Bermuda Plants
Here I'll discuss the signature or the most well known plants of Bermuda that you can see at the various nature reserves, parks and gardens around the island. There are several species of plants that can be found in the island. They are broadly categorized as:
Endemic Plants
These are the plants that are unique to Bermuda and such species can not be found anywhere else in the world. Their seeds have come to Bermuda without any human assistance, for example by having been blown in the wind, or through birds and animals, or would have floated on the ocean to have reached the island.
They have grown over a period of time and become naturalized with the environment of Bermuda. Here are some great examples (check out the links to know about the individual plants):
The above three are the only endemic trees in Bermuda, although there are many other endemic plantations like the following:
Bermuda Sedge
Wild Bermuda Pepper
Darrell's Fleabane
Bermuda Maidenhair Fern
Bermuda Sheild Fern
Governor Laffan's Fern
Bermuda Spike Rush
Wild Bermuda Bean
Native Plants
Their seeds would have reached the island without human assistance like in the previous case. However the main difference is that the Native Plants of Bermuda although have been naturalized here, can also be found in other places of the world.
Southern Hackberry
St. Andrew's Cross
Yellowood
White Stopper
Jamaica Dogwood
Turkeyberry
St. Andrew's Cross
Turnera
Bird Pepper
Snowberry
Bermuda Bedstraw
Wild Coffee Shrub
Introduced Plants
These plants have been introduced in the island by people who would have brought the seeds from other countries, sometime intentionally, otherwise accidentally. Much of the ornamental garden plants and crops have been introduced in the island by human beings. These plants have also adapted with the island environment and some even reproduce naturally on their own.
One such introduced plant is Loquat. It's a native of south eastern China. It was introduced in Bermuda in 1850 by Governor Sir William Reid in 1850. The plum like fruits are yellow-orange in color. They ripen in winter or spring and are delicious in taste. Bermudians either eat the fruits directly or use them in making jam, jelly, marmalade, chutney and even liqueur. The cut fruits are also used in various dishes and drinks.
Some introduced plants become invasive in nature because they start causing problems in the new environment. Most of the invasive species would grow and spread very rapidly and cause economic, environmental and health problems. The invasive species also compete with the endemic and native species for food and space, sometimes pushing them to near extinction.
Here are some example of invasive plants in Bermuda:
Brazil Pepper
Chinese Fan Palm
Indian Laurel
Casuarina
Surinam Cherry
Asparagus Fern
Seaside Creeping Daisy
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 By Raj Bhattacharya
Raj, a seasoned travel writer and Bermuda destination expert, has extensive global travel experience. This website reflects his profound insights, garnered over nearly two decades of dedicated findings and research on the island. Raj has assisted countless Bermuda-bound visitors by providing direct, personalized responses to their queries and imparting his wealth of knowledge through this platform. This site serves as an indispensable guide for those seeking informed and reliable insights into Bermuda's treasures.
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Visitors' Reviews and Comments
Edmund A. Bellegarde (June 2013)
We visit Bermuda every April and would like to have The Bermudiana flower on our property here on the coast of Maine. Where can we get plants or seeds ?
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) June 2013
Hi, You can get in touch with Aberfeldy Nurseries in Paget. They might have it or give you further information.
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