YardNatives

Native plants for St. Lucie County, Florida

530 native plants recorded in St. Lucie County, Florida

The USDA plant database has 698 plants recorded growing wild in St. Lucie County. 530 of them are native to the lower 48, and 97 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 234 wildflowers and herbs, 109 grasses and sedges, 50 shrubs, 42 low woody plants, 64 trees, 31 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 104 of them (20%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) and 8 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in St. Lucie County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day1040426
Half shade7133426
Under trees4163426
Heavy clay7727426
Sandy, drains fast7628426
Never watered5351426
Stays soggy6538427

Sun all day in St. Lucie County: 104 rated natives

32 wildflowers and herbs, 27 trees, 27 grasses and sedges, 10 shrubs, 7 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Hairy chaffhead (Carphephorus paniculatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in St. Lucie County: 71 rated natives

23 grasses and sedges, 21 wildflowers and herbs, 15 trees, 6 shrubs, 5 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. 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
  2. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. Hairy lespedeza (Lespedeza hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  6. 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
  7. Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. 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 St. Lucie County: 41 rated natives

18 grasses and sedges, 12 wildflowers and herbs, 5 shrubs, 5 trees, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Hairy lespedeza (Lespedeza hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Peelbark St. Johnswort (Hypericum fasciculatum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial
  8. Cucumberleaf sunflower (Helianthus debilis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · perennial

Heavy clay in St. Lucie County: 77 rated natives

25 wildflowers and herbs, 21 trees, 19 grasses and sedges, 7 shrubs, 4 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Hairy chaffhead (Carphephorus paniculatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Fetterbush lyonia (Lyonia lucida) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in St. Lucie County: 76 rated natives

21 wildflowers and herbs, 21 trees, 21 grasses and sedges, 9 shrubs, 3 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Fetterbush lyonia (Lyonia lucida) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Hairy lespedeza (Lespedeza hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight

Never watered in St. Lucie County: 53 rated natives

18 trees, 15 wildflowers and herbs, 10 grasses and sedges, 5 shrubs, 5 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  2. 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
  3. Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Hairy chaffhead (Carphephorus paniculatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance
  8. 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 St. Lucie County: 65 rated natives

21 grasses and sedges, 18 wildflowers and herbs, 17 trees, 5 shrubs, 3 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Canada germander (Teucrium canadense) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  2. 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
  3. Pine barren goldenrod (Solidago fistulosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  4. Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Green arrow arum (Peltandra virginica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · perennial · takes saturated soil
  8. Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives St. Lucie County has that most of Florida does not

7 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of Florida's 67 counties. A few of them:

Where to start in St. Lucie County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where St. Lucie County gives you the most rated choice (104 plants), and Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 41 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 426 unrated natives too.