Plants native to Southwest Caribbean

We document 226 of the 260 species Kew’s World Checklist records as native to Southwest Caribbean. Native means native: introduced, extinct and doubtful records are excluded, so this is where these plants are from, not everywhere they now grow.

Documented 226 Native, per Kew 260 Coverage 87% TDWG SWC

Best documented by photographic coverage

Every documented species 226 native to Southwest Caribbean

SpeciesAuthorityFamily Photographs
Acalypha arvensis Poepp. Euphorbiaceae 8
Acanthocereus tetragonus (L.) Hummelinck Cactaceae 8
Acoelorraphe wrightii (Griseb. & H.Wendl.) H.Wendl. ex Becc. Arecaceae 8
Aechmea magdalenae (André) André ex Baker Bromeliaceae 8
Alibertia edulis (Rich.) A.Rich. ex DC. Rubiaceae 8
Amaranthus spinosus L. Amaranthaceae 8
Annona glabra L. Annonaceae 8
Aristolochia pentandra Jacq. Aristolochiaceae 8
Asclepias curassavica L. Apocynaceae 8
Avicennia germinans (L.) L. Acanthaceae 8
Batis maritima L. Bataceae 8
Bauhinia divaricata L. Fabaceae 8
Boerhavia coccinea Mill. Nyctaginaceae 8
Boerhavia diffusa L. Nyctaginaceae 8
Boerhavia erecta L. Nyctaginaceae 8
Bourreria succulenta Jacq. Ehretiaceae 8
Bromelia pinguin L. Bromeliaceae 8
Bunchosia swartziana Griseb. Malpighiaceae 8
Bursera graveolens (Kunth) Triana & Planch. Burseraceae 8
Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg. Burseraceae 8
Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) Kunth Malpighiaceae 8
Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess. Calophyllaceae 8
Canavalia rosea (Sw.) DC. Fabaceae 8
Canella winterana (L.) Gaertn. Canellaceae 8
Capraria biflora L. Scrophulariaceae 8
Capsicum annuum L. Solanaceae 8
Cassia grandis L.f. Fabaceae 8
Cecropia peltata L. Urticaceae 8
Cedrela odorata L. Meliaceae 8
Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. Malvaceae 8
Cenchrus echinatus L. Poaceae 8
Cenchrus tribuloides L. Poaceae 8
Centrosema plumieri (Turpin ex Pers.) Benth. Fabaceae 8
Centrosema virginianum (L.) Benth. Fabaceae 8
Chiococca alba (L.) Hitchc. Rubiaceae 8
Chrysobalanus icaco L. Chrysobalanaceae 8
Chrysophyllum oliviforme L. Sapotaceae 8
Cissampelos pareira L. Menispermaceae 8
Cissus microcarpa Vahl Vitaceae 8
Cissus verticillata (L.) Nicolson & C.E.Jarvis Vitaceae 8
Cleome serrata Jacq. Cleomaceae 8
Clusia minor L. Clusiaceae 8
Coccoloba diversifolia Jacq. Polygonaceae 8
Coccoloba uvifera (L.) L. Polygonaceae 8
Coccothrinax argentata (Jacq.) L.H.Bailey Arecaceae 8
Commelina erecta L. Commelinaceae 8
Condea verticillata (Jacq.) Harley & J.F.B.Pastore Lamiaceae 8
Conocarpus erectus L. Combretaceae 8
Corchorus siliquosus L. Malvaceae 8
Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pav.) Oken Cordiaceae 8
Cordia collococca L. Cordiaceae 8
Cordia sebestena L. Cordiaceae 8
Crescentia cujete L. Bignoniaceae 8
Croton flavens L. Euphorbiaceae 8
Croton nitens Sw. Euphorbiaceae 8
Cyperus compressus L. Cyperaceae 8
Cyperus ligularis L. Cyperaceae 8
Cyperus luzulae (L.) Retz. Cyperaceae 8
Dalechampia scandens L. Euphorbiaceae 8
Davilla kunthii A.St.-Hil. Dilleniaceae 8
Desmodium incanum (Sw.) DC. Fabaceae 8
Digitaria insularis (L.) Mez ex Ekman Poaceae 8
Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. Sapindaceae 8
Dolichandra unguis-cati (L.) L.G.Lohmann Bignoniaceae 8
Echites umbellatus Jacq. Apocynaceae 8
Ehretia tinifolia L. Ehretiaceae 8
Erithalis fruticosa L. Rubiaceae 8
Eryngium foetidum L. Apiaceae 8
Eugenia axillaris (Sw.) Willd. Myrtaceae 8
Euphorbia cotinifolia L. Euphorbiaceae 8
Euphorbia hirta L. Euphorbiaceae 8
Euphorbia hypericifolia L. Euphorbiaceae 8
Euphorbia mesembryanthemifolia Jacq. Euphorbiaceae 8
Euphorbia ophthalmica Pers. Euphorbiaceae 8
Euphorbia tithymaloides L. Euphorbiaceae 8
Faramea occidentalis (L.) A.Rich. Rubiaceae 8
Ficus aurea Nutt. Moraceae 8
Galactia striata (Jacq.) Urb. Fabaceae 8
Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth Fabaceae 8
Gomphrena vermicularis L. Amaranthaceae 8
Gossypium hirsutum L. Malvaceae 8
Grona triflora (L.) H.Ohashi & K.Ohashi Fabaceae 8
Guapira discolor (Spreng.) Little Nyctaginaceae 8
Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. Malvaceae 8
Guilandina bonduc L. Fabaceae 8
Hamelia patens Jacq. Rubiaceae 8
Heliotropium angiospermum Murray Heliotropiaceae 8
Heliotropium curassavicum L. Heliotropiaceae 8
Heliotropium verdcourtii Craven Heliotropiaceae 8
Hibiscus tiliaceus L. Malvaceae 8
Hippocratea volubilis L. Celastraceae 8
Hippomane mancinella L. Euphorbiaceae 8
Hiraea reclinata Jacq. Malpighiaceae 8
Hura crepitans L. Euphorbiaceae 8
Hymenocallis latifolia (Mill.) M.Roem. Amaryllidaceae 8
Hyptis capitata Jacq. Lamiaceae 8
Indigofera suffruticosa Mill. Fabaceae 8
Jatropha gossypiifolia L. Euphorbiaceae 8
Jatropha multifida L. Euphorbiaceae 8
Kallstroemia maxima (L.) Hook. & Arn. Zygophyllaceae 8
Koanophyllon villosum (Sw.) R.M.King & H.Rob. Asteraceae 8
Krugiodendron ferreum (Vahl) Urb. Rhamnaceae 8
Laguncularia racemosa (L.) C.F.Gaertn. Combretaceae 8
Lantana camara L. Verbenaceae 8
Lantana involucrata L. Verbenaceae 8
Lasiacis divaricata (L.) Hitchc. Poaceae 8
Lemna aequinoctialis Welw. Araceae 8
Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E.Br. ex Britton & P.Wilson Verbenaceae 8
Maclura tinctoria (L.) D.Don ex G.Don Moraceae 8
Macroptilium lathyroides (L.) Urb. Fabaceae 8
Malachra alceifolia Jacq. Malvaceae 8
Malvastrum americanum (L.) Torr. Malvaceae 8
Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) Garcke Malvaceae 8
Margaritaria nobilis L.f. Phyllanthaceae 8
Matayba oppositifolia (A.Rich.) Britton Sapindaceae 8
Melochia tomentosa L. Malvaceae 8
Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze Lamiaceae 8
Metopium brownei Urb. Anacardiaceae 8
Mimosa pudica L. Fabaceae 8
Morinda royoc L. Rubiaceae 8
Morisonia cynophallophora (L.) Christenh. & Byng Capparaceae 8
Morisonia flexuosa L. Capparaceae 8
Mucuna sloanei Fawc. & Rendle Fabaceae 8
Myrcia chytraculia (L.) A.R.Lourenço & E.Lucas Myrtaceae 8
Myrcianthes fragrans (Sw.) McVaugh Myrtaceae 8
Myrica cerifera L. Myricaceae 8
Ocimum campechianum Mill. Lamiaceae 8
Oryctanthus cordifolius (C.Presl) Urb. Loranthaceae 8
Oxalis frutescens L. Oxalidaceae 8
Parkinsonia aculeata L. Fabaceae 8
Paspalum conjugatum P.J.Bergius Poaceae 8
Paspalum paniculatum L. Poaceae 8
Passiflora biflora Lam. Passifloraceae 8
Passiflora pallida L. Passifloraceae 8
Passiflora suberosa L. Passifloraceae 8
Paullinia fuscescens Kunth Sapindaceae 8
Pentalinon luteum (L.) B.F.Hansen & Wunderlin Apocynaceae 8
Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth Piperaceae 8
Petiveria alliacea L. Petiveriaceae 8
Pharus lappulaceus Aubl. Poaceae 8
Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene Verbenaceae 8
Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn. Phyllanthaceae 8
Phyllanthus caroliniensis Walter Phyllanthaceae 8
Physalis angulata L. Solanaceae 8
Picramnia pentandra Sw. Picramniaceae 8
Pilea microphylla (L.) Liebm. Urticaceae 8
Piper peltatum L. Piperaceae 8
Piscidia piscipula (L.) Sarg. Fabaceae 8
Pisonia aculeata L. Nyctaginaceae 8
Pithecellobium lanceolatum (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Benth. Fabaceae 8
Plumbago zeylanica L. Plumbaginaceae 8
Plumeria obtusa L. Apocynaceae 8
Portulaca pilosa L. Portulacaceae 8
Priva lappulacea (L.) Pers. Verbenaceae 8
Psychotria nervosa Sw. Rubiaceae 8
Rhizophora mangle L. Rhizophoraceae 8
Rhynchosia minima (L.) DC. Fabaceae 8
Rivina humilis L. Petiveriaceae 8
Ruellia blechum L. Acanthaceae 8
Ruellia tuberosa L. Acanthaceae 8
Sapindus saponaria L. Sapindaceae 8
Scoparia dulcis L. Plantaginaceae 8
Senna alata (L.) Roxb. Fabaceae 8
Senna bicapsularis (L.) Roxb. Fabaceae 8
Senna obtusifolia (L.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby Fabaceae 8
Senna occidentalis (L.) Link Fabaceae 8
Senna pallida (Vahl) H.S.Irwin & Barneby Fabaceae 8
Sesuvium portulacastrum (L.) L. Aizoaceae 8
Sida acuta Burm.f. Malvaceae 8
Sideroxylon foetidissimum Jacq. Sapotaceae 8
Simarouba amara Aubl. Simaroubaceae 8
Smilax spinosa Mill. Smilacaceae 8
Spermacoce remota Lam. Rubiaceae 8
Spermacoce verticillata L. Rubiaceae 8
Spigelia anthelmia L. Loganiaceae 8
Spondias mombin L. Anacardiaceae 8
Spondias purpurea L. Anacardiaceae 8
Stachytarpheta cayennensis (Rich.) Vahl Verbenaceae 8
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (L.) Vahl Verbenaceae 8
Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze Poaceae 8
Stylosanthes hamata (L.) Taub. Fabaceae 8
Suriana maritima L. Surianaceae 8
Syngonium angustatum Schott Araceae 8
Syringodium filiforme Kütz. Cymodoceaceae 8
Tabebuia heterophylla (DC.) Britton Bignoniaceae 8
Tabernaemontana alba Mill. Apocynaceae 8
Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn. Talinaceae 8
Tecoma stans (L.) Juss. Bignoniaceae 8
Teramnus labialis (L.f.) Spreng. Fabaceae 8
Terminalia buceras (L.) C.Wright Combretaceae 8
Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K.D.Koenig Hydrocharitaceae 8
Tournefortia gnaphalodes (L.) Roem. & Schult. Heliotropiaceae 8
Trema micranthum (L.) Blume Cannabaceae 8
Trichilia hirta L. Meliaceae 8
Trichilia martiana C.DC. Meliaceae 8
Trophis racemosa (L.) Urb. Moraceae 8
Turnera ulmifolia L. Passifloraceae 8
Typha domingensis Pers. Typhaceae 8
Vachellia collinsii (Saff.) Seigler & Ebinger Fabaceae 8
Vitex gaumeri Greenm. Lamiaceae 8
Volkameria aculeata L. Lamiaceae 8
Zanthoxylum flavum Vahl Rutaceae 8
Zanthoxylum martinicense (Lam.) DC. Rutaceae 8
Atriplex cristata Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd. Chenopodiaceae 6
Bontia daphnoides L. Scrophulariaceae 6
Cornutia pyramidata L. Lamiaceae 6
Tragia volubilis L. Euphorbiaceae 6
Varronia bullata L. Cordiaceae 6
Byrsonima roigii Urb. Malpighiaceae 5
Rourea glabra Kunth Connaraceae 5
Vitex cymosa Bertero ex Spreng. Lamiaceae 5
Celosia virgata Jacq. Amaranthaceae 4
Chamaecrista glandulosa (L.) Greene Fabaceae 4
Croton glabellus L. Euphorbiaceae 4
Dalbergia brownei (Jacq.) Schinz Fabaceae 4
Erythrina rubrinervia Kunth Fabaceae 4
Malvastrum corchorifolium (Desr.) Britton ex Small Malvaceae 4
Mammea americana L. Calophyllaceae 4
Myrmecophila brysiana (Lem.) G.C.Kenn. Orchidaceae 4
Phyllostylon rhamnoides (J.Poiss.) Taub. Ulmaceae 4
Spermacoce tenuior L. Rubiaceae 4
Cordia laevigata Lam. Cordiaceae 3
Diospyros tetrasperma Sw. Ebenaceae 3
Microtea debilis Sw. Microteaceae 3
Morisonia frondosa (Jacq.) Christenh. & Byng Capparaceae 3
Tarenaya spinosa (Jacq.) Raf. Cleomaceae 3

What this page does not tell you

Kew records 34 more species as native to Southwest Caribbean that we do not document. They are real, accepted plants. They have no page here because we could not find three photographs of them licensed for commercial use, and this site publishes no species it cannot show you. That gap is the honest measure of what we are missing, and it is why we print both numbers rather than the flattering one.

This is a checklist of what is native, not a guide to what will grow in your garden, and it carries no care advice and no toxicity claim, because we do not have those from a source we can cite.

Sourcesevery claim on this page

  1. Kew, World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP v16). Native distribution by TDWG level-3 botanical country (SWC). Introduced, extinct and doubtful records excluded. CC BY 3.0. Retrieved 2026-06-04.
  2. World Flora Online Plant List. Accepted names, authorities, classification. CC0. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  3. iNaturalist. Photographs, restricted to CC0 / CC BY / CC BY-SA. Retrieved 2026-06-27.