This list includes 72 Plants that start with S, from “Saffron crocus” to “Wild strawberry”. They range from small edible herbs and bulbs to large ornamental trees and groundcover, useful in gardens and landscaping.
Plants that start with S are common garden and wild species whose common names begin with the letter S. Many, like Saffron crocus, have deep cultural or culinary histories that span centuries.
Below you’ll find the table with common name, scientific name, USDA hardiness zones and type.
Common name: The familiar name helps you quickly identify plants and match them to garden labels or seed packets.
Scientific name: The Latin binomial gives precise species identity so you can find accurate cultivation and care details.
USDA hardiness zones: The zone range shows where each plant reliably survives winter, helping you choose suited species.
Type: The short label (tree, shrub, perennial, annual, succulent, vine) tells you growth form and garden use.
Links: Direct links to species pages let you read depth on care, images, and regional growing notes.
Plants that start with S
| Common name | Scientific name | USDA hardiness zone | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sage | Salvia officinalis | 4–9 | shrub |
| Sunflower | Helianthus annuus | 2–11 | annual |
| Wild strawberry | Fragaria vesca | 4–8 | perennial |
| Strawberry tree | Arbutus unedo | 7–10 | tree |
| Sweet potato | Ipomoea batatas | 8–11 | perennial |
| Sweet corn | Zea mays | varies | annual |
| Sweet pepper | Capsicum annuum | varies | annual |
| Sweet pea | Lathyrus odoratus | varies | annual |
| Sweet basil | Ocimum basilicum | varies | annual |
| Sweetbay magnolia | Magnolia virginiana | 5–9 | tree |
| Sweetgum | Liquidambar styraciflua | 5–9 | tree |
| Sugar maple | Acer saccharum | 3–8 | tree |
| Sugarcane | Saccharum officinarum | 8–11 | grass |
| Sugar beet | Beta vulgaris | varies | annual |
| Saguaro | Carnegiea gigantea | 9–11 | succulent |
| Sand cherry | Prunus pumila | 2–6 | shrub |
| Scarlet sage | Salvia splendens | varies | annual |
| Scarlet runner bean | Phaseolus coccineus | varies | annual |
| Shadbush | Amelanchier canadensis | 3–8 | tree |
| Serviceberry | Amelanchier arborea | 4–9 | tree |
| Sea buckthorn | Hippophae rhamnoides | 3–7 | shrub |
| Sea holly | Eryngium maritimum | 4–8 | perennial |
| Sea lavender | Limonium vulgare | 4–9 | perennial |
| Sea oats | Uniola paniculata | 7–10 | grass |
| Sea thrift | Armeria maritima | 3–8 | perennial |
| Seaside goldenrod | Solidago sempervirens | 3–9 | perennial |
| Seaside daisy | Erigeron glaucus | 7–10 | perennial |
| Shagbark hickory | Carya ovata | 4–8 | tree |
| Shore pine | Pinus contorta | 4–8 | tree |
| Shrubby cinquefoil | Potentilla fruticosa | 2–7 | shrub |
| Siberian squill | Scilla siberica | 3–8 | bulb |
| Snowdrop | Galanthus nivalis | 3–7 | bulb |
| Snowflake | Leucojum aestivum | 4–8 | bulb |
| Snowberry | Symphoricarpos albus | 2–7 | shrub |
| Snow pea | Pisum sativum | varies | annual |
| Soapwort | Saponaria officinalis | 3–8 | perennial |
| Soapberry | Sapindus saponaria | 9–11 | tree |
| Society garlic | Tulbaghia violacea | 7–10 | perennial |
| Solomon’s seal | Polygonatum odoratum | 4–9 | perennial |
| Soursop | Annona muricata | 10–11 | tree |
| Sour cherry | Prunus cerasus | 4–7 | tree |
| Southern magnolia | Magnolia grandiflora | 7–9 | tree |
| Southernwood | Artemisia abrotanum | 5–9 | perennial |
| Spanish moss | Tillandsia usneoides | varies | perennial |
| Spanish lavender | Lavandula stoechas | 8–10 | shrub |
| Spanish cedar | Cedrela odorata | 10–11 | tree |
| Spider plant | Chlorophytum comosum | varies | perennial |
| Split‑leaf philodendron | Monstera deliciosa | varies | vine |
| Star anise | Illicium verum | 9–11 | shrub |
| Star jasmine | Trachelospermum jasminoides | 7–10 | vine |
| Starfruit | Averrhoa carambola | 10–11 | tree |
| Star of Bethlehem | Ornithogalum umbellatum | 4–9 | bulb |
| Star magnolia | Magnolia stellata | 4–8 | tree |
| St. Augustine grass | Stenotaphrum secundatum | 8–11 | grass |
| St. John’s wort | Hypericum perforatum | 3–8 | perennial |
| Staghorn sumac | Rhus typhina | 3–8 | shrub |
| Smooth sumac | Rhus glabra | 3–8 | shrub |
| Stinging nettle | Urtica dioica | 3–10 | perennial |
| Stone pine | Pinus pinea | 8–10 | tree |
| Saffron crocus | Crocus sativus | 6–9 | bulb |
| Sorrel | Rumex acetosa | 3–8 | herb |
| Snow gum | Eucalyptus pauciflora | 8–10 | tree |
| Sunchoke | Helianthus tuberosus | 3–9 | perennial |
| Swamp white oak | Quercus bicolor | 3–7 | tree |
| Sweet olive | Osmanthus fragrans | 7–10 | shrub |
| Sweet fern | Comptonia peregrina | 2–6 | shrub |
| Swamp milkweed | Asclepias incarnata | 3–7 | perennial |
| Showy milkweed | Asclepias speciosa | 5–9 | perennial |
| Sweet William | Dianthus barbatus | 3–8 | perennial |
| Sweet woodruff | Galium odoratum | 4–8 | perennial |
| Swamp rose | Rosa palustris | 3–8 | shrub |
| Snowbell | Styrax japonicus | 5–8 | tree |
Descriptions
Sage
A fragrant, gray‑leaved culinary herb with purple flowers; great for herb gardens and drought‑tolerant borders.
Sunflower
Tall, cheerful annual grown for large seed heads and bright yellow rays; easy to grow in full sun, attracts pollinators.
Wild strawberry
Small, sweet edible berries on low runners; great for groundcover, woodland gardens, and foragers.
Strawberry tree
Evergreen tree with glossy leaves, white urn‑flowers and red edible fruits; ornamental bark and Mediterranean gardens.
Sweet potato
Vigorous vining root crop grown for edible tubers; frost‑sensitive, likes warm soil and abundant water.
Sweet corn
Summer staple crop grown for tender kernels; easy sowing by seed, prefers full sun and fertile soil.
Sweet pepper
Bell and sweet pepper types used fresh or cooked; warm‑season vegetable, many colors and shapes.
Sweet pea
Fragrant, climbing annual with papery blossoms; trellis it for cut flowers and cottage gardens.
Sweet basil
Aromatic culinary herb for pesto and salads; prefers warm, sunny sites and regular harvests.
Sweetbay magnolia
Aromatic, creamy white flowers and semi‑evergreen foliage; popular in moist, acidic soil and coastal gardens.
Sweetgum
Distinctive star‑shaped leaves that turn vivid fall colors; produces hard gumballs, used as a shade tree.
Sugar maple
Famous for maple syrup and brilliant fall color; slow‑growing shade tree suited to cool climates.
Sugarcane
Tall tropical grass grown for sweet stalks; needs heat, water and long growing season.
Sugar beet
Root crop grown for sugar production; grown as an annual in temperate climates.
Saguaro
Iconic tall cactus of the Sonoran Desert with columnar arms; very slow‑growing and frost‑sensitive.
Sand cherry
Low, spreading cherry with small fruit used by wildlife; tolerates sandy soils and coastal sites.
Scarlet sage
Bright scarlet spikes used in bedding displays; commonly grown as an annual in warm climates.
Scarlet runner bean
Climbing bean with red flowers that attract hummingbirds; edible pods and beans when cooked.
Shadbush
Spring white flowers and edible red berries; small ornamental tree valuable for wildlife and early season interest.
Serviceberry
Small tree with white spring blossoms and sweet edible berries; great for naturalistic landscapes.
Sea buckthorn
Thorny shrub with bright orange vitamin‑C rich berries; salt‑tolerant and useful for coastal stabilization.
Sea holly
Blue‑gray spiny foliage and metallic blue thistle‑like flowers; drought‑tolerant seaside perennial.
Sea lavender
Papery blossoms ideal for dried bouquets; salt‑tolerant and common in coastal saline soils.
Sea oats
Tough dune grass with drooping seedheads; crucial for beach stabilization and coastal landscaping.
Sea thrift
Low mound with grasslike leaves and pink pom‑pom flowers; tolerates salt spray and poor soils.
Seaside goldenrod
Bold golden plumes on coastal sites; supports pollinators and tolerates sandy, salty soils.
Seaside daisy
Low, spreading plant with daisy‑like blooms; good for rockeries, coastal gardens and erosion control.
Shagbark hickory
Large native tree with shaggy bark and sweet edible nuts; valued for timber and wildlife mast.
Shore pine
Variable pine that tolerates poor, sandy soils and coastal exposure; rugged landscape tree.
Shrubby cinquefoil
Tough, low‑maintenance shrub with long‑blooming yellow flowers; excellent for borders and cold climates.
Siberian squill
Early blue spring bulbs that naturalize under trees; tolerant of shade and cold.
Snowdrop
Delicate white nodding flowers that herald late winter; plant in drifts for early spring interest.
Snowflake
Bell‑shaped white flowers with green tips in spring; hardy and good in damp soils.
Snowberry
Rounded shrub with distinctive white berries and arching branches; good for wildlife and erosion control.
Snow pea
Edible flat pods harvested young; cool‑season crop for spring and fall gardens.
Soapwort
Clusters of fragrant pink flowers; traditional soap substitute and cottage garden favorite.
Soapberry
Tropical tree whose fruit contain natural saponins used as soap; grown for ornamental and practical uses.
Society garlic
Garlic‑scented strappy leaves and lilac flower clusters; deer‑resistant and drought‑tolerant.
Solomon’s seal
Graceful arching stems with dangling bell flowers; great in shady, moist woodland gardens.
Soursop
Tropical tree with large fragrant fruits used fresh or in beverages; frost‑sensitive and needs heat.
Sour cherry
Tart cherries for baking and preserves; smaller trees that fruit reliably in cool regions.
Southern magnolia
Large glossy leaves and huge fragrant white blooms; classic evergreen specimen for warm climates.
Southernwood
Aromatic, silver‑leaved shrub used historically as a moth repellent and fragrant edging plant.
Spanish moss
Gray hanging epiphyte often draping trees in warm humid regions; ornamental and air‑plant type.
Spanish lavender
Distinctive pineapple‑shaped blooms and strong fragrance; prefers sunny, well‑drained sites.
Spanish cedar
Tropical hardwood used for furniture and cigar boxes; fragrant wood and fast‑growing in warm climates.
Spider plant
Popular easy houseplant with arching variegated leaves and baby plantlets; tolerant of low light.
Split‑leaf philodendron
Tropical climber with large, split leaves and dramatic presence; common houseplant that tolerates indoor light.
Star anise
Evergreen shrub with star‑shaped aromatic fruit used as spice; prefers warm, sheltered sites.
Star jasmine
Glossy evergreen vine with fragrant white flowers; great for trellises and fragrant hedges.
Starfruit
Tropical tree producing ribbed, tangy fruits; grown in frost‑free gardens and containers.
Star of Bethlehem
Clusters of white starry flowers in spring; naturalizes in lawns and borders.
Star magnolia
Compact tree with showy white, star‑shaped spring flowers; ideal for small gardens.
St. Augustine grass
Popular warm‑season turfgrass with coarse blades; thrives in heat and coastal areas.
St. John’s wort
Yellow summer flowers and medicinal history; easy to grow in sunny, well‑drained sites.
Staghorn sumac
Architectural, pinnate leaves and red berry clusters; striking fall color and wildlife value.
Smooth sumac
Similar to staghorn but without fuzzy stems; used for erosion control and wildlife food.
Stinging nettle
Common weedy herb with stinging hairs; edible when cooked and used medicinally; likes moist soils.
Stone pine
Umbrella‑shaped pine prized for edible pine nuts and ornamental Mediterranean character.
Saffron crocus
Spring or autumn‑flowering crocus grown for saffron threads; needs well‑drained soil and sunny spots.
Sorrel
Tangy, lemony leafy herb used fresh in salads and soups; cool‑season plant that self‑seeds.
Snow gum
Hardy eucalyptus with smooth, mottled bark and aromatic leaves; best in mild, frost‑free climates.
Sunchoke
Also called Jerusalem artichoke; tall perennial with edible tubers and late summer yellow flowers.
Swamp white oak
Tolerant oak with coarse textured leaves and flaky bark; does well in wet soils and urban parks.
Sweet olive
Highly fragrant late‑season flowers used for perfume and hedging; evergreen with glossy leaves.
Sweet fern
Fragrant, fern‑like foliage on a low native shrub; good for dry, acidic soils and erosion control.
Swamp milkweed
Moist‑site milkweed with pink flower clusters; excellent for monarch butterflies and wet meadows.
Showy milkweed
Large leaves and bold pinkish flower umbels; supports pollinators and butterfly gardens.
Sweet William
Clove‑scented flower clusters in cottage gardens; often grown as a biennial or short‑lived perennial.
Sweet woodruff
Low, aromatic groundcover with tiny white spring flowers; shady woodland favorite.
Swamp rose
Native rose with fragrant pink flowers in wet habitats; wildlife‑friendly and tolerant of boggy soils.
Snowbell
Small tree with dangling white bell flowers in late spring; elegant specimen for moist, acidic soils.