This collection presents 50 Plants that start with W, spanning from “Wallflower” to “Wych elm”. Many are ornamental or woody species used in gardens, hedging, restoration and traditional medicine.
Plants that start with W are a varied group including trees, shrubs, perennials and vines. Willow and wisteria are notable examples with long cultural histories.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, USDA hardiness zones and Type.
Common name: The widely used name you recognize; it helps you find plants in stores and casual guides.
Scientific name: The Latin binomial gives precise identification so you can match species across regions and references.
USDA hardiness zones: The zone range shows cold tolerance so you know if a species suits your climate.
Type: Short label like tree, shrub, perennial, or vine, helping you plan placement and maintenance needs.
Links: Quick connections to detailed species pages so you can access cultivation tips, images and resources.
Plants that start with W
| Name | Scientific name | Type | USDA zones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut | Juglans regia | tree | 4-9 |
| Weeping willow | Salix babylonica | tree | 4-9 |
| White oak | Quercus alba | tree | 3-9 |
| White pine | Pinus strobus | tree | 3-8 |
| White spruce | Picea glauca | tree | 1-7 |
| Wax myrtle | Myrica cerifera | shrub | 6-10 |
| Wild ginger | Asarum canadense | perennial | 4-8 |
| Wallflower | Erysimum cheiri | perennial | 6-9 |
| Wisteria | Wisteria sinensis | vine | 5-9 |
| Wintergreen | Gaultheria procumbens | perennial | 3-8 |
| Witch hazel | Hamamelis virginiana | shrub | 3-8 |
| Windflower | Anemone nemorosa | perennial | 3-8 |
| Water lily | Nymphaea alba | perennial | 3-9 |
| Wineberry | Rubus phoenicolasius | shrub | 4-8 |
| Winter jasmine | Jasminum nudiflorum | shrub | 6-10 |
| Welsh poppy | Meconopsis cambrica | perennial | 5-8 |
| White clover | Trifolium repens | perennial | 3-10 |
| Watercress | Nasturtium officinale | perennial | 4-10 |
| Water hyacinth | Eichhornia crassipes | perennial | 9-11 |
| Water chestnut | Trapa natans | annual | 6-10 |
| Waxflower | Chamelaucium uncinatum | shrub | 9-11 |
| Wax palm | Ceroxylon quindiuense | tree | 10-11 |
| Whitebeam | Sorbus aria | tree | 4-7 |
| Wild garlic | Allium ursinum | perennial | 4-8 |
| Wild onion | Allium canadense | perennial | 4-9 |
| White ash | Fraxinus americana | tree | 3-8 |
| Western red cedar | Thuja plicata | tree | 5-7 |
| Western hemlock | Tsuga heterophylla | tree | 4-7 |
| Western redbud | Cercis occidentalis | tree | 7-10 |
| Water oak | Quercus nigra | tree | 6-9 |
| Wax begonia | Begonia cucullata | perennial | 9-11 |
| Western skunk cabbage | Lysichiton americanus | perennial | 5-8 |
| Wild columbine | Aquilegia canadensis | perennial | 3-8 |
| Wollemi pine | Wollemia nobilis | tree | 9-11 |
| Water hyssop | Bacopa monnieri | perennial | 9-11 |
| Western sword fern | Polystichum munitum | fern | 5-9 |
| White dead-nettle | Lamium album | perennial | 4-8 |
| Wild oat | Avena fatua | grass | 4-9 |
| Wych elm | Ulmus glabra | tree | 3-7 |
| White poplar | Populus alba | tree | 3-8 |
| White snakeroot | Ageratina altissima | perennial | 4-8 |
| Wild yam | Dioscorea villosa | vine | 4-9 |
| Winterberry | Ilex verticillata | shrub | 3-8 |
| Wild grape | Vitis riparia | vine | 3-7 |
| Wandering jew | Tradescantia zebrina | perennial | indoor/pots |
| Witch grass | Panicum capillare | grass | 3-9 |
| Wood hyacinth | Hyacinthoides non-scripta | perennial | 5-8 |
| Wood sorrel | Oxalis acetosella | perennial | 4-8 |
| White sage | Salvia apiana | shrub | 8-10 |
| Woad | Isatis tinctoria | herb | 3-9 |
Descriptions
Walnut
Large deciduous tree grown for edible nuts and timber; pinnate leaves, round crown to 25 m; needs deep, well-drained soil and full sun; staple in orchards and edible landscapes.
Weeping willow
Iconic tree with pendulous branches and narrow leaves, often 10–20 m; fast-growing, likes moist soils and pondside planting; great for screening but avoid near septic lines.
White oak
Long-lived North American oak with pale, flaky bark and rounded lobed leaves; 20–30 m; provides wildlife food and strong timber; prefers well-drained soils and full sun.
White pine
Soft-needled, tall conifer to 30–50 m with bluish-green needles in bundles of five; popular for timber and as specimen tree; adaptable, prefers moist, acidic soil.
White spruce
Cold-hardy evergreen with conical habit and short bluish needles; 10–20 m; used in windbreaks and reforestation, tolerates poor, sandy soils.
Wax myrtle
Aromatic evergreen shrub to 3–6 m with glossy leaves and waxy berries; salt- and drought-tolerant; used for hedges, wildlife cover and coastal plantings.
Wild ginger
Low, shade-loving groundcover with heart-shaped leaves and hidden maroon-brown flowers; 0.1–0.2 m tall; good for shady borders and woodland gardens.
Wallflower
Fragrant, long-blooming biennial/perennial with colorful racemes; 0.3–0.6 m; sun-loving, drought-tolerant, great for borders and pots.
Wisteria
Climbing vine with dramatic hanging lilac flower clusters in spring; vigorous and long-lived; needs strong support and regular pruning to control size.
Wintergreen
Low evergreen groundcover with glossy leaves, white bell flowers and red berries; aromatic winter interest; prefers acidic, shady, moist soils.
Witch hazel
Deciduous shrub with fragrant, spidery yellow blooms in late fall/winter; 2–5 m; great for winter interest and woodland gardens.
Windflower
Delicate spring woodland perennial with white to pink flowers and divided leaves; forms carpets in shade; 0.1–0.2 m tall.
Water lily
Floating aquatic with round pads and large white flowers; 0.1–0.5 m above water; ideal for ponds, provides shade and wildlife habitat.
Wineberry
Invasive bramble with hairy red canes and tasty orange-red raspberries; 1–3 m; vigorous spreader—great fruit but can be weedy.
Winter jasmine
Deciduous shrub with bright yellow winter blooms and arching stems; 1–3 m; tolerates poor soils and is useful on slopes or walls.
Welsh poppy
Delicate poppy-like yellow-orange flowers on graceful stems; 0.3–0.6 m; prefers partial shade and moist, well-drained soils.
White clover
Low-growing nitrogen-fixing groundcover with trifoliate leaves and white flower heads; useful in lawns, pastures and for pollinators.
Watercress
Peppery, aquatic herb with pinnate leaves; grows in running water; edible raw or cooked and rich in vitamin C.
Water hyacinth
Floating ornamental with glossy leaves and lavender flower spikes; extremely fast-growing and invasive in warm climates; best confined to containers in cooler regions.
Water chestnut
Aquatic plant with floating leaves and spiny nut fruits; invasive in some regions; historically used for edible nuts in Asia and Europe.
Waxflower
Australian shrub with needle-like foliage and long-lasting waxy flowers; 1–2 m; excellent for cut flowers and drought-tolerant landscapes.
Wax palm
Tall tropical palm with columnar trunk and feather-like fronds; iconic Andean species; best in frost-free climates or large conservatories.
Whitebeam
Small ornamental tree with lobed leaves that are white-felted beneath, and spring flowers followed by red-orange pomes; good for urban sites.
Wild garlic
Shade-loving spring bulb with broad leaves and white umbels; edible leaves with mild garlic flavor; spreads by rhizomes.
Wild onion
Bulbous plant with onion-scented leaves and round umbels; useful edible and wildlife food; can naturalize in lawns and meadows.
White ash
Large deciduous shade tree with compound leaves and strong timber; 15–30 m; has been affected by emerald ash borer in North America.
Western red cedar
Large evergreen with fibrous aromatic bark and flattened sprays of foliage; 20–60 m; valued for timber, screens and native plantings.
Western hemlock
Shade-tolerant conifer with drooping leader and fine needles; 20–50 m; prefers moist, cool forests and woodland gardens.
Western redbud
Small ornamental tree with pea-like pink flowers on bare stems in spring; 3–6 m; drought-tolerant and attractive in native landscapes.
Water oak
Medium fast-growing oak with variable lobed leaves and rounded crown; 15–25 m; tolerates wet sites and urban soils.
Wax begonia
Glossy-leaved, shade-tolerant begonia with clusters of white or pink flowers; commonly used in pots and bedding in warm regions.
Western skunk cabbage
Striking wetland plant with large glossy leaves and bright yellow spathes in spring; 0.5–1 m; thrives in boggy soils.
Wild columbine
Red-and-yellow, nodding bell-like flowers attract hummingbirds; 0.3–0.9 m; easy in partial shade with well-drained soil.
Wollemi pine
Rare, prehistoric conifer with unique bubbly bark and fern-like foliage; prized as collector’s specimen; tolerates sheltered garden conditions.
Water hyssop
Mat-forming aquatic or damp-soil herb with small white flowers; used in ponds, hanging baskets and as a medicinal plant in some traditions.
Western sword fern
Evergreen woodland fern with arching, leathery fronds; 0.5–1.5 m; excellent shade groundcover in moist, acidic soils.
White dead-nettle
Clumping shade perennial with white tubular flowers that attract bees; 0.2–0.6 m; tolerant of poor soils.
Wild oat
Annual grass weed with open panicles and oat-like seeds; common in disturbed soils and arable land; can be managed by crop rotation.
Wych elm
Large deciduous elm with rough leaves and a broad crown; 15–30 m; native to Europe and valued in large landscapes.
White poplar
Fast-growing poplar with white-felted underside to leaves and pale bark; 15–30 m; makes a rapid screen but can sucker profusely.
White snakeroot
Shade-tolerant woodland plant with clusters of small white flowers; toxic to livestock if ingested; 0.3–1 m tall.
Wild yam
Climbing twining vine with heart-shaped leaves and small greenish flowers; used historically for medicinal remedies and erosion control.
Winterberry
Deciduous holly bearing bright red berries on bare stems in winter; 1–4 m; excellent for wildlife and winter color.
Wild grape
Hardy wild vine with small, tart grapes and vigorous growth; 10–20 m; useful for wildlife, erosion control and rootstock breeding.
Wandering jew
Trailing houseplant with striped purple-and-silver leaves and small pink flowers; easy in bright indoor conditions or frost-free outdoors.
Witch grass
Annual tufted grass with airy seed heads; common in disturbed sites and as a summer weed; useful for wildlife cover.
Wood hyacinth
Spring-blooming bulb with nodding blue bell flowers scented in woodlands; 0.1–0.3 m; spreads by bulbs and seeds.
Wood sorrel
Low woodland perennial with trifoliate clover-like leaves and delicate white-pink flowers; edible sour leaves good for salads in small amounts.
White sage
Aromatic evergreen shrub with silvery foliage and white flower spikes; 1–2 m; drought-tolerant and used in native landscaping and ceremonial practices.
Woad
Blue-dye producing biennial herb with yellow flowers and large leaves; 0.5–1 m; historically important for textile dyeing.