wildflower (forb)	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 7b
jointed spikesedge Eleocharis equisetoides	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
lanceleaf greenbrier Smilax smallii	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6b
large gallberry Ilex coriacea	Tree	12 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
laurel oak Quercus laurifolia	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
lavender thrift Limonium carolinianum	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6b
lesser creeping rush Juncus repens	Grass or grass-like	6.8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8b
little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
live oak Quercus virginiana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 8a
loblolly pine Pinus taeda	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6b
longleaf pine Pinus palustris	Tree	120 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
longleaf woodoats Chasmanthium sessiliflorum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
manyspike flatsedge Cyperus polystachyos	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12a
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
muscadine Vitis rotundifolia	Vine	30 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
narrowleaf silkgrass Pityopsis graminifolia	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
needleleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium aciculare	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 7b
needlepod rush Juncus scirpoides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7a
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus	Shrub	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
nimblewill Muhlenbergia schreberi	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 12a
panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6a
parsley hawthorn Crataegus marshallii	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata	Wildflower (forb)	2.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
peelbark St. Johnswort Hypericum fasciculatum	Shrub	5 ft	Sun	—	Zone 7b
Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
peppervine Nekemias arborea	Vine	1 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
pickerelweed Pontederia cordata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
pignut hickory Carya glabra	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
pine barren goldenrod Solidago fistulosa	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
pond cypress Taxodium ascendens	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 8a
pond pine Pinus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
possumhaw Viburnum nudum	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
prairie wedgescale Sphenopholis obtusata	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
prickly bog sedge Carex atlantica	Grass or grass-like	1.8 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
purplehead sneezeweed Helenium flexuosum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
purpletop tridens Tridens flavus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum	Fern	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
red chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia	Shrub	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5b
red maple Acer rubrum	Tree	68 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
red mulberry Morus rubra	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
redbay Persea borbonia	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
redtop panicgrass Panicum rigidulum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
roundpod St. Johnswort Hypericum cistifolium	Shrub	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
saltgrass Distichlis spicata	Grass or grass-like	1.1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
saltmeadow cordgrass Spartina patens	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 7a
saltwater false willow Baccharis angustifolia	Shrub	13 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8b
sand blackberry Rubus cuneifolius	Shrub	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
sand pine Pinus clausa	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7b
sassafras Sassafras albidum	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
saw greenbrier Smilax bona-nox	Vine	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
saw palmetto Serenoa repens	Tree	7 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus	Shrub	8.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
shallow sedge Carex lurida	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
shortbristle horned beaksedge Rhynchospora corniculata	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
slash pine Pinus elliottii	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
slender woodoats Chasmanthium laxum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
small-leaf arrowwood Viburnum obovatum	Tree	12 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 7b
smallfruit beggarticks Bidens mitis	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
smooth beggartick Bidens laevis	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
southern catalpa Catalpa bignonioides	Tree	66 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5b
southern magnolia Magnolia grandiflora	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
southern sugar maple Acer floridanum	Tree	50 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
southern waternymph Najas guadalupensis	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
Spanish moss Tillandsia usneoides	Vine	—	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 9b
splitbeard bluestem Andropogon ternarius	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5b
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
St. Peterswort Hypericum crux-andreae	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
stiff dogwood Cornus foemina	Tree	16 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
stiff marsh bedstraw Galium tinctorium	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
sturdy bulrush Bolboschoenus robustus	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
sugarberry Celtis laevigata	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
sugarcane plumegrass Saccharum giganteum	Grass or grass-like	9.8 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
summer grape Vitis aestivalis	Vine	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
swamp azalea Rhododendron viscosum	Shrub	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
swamp chestnut oak Quercus michauxii	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
swamp rose Rosa palustris	Shrub	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
swamp sawgrass Cladium mariscus	Grass or grass-like	8.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8b
swamp smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
swamp sunflower Helianthus angustifolius	Wildflower (forb)	5.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
swamp tupelo Nyssa biflora	Tree	115 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5b
sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
sweetscent Pluchea odorata	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
switchgrass Panicum virgatum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
taperleaf water horehound Lycopus rubellus	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
tenangle pipewort Eriocaulon decangulare	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
trumpet creeper Campsis radicans	Vine	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
trumpet honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera	Tree	120 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
turkey oak Quercus laevis	Tree	40 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
turkey tangle fogfruit Phyla nodiflora	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5b
valdivia duckweed Lemna valdiviana	Wildflower (forb)	1 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
Virginia sweetspire Itea virginica	Shrub	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
water oak Quercus nigra	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
waterpod Hydrolea quadrivalvis	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8b
waterthread pondweed Potamogeton diversifolius	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
wax myrtle Morella cerifera	Tree	10 ft	Sun	High	Zone 7a
white ash Fraxinus americana	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
white edge sedge Carex debilis	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6a
white fringetree Chionanthus virginicus	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
white mangrove Laguncularia racemosa	Tree	50 ft	Sun	High	Zone 11a
whitegrass Leersia virginica	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
wild tantan Desmanthus virgatus	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 9a
winged elm Ulmus alata	Tree	65 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
winged sumac Rhus copallinum	Tree	8 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
wingleaf soapberry Sapindus saponaria	Tree	20 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
yaupon Ilex vomitoria	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 8a
yellow flatsedge Cyperus flavescens	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11b
yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
yellow waterlily Nymphaea mexicana	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 7a

Other native species recorded here 283

PLANTS has no growing records for these, so light, moisture, height and zone filters cannot include them. Many are wild species seldom sold by nurseries.

Alabama supplejack Berchemia scandens
American black nightshade Solanum americanum
American bluehearts Buchnera americana
American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
anglestem primrose-willow Ludwigia leptocarpa
angularfruit milkvine Matelea gonocarpos
anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
annual phlox Phlox drummondii
arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
axilflower Mecardonia acuminata
azure blue sage Salvia azurea
Baldwin's flatsedge Cyperus croceus
basketgrass Oplismenus hirtellus
beach false foxglove Agalinis fasciculata
beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
bearded skeletongrass Gymnopogon ambiguus
big carpetgrass Axonopus furcatus
bigseed alfalfa dodder Cuscuta indecora
blackseed speargrass Piptochaetium avenaceum
bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
bluestem pricklypoppy Argemone albiflora
branched foldwing Dicliptera brachiata
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
bulltongue arrowhead Sagittaria lancifolia
button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
camphor pluchea Pluchea camphorata
camphorweed Heterotheca subaxillaris
Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
Canada spikesedge Eleocharis geniculata
Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
Carolina fimbry Fimbristylis caroliniana
Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
Carolina leaf-flower Phyllanthus caroliniensis
Carolina mosquitofern Azolla caroliniana
Carolina ponysfoot Dichondra carolinensis
Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
catchfly prairie gentian Eustoma exaltatum
chaffweed Anagallis minima
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
climbing dogbane Trachelospermum difforme
clustered mille graines Oldenlandia uniflora
coastal sandbur Cenchrus spinifex
Columbian watermeal Wolffia columbiana
combleaf mermaidweed Proserpinaca pectinata
common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
common carpetgrass Axonopus fissifolius
creeping primrose-willow Ludwigia repens
crossvine Bignonia capreolata
crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
cutleaf groundcherry Physalis angulata
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
dogfennel Eupatorium capillifolium
downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
downy phlox Phlox pilosa
drumheads Polygala cruciata
dwarf sundew Drosera brevifolia
dwarf umbrella-sedge Fuirena pumila
eastern grasswort Lilaeopsis chinensis
eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
eastern purple bladderwort Utricularia purpurea
eastern silver aster Symphyotrichum concolor
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
Elliott's fanpetals Sida elliottii
erect centella Centella erecta
false aloe Manfreda virginica
false hop sedge Carex lupuliformis
fewflower milkweed Asclepias lanceolata
field lovegrass Eragrostis elliottii
fire on the mountain Euphorbia cyathophora
flattened pipewort Eriocaulon compressum
Florida mudmidget Wolffiella gladiata
Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
Florida yellow flax Linum floridanum
forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
foxtail clubmoss Lycopodiella alopecuroides
fragrant spikesedge Kyllinga odorata
fringed nutrush Scleria ciliata
fringed yelloweyed grass Xyris fimbriata
gaping grass Steinchisma hians
giant ironweed Vernonia gigantea
globe beaksedge Rhynchospora globularis
grassleaf lettuce Lactuca graminifolia
grassy arrowhead Sagittaria graminea
green adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis unifolia
green antelopehorn Asclepias viridis
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
green dragon Arisaema dracontium
greenvein lady's tresses Spiranthes praecox
Guadeloupe cucumber Melothria pendula
gum bully Sideroxylon lanuginosum
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy clustervine Jacquemontia tamnifolia
hairy fimbry Fimbristylis puberula
hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
heartwing sorrel Rumex hastatulus
helmet flower Scutellaria integrifolia
hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
herb of grace Bacopa monnieri
herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
hoary ticktrefoil Desmodium canescens
horned bladderwort Utricularia cornuta
humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
husk tomato Physalis pubescens
hyssopleaf sandmat Chamaesyce hyssopifolia
Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
Java-bean Senna obtusifolia
jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
juniper leaf Polypremum procumbens
kiss me quick Portulaca pilosa
lanceleaf blanketflower Gaillardia aestivalis
lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
lavender bladderwort Utricularia resupinata
lax hornpod Mitreola petiolata
Leggett's pinweed Lechea pulchella
limestone adderstongue Ophioglossum engelmannii
little lady's tresses Spiranthes tuberosa
littlehead nutrush Scleria oligantha
lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
Long's sedge Carex longii
low nutrush Scleria verticillata
lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
lyreleaf sage Salvia lyrata
maidencane Panicum hemitomon
man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
manyflower marshpennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
marsh fimbry Fimbristylis castanea
marsh lady's tresses Spiranthes odorata
marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
meadow garlic Allium canadense
meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
Michaux's croton Croton michauxii
mudbabies Echinodorus tenellus
narrow plumegrass Saccharum baldwinii
narrowfruit horned beaksedge Rhynchospora inundata
narrowleaf bluecurls Trichostema setaceum
narrowleaf stoneseed Lithospermum incisum
netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
netted nutrush Scleria reticularis
oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
Pennsylvania everlasting Gamochaeta pensylvanica
perennial saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum tenuifolium
pillpod sandmat Chamaesyce hirta
pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
pineywoods dropseed Sporobolus junceus
pink fuzzybean Strophostyles umbellata
pink sundew Drosera capillaris
pink thoroughwort Fleischmannia incarnata
pitchfork crowngrass Paspalum bifidum
plains snakecotton Froelichia floridana
Plukenet's flatsedge Cyperus plukenetii
poorjoe Diodia teres
procession flower Polygala incarnata
purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
purple sandgrass Triplasis purpurea
queen's-delight Stillingia sylvatica
queendevil Hieracium gronovii
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
reflexed sedge Carex retroflexa
rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
Richard's yelloweyed grass Xyris jupicai
romerillo Bidens alba
rose mock vervain Glandularia canadensis
rose of Plymouth Sabatia stellaris
rough dropseed Sporobolus clandestinus
rough Mexican clover Richardia scabra
roughfruit scaleseed Spermolepis divaricata
roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
saltmarsh false foxglove Agalinis maritima
sand spikerush Eleocharis montevidensis
sandpaper vervain Verbena scabra
satincurls Clematis catesbyana
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
shaggy crabgrass Digitaria villosa
shaggy hedgehyssop Gratiola pilosa
shortbeak beaksedge Rhynchospora nitens
sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender clubmoss Lycopodiella caroliniana
slender crabgrass Digitaria filiformis
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
slender goldentop Euthamia caroliniana
slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
small Venus' looking-glass Triodanis biflora
Small's yelloweyed grass Xyris smalliana
smallflower halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha micrantha
smallhead doll's daisy Boltonia diffusa
smooth small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium marilandicum
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
sneezeweed Helenium amarum
southern bladderwort Utricularia juncea
southern bog clubmoss Lycopodiella appressa
southern cutgrass Leersia hexandra
southern dewberry Rubus trivialis
southern sandbur Cenchrus echinatus
Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
sparselobe grapefern Botrychium biternatum
spiked crested coralroot Hexalectris spicata
spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spreading sandwort Arenaria lanuginosa
spring coralroot Corallorhiza wisteriana
spring lady's tresses Spiranthes vernalis
spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
stiff yellow flax Linum medium
stinking camphorweed Pluchea foetida
swamp leather flower Clematis crispa
swollen bladderwort Utricularia inflata
tapered rosette grass Dichanthelium acuminatum
tenlobe false foxglove Agalinis obtusifolia
Texas vervain Verbena halei
thicket bean Phaseolus polystachios
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
threadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria filiformis
threadleaf false foxglove Agalinis setacea
three-angle spikerush Eleocharis tricostata
three-lobe violet Viola triloba
thymeleaf pinweed Lechea minor
trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
tropical flatsedge Cyperus surinamensis
tuberous grasspink Calopogon tuberosus
twining snoutbean Rhynchosia tomentosa
twoflower melicgrass Melica mutica
Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
Virginia marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum virginicum
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
Virginia saltmarsh mallow Kosteletzkya virginica
Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
warty panicgrass Panicum verrucosum
water lettuce Pistia stratiotes
watershield Brasenia schreberi
wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
whisk fern Psilotum nudum
white crownbeard Verbesina virginica
white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle prolifera
whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
wild Job's tears Onosmodium virginianum
winged lythrum Lythrum alatum
woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
woollysheath threeawn Aristida lanosa
yankeeweed Eupatorium compositifolium
yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris
yellow screwstem Bartonia virginica
yellow spikerush Eleocharis flavescens
yellow thistle Cirsium horridulum
yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
zigzag bladderwort Utricularia subulata

Also listed as native and introduced here 2

PLANTS labels these species both native and introduced in this state: some forms are native and others were brought in from elsewhere. Most gardeners should choose plants from the main list.

annual ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifolia
Mexican teaDysphania ambrosioides

Compared with Florida

The typical county is the median of the 67 Florida counties with PLANTS county records; the statewide figure counts every species native anywhere in the state. More species is not better or worse: counties differ in size, habitat and how thoroughly they have been surveyed.

Native species counts, Hernando County and Florida
Measure	Hernando County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	502	385	1,282
Garden-ready natives	219	170	493
Tree	68	—	166
Shrub	23	—	59
Wildflower (forb)	249	—	648
Grass or grass-like	110	—	315
Vine	35	—	65
Fern	17	—	29

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Hernando County.

Citrus County, FL 210 garden-ready
Pasco County, FL 186 garden-ready
Sumter County, FL 160 garden-ready

Source & data date

Source: USDA NRCS PLANTS Database: county distribution records, native status and plant characteristics. CC0 (public domain dedication, per the data.gov catalog record).; Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): native or introduced status by state. CC BY 3.0.; USGS US-RIIS (ver. 2.0): species listed as introduced are excluded. CC0.
Citation: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (https://plants.usda.gov, 11/04/2026). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA.; Govaerts R. (ed.) (2026). WCVP: World Checklist of Vascular Plants. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Data file dated 2026-06-04, http://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/ (retrieved 2026-11-04). Paper: Govaerts R. et al. (2021) The World Checklist of Vascular Plants, a continuously updated resource for exploring global plant diversity. Scientific Data 8, 215.
Data date: Retrieved from PLANTS on November 4, 2026; WCVP data file dated June 4, 2026.
Zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) ZIP table: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 3, 2026. Plant zones on this site are our estimate, not the official map.
Scope: Hernando County (county FIPS 12053), Florida. 502 native species from PLANTS county distribution records; garden-ready = species with a PLANTS characteristics record.
Method: A species is listed when it is recorded as native to the state in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in the county by USDA PLANTS. Species PLANTS labels both native and introduced are listed separately. Full method · All sources

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