Here you’ll find 42 Plants that start with P, organized from “Painted trillium” to “Purslane”. They range from shade-loving woodland herbs and showy ornamentals to hardy shrubs, trees, and edible crops. Home gardeners use many for borders and containers, while landscapers choose larger species for screening and structure.

Plants that start with P are a varied group of species whose common names begin with the letter P. Notable examples include the food crop potato and the symbolic poppy, both deeply rooted in culture and history.

Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, USDA zones and Type.

Common name: The everyday name you see here, helping you quickly recognize plants in gardens and nurseries.

Scientific name: The Latin binomial gives exact species identity so you can match cultivation advice and further research.

USDA zones: Shows the cold-hardiness range so you can judge whether a species survives in your climate.

Type: Labels like tree, shrub, perennial or succulent that help you plan placement and maintenance.

Plants that start with P

Common name Scientific name USDA hardiness zones Type Description
Peony Paeonia lactiflora 3-8 Perennial Large, often double pink or white spring flowers; fragrant clump-forming perennial from Asia, prized for cut flowers and borders (2–3 ft).
Peach Prunus persica 5-9 Tree Spring blossoms followed by sweet stone fruit; ornamental and edible, needs chill hours, originates from China, 15–25 ft typical.
Pineapple Ananas comosus tropical Perennial Spiny rosette with a central edible fruit; tropical plant often grown in containers or greenhouse for fruit and foliage interest.
Papaya Carica papaya tropical Tree Fast-growing tropical fruit tree with soft trunks and melon-like fruit; frost-tender and commonly grown in warm climates or containers.
Poinsettia Euphorbia pulcherrima 9-11 Shrub Iconic holiday bracts (red, pink, white) above green leaves; indoor seasonal favorite with milky sap that can irritate skin.
Parsley Petroselinum crispum 4-9 Herb Biennial culinary herb with bright green, frilly or flat leaves; used fresh as garnish and in cooking, Mediterranean origin.
Pearl millet Cenchrus americanus tropical Grass Warm-season cereal and forage grass, extremely drought-tolerant; used for grain and pasture in hot, dry regions.
Pecan Carya illinoinensis 6-9 Tree Large native North American nut tree prized for edible nuts; long-lived, needs space and a warm growing season.
Poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans 3-9 Vine Widespread allergenic plant with compound “leaves of three”; vine or shrub habit, causes itchy contact dermatitis.
Purple pitcher plant Sarracenia purpurea 3-8 Perennial Low, purple-green pitcher traps form a rosette; carnivorous bog plant for acidic, wet soils and bog gardens.
Pokeweed Phytolacca americana 4-9 Perennial Tall weedy perennial with clusters of purple berries; historically medicinal/food uses but overall toxic to humans and livestock.
Pomegranate Punica granatum 7-10 Shrub Small ornamental fruit tree with red flowers and jewel-like edible seeds; Mediterranean origin, drought-tolerant once established.
Potato Solanum tuberosum frost-tender Perennial Staple tuber crop grown as an annual; cool-season planting, edible tubers, white to purple flowers depending on variety.
Papyrus Cyperus papyrus 8-11 Sedge Tall swamp sedge with umbrella-like tufted stems; iconic ancient paper source, best in consistently wet soils or ponds.
Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea 3-8 Perennial Daisy-like purple-pink blooms on upright stems; popular medicinal and pollinator-friendly perennial, 2–4 ft tall.
Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria 3-9 Perennial Tall wetland perennial with dense spikes of purple flowers; ornamental but invasive in many temperate wetlands.
Purslane Portulaca oleracea frost-tender Annual Succulent groundcover and edible salad green with yellow flowers; heat- and drought-tolerant, common worldwide weed.
Pink muhly grass Muhlenbergia capillaris 6-9 Grass Clumping ornamental grass with airy pink fall plumes; low-maintenance prairie native, 2–4 ft tall.
Paperbark maple Acer griseum 4-8 Tree Small ornamental with peeling cinnamon-brown bark and trifoliate leaves; excellent fall color and focal interest.
Painted trillium Trillium undulatum 3-7 Perennial Woodland spring wildflower with three-petaled white flowers flushed pink and three broad leaves; small clump-former.
Pampas grass Cortaderia selloana 7-11 Grass Tall ornamental grass with large silvery or pinkish plumes to 10 ft; dramatic massing but invasive in mild regions.
Peacock flower Caesalpinia pulcherrima 9-11 Shrub Tropical shrub with showy red, orange or yellow flowers; attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, frost-tender.
Paperbush Edgeworthia chrysantha 7-9 Shrub Fragrant clusters of tubular yellow flowers in late winter; valued for scent and paper fiber historically.
Ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa 3-7 Tree Large western pine with long needles and distinctive orange-brown bark; used for timber and shelterbelts.
Pitch pine Pinus rigida 3-7 Tree Eastern pine tolerant of poor, sandy soils and fire; rugged, with short stiff needles and scaly bark.
Pin oak Quercus palustris 4-8 Tree Fastigiate oak with deeply lobed leaves and good fall color; commonly used as a street or shade tree.
Pasque flower Pulsatilla vulgaris 4-8 Perennial Early spring bell-shaped purple flowers and silky seedheads; compact perennial for sunny, well-drained sites.
Purpleheart Peltogyne purpurea tropical Tree Tropical tree famed for dense, vivid purple heartwood used in fine woodworking; grows in humid tropical forests.
Prayer plant Maranta leuconeura tropical Perennial Tropical houseplant with patterned leaves that fold upward at night; grown for dramatic foliage indoors.
Ponytail palm Beaucarnea recurvata 9-11 Succulent Bottle-shaped trunk and long, arching strap leaves; drought-tolerant, popular easy-care houseplant.
Pot marigold Calendula officinalis 2-11 Annual Bright orange or yellow edible flowers for salads and herbal remedies; easy, long-blooming garden annual.
Purple dead-nettle Lamium purpureum 2-10 Annual Low, early-blooming groundcover with purple-tinged leaves and small pink flowers; excellent nectar source for bees.
Prairie dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis 4-9 Grass Fine-textured clumping grass with fragrant, airy seedheads; native prairie species for borders and meadows.
Persian ironwood Parrotia persica 4-8 Tree Slow-growing ornamental tree with exfoliating bark and vibrant fall color; shade-tolerant and hardy.
Passionfruit Passiflora edulis 9-11 Vine Vigorous tropical vine with intricate flowers and aromatic, edible fruit; frost-tender, grown on trellises in warm areas.
Paperwhite Narcissus papyraceus 8-11 Bulb Forcing bulb with clusters of fragrant white blooms in winter; commonly grown indoors in pots.
Palmer amaranth Amaranthus palmeri 6-11 Annual Fast-growing warm-season weed with upright spikes; extremely heat-tolerant and prolific seed producer.
Prairie smoke Geum triflorum 3-7 Perennial Prairie wildflower with nodding bell-shaped blooms and feathery, smoke-like seedheads; great rock garden choice.
Pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata 3-8 Perennial Low evergreen woodland groundcover with glossy leaves and small white urn-shaped flowers; shade-loving.
Pennyroyal Mentha pulegium 4-9 Perennial Low mint with aromatic foliage used historically as an herb; spreads readily and prefers moist soils.
Paper birch Betula papyrifera 2-6 Tree Iconic northern tree with white peeling bark and yellow fall color; hardy and native to boreal forests.
Prickly pear Opuntia ficus-indica 8-11 Succulent Cactus with flat pads and edible fruits (“tunas”); drought-tolerant and used for food and xeriscapes.

Descriptions

Peony
Peach
Pineapple
Papaya
Poinsettia
Parsley
Pearl millet
Pecan
Poison ivy
Purple pitcher plant
Pokeweed
Pomegranate
Potato
Papyrus
Purple coneflower
Purple loosestrife
Purslane
Pink muhly grass
Paperbark maple
Painted trillium
Pampas grass
Peacock flower
Paperbush
Ponderosa pine
Pitch pine
Pin oak
Pasque flower
Purpleheart
Prayer plant
Ponytail palm
Pot marigold
Purple dead-nettle
Prairie dropseed
Persian ironwood
Passionfruit
Paperwhite
Palmer amaranth
Prairie smoke
Pipsissewa
Pennyroyal
Paper birch
Prickly pear
If you think there is a missing term, let us know using the contact form.