Welcome to the Florida Everglades! This vast, subtropical wilderness is filled with diverse plants that thrive in its shallow waters. With around 750 native species calling the Everglades home, there's plenty of fascinating flora to spot, especially on a Wild Florida airboat ride.
As you cruise through the headwaters of the Florida Everglades, you’ll glide past giant cypress trees, bright wildflowers, fields of sawgrass and more. It’s not just the wildlife that makes this place magical—the plants are just as captivating! Ready to dive into Florida’s botanical wonderland? Here are 15 incredible Florida Everglades plants you can look out for on your Wild Florida airboat adventure.
Cypress Trees
Towering above the Everglades, cypress trees are some of the most iconic plants in the region. These trees love wet environments, and their gnarly, knobby "knees" poke up from the water around their base. Fun fact: these knees help stabilize the tree in soft, wet soils! Ride across Lake Cypress on a Wild Florida airboat ride for an up-close look at these fascinating trees and the unique wildlife that surrounds them.
BROMELIADS
Also known as "air plants," bromeliads are subtropical plants in the Everglades that cling to trees and soak up moisture from the air. You might have seen a bromeliad without even realizing it! One of the most common types is Spanish moss, which often drapes from tree branches in humid areas across Florida.
Sawgrass
Despite its name, sawgrass isn’t a grass but a member of the sedge family. It gets its name from its sharp blades, which can cut you if handled improperly. Sawgrass forms vast, grassy fields throughout the Everglades, creating the perfect hideaway for any alligators you might encounter on your airboat ride. These expansive fields are why the Everglades is called the "River of Grass."
Lichens
Lichens are a fascinating mix of fungi and algae, often clinging to tree bark or rocks. They come in various colors, from green to orange, and grow in the humid environment of the Everglades. Lichens are excellent air quality indicators, making them nature’s little environmental monitors!
Algae
Often called the foundation of the Everglades food web, algae may not be as eye-catching as some other plants, but they play a critical role in the Everglades. Algae is a primary food source for many aquatic creatures, such as snails, tadpoles, and small fish, which in turn supports larger animals and helps the Everglades flourish. Look closely at the water during your airboat tour, and you'll likely see green, stringy patches of algae floating on the surface.
Orchids
The Everglades is a paradise for orchid lovers! With more than 30 species found here, these delicate flowers are a rare and beautiful sight. The ghost orchid, one of the rarest and most famous flowers in the Everglades, can only be found in a few secret areas deep in the swamp!
Swamp Lily
Also known as the string lily, this lovely flower adds a touch of elegance to the Everglades. With its long, slender white petals and sweet fragrance, the swamp lily is often found growing in marshy areas. These beauties can grow up to three feet tall, making them easy to notice while exploring the Everglades. You might even catch sight of white-tailed deer feeding on swamp lilies, as they make up a significant part of their diet.
Water Lilies
Water lilies are floating plants in the Everglades, with large round leaves and delicate blooms in white, pink, or yellow shades. Water lilies aren’t just beautiful; they also help purify the water and offer vital shade for aquatic life, playing an essential role in the ecosystem.
PICKERELWEED
With its bright purple flowers and tall, spear-shaped leaves, pickerelweed is a showstopper in the Everglades. Its tiny, tubular flowers attract bees and butterflies, while the dense growth gives small mammals, amphibians, and insects camouflage to hide from predators. A Florida native plant species, pickerelweed grows along shorelines and shallow waters.
Duck Potato
Also known as arrowhead, duck potato features arrow-shaped leaves and small white, three-petaled flowers. It gets its name from its roots, which resemble potatoes and are a favorite snack for ducks. But this plant isn't just tasty—it’s a hero in the Everglades, helping to hold the soil in place and prevent erosion.
Cattail
Cattails are easily identified by their tall, grass-like stems and sausage-shaped flower spikes that look like nature's corndogs! Found in marshy areas, they provide both food and shelter for a variety of wildlife. Look out for herons and egrets blending into the cattails on the hunt for fish or amphibians. Cattails’ fluffy seeds can even be used as natural fire starters in the wild.
ALLIGATOR FLAG
This tall, leafy plant gets its name because alligators are often seen lurking near it. The broad leaves of the alligator flag are perfect for shading these reptiles from the sun. The leaves can grow up to six feet tall, making this Florida native plant hard to miss during your airboat ride!
SPATTERDOCK
Often mistaken with water lilies, spatterdock features round, floating leaves and bright yellow, ball-shaped flowers. Not only does it offer shelter, but it’s also a favorite food for aquatic animals in the Florida Everglades. Be on the lookout for ducks and turtles nibbling on spatterdock leaves. Spatterdock has also been used in traditional medicine to treat everything from cuts to digestive issues.
Bladderwort
This tiny, carnivorous plant may not look fierce, but it has a unique way of catching its prey. Bladderworts have small, bladder-like traps that suck in unsuspecting water insects with lightning speed, making them one of the fastest plant predators in the world! You can find this Everglades plant floating on the water's surface with small, bright yellow flowers.
Coral Bean
The coral bean is known for its striking red flowers and bright red seed pods. This plant stands out in the Everglades with its bold colors, and Native Americans historically used the seeds to make jewelry. But beware—while beautiful, the seeds are toxic if ingested.
Exploring the Everglades offers the perfect chance to discover these plants in their natural habitat. On your next Wild Florida airboat ride, challenge yourself to find as many of these Everglades plants as possible. Don’t miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in the incredible plant life that makes the Everglades one of a kind!
And while you're here, be sure to explore our Gator Park included with your airboat ride. After coasting through the headwaters of the Florida Everglades, you can get up close and personal with some of Florida’s native wildlife. Wild Florida is also home to various exotic animals, giving you the chance to experience wildlife from around the world all in one place!
