Native plants · Florida

Native plants of Lee County

348 plant species are recorded as native to Florida in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Lee County by USDA PLANTS. 151 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 4 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Lee County, Florida

Native species: 348 Typical Florida county: 385 (median of 67 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 151 Typical Florida county: 170
Share by type (all 348 native species): Percent of the 348 native species in each growth type

Tree 11% (37)
Shrub 5% (17)
Wildflower (forb) 47% (163)
Grass or grass-like 29% (102)
Vine 7% (24)
Fern 1% (5)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (47%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (29%).

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 10a to 11a (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 151

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

Garden-ready native plants of Lee County, Florida
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
aloe yucca Yucca aloifolia	Tree	15 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 7a
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 pokeweed Phytolacca americana	Wildflower (forb)	7.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American sycamore Platanus occidentalis	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
bald cypress Taxodium distichum	Tree	130 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
bayhops Ipomoea pes-caprae	Vine	1 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 9a
bighead rush Juncus megacephalus	Grass or grass-like	3.1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8b
bitter panicgrass Panicum amarum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
black mangrove Avicennia germinans	Tree	30 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
blue mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
broadleaf carpetgrass Axonopus compressus	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 7a
broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
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
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
Carolina ash Fraxinus caroliniana	Tree	39 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7b
Carolina desert-thorn Lycium carolinianum	Shrub	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 9a
Carolina fanwort Cabomba caroliniana	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
Carolina redroot Lachnanthes caroliana	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8b
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 persimmon Diospyros virginiana	Tree	55 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
cucumberleaf sunflower Helianthus debilis	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 9b
dahoon Ilex cassine	Tree	26 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8b
dense blazing star Liatris spicata	Wildflower (forb)	4.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
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 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 gamagrass Tripsacum dactyloides	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
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
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11b
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
green sprangletop Leptochloa dubia	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
Gulf Coast spikerush Eleocharis cellulosa	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8b
gulf cordgrass Spartina spartinae	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 9a
gulfhairawn muhly Muhlenbergia filipes	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
gumbo limbo Bursera simaruba	Tree	40 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 11a
hairawn muhly Muhlenbergia capillaris	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta	Grass or grass-like	6 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
haspan flatsedge Cyperus haspan	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8a
horsetail paspalum Paspalum fluitans	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
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
Jamaican caper Capparis cynophallophora	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 11a
Jesuit's bark Iva frutescens	Wildflower (forb)	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 7b
knotgrass Paspalum distichum	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	High	Zone 6a
laurel greenbrier Smilax laurifolia	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
laurel oak Quercus laurifolia	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
lavender thrift Limonium carolinianum	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6b
live oak Quercus virginiana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 8a
longleaf pine Pinus palustris	Tree	120 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
Malabar sprangletop Leptochloa fusca	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
manyspike flatsedge Cyperus polystachyos	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12a
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
orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 12a
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
peppervine Nekemias arborea	Vine	1 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
pickerelweed Pontederia cordata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
pine barren goldenrod Solidago fistulosa	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
pond apple Annona glabra	Tree	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 9a
poorland flatsedge Cyperus compressus	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
purpletop tridens Tridens flavus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
red stopper Eugenia rhombea	Tree	20 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 11a
redroot flatsedge Cyperus erythrorhizos	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
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
running oak Quercus pumila	Shrub	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8b
salt heliotrope Heliotropium curassavicum	Wildflower (forb)	1.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
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 cordgrass Spartina bakeri	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 9a
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
seagrape Coccoloba uvifera	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 9a
seaoats Uniola paniculata	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
seashore dropseed Sporobolus virginicus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 9a
seashore paspalum Paspalum vaginatum	Grass or grass-like	1 in	Sun	High	Zone 8b
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
smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani	Grass or grass-like	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
southern waternymph Najas guadalupensis	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
Spanish moss Tillandsia usneoides	Vine	—	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 9b
spiny hackberry Celtis ehrenbergiana	Tree	10 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 7a
splitbeard bluestem Andropogon ternarius	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5b
St. Augustine grass Stenotaphrum secundatum	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7b
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
strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	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 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
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
tietongue Coccoloba diversifolia	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 11a
turkey tangle fogfruit Phyla nodiflora	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5b
turtleweed Batis maritima	Shrub	1 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 9a
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
water hickory Carya aquatica	Tree	85 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
wax myrtle Morella cerifera	Tree	10 ft	Sun	High	Zone 7a
white mangrove Laguncularia racemosa	Tree	50 ft	Sun	High	Zone 11a
widgeongrass Ruppia maritima	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 7a
winged sumac Rhus copallinum	Tree	8 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
wingleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia decurrens	Wildflower (forb)	4.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
wingleaf soapberry Sapindus saponaria	Tree	20 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
wrinkled jointtail grass Coelorachis rugosa	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
yellow flatsedge Cyperus flavescens	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11b
yellow trumpetbush Tecoma stans	Tree	20 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 9a
yellow waterlily Nymphaea mexicana	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 7a

Other native species recorded here 197

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
annual seepweed Suaeda linearis
arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
axilflower Mecardonia acuminata
Baldwin's flatsedge Cyperus croceus
basketgrass Oplismenus hirtellus
beach false foxglove Agalinis fasciculata
big carpetgrass Axonopus furcatus
bigpod sesbania Sesbania herbacea
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
bulltongue arrowhead Sagittaria lancifolia
button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
camphorweed Heterotheca subaxillaris
Canada spikesedge Eleocharis geniculata
Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
Carolina fimbry Fimbristylis caroliniana
Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
Carolina leaf-flower Phyllanthus caroliniensis
Carolina ponysfoot Dichondra carolinensis
Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
catchfly prairie gentian Eustoma exaltatum
chaffweed Anagallis minima
chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
clustered mille graines Oldenlandia uniflora
coastal sandbur Cenchrus spinifex
combleaf mermaidweed Proserpinaca pectinata
common carpetgrass Axonopus fissifolius
creeping primrose-willow Ludwigia repens
crested saltbush Atriplex cristata
crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
cutleaf groundcherry Physalis angulata
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
diamond-flowers Stenaria nigricans
dogfennel Eupatorium capillifolium
dwarf saltwort Salicornia bigelovii
dwarf umbrella-sedge Fuirena pumila
eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
eastern milkpea Galactia regularis
eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
Elliott's bluestem Andropogon gyrans
Elliott's fanpetals Sida elliottii
erect centella Centella erecta
erect spiderling Boerhavia erecta
false hop sedge Carex lupuliformis
fewflower beaksedge Rhynchospora rariflora
fewflower milkweed Asclepias lanceolata
field lovegrass Eragrostis elliottii
fire on the mountain Euphorbia cyathophora
fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
flattened pipewort Eriocaulon compressum
Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
Florida yellow flax Linum floridanum
forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
fragrant spikesedge Kyllinga odorata
fringed nutrush Scleria ciliata
gaping grass Steinchisma hians
giant bristlegrass Setaria magna
giant sedge Carex gigantea
globe beaksedge Rhynchospora globularis
goldenclub Orontium aquaticum
grassleaf lettuce Lactuca graminifolia
grassy arrowhead Sagittaria graminea
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
greenvein lady's tresses Spiranthes praecox
Guadeloupe cucumber Melothria pendula
hairy fimbry Fimbristylis puberula
hedge false bindweed Calystegia sepium
helmet flower Scutellaria integrifolia
hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
herb of grace Bacopa monnieri
herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
horned bladderwort Utricularia cornuta
husk tomato Physalis pubescens
hyssopleaf sandmat Chamaesyce hyssopifolia
Java-bean Senna obtusifolia
juniper leaf Polypremum procumbens
kiss me quick Portulaca pilosa
lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
lavender bladderwort Utricularia resupinata
lax hornpod Mitreola petiolata
little duckweed Lemna obscura
little floating bladderwort Utricularia radiata
little lady's tresses Spiranthes tuberosa
longleaf milkweed Asclepias longifolia
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 meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
narrowfruit horned beaksedge Rhynchospora inundata
netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
netted nutrush Scleria reticularis
oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
Pennsylvania everlasting Gamochaeta pensylvanica
Peruvian dodder Cuscuta obtusiflora
pillpod sandmat Chamaesyce hirta
pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
pineland threeseed mercury Acalypha ostryifolia
pineywoods dropseed Sporobolus junceus
pink sundew Drosera capillaris
pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
plains snakecotton Froelichia floridana
poorjoe Diodia teres
procession flower Polygala incarnata
purple sandgrass Triplasis purpurea
queen's-delight Stillingia sylvatica
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
racemed milkwort Polygala polygama
ram's horn Proboscidea louisianica
rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
Richard's yelloweyed grass Xyris jupicai
romerillo Bidens alba
rose of Plymouth Sabatia stellaris
rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
rough Mexican clover Richardia scabra
rough panicgrass Dichanthelium leucothrix
roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
saltmarsh false foxglove Agalinis maritima
sand spikerush Eleocharis montevidensis
sandpaper vervain Verbena scabra
scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
shaggy crabgrass Digitaria villosa
shortbeak beaksedge Rhynchospora nitens
shortleaf skeletongrass Gymnopogon brevifolius
shortleaf spikesedge Kyllinga brevifolia
slender crabgrass Digitaria filiformis
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
slender goldentop Euthamia caroliniana
slender seapurslane Sesuvium maritimum
slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
slim amaranth Amaranthus hybridus
Small's yelloweyed grass Xyris smalliana
smallflower halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha micrantha
smallfruit spikerush Eleocharis microcarpa
smallhead doll's daisy Boltonia diffusa
snakemouth orchid Pogonia ophioglossoides
sneezeweed Helenium amarum
snowy orchid Platanthera nivea
sorrelvine Cissus trifoliata
southern cattail Typha domingensis
southern cutgrass Leersia hexandra
southern dewberry Rubus trivialis
southern sandbur Cenchrus echinatus
spiked crested coralroot Hexalectris spicata
spiny naiad Najas marina
spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spring coralroot Corallorhiza wisteriana
spring lady's tresses Spiranthes vernalis
spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
starry rosinweed Silphium asteriscus
stiff yellow flax Linum medium
stinking camphorweed Pluchea foetida
swamp dock Rumex verticillatus
swollen bladderwort Utricularia inflata
tenlobe false foxglove Agalinis obtusifolia
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
three-lobe violet Viola triloba
tropical flatsedge Cyperus surinamensis
tuberous grasspink Calopogon tuberosus
tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
twoleaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum heterophyllum
Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
Virginia saltmarsh mallow Kosteletzkya virginica
water lettuce Pistia stratiotes
whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
whisk fern Psilotum nudum
white crownbeard Verbesina virginica
whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle prolifera
whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle verticillata
whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
winged lythrum Lythrum alatum
yellow spikerush Eleocharis flavescens
yellow thistle Cirsium horridulum
zigzag bladderwort Utricularia subulata

Also listed as native and introduced here 4

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
cayenne pepperCapsicum annuum
common reedPhragmites australis
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, Lee County and Florida
Measure	Lee County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	348	385	1,282
Garden-ready natives	151	170	493
Tree	37	—	166
Shrub	17	—	59
Wildflower (forb)	163	—	648
Grass or grass-like	102	—	315
Vine	24	—	65
Fern	5	—	29

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Lee County.

Charlotte County, FL 107 garden-ready
Collier County, FL 170 garden-ready
Hendry County, FL 79 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: Lee County (county FIPS 12071), Florida. 348 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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