Native plants for Charlotte County, Florida
568 native plants recorded in Charlotte County, Florida
The USDA plant database has 718 plants recorded growing wild in Charlotte County. 568 of them are native to the lower 48, and 69 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 280 wildflowers and herbs, 139 grasses and sedges, 38 shrubs, 46 low woody plants, 44 trees, 21 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 107 of them (19%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Little hogweed (Portulaca oleracea) and 6 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Charlotte County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 107 | 0 | 461 |
| Half shade | 86 | 21 | 461 |
| Under trees | 55 | 52 | 461 |
| Heavy clay | 75 | 32 | 461 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 79 | 28 | 461 |
| Never watered | 47 | 59 | 462 |
| Stays soggy | 67 | 40 | 461 |
Sun all day in Charlotte County: 107 rated natives
38 grasses and sedges, 31 wildflowers and herbs, 24 trees, 8 shrubs, 4 vines, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Hairy chaffhead (Carphephorus paniculatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Charlotte County: 86 rated natives
35 grasses and sedges, 24 wildflowers and herbs, 17 trees, 6 shrubs, 2 vines, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Peelbark St. Johnswort (Hypericum fasciculatum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Charlotte County: 55 rated natives
28 grasses and sedges, 15 wildflowers and herbs, 6 trees, 4 shrubs, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Peelbark St. Johnswort (Hypericum fasciculatum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial - Cucumberleaf sunflower (Helianthus debilis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · perennial - Eastern annual saltmarsh aster (Symphyotrichum subulatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth
Heavy clay in Charlotte County: 75 rated natives
24 wildflowers and herbs, 24 grasses and sedges, 17 trees, 6 shrubs, 2 vines, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Hairy chaffhead (Carphephorus paniculatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Dwarf huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Charlotte County: 79 rated natives
31 grasses and sedges, 19 wildflowers and herbs, 19 trees, 7 shrubs, 2 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Peelbark St. Johnswort (Hypericum fasciculatum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial
Never watered in Charlotte County: 47 rated natives
14 wildflowers and herbs, 14 grasses and sedges, 11 trees, 5 shrubs, 2 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Peelbark St. Johnswort (Hypericum fasciculatum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Hairy chaffhead (Carphephorus paniculatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance - Narrowleaf silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.8 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Charlotte County: 67 rated natives
27 grasses and sedges, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 16 trees, 4 shrubs, 2 vines, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Stiff marsh bedstraw (Galium tinctorium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Beach naupaka (Scaevola sericea) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American spongeplant (Limnobium spongia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Charlotte County has that most of Florida does not
3 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of Florida's 67 counties. A few of them:
- Punta Gorda spiderlily (Hymenocallis puntagordensis): only here
- Royal false pawpaw (Deeringothamnus pulchellus): 3 counties
- Florida beaksedge (Rhynchospora eximia): 3 counties
Where to start in Charlotte County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Charlotte County gives you the most rated choice (107 plants), and Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) is the easiest start on that list. Never watered is the hard one here: 47 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 462 unrated natives too.