Native plant suggestions for the garden
Updated: Feb 9, 2023
Depending on the source, there are anywhere between 500 and 800 native plant species in the UAE, and even more, if you consider the Arabian peninsula as a whole.
Approximately 100 of these are available commercially for use in commercial and domestic landscape projects in the UAE.
This is just a brief selection of some of the more common plants.
It must also be noted that there is a clear distinction between the following groups of "native plants":
Endemic plants - these are plants that occur naturally in a specific area and have been in this location for several thousands of years (or even longer) and have developed certain attributes in order for them to survive unaided. For example, you may find Ghaf trees (Prosopis cineria), which are native, but endemic to very specific habitats within the UAE/ ME, and these have slight genetic differences that make them more successful in these specific habitats.
Native plants - these are plants that occur naturally in a region or area, and are thought to have either evolved in this location, have been transported to this location through natural means, or have become separated by a physical barrier (mountain range, sea, etc.) and have developed independently from their common ancestor.
Naturalized plants - These are plants that have been introduced into a region, normally by man. The plants are either adaptable to the environment, or they can be artificially supported in order for them to thrive and reproduce. A common example is the Date Palm, it was introduced into the Arabian Peninsula about 2,000 years ago (from North Africa).
Below is just a brief selection of some of the native plants that are found in the UAE.
Acacia arabica Acacia tortilis Acacia modesta Atriplex leucoclada Alhagi graecorum Aerva javanica Aerva javanica Balanites aegyptiaca Calligonum comosum Cyperus conglomeratus Cyperus conglomeratus Cympopogon commutatus Cenchurus Cenchurus Convolvulus virgatus Crotalaria persica Crotalaria persica Euphorbia tirucalli Euphorbia tirucalli Juncus rigidus Heliotropium curassavicum Heliotropium kotschyi Grewia erythraea Lawsonia inermis Limonium axillare Limonium axillare Pennisetum divisum Pennisetum divisum Parkinsonia aculeata Parkinsonia aculeata Ochradenus aucheri Ochradenus arabicus Lycium shawii Leptadenia pyrotechnia Leptadenia pyrotechnia Prosopis cineria - Ghaf Prosopis cineria - Ghaf Pluchea dioscoridis Pluchea dioscoridis Rhazya stricta Rhazya stricta Salvadora persica Salsola imbricata Salsola imbricata Senna artemisiodes Senna artemisiodes Senna italica Senna italica Senna occidentalis Senna occidentalis Ziziphus spina-christi Tamarix nilotica Tamarix hispida Taverniera glabra Taverniera glabra Taverniera glabra Tecomella undulata Tecomella undulata Theprosia Sporobolus spicatus Sporobolus spicatus Ziziphus spina-christi
Note: It is illegal to harvest any plants or plant parts from the "wild" in the UAE, if you are caught you can be subject to a fine or imprisonment. The same applies to the collection of natural sands (e.g. red dune sand), wadi pebbles, stones or rocks and even beach sand.
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