• Many of Florida's wild plants can be found in the Everglades.everglades - florida image by george aston from Fotolia.com
  
  Wild plants in the southern state of Florida fall into two categories. Wild native and non-native plants grow throughout the state and some of the non-native plants are becoming invasive. Florida's wild plants also include threatened and endangered plants that are native to the state but for a variety of reasons are ceasing to thrive.
  
  

Native Wild Plants

• Native cattails can be found throughout wetland areas of Florida.cattails image by Andrew Kazmierski from Fotolia.com
  
  According to Plant Management in Florida Waters, plants in the state are considered native if their existence there can be proven prior to the arrival of Christopher Columbus. These plants are not invasive in their own habitat and support other plants, ecosystems and wildlife native to the state. They are beneficial to the natural condition of the state. Wetland wild plants include native cattails (Typha species) and saw grass (Cladium jamaicense).
  
  In northern Florida, native plants differ from those found in the tropical southern part of the state. Native flowering plants such as Carolina aster (Aster carolinianus) and hawthone (Crataegus spp.) can be found in the northern portions of the state. You can also find the tropical-looking titi (Cyrilla racemiflora) shrub and the yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria and cvs).
  
  

Non-Native Wild Plants

• The Chinese wisteria is hardier than American wisteria.wisteria bee #5 image by Stormy Ward from Fotolia.com
  
  More than 25 percent of the wetland plants in Florida are considered non-native wild plants. Plant Management of Florida Waters states that many, but not all, of the non-native wild plants originated in other countries. Kariba weed (Salvinia molesta ) originates in Brazil and Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) also traveled to Florida from South America. Some foreign wild plants are or have the potential to become invasive, crowding out native species, but others have for many years coexisted peacefully with native wild plants.
  
  Invasive non-native plants are pushing native plants out of their habitat. These plants are problematic and are without natural enemies such as localized diseases and insects, so they spread quickly. Invasive non-native wild plants in Florida are Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) vine, giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) shrub and cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica).
  
  

Threatened and Endanged Wild Plants

• Some species of the paw paw are threatened or endanged in Florida.paw paw image by isatori from Fotolia.com
  
  According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, as of October 2010, 54 of Florida's native plants were listed as threatened or endangered. Wild Florida plants such as the wireweed (Polygonella basiramia), which can be found growing in the Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge; snakeroot (Eryngium cuneifolium), which can be found in Highlands County; and fragrant prickly-apple (Cereus eriophorus var. fragrans), which grows in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, are on the endangered list.
  
  Threatened plants include Pigeon wings (Clitoria fragrans), which grow in Highlands and Polk Counties. You can find Miccosukee gooseberry (Ribes echinellum) growing in Gadsden and Jefferson Counties and white birds-in-a-nest (Macbridea alba) growing in Bay, Gulf, Franklin and Liberty counties.