Plants

Bright yellow burmarigold flowers
South Louisiana is paradise for plants, including the burmarigolds that bloom every fall.
 

South Louisiana's long growing season and abundant rain means it's a great place to be a plant. The Barataria Preserve contains three major plant systems: hardwood forest, swamp, and marsh, and it's a good place to see over 400 species of plants.

Spring in the Swamp: In the spring, the wildflowers fill every corner of the Barataria Preserve. Although the giant blue iris population was greatly reduced for several years, they seem to be making a comeback. More information about the giant blue irises and other preserve iris species is at the link on a pdf to download, print, and share.

In summer, the Barataria Preserve's freshwater marsh turns bright green, forming a complex system of reeds, sedges, grasses, and shrubs. Fall in the preserve brings the bright crimson of swamp (red) maples and the brilliant yellow of burmarigolds. Even in the winter, many plants stay green, providing food and habitat for a wide variety of animals.

Follow the link to learn more about nature and science at Jean Lafitte, including environmental factors and how you can contribute to nature knowledge at the park. The links below are for plant lists for various park areas and seasons.

Barataria Preserve Plants

Fall Wildflowers of Barataria

Spring Wildflowers of Barataria

 

Plants of Jean Lafitte

Family Scientific Name Common Name
Acanthaceae Ruellia nudiflora (Engelm. & Gray) Urban  
Aceraceae Acer negundo var. negundo boxelder
Aceraceae Acer rubrum var. drummondii Drummond's maple
Amaranthaceae Alternanthera philoxeroides alligatorweed
Apiaceae Bowlesia incana hoary bowlesia
Apiaceae Chaerophyllum tainturieri var. tainturieri hairyfruit chervil
Apiaceae Ptilimnium capillaceum (Michx.) Raf.  
Apiaceae Sanicula canadensis var. canadensis Canadian blacksnakeroot
Apocynaceae Vinca major bigleaf periwinkle
Araceae Colocasia esculenta coco yam
Arecaceae Serenoa repens (Bartr.) Small  
Arecaceae Acmella oppositifolia var. repens oppositeleaf spotflower
Arecaceae Anthemis cotula L.  
Arecaceae Bidens alba var. radiata romerillo
Arecaceae Cirsium horridulum yellow thistle
Arecaceae Dracopis amplexicaulis clasping coneflower
Arecaceae Erigeron philadelphicus Philadelphia fleabane
Arecaceae Gamochaeta purpurea spoonleaf purple everlasting
Arecaceae Krigia caespitosa weedy dwarf dandelion
Arecaceae Packera glabella butterweed
Arecaceae Parthenium hysterophorus Santa Maria feverfew
Arecaceae Pyrrhopappus carolinianus (Walt.) DC.  
Arecaceae Solidago sempervirens var. mexicana seaside goldenrod
Arecaceae Soliva sessilis Ruiz & Pavón  
Arecaceae Sonchus asper spiny sowthistle
Arecaceae Youngia japonica oriental false hawksbeard
Bignoniaceae Campsis radicans (L.) Seem. ex Bureau  
Boraginaceae Myosotis macrosperma argeseed forget-me-not
Brassicaceae Cardamine pensylvanica Pennsylvania bittercress
Brassicaceae Coronopus didymus (L.) Sm.  
Brassicaceae Lepidium virginicum Virginia pepperweed
Brassicaceae Rorippa palustris bog yellowcress
Brassicaceae Rorippa sylvestris creeping yellowcress
Bromeliaceae Tillandsia usneoides Spanish moss
Cannaceae Canna indica Indian shot
Caprifoliaceae Lonicera japonica Japanese honeysuckle
Caprifoliaceae Sambucus nigra L. ssp. canadensis (L.) R. Bolli  
Caryophyllaceae Cerastium glomeratum Thuill.  
Caryophyllaceae Stellaria media common chickweed
Commelinaceae Tradescantia ohiensis bluejacket
Convallariaceae Aspidistra elatior Aspidistra
Convolvulaceae Ipomoea cordatotriloba Dennst. var. cordatotriloba  
Cupressaceae Juniperus virginiana eastern redcedar
Cycadaceae Cycas revoluta sago palm
Cyperaceae Carex albolutescens greenwhite sedge
Cyperaceae Carex amphibola eastern narrowleaf sedge
Cyperaceae Carex atlantica ssp. capillacea prickly bog sedge
Cyperaceae Carex cherokeensis Cherokee sedge
Cyperaceae Carex crus-corvi ravenfoot sedge
Cyperaceae Carex hyalinolepis shoreline sedge
Cyperaceae Cyperus strigosus L.  
Cyperaceae Cyperus virens Michx.  
Cyperaceae Eleocharis montevidensis sand spikerush
Cyperaceae Eleocharis palustris common spikerush
Euphorbiaceae Chamaesyce prostrata prostrate sandmat
Fabaceae Amorpha fruticosa L.  
Fabaceae Medicago arabica spotted medick
Fabaceae Medicago lupulina black medick
Fabaceae Medicago polymorpha burclover
Fabaceae Melilotus indicus (L.) All.  
Fabaceae Mimosa strigillosa Torr. & Gray  
Fabaceae Trifolium dubium suckling clover
Fabaceae Trifolium repens white clover
Fabaceae Trifolium resupinatum reversed clover
Fabaceae Vicia ludoviciana Louisiana vetch
Fabaceae Vicia sativa ssp. nigra garden vetch
Fagaceae Quercus virginiana live oak
Geraniaceae Geranium carolinianum Carolina geranium
Iridaceae Herbertia lahue ssp. caerulea prairie nymph
Iridaceae Iris giganticaerulea giant blue iris
Iridaceae Sisyrinchium atlanticum eastern blue-eyed grass
Juncaceae Juncus acuminatus tapertip rush
Juncaceae Juncus effusus lamp rush
Juncaceae Juncus tenuis poverty rush
Lamiaceae Lamium amplexicaule L.  
Lamiaceae Salvia lyrata L.  
Lamiaceae Teucrium canadense L.  
Lauraceae Persea palustris swamp bay
Liliaceae Allium canadense var. canadense meadow garlic
Liliaceae Crinum bulbispermum hardy swamplily
Liliaceae Ophiopogon jaburan (Sieb.) Lodd.  
Liliaceae Ophiopogon japonicus dwarf lilyturf
Malvaceae Malvastrum corchorifolium false mallow
Malvaceae Modiola caroliniana Carolina bristlemallow
Meliaceae Melia azedarach Chinaberrytree
Moraceae Morus alba white mulberry
Oleaceae Ligustrum japonicum Japanese privet
Onagraceae Oenothera laciniata cutleaf evening-primrose
Onagraceae Oenothera speciosa pinkladies
Oxalidaceae Oxalis debilis var. corymbosa pink woodsorrel
Oxalidaceae Oxalis stricta common yellow oxalis
Pinaceae Pinus elliottii slash pine
Platanaceae Platanus occidentalis American sycamore
Poaceae Bromus catharticus rescuegrass
Poaceae Cynodon dactylon Bermudagrass
Poaceae Eragrostis japonica pond lovegrass
Poaceae Hordeum pusilum little barley
Poaceae Lolium perenne perennial ryegrass
Poaceae Panicum repens L.  
Poaceae Paspalum dilatatum dallisgrass
Poaceae Paspalum urvillei Vasey's grass
Poaceae Phalaris caroliniana Carolina canarygrass
Poaceae Poa annua annual bluegrass
Poaceae Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf.  
Poaceae Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roemer & J.A. Schultes ssp. pallidefusca (Schumacher) B.K. Simon  
Poaceae Sorghum halepense Johnsongrass
Poaceae Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze  
Polygonaceae Rumex verticillatus swamp dock
Polygonaceae Rumex crispus L.  
Polypodiaceae Pleopeltis polypodioides ssp. michauxiana resurrection fern
Primulaceae Anagallis arvensis L.  
Pteridaceae Pteris vittata ladder brake
Ranunculaceae Ranunculus muricatus spinyfruit buttercup

Last updated: May 31, 2022

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