Plants Native to Honduras

Honduras is home to more than 5,000 different plant species that inhabit its jungles, dry conifer forests, coral reefs and mangroves, according to Encyclopedia of The Nations. These plants come in a wide range of colors, textures and shapes, from familiar to exotic. Some native plants have made their way into gardens and farms around the world, while others grow exclusively in Honduras.

Brassavola Digbyana

This native orchid species is the national flower of the Republic of Honduras. The rose was actually Honduras’s national flower between 1946 and 1969, but the native Brassavola digbyana replaced it in 1969. This plant typically blooms in the spring and summer, producing long-lived green flowers between 5 and 7 inches in diameter. The flowers are particularly fragrant in the early evening. Brassavola digbyana prefers partial sun and a warm (60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit), humid climate.

Pinus Oocarpa

This native pine tree inhabits areas of Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Mexico, usually at altitudes above 3,600 feet. Pinus oocarpa was declared the national tree of Honduras in 1927 and is protected under law to regulate against over-logging and forest fires. Common names for Pinus oocarpa include hazelnut pine and Mexican yellow pine. This tree will grow in areas that receive between 46 and 70 inches of rainfall a year

Fernaldia Pandurata

Fernaldia pandurata, commonly known as loroco, grows wild in tropical areas of northern Central America and southern Mexico. Its fragrant flower buds are consumed throughout Honduras and El Salvador, often cooked with rice, eggs, cheese or chicken to make tamales, tortillas and other autochthonous dishes. Fernaldia pandurata grows on long vines and produces flowers between May and October.

Hondurodendron

This native tree species is around 40 feet tall when fully grown and produces tiny male and female flowers that are about 1/8 inch in diameter. Hondurodendron grows exclusively in Parque Nacional El Cusuco in northwestern Honduras, according to Physorg.com, and is “widely but sparsely distributed within the park.” This tree grows principally in well-drained soil on ridges and slopes.