Plants native to Tonga

We document 232 of the 510 species Kew’s World Checklist records as native to Tonga. Native means native: introduced, extinct and doubtful records are excluded, so this is where these plants are from, not everywhere they now grow.

Documented 232 Native, per Kew 510 Coverage 45% TDWG TON

Best documented by photographic coverage

Every documented species 232 native to Tonga

SpeciesAuthorityFamily Photographs
Abildgaardia ovata (Burm.f.) Kral Cyperaceae 8
Acrostichum aureum L. Pteridaceae 8
Adiantum capillus-veneris L. Pteridaceae 8
Adiantum diaphanum Blume Pteridaceae 8
Adiantum hispidulum Sw. Pteridaceae 8
Aidia racemosa (Cav.) Tirveng. Rubiaceae 8
Alyxia stellata Roem. & Schult. Apocynaceae 8
Amblovenatum opulentum (Kaulf.) J.P.Roux Thelypteridaceae 8
Angiopteris evecta (Forst.) Hoffm. Marattiaceae 8
Antrophyum callifolium Blume Pteridaceae 8
Arachniodes aristata (G.Forst.) Tindale Dryopteridaceae 8
Arthropteris palisotii (Desv.) Alston Arthropteridaceae 8
Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm.f.) Becherer Aspleniaceae 8
Asplenium australasicum Hook. Aspleniaceae 8
Asplenium laserpitiifolium Lam. Aspleniaceae 8
Asplenium obtusatum G.Forst. Aspleniaceae 8
Asplenium tenerum G.Forst. Aspleniaceae 8
Barringtonia asiatica Kurz Lecythidaceae 8
Bischofia javanica Blume Phyllanthaceae 8
Blechnopsis orientalis (L.) C.Presl Blechnaceae 8
Bothriochloa pertusa (L.) A.Camus Poaceae 8
Bruguiera gymnorhiza (L.) Lam. ex Savigny Rhizophoraceae 8
Calanthe triplicata (P.Willemet) Ames Orchidaceae 8
Calophyllum inophyllum L. Calophyllaceae 8
Canavalia cathartica Thouars Fabaceae 8
Canavalia rosea (Sw.) DC. Fabaceae 8
Canavalia sericea A.Gray Fabaceae 8
Capparis spinosa L. Capparaceae 8
Cassytha filiformis L. Lauraceae 8
Casuarina equisetifolia L. Casuarinaceae 8
Cenchrus caliculatus Cav. Poaceae 8
Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. Apiaceae 8
Centipeda minima (L.) A.Braun & Asch. Asteraceae 8
Centotheca lappacea (L.) Desv. Poaceae 8
Cerbera manghas L. Apocynaceae 8
Cerbera odollam Gaertn. Apocynaceae 8
Cheilanthes tenuifolia (Burm.f.) Sw. Pteridaceae 8
Christella dentata (Forssk.) Brownsey & Jermy Thelypteridaceae 8
Christella parasitica (L.) H.Lév. Thelypteridaceae 8
Chrysopogon aciculatus (Retz.) Trin. Poaceae 8
Cocos nucifera L. Arecaceae 8
Coelogyne imbricata (Hook.) Rchb.f. Orchidaceae 8
Colubrina asiatica Brongn. Rhamnaceae 8
Commelina diffusa Burm.f. Commelinaceae 8
Cordia subcordata Lam. Cordiaceae 8
Corymborkis veratrifolia (Reinw.) Blume Orchidaceae 8
Crepidomanes parvulum (Poir.) Nivart, Senterre & Dubuisson Hymenophyllaceae 8
Cyathula prostrata (L.) Blume Amaranthaceae 8
Cyclosorus interruptus (Willd.) H.Itô Thelypteridaceae 8
Cyperus compressus L. Cyperaceae 8
Cyperus javanicus Houtt. Cyperaceae 8
Cyperus mindorensis (Steud.) Huygh Cyperaceae 8
Dalbergia candenatensis (Dennst.) Prain Fabaceae 8
Davallia solida (Forst.) Sw. Davalliaceae 8
Decalobanthus peltatus (L.) A.R.Simões & Staples Convolvulaceae 8
Deeringia amaranthoides (Lam.) Merr. Amaranthaceae 8
Dendrolobium umbellatum (L.) Benth. Fabaceae 8
Derris trifoliata Lour. Fabaceae 8
Dicranopteris linearis (Burm.f.) Underw. Gleicheniaceae 8
Didymoglossum tahitense (Nadeaud) Ebihara & K.Iwats. Hymenophyllaceae 8
Digitaria radicosa (J.Presl) Miq. Poaceae 8
Digitaria setigera Roth Poaceae 8
Diplazium proliferum (Lam.) Thouars Athyriaceae 8
Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. Sapindaceae 8
Doryopteris concolor (Langsd. & Fisch.) Kuhn & Decken Pteridaceae 8
Drynaria rigidula (Sw.) Bedd. Polypodiaceae 8
Eleocharis dulcis (Burm.f.) Trin. ex Hensch. Cyperaceae 8
Entada phaseoloides (L.) Merr. Fabaceae 8
Epipremnum pinnatum (L.) Engl. Araceae 8
Erythrina fusca Lour. Fabaceae 8
Erythrina variegata L. Fabaceae 8
Eugenia reinwardtiana (Blume) DC. Myrtaceae 8
Eulophia nuda Lindl. Orchidaceae 8
Eulophia picta (R.Br.) Ormerod Orchidaceae 8
Excoecaria agallocha L. Euphorbiaceae 8
Fagraea berteroana A.Gray ex Benth. Gentianaceae 8
Ficus obliqua G.Forst. Moraceae 8
Ficus tinctoria G.Forst. Moraceae 8
Fimbristylis complanata (Retz.) Link Cyperaceae 8
Fimbristylis cymosa R.Br. Cyperaceae 8
Fimbristylis dichotoma (L.) Vahl Cyperaceae 8
Flacourtia rukam Zoll. & Moritzi Salicaceae 8
Garuga floribunda Decne. Burseraceae 8
Geophila herbacea (Jacq.) K.Schum. Rubiaceae 8
Glycine tabacina (Labill.) Benth. Fabaceae 8
Goodyera rubicunda (Blume) Lindl. Orchidaceae 8
Grewia prunifolia A.Gray Malvaceae 8
Grona heterocarpos (L.) H.Ohashi & K.Ohashi Fabaceae 8
Grona triflora (L.) H.Ohashi & K.Ohashi Fabaceae 8
Guettarda speciosa L. Rubiaceae 8
Guilandina bonduc L. Fabaceae 8
Halodule pinifolia (Miki) Hartog Cymodoceaceae 8
Halophila ovalis (R.Br.) Hook.f. Hydrocharitaceae 8
Harpullia arborea (Blanco) Radlk. Sapindaceae 8
Heliotropium arboreum (Blanco) Mabb. Heliotropiaceae 8
Heritiera littoralis Aiton Malvaceae 8
Hernandia nymphaeifolia (C.Presl) Kubitzki Hernandiaceae 8
Hetaeria oblongifolia Blume Orchidaceae 8
Heteropogon contortus (L.) P.Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult. Poaceae 8
Hibiscus tiliaceus L. Malvaceae 8
Histiopteris incisa (Thunb.) J.Sm. Dennstaedtiaceae 8
Hoya australis R.Br. ex J.Traill Apocynaceae 8
Hypolepis tenuifolia (Forst.) Bernh. Dennstaedtiaceae 8
Inocarpus fagifer (Parkinson ex F.A.Zorn) Fosberg Fabaceae 8
Intsia bijuga (Colebr.) Kuntze Fabaceae 8
Ipomoea littoralis Blume Convolvulaceae 8
Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) R.Br. Convolvulaceae 8
Ipomoea violacea L. Convolvulaceae 8
Jasminum didymum G.Forst. Oleaceae 8
Jasminum simplicifolium G.Forst. Oleaceae 8
Kleinhovia hospita L. Malvaceae 8
Lecanthus peduncularis (Royle) Wedd. Urticaceae 8
Lemna aequinoctialis Welw. Araceae 8
Lepironia articulata (Retz.) Domin Cyperaceae 8
Leptospron adenanthum (G.Mey.) A.Delgado Fabaceae 8
Lepturus repens (G.Forst.) R.Br. Poaceae 8
Lumnitzera littorea (Jack) Voigt Combretaceae 8
Lycium carolinianum Walter Solanaceae 8
Macrothelypteris torresiana (Gaudich.) Ching Thelypteridaceae 8
Melastoma denticulatum Labill. Melastomataceae 8
Micromelum minutum (G.Forst.) Wight & Arn. Rutaceae 8
Microsorum grossum (Langsd. & Fisch.) S.B.Andrews Polypodiaceae 8
Microsorum scolopendria (Burm.f.) Copel. Polypodiaceae 8
Miscanthus floridulus (Labill.) Warb. ex K.Schum. & Lauterb. Poaceae 8
Momordica charantia L. Cucurbitaceae 8
Mucuna gigantea (Willd.) DC. Fabaceae 8
Myoporum sandwicense (A.DC.) A.Gray Scrophulariaceae 8
Nephrolepis biserrata (Sw.) Schott Nephrolepidaceae 8
Nephrolepis brownii (Desv.) Hovenkamp & Miyam. Nephrolepidaceae 8
Nervilia concolor (Blume) Schltr. Orchidaceae 8
Odontosoria chinensis (L.) J.Sm. Lindsaeaceae 8
Operculina turpethum (L.) Silva Manso Convolvulaceae 8
Oplismenus burmanni (Retz.) P.Beauv. Poaceae 8
Oplismenus hirtellus (L.) P.Beauv. Poaceae 8
Osteomeles anthyllidifolia (Sm.) Lindl. Rosaceae 8
Palhinhaea cernua (L.) Vasc. & Franco Lycopodiaceae 8
Pandanus tectorius Parkinson ex Du Roi Pandanaceae 8
Panicum decompositum R.Br. Poaceae 8
Paspalum orbiculare G.Forst. Poaceae 8
Passiflora aurantia G.Forst. Passifloraceae 8
Pemphis acidula J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. Lythraceae 8
Peperomia leptostachya Hook. & Arn. Piperaceae 8
Phlegmariurus squarrosus (G.Forst.) Á.Löve & D.Löve Lycopodiaceae 8
Phyllanthus virgatus G.Forst. Phyllanthaceae 8
Piper macropiper Pennant Piperaceae 8
Pipturus argenteus (G.Forst.) Wedd. Urticaceae 8
Pisonia aculeata L. Nyctaginaceae 8
Pisonia grandis R.Br. Nyctaginaceae 8
Planchonella chartacea H.J.Lam Sapotaceae 8
Pleiogynium timoriense (DC.) Leenh. Anacardiaceae 8
Pometia pinnata J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. Sapindaceae 8
Portulaca quadrifida L. Portulacaceae 8
Premna serratifolia L. Lamiaceae 8
Psilotum nudum (L.) P.Beauv. Psilotaceae 8
Pteridium esculentum (G.Forst.) Cockayne Dennstaedtiaceae 8
Pteris biaurita L. Pteridaceae 8
Pteris ensiformis Burm. Pteridaceae 8
Pteris tripartita Sw. Pteridaceae 8
Pteris vittata L. Pteridaceae 8
Rhizophora stylosa Griff. Rhizophoraceae 8
Rhynchospora corymbosa (L.) Britton Cyperaceae 8
Ruppia maritima L. Ruppiaceae 8
Santaloides minor (Gaertn.) G.Schellenb. Connaraceae 8
Scaevola taccada (Gaertn.) Roxb. Goodeniaceae 8
Schizaea dichotoma (L.) Sm. Schizaeaceae 8
Sesuvium portulacastrum (L.) L. Aizoaceae 8
Sophora tomentosa L. Fabaceae 8
Spathoglottis pacifica Rchb.f. Orchidaceae 8
Spathoglottis plicata Blume Orchidaceae 8
Spinifex sericeus R.Br. Poaceae 8
Spiranthes australis (R.Br.) Lindl. Orchidaceae 8
Stenochlaena palustris (Burm.) Bedd. Blechnaceae 8
Stephania japonica (Thunb.) Miers Menispermaceae 8
Stictocardia tiliifolia (Desr.) Hallier f. Convolvulaceae 8
Suriana maritima L. Surianaceae 8
Tacca leontopetaloides (L.) Kuntze Dioscoreaceae 8
Tectaria stearnsii Maxon Tectariaceae 8
Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers. Fabaceae 8
Terminalia catappa L. Combretaceae 8
Thespesia populnea Sol. ex Corrêa Malvaceae 8
Thuarea involuta (G.Forst.) R.Br. ex Sm. Poaceae 8
Ticanto crista (L.) R.Clark & Gagnon Fabaceae 8
Torenia crustacea (L.) Cham. & Schltdl. Linderniaceae 8
Trema orientale (L.) Blume Cannabaceae 8
Trema tomentosum (Roxb.) H.Hara Cannabaceae 8
Trophis scandens (Lour.) Hook. & Arn. Moraceae 8
Urochloa reptans (L.) Stapf Poaceae 8
Vigna marina (Burm.) Merr. Fabaceae 8
Vitex trifolia L. Lamiaceae 8
Volkameria inermis L. Lamiaceae 8
Wahlenbergia gracilis (G.Forst.) A.DC. Campanulaceae 8
Wollastonia biflora DC. Asteraceae 8
Ximenia americana L. Olacaceae 8
Xylocarpus granatum J.Koenig Meliaceae 8
Xylocarpus moluccensis (Lam.) M.Roem. Meliaceae 8
Xylocarpus rumphii (Kostel.) Mabb. Meliaceae 8
Ficus prolixa G.Forst. Moraceae 7
Geniostoma rupestre J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. Loganiaceae 7
Operculina codonantha (Benth.) Hallier f. Convolvulaceae 7
Tectaria dissecta (G.Forst.) Lellinger Tectariaceae 7
Wahlenbergia vernicosa J.A.Petterson Campanulaceae 7
Asplenium gibberosum (Forst.) Mett. Aspleniaceae 6
Crateva religiosa G.Forst. Capparaceae 6
Lindsaea agatii (Brack.) Lehtonen & Tuomisto Lindsaeaceae 6
Neonauclea forsteri (Seem. ex Havil.) Merr. Rubiaceae 6
Ochrosia oppositifolia K.Schum. Apocynaceae 6
Oxera amicorum (Seem.) Gâteblé & Barrabé Lamiaceae 6
Pandanus dubius Spreng. Pandanaceae 6
Zehneria mucronata Miq. Cucurbitaceae 6
Acacia simplex (Sparrm.) Pedley Fabaceae 5
Actinostachys melanesica (Selling) C.F.Reed Schizaeaceae 5
Cyclophyllum barbatum (G.Forst.) N.Hallé & J.Florence Rubiaceae 5
Halodule uninervis (Forssk.) Boiss. Cymodoceaceae 5
Bidens biternata (Lour.) Merr. & Sherff Asteraceae 4
Bikkia tetrandra (L.f.) A.Rich. Rubiaceae 4
Cycas seemannii A.Braun Cycadaceae 4
Dianella adenanthera (G.Forst.) R.J.F.Hend. Asphodelaceae 4
Pritchardia pacifica Seem. & H.Wendl. Arecaceae 4
Triumfetta procumbens G.Forst. Malvaceae 4
Antrophyum plantagineum Kaulf. Pteridaceae 3
Appendicula reflexa Blume Orchidaceae 3
Boehmeria virgata (G.Forst.) Guill. Urticaceae 3
Davallia heterophylla Sm. Davalliaceae 3
Haplopteris ensiformis (Sw.) E.H.Crane Pteridaceae 3
Homalanthus nutans Guill. Euphorbiaceae 3
Leptopetalum biflorum (L.) Neupane & N.Wikstr. Rubiaceae 3
Lindsaea cultrata (Willd.) Sw. Lindsaeaceae 3
Macaranga harveyana Müll.Arg. Euphorbiaceae 3
Phaius amboinensis Blume Orchidaceae 3
Rhizophora samoensis (Hochr.) Salvoza Rhizophoraceae 3
Scleria lithosperma (L.) Sw. Cyperaceae 3
Strophocaulon unitum (L.) S.E.Fawc. & A.R.Sm. Thelypteridaceae 3

What this page does not tell you

Kew records 278 more species as native to Tonga 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 (TON). 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.