Plants bring life, color, and function to gardens, homes, and landscapes. Among the vast array of plant species, those starting with the letter “N” offer a fascinating mix of ornamental beauty, medicinal properties, and environmental benefits. From vibrant flowers to hardy shrubs, this guide explores 75 popular plants that start with “N,” perfect for gardeners, nature enthusiasts, or anyone curious about the botanical world.
Popular Plants That Start With N
Nasturtium: Colorful and Edible
Nasturtium is a vibrant, fast-growing annual known for its bright, trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of orange, yellow, and red. Its round, shield-like leaves and edible blooms make it a favorite for both ornamental and culinary gardens.
Popular Varieties:
- Tropaeolum majus (Common Nasturtium): Features bold flowers and peppery-flavored leaves.
- Alaska Mix: Known for its variegated foliage and multicolored blooms.
Why Grow Nasturtium? Nasturtiums are easy to grow, attract pollinators like bees, and repel pests such as aphids. Their flowers and leaves add a spicy kick to salads, making them a dual-purpose plant.
Nandina: The Heavenly Bamboo
Nandina, often called heavenly bamboo, is an evergreen shrub with delicate, fern-like foliage that changes color with the seasons—green in summer, red in fall and winter. It produces clusters of white flowers and bright red berries.
Popular Varieties:
- Nandina domestica (Sacred Bamboo): A versatile shrub with vibrant foliage.
- Fire Power: A compact variety with intense red winter color.
Why Grow Nandina? Nandina is low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and ideal for hedges or containers. Its year-round color adds visual interest to any garden.
Nepeta: The Catnip Plant
Nepeta, commonly known as catnip or catmint, is a perennial herb with aromatic, gray-green leaves and spikes of lavender-blue flowers. It’s famous for its effect on cats but is also a lovely addition to gardens.
Popular Varieties:
- Nepeta cataria (Catnip): Loved by cats and used in herbal teas.
- Nepeta x faassenii (Catmint): A compact variety with long-blooming flowers.
Why Grow Nepeta? Nepeta attracts pollinators, is deer-resistant, and thrives in sunny, well-drained conditions. It’s perfect for borders or rock gardens.
Nymphaea: The Elegant Water Lily
Nymphaea, or water lily, is an aquatic perennial known for its stunning, floating flowers and broad, round leaves. Available in colors like white, pink, and yellow, water lilies are a centerpiece in ponds and water gardens.
Popular Varieties:
- Nymphaea odorata (White Water Lily): Features fragrant white blooms.
- Nymphaea ‘Marliacea Chromatella’: Known for its bright yellow flowers.
Why Grow Nymphaea? Water lilies provide shade and habitat for aquatic life, enhance pond aesthetics, and are relatively easy to maintain in water gardens.
Nicotiana: Fragrant Night Bloomer
Nicotiana, or flowering tobacco, is an annual or perennial plant with tubular flowers that release a sweet fragrance at night. Its blooms come in white, pink, red, or green hues.
Popular Varieties:
- Nicotiana alata (Jasmine Tobacco): Known for its evening fragrance.
- Nicotiana sylvestris (Woodland Tobacco): Tall with large, white flowers.
Why Grow Nicotiana? Nicotiana is perfect for evening gardens, attracting moths and hummingbirds. It thrives in full sun and adds a romantic touch to borders.
Unique Features of Plants That Start With N
Plants beginning with “N” share some remarkable traits. Many, like Nasturtium and Nepeta, are low-maintenance and attract pollinators, supporting local ecosystems. Others, such as Nandina and Nymphaea, offer year-round beauty or unique adaptability to specific environments like water gardens. Several “N” plants, including Nigella and Nettle, have culinary or medicinal uses, adding practical value to their aesthetic appeal.
Benefits and Uses of Plants That Start With N
Medicinal Benefits
- Nettle: Used in herbal remedies for its anti-inflammatory properties and to treat allergies.
- Nepeta: Traditionally used in teas to promote relaxation and relieve stress.
Environmental Benefits
- Nasturtium: Acts as a natural pest repellent and attracts beneficial insects.
- Nandina: Its dense foliage provides shelter for birds, and its berries are a food source in winter.
Aesthetic Value
- Nymphaea: Adds elegance to water features with its floating blooms.
- Nicotiana: Enhances evening gardens with fragrant, glowing flowers.
How to Care for Plants That Start With N
Caring for “N” plants depends on their specific needs, but here are general guidelines:
- Sunlight: Most “N” plants, like Nasturtium and Nicotiana, prefer full sun, though Nepeta and Nandina tolerate partial shade.
- Watering: Water lilies (Nymphaea) need constant submersion, while Nandina and Nasturtium are drought-tolerant once established.
- Soil: Well-draining soil is key for most “N” plants. Nepeta and Nigella prefer slightly alkaline soil, while Nymphaea thrives in nutrient-rich aquatic substrates.
How to Choose the Right “N” Plant for Your Garden
When selecting an “N” plant, consider:
- Climate: Nandina and Nicotiana suit temperate climates, while Nymphaea thrives in warm, aquatic settings.
- Space: Compact plants like Nepeta or Nasturtium work in small gardens, while Nandina is better for larger landscapes.
- Purpose: Choose Nasturtium for edible gardens, Nymphaea for ponds, or Nicotiana for evening fragrance.
75 Plants That Start With N: A Comprehensive Guide
Here’s a detailed list of 75 plants starting with “N,” showcasing their diversity and uses:
- Nasturtium – Edible annual with vibrant flowers and pest-repelling properties.
- Nandina – Evergreen shrub with colorful foliage and red berries.
- Nepeta – Aromatic perennial loved by cats and pollinators.
- Nymphaea – Aquatic water lily with stunning floating blooms.
- Nicotiana – Fragrant, night-blooming plant for evening gardens.
- Nigella – Annual with delicate flowers, also known as love-in-a-mist.
- Nerine – Bulbous perennial with pink or red fall blooms.
- Nettle – Medicinal herb with stinging leaves, used in teas.
- Narcissus – Spring-blooming bulb, commonly called daffodil.
- Nelumbo – Sacred lotus, an aquatic plant with large, showy flowers.
- Nerium – Oleander, an evergreen shrub with toxic but beautiful flowers.
- Nephrolepis – Fern, often grown as a houseplant (Boston fern).
- Nolina – Drought-tolerant succulent, also called bear grass.
- Nyssa – Tupelo tree, known for its vibrant fall foliage.
- Nierembergia – Low-growing perennial with cup-shaped purple flowers.
- Nuphar – Yellow water lily, ideal for ponds.
- Nemesia – Annual with colorful, snapdragon-like flowers.
- Nothoscordum – False garlic, a bulb with delicate white blooms.
- Nuxia – Ornamental shrub with clusters of white flowers.
- Nageia – Evergreen conifer, used in landscaping.
- Nemophila – Annual with sky-blue flowers, known as baby blue eyes.
- Neoregelia – Bromeliad with colorful, rosette-forming leaves.
- Nothofagus – Southern beech tree, grown for timber and shade.
- Narcissus – Daffodil, a cheerful spring flower.
- Nidularium – Tropical bromeliad with vibrant foliage.
- Nothapodytes – Medicinal tree used in cancer treatments.
- Nertera – Creeping plant with bright orange berries, called coral bead.
- Nyssa sylvatica – Black gum tree with stunning fall color.
- Nicotiana tabacum – Tobacco plant, grown for its leaves.
- Nymphaea alba – European white water lily.
- Neomarica – Walking iris, with fan-like leaves and blue flowers.
- Nothopanax – Ornamental shrub with glossy leaves.
- Nerine bowdenii – Hardy bulb with pink autumn flowers.
- Nymphaea caerulea – Blue water lily, sacred in ancient Egypt.
- Nux vomica – Tree with toxic seeds, used in homeopathy.
- Nematanthus – Trailing houseplant with orange, pouch-like flowers.
- Notholirion – Bulbous plant with lily-like flowers.
- Neolitsea – Evergreen tree with aromatic leaves.
- Nymphaea lotus – Egyptian white lotus.
- Narcissus poeticus – Poet’s daffodil, with fragrant white blooms.
- Nerine sarniensis – Guernsey lily, with vibrant red flowers.
- Nothocalais – Prairie dandelion, a native wildflower.
- Neobuxbaumia – Columnar cactus, grown in arid gardens.
- Nymphoides – Floating heart, an aquatic plant resembling water lilies.
- Nandina compacta – Dwarf heavenly bamboo for small spaces.
- Nicotiana langsdorffii – Green-flowered Night-blooming tobacco.
- Nothotsuga – Rare conifer, similar to hemlock.
- Neptunia – Sensitive plant with yellow puffball flowers.
- Nymphaea gigantea – Giant water lily with massive leaves.
- Narcissus jonquilla – Jonquil, a fragrant daffodil variety.
- Nerine masoniorum – Compact bulb with pink blooms.
- Nothocestrum – Hawaiian shrub with fragrant flowers.
- Neohygrophorus – Ornamental grass for landscaping.
- Nymphaea stellata – Star lotus, a tropical water lily.
- Nicotiana rustica – Wild tobacco, used in traditional ceremonies.
- Notholithocarpus – Tanoak, a hardwood tree.
- Neoregelia carolinae – Bromeliad with pink-centered rosettes.
- Nymphaea capensis – Cape blue water lily.
- Narcissus tazetta – Paperwhite, popular for indoor forcing.
- Nerine undulata – Wavy-leaved bulb with pink flowers.
- Nothofagus obliqua – Roble beech, a fast-growing tree.
- Neoporteria – Small cactus with colorful spines.
- Nymphaea rubra – Red water lily, ideal for tropical ponds.
- Nicotiana glauca – Tree tobacco, a drought-tolerant shrub.
- Nothoscordum bivalve – Crow poison, a small bulbous plant.
- Neoglaziovia – Bromeliad used for fiber production.
- Nymphaea odorata – Fragrant white water lily.
- Narcissus pseudonarcissus – Wild daffodil, a classic spring flower.
- Nerine filifolia – Slender bulb with delicate pink blooms.
- Nothofagus antarctica – Antarctic beech, a hardy tree.
- Neomammillaria – Small cactus for rock gardens.
- Nymphaea tetragona – Pygmy water lily for small ponds.
- Nicotiana attenuata – Coyote tobacco, a native wildflower.
- Notholaena – Cloak fern, a drought-tolerant fern.
- Neoregelia spectabilis – Bromeliad with striking red-tipped leaves.
Conclusion
Plants that start with “N” offer endless possibilities for gardeners, from the edible and pest-repelling Nasturtium to the elegant, pond-enhancing Nymphaea. Whether you’re looking to attract pollinators, add fragrance to your evenings, or create a low-maintenance landscape, there’s an “N” plant for every purpose. These plants not only beautify spaces but also provide ecological and practical benefits, making them a valuable addition to any garden.
