This list includes 45 Plants that start with M, organized from “Madagascar periwinkle” to “Myrtle”. They include hardy trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and succulents used for ornament, food and habitat.
Plants that start with M are garden and wild species whose common English names begin with the letter M. Many have cultural or medicinal significance, such as the Madagascar periwinkle’s historic role in cancer research.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, USDA hardiness zones and Type.
Common name: This shows the widely used English name so you can quickly recognize and search for plants you encounter.
Scientific name: Provides the precise Latin binomial so you can unambiguously identify species and find detailed botanical information.
USDA hardiness zones: Lists the zone range to help you judge cold tolerance and whether a plant will survive in your region.
Type: Concise label like tree, shrub or perennial to guide planting decisions and landscape use at a glance.
Plants that start with M
| Common name | Scientific name | USDA hardiness zones | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnolia | Magnolia grandiflora | 6–10 | tree |
| Manzanita | Arctostaphylos manzanita | 7–10 | shrub |
| Marigold | Tagetes erecta | N/A | annual |
| Morning glory | Ipomoea purpurea | N/A | vine |
| Mint | Mentha × piperita | 3–8 | herb |
| Mallow | Malva sylvestris | 4–9 | perennial |
| Monkshood | Aconitum napellus | 3–7 | perennial |
| Maidenhair fern | Adiantum capillus-veneris | 7–10 (best estimate) | fern |
| Monkey puzzle | Araucaria araucana | 7–9 | tree |
| Milkweed | Asclepias syriaca | 3–9 | perennial |
| Monkeyflower | Erythranthe guttata | 3–9 | perennial |
| Myrtle | Myrtus communis | 8–11 | shrub |
| Mahonia | Mahonia aquifolium | 5–9 | shrub |
| Mexican sunflower | Tithonia rotundifolia | N/A | annual |
| Mock orange | Philadelphus coronarius | 4–8 | shrub |
| Maiden pink | Dianthus deltoides | 3–8 | perennial |
| Money plant | Pilea peperomioides | N/A | perennial |
| Mulberry | Morus alba | 4–9 | tree |
| Mugwort | Artemisia vulgaris | 3–9 | perennial |
| Mustard | Brassica juncea | 2–10 | annual |
| Mountain laurel | Kalmia latifolia | 4–9 | shrub |
| Moss rose | Portulaca grandiflora | N/A | annual |
| Maidenhair tree | Ginkgo biloba | 4–9 | tree |
| Maranta (prayer plant) | Maranta leuconeura | N/A | perennial |
| Mullein | Verbascum thapsus | 3–7 | biennial |
| Melaleuca (tea tree) | Melaleuca alternifolia | 9–11 | shrub |
| Milk thistle | Silybum marianum | 5–10 | annual |
| Meadowsweet | Filipendula ulmaria | 4–8 | perennial |
| Mock strawberry | Duchesnea indica | 4–9 | perennial |
| Moonflower | Ipomoea alba | 9–11 | vine |
| Monkey grass | Liriope muscari | 5–10 | grass |
| Montbretia | Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora | 5–9 | perennial |
| Moth orchid | Phalaenopsis amabilis | N/A | perennial |
| Moneywort | Lysimachia nummularia | 3–9 | perennial |
| Mountain ash | Sorbus aucuparia | 3–6 | tree |
| Marsh marigold | Caltha palustris | 3–7 | perennial |
| Madagascar periwinkle | Catharanthus roseus | 9–11 | perennial |
| Mexican oregano | Lippia graveolens | 8–11 | shrub |
| Matilija poppy | Romneya coulteri | 8–10 | shrub |
| Mountain mint | Pycnanthemum virginianum | 4–8 | perennial |
| Maltese cross | Silene chalcedonica | 3–7 | perennial |
| Meconopsis (Himalayan blue poppy) | Meconopsis betonicifolia | 5–7 | perennial |
| Mock orange | Philadelphus lewisii | 4–8 | shrub |
| Milkwort (Polygala) | Polygala myrtifolia | 9–11 | shrub |
| Munstead lavender | Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’ | 5–9 | perennial |
Descriptions
Magnolia
Large evergreen tree with glossy leaves and huge, fragrant white flowers; classic southern specimen used for shade and ornamental impact.
Manzanita
Evergreen shrub with smooth red bark and urn-shaped pink flowers; drought-tolerant, excellent for rock gardens and native landscapes in dry climates.
Marigold
Bold, golden annual with double blooms; pest-repellent companion plant often used in borders, containers and vegetable gardens.
Morning glory
Fast-growing twining vine with funnel-shaped, showy flowers that open in the morning; easy annual for arbors and trellises.
Mint
Fragrant, fast-spreading perennial herb used fresh or dried; great for teas, desserts and as a landscaping groundcover (contain to control spread).
Mallow
Rosy, saucer-shaped flowers and rounded leaves; attractive cottage-garden plant and useful medicinally and for pollinators.
Monkshood
Tall, dramatic spikes of helmet-shaped blue flowers; very poisonous—grown for cottage-garden drama, best with gloves when handling.
Maidenhair fern
Delicate, fan-shaped fronds with dark wiry stems; popular houseplant or sheltered outdoor fern in humid, shaded spots.
Monkey puzzle
Striking, prehistoric-looking evergreen with stiff, spiky branches; slow-growing focal tree suited to temperate climates.
Milkweed
Clumping perennial with clusters of fragrant flowers; key host plant for monarch butterflies and useful in naturalized meadows.
Monkeyflower
Low, brightly colored wildflower (formerly Mimulus) that thrives in damp soils; popular for stream edges and rock gardens.
Myrtle
Aromatic evergreen shrub with glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers; used as hedging and in Mediterranean-style gardens.
Mahonia
Evergreen shrub with holly-like leaves and yellow winter flower clusters, followed by dark berries that feed birds.
Mexican sunflower
Tall, sun-loving annual with fiery orange daisy-like blooms that attract pollinators and add bold color to beds.
Mock orange
Deciduous shrub known for intensely fragrant white blooms that smell like orange blossom; classic spring specimen.
Maiden pink
Low mound-forming perennial with small, frilly pink flowers; great for rock gardens and edging.
Money plant
Popular indoor “Chinese money plant” with round, pancake-like leaves; easy houseplant valued for its striking foliage.
Mulberry
Fast-growing tree producing sweet (often white) berries; grown for fruit, shade and wildlife value.
Mugwort
Aromatic, gray-green herb with deeply lobed leaves; used historically in herbalism and as a hardy, tolerant garden plant.
Mustard
Edible leafy and seed mustard used as a spice and leafy green; quick-growing in vegetable beds and salads.
Mountain laurel
Evergreen shrub with glossy leaves and showy clusters of bowl-shaped spring flowers; prized for woodland gardens.
Moss rose
Succulent-leaved groundcover producing abundant colorful, papery flowers; thrives in hot, dry, sunny sites.
Maidenhair tree
Ancient, deciduous tree with fan-shaped leaves that turn brilliant gold in fall; urban-tolerant and long-lived.
Maranta (prayer plant)
Tropical houseplant with patterned leaves that fold at night; grown for dramatic foliage and indoor color.
Mullein
Tall rosettes with a striking spike of yellow flowers; tolerant of poor soils and often used in cottage and wildlife gardens.
Melaleuca (tea tree)
Aromatic Australian shrub known for tea-tree oil; used in warm climate landscaping and for essential oil production.
Milk thistle
Architectural biennial/annual with spiny variegated leaves and purple thistle flowers; used medicinally and in wildlife plantings.
Meadowsweet
Clumps of frothy white or pinkish flowers with a sweet scent; favours damp meadows and cottage gardens.
Mock strawberry
Low groundcover with small yellow-centered red fruits resembling strawberries; ornamental but flavorless.
Moonflower
Night-blooming tropical vine with large fragrant white flowers; spectacular on arbors in warm climates.
Monkey grass
Tough clumping groundcover with arching grass-like leaves and tiny lavender flower spikes; good for borders and erosion control.
Montbretia
Corm-forming perennial with arcing stems of orange or red funnel-shaped flowers; excellent for hot borders.
Moth orchid
Popular indoor orchid with long-lasting, moth-shaped flowers; prized as an easy, decorative houseplant.
Moneywort
Fast-spreading, low groundcover with rounded leaves and yellow flowers; excellent for damp banks and containers.
Mountain ash
Small to medium deciduous tree with clusters of white spring flowers and bright orange-red autumn berries feeding birds.
Marsh marigold
Wetland plant with glossy, buttercup-like yellow flowers in spring; great for pondsides and bog gardens.
Madagascar periwinkle
Glossy-leaved tropical perennial with five-petaled flowers in many colors; widely grown as a warm-season bedding plant.
Mexican oregano
Aromatic perennial shrub used as a culinary herb in Mexican cuisine; drought-tolerant and sun-loving.
Matilija poppy
Dramatic shrub with huge white, crepe-like flowers and yellow centers; excellent focal point in warm, dry gardens.
Mountain mint
Aromatic perennial with silvery foliage and clusters of nectar-rich flowers that attract pollinators.
Maltese cross
Brilliant red, clustered flowers on upright stems; striking in cottage borders and pollinator beds.
Meconopsis (Himalayan blue poppy)
Noted for large, memorable sky-blue poppy flowers; prefers cool, moist, acidic soils and partial shade.
Mock orange
(Note: western species) Fragrant white flowers similar to Philadelphus coronarius; valued for scent and late spring display.
Milkwort (Polygala)
Evergreen shrub with pea-like purple flowers and glossy foliage; used in Mediterranean and coastal gardens.
Munstead lavender
Compact lavender cultivar prized for fragrance and hardiness; excellent for borders, containers and pollinator gardens.