Names of Plants That Grow in Miami

Miami's tropical climate and coastal location is enhanced by an abundance of plants and flowers found throughout the city. The University of Florida lists 146 species of plants as native to Miami and the greater Southern Florida region. While many exotic plants were imported to the Miami area, native plants are ideally suited for the area's soils, warm temperatures, pests and rain patterns, according to the Florida Native Plant Society.

Wildflowers are abundant in Miami and are often classified according to salt tolerance and light preference, according to the University of Florida. Plants with low salt tolerance include climbing aster, butterfly weed, twin flower, yellow top, penny royal, silk grass and black-eyed Susans. Those with higher salt tolerance include seaside goldenrod, beach peanut, pineland lantana, Indian blanket and beach sunflower. Miami's wildflowers reaching heights of up to 48 inches include seaside and silver oxeye, yellow top and pineland lantana. The beach peanut may reach 72 inches in height and thrives in full sun, making it ideal for beachfront locations.

Some native shrubs found in the Miami area may be classified as either small trees or large shrubs, depending on pruning, available sunlight, age and available nutrients, according to FNPS. Often used as a hedge or screen, the marlberry is a fast-growing evergreen shrub with green foliage and small, fragrant cream-colored flowers. The firebush is named for its red-orange flowers and may be planted in full sun or shade as an accent or hedge. The myrsine columnar shrub is drought and salt-tolerant, making it ideal for Miami's climate, and averages between 10 and 15 feet in height.

Several ornamental grasses, ferns and groundcovers are native to the Miami area and range in height from 1 to 48 inches, according to the University of Florida. Ornamental grasses include muhly grass, Elliott's love, Purple love, penny grass, sand cordgrass and Florida gamma grass. Fakahatchee grass may grow to 5 feet in height in full sun to partial shade and features broad green blades and flowers that bloom in the summer. The giant sword fern reaches 4 feet and is ideal for shady areas with evenly moist soils. Ground covers that grow in Miami include sea purslane, sunshine mimosa, railroad vine, golden creeper and beach bean.

Palm trees symbolize the Miami area to many residents and visitors and eight types are native to the region, according to the University of Florida. Slow-growing silver palms are highly salt-tolerant, thrive in full sun and produce fruit nearly year-round. Cabbage palms reach heights of up to 50 feet and are highly adaptable to soil and drought conditions. Scrub palmettos are smaller trunkless palms growing to 5 feet in height and feature purplish-black fruit.