Native plants · Louisiana

Native plants of Lafayette Parish

464 plant species are recorded as native to Louisiana in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Lafayette Parish by USDA PLANTS. 212 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 3 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Lafayette Parish, Louisiana

Native species: 464 Typical Louisiana county: 587 (median of 64 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 212 Typical Louisiana county: 271
Share by type (all 464 native species): Percent of the 464 native species in each growth type

Tree 15% (71)
Shrub 2% (7)
Wildflower (forb) 48% (224)
Grass or grass-like 24% (113)
Vine 8% (39)
Fern 2% (10)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (48%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (24%).

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 zone 9a (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 212

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

Garden-ready native plants of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
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 elm Ulmus americana	Tree	120 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
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 spongeplant Limnobium spongia	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	High	Zone 5a
American sycamore Platanus occidentalis	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
American water horehound Lycopus americanus	Wildflower (forb)	1.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
autumn bluegrass Poa autumnalis	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
bald cypress Taxodium distichum	Tree	130 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
beaked agrimony Agrimonia rostellata	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
big bluestem Andropogon gerardii	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 2b
bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 2b
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
black oak Quercus velutina	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
black walnut Juglans nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
black willow Salix nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 1b
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
blunt broom sedge Carex tribuloides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
boxelder Acer negundo	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
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
bushy bluestem Andropogon glomeratus	Grass or grass-like	6.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
bushy St. Johnswort Hypericum densiflorum	Shrub	6.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 8a
butterweed Packera glabella	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 10b
calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Canada goldenrod Solidago altissima	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
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 ash Fraxinus caroliniana	Tree	39 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7b
Carolina buckthorn Frangula caroliniana	Tree	20 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 4b
Carolina elephantsfoot Elephantopus carolinianus	Wildflower (forb)	2.7 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
Carolina foxtail Alopecurus carolinianus	Grass or grass-like	1.7 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
catchfly grass Leersia lenticularis	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
cedar elm Ulmus crassifolia	Tree	90 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
cherrybark oak Quercus pagoda	Tree	120 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
clasping coneflower Dracopis amplexicaulis	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 10b
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
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 goldstar Hypoxis hirsuta	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
common hoptree Ptelea trifoliata	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
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
common selfheal Prunella vulgaris	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
copper iris Iris fulva	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
coral greenbrier Smilax walteri	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
crimsoneyed rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6a
cursed buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 12b
dahoon Ilex cassine	Tree	26 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8b
delta arrowhead Sagittaria platyphylla	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6a
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
disk waterhyssop Bacopa rotundifolia	Wildflower (forb)	1 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
ditch stonecrop Penthorum sedoides	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
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 cottonwood Populus deltoides	Tree	190 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
eastern narrowleaf sedge Carex amphibola	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
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
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
farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum	Tree	28 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
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
fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11b
fringeleaf wild petunia Ruellia humilis	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
frost grape Vitis vulpina	Vine	83 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
giant cane Arundinaria gigantea	Shrub	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
giant cutgrass Zizaniopsis miliacea	Grass or grass-like	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8b
golden tickseed Coreopsis tinctoria	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
green hawthorn Crataegus viridis	Tree	30 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
greenwhite sedge Carex albolutescens	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
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
hairawn muhly Muhlenbergia capillaris	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
halberdleaf rosemallow Hibiscus laevis	Wildflower (forb)	8 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 6a
haspan flatsedge Cyperus haspan	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8a
heartleaf peppervine Ampelopsis cordata	Vine	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6b
hilograss Paspalum conjugatum	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 8b
honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
hop sedge Carex lupulina	Grass or grass-like	4.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
horsetail paspalum Paspalum fluitans	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
Illinois bundleflower Desmanthus illinoensis	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
Indian woodoats Chasmanthium latifolium	Grass or grass-like	4.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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
jewelweed Impatiens capensis	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 10b
lanceleaf tickseed Coreopsis lanceolata	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
laurel oak Quercus laurifolia	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
little barley Hordeum pusillum	Grass or grass-like	1.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
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 woodoats Chasmanthium sessiliflorum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
longspike tridens Tridens strictus	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 2a
longtom Paspalum denticulatum	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 8b
Malabar sprangletop Leptochloa fusca	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
marsh flatsedge Cyperus pseudovegetus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
Maryland senna Senna marilandica	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5b
Mississippi buttercup Ranunculus laxicaulis	Wildflower (forb)	1.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 6b
mountain azalea Rhododendron canescens	Shrub	14 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
muscadine Vitis rotundifolia	Vine	30 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
nimblewill Muhlenbergia schreberi	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
nodding fescue Festuca subverticillata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
Nuttall oak Quercus texana	Tree	110 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
overcup oak Quercus lyrata	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
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
pawpaw Asimina triloba	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
pecan Carya illinoinensis	Tree	120 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
peppervine Nekemias arborea	Vine	1 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
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
planertree Planera aquatica	Tree	50 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
poorland flatsedge Cyperus compressus	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
possumhaw Ilex decidua	Tree	33 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
post oak Quercus stellata	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
poverty rush Juncus tenuis	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
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
purpletop tridens Tridens flavus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
ravenfoot sedge Carex crus-corvi	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
red buckeye Aesculus pavia	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
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
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
rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
riverbank grape Vitis riparia	Vine	45 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
roughleaf dogwood Cornus drummondii	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
saltgrass Distichlis spicata	Grass or grass-like	1.1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
sandbar willow Salix interior	Tree	30 ft	Sun	—	Zone 1a
sassafras Sassafras albidum	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
saw greenbrier Smilax bona-nox	Vine	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus	Shrub	8.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
shagbark hickory Carya ovata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
shallow sedge Carex lurida	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
sharpwing monkeyflower Mimulus alatus	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
shortbristle horned beaksedge Rhynchospora corniculata	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
shortleaf pine Pinus echinata	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
Shumard's oak Quercus shumardii	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
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
slippery elm Ulmus rubra	Tree	85 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3a
smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
southern catalpa Catalpa bignonioides	Tree	66 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5b
southern red oak Quercus falcata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
Spanish moss Tillandsia usneoides	Vine	—	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 9b
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
spring spiderlily Hymenocallis liriosme	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7b
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
swamp chestnut oak Quercus michauxii	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
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 titi Cyrilla racemiflora	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 6b
sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
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
teal lovegrass Eragrostis hypnoides	Grass or grass-like	4 in	Sun	High	Zone 3b
tiny mousetail Myosurus minimus	Wildflower (forb)	5 in	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12b
trumpet creeper Campsis radicans	Vine	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
turkey tangle fogfruit Phyla nodiflora	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5b
two-wing silverbell Halesia diptera	Tree	15 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 8a
twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 4a
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 dayflower Commelina virginica	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
water hickory Carya aquatica	Tree	85 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
water locust Gleditsia aquatica	Tree	40 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 10a
water oak Quercus nigra	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
water tupelo Nyssa aquatica	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
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 avens Geum canadense	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
white fringetree Chionanthus virginicus	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
whitegrass Leersia virginica	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
wild blue phlox Phlox divaricata	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
willow oak Quercus phellos	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
winged elm Ulmus alata	Tree	65 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
wingleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia decurrens	Wildflower (forb)	4.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
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 passionflower Passiflora lutea	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a

Other native species recorded here 252

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
Amazon sprangletop Leptochloa panicoides
American bluehearts Buchnera americana
American buckwheat vine Brunnichia ovata
American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
angularfruit milkvine Matelea gonocarpos
annual fimbry Fimbristylis annua
annual marsh elder Iva annua
annual ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia
aquatic milkweed Asclepias perennis
Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
azure blue sage Salvia azurea
Baldwin's flatsedge Cyperus croceus
beach false foxglove Agalinis fasciculata
beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
bigpod sesbania Sesbania herbacea
bigtop lovegrass Eragrostis hirsuta
blackfoot quillwort Isoetes melanopoda
blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
blue mudplantain Heteranthera limosa
bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
Bosc's mille graines Oldenlandia boscii
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
browneyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba
buffalo clover Trifolium reflexum
buffalobur nightshade Solanum rostratum
bushy knotweed Polygonum ramosissimum
button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
camphor pluchea Pluchea camphorata
Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
Carolina canarygrass Phalaris caroliniana
Carolina coralbead Cocculus carolinus
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
carpenter's square Scrophularia marilandica
Cherokee sedge Carex cherokeensis
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
clammy groundcherry Physalis heterophylla
clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
climbing dogbane Trachelospermum difforme
climbing false buckwheat Polygonum scandens
clustered blacksnakeroot Sanicula odorata
clustered mille graines Oldenlandia uniflora
coastal sandbur Cenchrus spinifex
common carpetgrass Axonopus fissifolius
common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
creeping burhead Echinodorus cordifolius
creeping eryngo Eryngium prostratum
crossvine Bignonia capreolata
crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
Cuman ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
cutleaf groundcherry Physalis angulata
cutleaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum pinnatum
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
denseflower knotweed Polygonum glabrum
desert horsepurslane Trianthema portulacastrum
dogfennel Eupatorium capillifolium
downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
Drummond's aster Symphyotrichum drummondii
early blue violet Viola ×palmata
early buttercup Ranunculus fascicularis
eastern blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium atlanticum
eastern bluestar Amsonia tabernaemontana
eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
Elliott's bentgrass Agrostis elliottiana
erect spiderling Boerhavia erecta
eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
floating primrose-willow Ludwigia peploides
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
fragrant spikesedge Kyllinga odorata
gaping grass Steinchisma hians
giant ironweed Vernonia gigantea
globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
grassy arrowhead Sagittaria graminea
great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
green antelopehorn Asclepias viridis
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
green dragon Arisaema dracontium
groovestem Indian plantain Arnoglossum plantagineum
Guadeloupe cucumber Melothria pendula
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy clustervine Jacquemontia tamnifolia
hairy waterclover Marsilea vestita
hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
hairyseed paspalum Paspalum pubiflorum
heartleaf nettle Urtica chamaedryoides
herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
hirsute sedge Carex complanata
hoary ticktrefoil Desmodium canescens
hooded arrowhead Sagittaria calycina
husk tomato Physalis pubescens
jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
juniper leaf Polypremum procumbens
keeled bulrush Isolepis carinata
kidneyshape sedge Carex reniformis
kiss me quick Portulaca pilosa
lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
lax hornpod Mitreola petiolata
Leavenworth's sedge Carex leavenworthii
lesser duckweed Lemna aequinoctialis
lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
Long's sedge Carex longii
Louisiana sedge Carex louisianica
Louisiana vetch Vicia ludoviciana
low spearwort Ranunculus pusillus
low spikesedge Kyllinga pumila
lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
maidencane Panicum hemitomon
man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
manyflower marshpennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
meadow garlic Allium canadense
meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
mucronate sprangletop Leptochloa panicea
mudbank crowngrass Paspalum dissectum
narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
narrowleaf paleseed Leucospora multifida
neckweed Veronica peregrina
netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
nits and lice Hypericum drummondii
northern slender lady's tresses Spiranthes lacera
oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
October lady's tresses Spiranthes ovalis
oneseed bur cucumber Sicyos angulatus
openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
Peruvian dodder Cuscuta obtusiflora
pillpod sandmat Chamaesyce hirta
pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
pineland threeseed mercury Acalypha ostryifolia
pink thoroughwort Fleischmannia incarnata
pinkladies Oenothera speciosa
pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
potato dwarfdandelion Krigia dandelion
poverty dropseed Sporobolus vaginiflorus
prairie spiderwort Tradescantia occidentalis
prairie tea Croton monanthogynus
prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
prickly fanpetals Sida spinosa
prostrate sandmat Chamaesyce prostrata
purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
red lovegrass Eragrostis secundiflora
reflexed sedge Carex retroflexa
rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
rough false pennyroyal Hedeoma hispida
rough Mexican clover Richardia scabra
roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
roundseed St. Johnswort Hypericum sphaerocarpum
Sampson's snakeroot Orbexilum pedunculatum
sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
sand spikerush Eleocharis montevidensis
scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
sessileleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium sessilifolium
sharpscale sedge Carex oxylepis
shortleaf spikesedge Kyllinga brevifolia
shortseed waterwort Elatine brachysperma
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
slender plantain Plantago heterophylla
slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
slender wedgescale Sphenopholis intermedia
slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
slimspike threeawn Aristida longespica
small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
small Venus' looking-glass Triodanis biflora
smallflower baby blue eyes Nemophila aphylla
smooth false buttonweed Spermacoce glabra
sneezeweed Helenium amarum
southern annual saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum divaricatum
southern cutgrass Leersia hexandra
southern dewberry Rubus trivialis
southern sandbur Cenchrus echinatus
Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
sparselobe grapefern Botrychium biternatum
spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
spring lady's tresses Spiranthes vernalis
spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
stout rush Juncus nodatus
swamp dock Rumex verticillatus
swamp leather flower Clematis crispa
swamp wedgescale Sphenopholis pensylvanica
swollen bladderwort Utricularia inflata
tall horned beaksedge Rhynchospora macrostachya
tall thoroughwort Eupatorium altissimum
tapered rosette grass Dichanthelium acuminatum
Texas star Sabatia campestris
Texas toadflax Nuttallanthus texanus
Texas vervain Verbena halei
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
tiny bluet Houstonia pusilla
toothed spurge Euphorbia dentata
trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
tropical flatsedge Cyperus surinamensis
tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
twining snoutbean Rhynchosia tomentosa
twoflower melicgrass Melica mutica
velvetweed Oenothera curtiflora
Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
Virginia winged rockcress Sibara virginica
warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata
water lettuce Pistia stratiotes
waterpurslane Didiplis diandra
whisk fern Psilotum nudum
white crownbeard Verbesina virginica
white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
white vervain Verbena urticifolia
whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle verticillata
whorled milkwort Polygala verticillata
wild yam Dioscorea villosa
willowleaf aster Symphyotrichum praealtum
winged lythrum Lythrum alatum
woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
yellow thistle Cirsium horridulum
yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia

Also listed as native and introduced here 3

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.

cayenne pepperCapsicum annuum
hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium
Mexican teaDysphania ambrosioides

Compared with Louisiana

The typical county is the median of the 64 Louisiana 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, Lafayette Parish and Louisiana
Measure	Lafayette Parish	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	464	587	1,420
Garden-ready natives	212	271	520
Tree	71	—	151
Shrub	7	—	54
Wildflower (forb)	224	—	761
Grass or grass-like	113	—	342
Vine	39	—	74
Fern	10	—	38

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Lafayette Parish.

Acadia Parish, LA 201 garden-ready
Iberia Parish, LA 189 garden-ready
St. Landry Parish, LA 211 garden-ready
St. Martin Parish, LA 160 garden-ready
Vermilion Parish, LA 221 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: Lafayette Parish (county FIPS 22055), Louisiana. 464 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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