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Florida Plant Identification Guide
Florida Plant Identification Guide. Florida holds the fourth spot in the United States for having the most varied plant life. There are more than 4,200 kinds of plants native to Florida. Identifying native Florida plants can help gardeners discover what plants will grow best in their yards. Plant identification is also useful for identifying...
Florida holds the fourth spot in the United States for having the most varied plant life. There are more than 4,200 kinds of plants native to Florida. Identifying native Florida plants can help gardeners discover what plants will grow best in their yards. Plant identification is also useful for identifying invasive or noxious plants. The key to identifying plants native to Florida is knowing how and where to look for plant information.
Native Trees
There are many trees native to Florida's rich forests. Florida has the second-highest number of native trees in the United States, second only to Hawaii. Some of the most-seen trees in Florida include American holly, black willow, oak, mastic hawthorn, poisonwood, spruce pine, sugar berry, sweet gum, white hickory, mangrove and witch-hazel. These trees are located in the different regions of Florida, including the plains lands and the swamps.
Native Shrubs
There are also quite a number of shrubs native to Florida. The varying climate and landscape of Florida gives it the ability to host different varieties of shrubs. Some of the most common native shrubs include boxwood, Paurotis palm, Torchwood, Marlberry, Locustberry, Snowberry, buttonbush, Sea grape, Yaupon holly and Marsh elder. Most shrubs grow in the drier regions of Florida, and many shrubs are native to South Florida.
Native Plants
Plants native to Florida include plants grown in lawns or gardens. Some of these plants are deemed weeds, but most are considered beautiful, natural additions to any garden. Some of the most common plants include wax myrtle, prickly pear, passion flower, goldenfoot fern, Pickerelweed, black-eyed Susan, Sassafras and Coontie.
Native Weeds
Many weeds are also native to Florida. These plants are considered weeds because they thrive in areas where they are not desirable. Some of them are also ugly or dangerous. These undesirable weeds include Cogongrass, Skunkvine, carrotwood, wild safflower, water spinach, mile-a-minute, water lettuce, downy myrtle, itchgrass and hippo grass. These plants should be removed whenever possible.
Identification
Identify native Florida plants by type, color, size, growing pattern, leaf shape and growing region. Several online sources, such as the Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants and the University of Florida Extension Service, will use this information to help gardeners determine the plant species. Florida field guides can also be helpful in identifying plants native to Florida. The local agricultural extension office can also identify any unknown plants, trees or weeds.
