Native plants of Tropical South America
These 50 plants belong to Tropical South America. They were here before the gardens were: they know the weather, live on the rain that falls, and feed the insects and birds that grew up alongside them. Plant a few and your yard starts to fit its place.
Signature plant: Brazil nut, native here and in no other world region on this list.
Nut trees (5)
- Baru · zones 10–12
- Brazil nut · zones 11–12
- Breadnut (Maya nut) · zones 10–12
- Cashew · zones 10–12
- Malabar chestnut (money tree) · zones 10–12
Tropical and subtropical food plants (28)
- Abiu · zones 11–12
- Açaí palm · zones 11–12
- Aguaje (moriche palm) · zones 11–12
- Araçá-boi · zones 10–12
- Araticum · zones 10–12
- Barbados cherry · zones 9–11
- Cacao · zones 11–12
- Cagaita · zones 10–12
- Camu camu · zones 10–12
- Cubiu (Orinoco apple) · zones 10–12
- Cupuaçu · zones 11–12
- Guaraná · zones 11–12
- Guava · zones 9–11
- Ice-cream bean · zones 10–12
- Mamey apple · zones 10–12
- Mangaba · zones 10–12
- Nance · zones 10–12
- Naranjilla (lulo) · zones 10–11
- Passion fruit · zones 9–11
- Peach palm (pupunha) · zones 11–12
- Pequi · zones 10–12
- Pineapple · zones 10–12
- Soursop · zones 11–12
- Stinking toe (West Indian locust) · zones 10–12
- Sugar apple · zones 10–12
- Sweet passion fruit (maracujá-doce) · zones 10–11
- Umbu · zones 10–12
- Vanilla · zones 11–12
Perennial vegetables, greens and herbs (7)
- Achiote (annatto) · zones 10–12
- Achira (edible canna) · zones 8–11
- Arrowroot · zones 9–11
- Cassava · zones 10–12
- Culantro · zones 9–12
- Hoja santa · zones 9–11
- Malanga (cocoyam) · zones 9–11
Annual vegetables, herbs and grains (7)
- Amaranth (grain and greens) · zones 2–11
- Epazote (paico) · zones 6–11
- Hot pepper · zones 2–11
- Peanut · zones 6–11
- Sweet pepper · zones 2–11
- Sweet potato · zones 5–11
- Winter squash and pumpkin · zones 2–11
Native and wild plants (3)
- Andean alder · zones 8–11
- Jatobá-do-cerrado · zones 10–12
- Pond apple · zones 10–12
Open the natives of Tropical South America in the planner
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All regions · Plants by hardiness zone
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home