Native Plants That Are Indigenous to North & South America

The flora of North and South America exceeds hundreds of thousands of species. The Amazon Rainforest, for example, is home to more than 200 species of orchids alone. The wide range of climates and landscapes lends to a wide variety of ecosystems and plant life. While many species have spread to other parts of the world, there are still countless unidentified species of plants on the two continents.

Pineapple plants (Ananas comosus) are native to southern Brazil and Paraguay and spread throughout Central and North America by Native Americans. Pineapple is a member of the Bromeliaceae family and is a herbaceous perennial plant that cannot endure any frost. Pineapple plants grow up to 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Sharp, waxy leaves grow from a short stem anchored firmly in the ground. The pineapple plant grows small purple or red flowers followed by cylinder-shaped pineapples that can grow up to a foot long. Some varieties include the Natal Queen, Red Spanish and Smooth Cayenne. The latter is most widely distributed in grocery stores around the world.

The flowering dogwood tree (Cornus florida) is native to what is now the eastern United States and some places in Mexico. This popular decorative tree has small yellow flower-like bracts, clusters of small red fruit and a shallow root system. The tree's fruit is high in nutrients and a popular snack for wildlife. The fruit is poisonous to humans, however.

Alstroemeria (Alstroemeria psittacina), commonly known as the Peruvian Lily and Parrotlily, is native to Northern Brazil, along with 30 other varieties of the same species. The bright, tubular flowers grow from tall stalks that grow from self-seeding tubers. Alstroemeria reproduces rapidly and has spread into many natural areas around the world, including New Zealand, where it is the country's unofficial Christmas flower.

Lantana (Lantana camara) is a renowned weed that is native to southern Central America and northern South America. Lantana is a subscandent shrub that smells of black currents and is rife with prickles. With more than 600 varieties, Lantana wreaked havoc on the agricultural industry in Asia and in the Pacific Islands. Though invasive, Lantana is used for medicinal purposes and firewood.

Although it is widely known that corn (Zea mays) is indigenous to the Americas, scientists still speculate as to where exactly where it originated. Evidence points to either South America or Mexico. The pollen, stem and seed are all edible, making it one of the most useful and nutritious plants from the Americas. It is also used as an ingredient in some oils, paper and packing supplies, fuel and medicines. It is now one of the most common crops around the world.

The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is native to South and Central Americas, where it is still a major food staple. Sweet potatoes grow from vines that cover the ground and shoot its roots deep into the ground. Both the roots (the actual sweet potato) and the plant are edible. Some varieties include Bush Porto Rico, Sumor and Jewell. Sweet potatoes are also known as yams, although true yams are in another plant family altogether.