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Native plants · Florida

Native plants of Manatee County

405 plant species are recorded as native to Florida in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Manatee County by USDA PLANTS. 181 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

Manatee County, Florida

Native species
405 Typical Florida county: 385 (median of 67 counties)
Garden-ready natives
181 Typical Florida county: 170
Share by type (all 405 native species)
Percent of the 405 native species in each growth type
Tree 13% (52)
Shrub 6% (24)
Wildflower (forb) 46% (187)
Grass or grass-like 25% (103)
Vine 7% (30)
Fern 2% (9)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (46%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (25%).

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 9b to 10b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Cold hardiness is estimated from each plant’s PLANTS minimum temperature. How we estimate it.

Garden-ready natives 181

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

Garden-ready native plants of Manatee County, Florida
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy 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 hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
American pokeweed Phytolacca americana Wildflower (forb) 7.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
American snowbell Styrax americanus Tree 10 ft Sun–part shade — Zone 5b
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 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
broadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 4a
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
cat greenbrier Smilax glauca Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant 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 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
coral greenbrier Smilax walteri Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6b
cucumberleaf sunflower Helianthus debilis Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun Medium Zone 9b
cylinder jointtail grass Coelorachis cylindrica Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 5a
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
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 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
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
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
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 arrow arum Peltandra virginica Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
groundnut Apios americana Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
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 chaffhead Carphephorus paniculatus Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant Low 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
hilograss Paspalum conjugatum Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 8b
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
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 bay Gordonia lasianthus Tree 65 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 7a
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
Malabar sprangletop Leptochloa fusca Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Sun High Zone 3a
maleberry Lyonia ligustrina Shrub 9 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 5a
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
needlegrass rush Juncus roemerianus Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 9a
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
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
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
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 apple Annona glabra Tree 10 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 9a
poorland flatsedge Cyperus compressus Grass or grass-like 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 11a
possumhaw Viburnum nudum Tree 15 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
possumhaw Ilex decidua Tree 33 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
prairie wedgescale Sphenopholis obtusata Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis Grass or grass-like 11 in Sun Low Zone 3a
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
salt heliotrope Heliotropium curassavicum Wildflower (forb) 1.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
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
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
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
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
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Grass or grass-like 9 ft Sun High Zone 3b
southern magnolia Magnolia grandiflora Tree 100 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8a
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
St. Augustine grass Stenotaphrum secundatum Grass or grass-like 11 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 7b
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
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 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
sweetbay Magnolia virginiana Tree 60 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 9a
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
teal lovegrass Eragrostis hypnoides Grass or grass-like 4 in Sun High Zone 3b
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
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
turtleweed Batis maritima Shrub 1 in Sun Medium Zone 9a
valley redstem Ammannia coccinea Wildflower (forb) 1.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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
wax myrtle Morella cerifera Tree 10 ft Sun High Zone 7a
white fringetree Chionanthus virginicus Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
white mangrove Laguncularia racemosa Tree 50 ft Sun High Zone 11a
wild tantan Desmanthus virgatus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 9a
winged sumac Rhus copallinum Tree 8 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
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
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

Other native species recorded here 224

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.

  • Adam's needle Yucca filamentosa
  • American black nightshade Solanum americanum
  • American bluehearts Buchnera americana
  • American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
  • American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
  • anglestem primrose-willow Ludwigia leptocarpa
  • anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
  • annual phlox Phlox drummondii
  • annual seepweed Suaeda linearis
  • aquatic milkweed Asclepias perennis
  • arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
  • Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
  • axilflower Mecardonia acuminata
  • Baldwin's flatsedge Cyperus croceus
  • basketgrass Oplismenus hirtellus
  • beach false foxglove Agalinis fasciculata
  • beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
  • big carpetgrass Axonopus furcatus
  • bigpod sesbania Sesbania herbacea
  • bigseed alfalfa dodder Cuscuta indecora
  • bluestem pricklypoppy Argemone albiflora
  • bulltongue arrowhead Sagittaria lancifolia
  • bunched beaksedge Rhynchospora cephalantha
  • button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
  • camphorweed Heterotheca subaxillaris
  • Canada spikesedge Eleocharis geniculata
  • Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
  • Carolina clover Trifolium carolinianum
  • Carolina fimbry Fimbristylis caroliniana
  • Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
  • Carolina mosquitofern Azolla caroliniana
  • Carolina ponysfoot Dichondra carolinensis
  • Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
  • catchfly prairie gentian Eustoma exaltatum
  • chaffseed Schwalbea americana
  • chaffweed Anagallis minima
  • clubmoss Lycopodiella ×copelandii
  • clustered mille graines Oldenlandia uniflora
  • coastal sandbur Cenchrus spinifex
  • combleaf mermaidweed Proserpinaca pectinata
  • combleaf yellow false foxglove Aureolaria pectinata
  • common carpetgrass Axonopus fissifolius
  • creeping primrose-willow Ludwigia repens
  • crested saltbush Atriplex cristata
  • crested yellow orchid Platanthera cristata
  • cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
  • cutleaf groundcherry Physalis angulata
  • cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
  • denseflower knotweed Polygonum glabrum
  • desert horsepurslane Trianthema portulacastrum
  • diamond-flowers Stenaria nigricans
  • dogfennel Eupatorium capillifolium
  • drumheads Polygala cruciata
  • dwarf saltwort Salicornia bigelovii
  • dwarf sundew Drosera brevifolia
  • dwarf umbrella-sedge Fuirena pumila
  • eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
  • eastern milkpea Galactia regularis
  • eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
  • eastern purple bladderwort Utricularia purpurea
  • Elliott's bluestem Andropogon gyrans
  • Elliott's rush Juncus elliottii
  • erect centella Centella 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 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 bristlegrass Setaria magna
  • giant ironweed Vernonia 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
  • hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
  • heartleaf nettle Urtica chamaedryoides
  • heartwing sorrel Rumex hastatulus
  • helmet flower Scutellaria integrifolia
  • hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
  • herb of grace Bacopa monnieri
  • herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
  • horned bladderwort Utricularia cornuta
  • humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
  • husk tomato Physalis pubescens
  • hyssopleaf sandmat Chamaesyce hyssopifolia
  • Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
  • juniper leaf Polypremum procumbens
  • kiss me quick Portulaca pilosa
  • lax hornpod Mitreola petiolata
  • lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
  • Long's sedge Carex longii
  • longleaf milkweed Asclepias longifolia
  • low nutrush Scleria verticillata
  • low spikesedge Kyllinga pumila
  • 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
  • matted sandmat Chamaesyce serpens
  • Michaux's croton Croton michauxii
  • mudbank crowngrass Paspalum dissectum
  • narrow plumegrass Saccharum baldwinii
  • narrowfruit horned beaksedge Rhynchospora inundata
  • narrowleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia linearis
  • netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
  • netted nutrush Scleria reticularis
  • oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
  • openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
  • partridgeberry Mitchella repens
  • Pennsylvania everlasting Gamochaeta pensylvanica
  • Peruvian dodder Cuscuta obtusiflora
  • piedmont staggerbush Lyonia mariana
  • pillpod sandmat Chamaesyce hirta
  • pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
  • pineland threeseed mercury Acalypha ostryifolia
  • pineywoods dropseed Sporobolus junceus
  • pink sundew Drosera capillaris
  • plains snakecotton Froelichia floridana
  • poorjoe Diodia teres
  • purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
  • purple sandgrass Triplasis purpurea
  • queen's-delight Stillingia sylvatica
  • rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
  • 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
  • roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
  • roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
  • saltmarsh false foxglove Agalinis maritima
  • sandpaper vervain Verbena scabra
  • sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
  • shaggy crabgrass Digitaria villosa
  • shaggy hedgehyssop Gratiola pilosa
  • shiny coneflower Rudbeckia nitida
  • 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 threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
  • slim amaranth Amaranthus hybridus
  • Small's yelloweyed grass Xyris smalliana
  • smallflower halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha micrantha
  • smallhead doll's daisy Boltonia diffusa
  • sneezeweed Helenium amarum
  • sorrelvine Cissus trifoliata
  • southern bog clubmoss Lycopodiella appressa
  • southern cattail Typha domingensis
  • southern dewberry Rubus trivialis
  • southern twayblade Listera australis
  • Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
  • spineless hornwort Ceratophyllum echinatum
  • spiny naiad Najas marina
  • spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
  • spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
  • spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
  • 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
  • swamp leather flower Clematis crispa
  • swollen bladderwort Utricularia inflata
  • tenlobe false foxglove Agalinis obtusifolia
  • Texas croton Croton texensis
  • thicket bean Phaseolus polystachios
  • thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
  • threadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria filiformis
  • three-lobe violet Viola triloba
  • trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
  • tropical flatsedge Cyperus surinamensis
  • tuberous grasspink Calopogon tuberosus
  • tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
  • twoleaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum heterophyllum
  • Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
  • Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
  • Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
  • Virginia marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum virginicum
  • Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
  • Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
  • Virginia saltmarsh mallow Kosteletzkya virginica
  • warty panicgrass Panicum verrucosum
  • water lettuce Pistia stratiotes
  • whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
  • whisk fern Psilotum nudum
  • white crownbeard Verbesina virginica
  • white fringed orchid Platanthera blephariglottis
  • whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
  • whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle verticillata
  • whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
  • winged lythrum Lythrum alatum
  • yankeeweed Eupatorium compositifolium
  • yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris
  • yellow thistle Cirsium horridulum
  • yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
  • 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, Manatee County and Florida
MeasureManatee CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 405 385 1,282
Garden-ready natives 181 170 493
Tree 52 — 166
Shrub 24 — 59
Wildflower (forb) 187 — 648
Grass or grass-like 103 — 315
Vine 30 — 65
Fern 9 — 29

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Manatee County.

Look up another ZIP

Matches your ZIP to the county it mostly lies in, then lists the plants recorded as native to your state (Kew’s World Checklist and USDA PLANTS) and recorded in that county by USDA PLANTS.

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
Manatee County (county FIPS 12081), Florida. 405 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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