20 Rare and Unique Native Plants of India | Native Gardening

Here’s an exclusive list of the Native Plants of India! Some of them are rare and so beautiful that you’ll surely want to include them in your collection!

India is a land of hundreds of unique species of plants. If you are interested in growing the best ones, then we have an exclusive list of the most stunning Native Plants of India for you!

Here are the best native Indian flowers you can grow

Native Plants of India

1. Milkwort

Botanical Name: Polygala irregularis

This beautiful plant with purple and blue flowers can be a good addition to your garden. It is easy to maintain and does best in full sun exposure.

2. Spider Wort

Botanical Name: Belosynapsis vivipara

Rediscovered in Maharashtra, this extremely rare epiphyte grows on the wild trees. The plant is quite vulnerable and the government is taking steps to conserve it.

3. Bird’s Foot

Botanical Name: Lotus corniculatus

This perennial legume features fragrant canary yellow blooms that pair really well with its light green and dense foliage. It is also popular as bacon-and-eggs.

4. Malabar Lily

Botanical Name: Chlorophytum malabaricum

Native to the western ghats of India, this rare herb grows stunning white flowers on an erect spike. It has small leaves that take a dark green hue on maturity.

Here’s all you need to know about growing rain lily

5. Fragrant Ceropegia / Jeemikanda

Botanical Name: Ceropegia odorata

This critically endangered species is native to the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan in India that too in areas that are inaccessible to humans. It grows yellow-green flowers with a very strong fragrance.

6. Skeleton Fern

Botanical Name: Psilotum nudum

Also popular as the whisk fern, the plant is actually not a true fern but looks like one. It grows long and erect green shoots with yellow flowers on the tips.

Check out our article on growing ferns in India here

7. Indian Abutilon / Thuthi

Botanical Name: Abutilon indicum

Also famous as the Indian mallow, it is a small plant that grows mustard yellow flowers. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of India.

8. Umbrella Tree

Botanical Name: Acacia planifrons

The plant is also native to Sri Lanka and is easily recognizable with horizontal markings on its thick trunk. It can grow high up to 15-30 feet.

9. Musli

Botanical Name: Chlorophytum tuberosum

A cute little herb, it is also popular as Safed musli in India. It is native to the forest patches in India, and it is widely used in the traditional Hindu system of medicine.

10. Assam Catkin Yew

Botanical Name: Amentotaxus assamica

This evergreen, coniferous species attains an impressive height of 18-30 feet. This plant is native to northeastern India, especially in the Turoo Hills, and Delei Valley of Arunachal Pradesh

11. Costus

Botanical Name: Saussurea costus

It is an important medicinal plant widely used in several indigenous systems of medicines. It is famous for treating asthma, inflammatory diseases, ulcer, and stomach problems.

12. Beddomes’ Cycad

Botanical Name: Cycas beddomei

The plant is extremely rare and native to a very small area of Andhra Pradesh state in the Tirumala Hills. It looks a lot like a small palm tree with pinnate leaflets.

13. Red Vanda

Botanical Name: Renanthera imschootiana

If you love orchids, then you would definitely like this species of orchid, native to the eastern Himalayas. It grows red flowers that match really well with the green foliage.

14. Blue Vanda

Botanical Name: Vanda coerulea

Also popular as the autumn lady’s tresses, the Indians also refer to it as kwaklei in Manipuri and vandaar in Sanskrit. It is one of the rare orchids with blue-white flowers.

15. Ladies Slipper Orchid

Botanical Name: Paphiopedilum spp

Native to the Indian subcontinent, this species is cultivated in various varieties. Due to its popularity, it attracts poachers, making the new species or population under constant threat.

Here are the best vanda orchid varieties in India

16. Yellow Amaryllis / Snowdrops

Botanical Name: Sternbergia fischeriana

This rare plant flowers in spring in a stunning shade of yellow. The plant stays small and looks lovely with its bright green foliage.

17. Indian Snakeroot

Botanical Name:Rauvolfia serpentina

This plant was used by many physicians throughout India in the 1940s. It is an evergreen shrub and also grows black or purple, round fruits.

18. Indian Podophyllum

Botanical Name: Sinopodophyllum hexandrum

This is an endangered medicinal herb, popular for its bioactive lignan podophyllotoxin, which is used to prepare anticancer drugs. It grows stunning flowers in shades of pink with purple undersides.

19. Queen Sago

Botanical Name:Cycas circinalis

Native to the regions of southern India, the tree is quite popular for its flour that is derived after drying the seeds. People make tortillas, tamales, soup, and porridge from it.

Check out the best indoor palms here

20. Elephant Foot

Botanical Name: Dioscorea deltoidea

Also popular as the Nepal yam, it is native to the Himalayan ranges of India. The tropical plant is a creeper and people use its leaves in the form of medicine and food.