It can be quite hard to name any plants starting with N, It is definitely one of the more uncommon starting letters of botanical varieties.
But, rest assured, there are many bright, bold and interesting plants starting with just that letter. Read on for a crash course in 25 of them. Then check out our list of flowers that start with N that you need in your garden.
Quick Look
- Narcissus
- Nemesia
- Needle Grass
- Neapolitan Garlic
- Nectarine
- New Zealand Flax
- Nandina
- Navelwort
- Nicotiana
- Nasturtium
- Narrow-Lipped Helleborine
- Night-Scented Stock
- Norway Maple
- Nepeta
- Nuttall's Waterweed
- Nerine
- Nebraska Fern
- Nemophila
- Neomarica
- Nierembergia
- Nigella
- Nolana
- Nogal Tree
- Natal Ruby Grass
- Needle Palm
- Nutmeg Tree
1. Narcissus
- Common Name(s): Narcissus, Daffodil, Jonquil
- Scientific Name: Narcissus
- Native to: The Mediterranean
Well known as the name of the vain character in Greek mythology who dies staring at his own reflection, Narcissus was indeed beautiful, and so are these flowers.
The Narcissus family includes the bright herald of spring, the daffodil. This yellow delight is also the national flower of Wales.
2. Nemesia
- Common Name(s): Nemesia
- Scientific Name: Nemesia
- Native to: South Africa
These bedding plants are popular with gardeners and are easy to care for if planted after any risk of frost.
3. Needle Grass
- Common Name(s): Needlegrass
- Scientific Name: Nasella
- Native to: The Americas
Nasella is just one of the main grasses referred to as “needlegrass”. Many varieties grow across North and South America.
4. Neapolitan Garlic
- Common Name(s): Neapolitan garlic, Daffodil garlic, False garlic, Flowering onion, Guernsey star-of-Bethlehem, Wood garlic, White Garlic
- Scientific Name: Allium neapolitanum
- Native to: The Mediterranean Region
This Mediterranean allium has been naturalized in many other regions worldwide and grows as a wildflower. It produces sprays of small white flowers.
5. Nectarine
- Common Name(s): Nectarine, Peach
- Scientific Name: Prunus persica
- Native to: Eastern China
Although sometimes mistaken for a different fruit, the nectarine is a variety of peach. It features a ‘fuzzless’ skin and tends to be smaller and sweeter than other varieties.
6. New Zealand Flax
- Common Name(s): New Zealand flax, Flax lily, Wharariki
- Scientific Name: Phormium
- Native to: New Zealand and Norfolk Island
Despite the name, these plants are not closely related to the Northern Hemisphere’s flax. The New Zealand flax is important economically, both as a fiber and an ornamental plant.
7. Nandina
- Common Name(s): Nandina, Heavenly bamboo, sacred bamboo
- Scientific Name: Nandina domestica
- Native to: Eastern Asia
This bush produces bright red foliage in fall, making it a popular ornamental plant. It has been grown in Japanese and Chinese gardens for centuries and is sold to decorate sacred spaces during New Year.
8. Navelwort
- Common Name(s): Navelwort
- Scientific Name: Omphalodes, Umbilicus
- Native to: Northern Hemisphere
The term ‘navelwort’ is used for many flowering plants that look similar to forget-me-nots. They prefer a shaded area and bloom in spring.
9. Nicotiana
- Common Name(s): Tobacco
- Scientific Name: Nicotiana
- Native to: Americas, Australia, Southwestern Africa, and the South Pacific
An infamous plant, nicotiana is more commonly known as tobacco. It is grown worldwide to produce cigarettes from dried leaves.
However, some varieties are grown purely for decoration as they produce bright, sweet-smelling flowers.
10. Nasturtium
- Common Name(s): Nasturtium
- Scientific Name: Tropaeolum
- Native to: South and Central America
The name, given by botanist Carl Linnaeus, translates to ‘nose-twister’ as the flowers produce an oil with a heavy scent similar to watercress.
They are often served in salads to add a splash of color. Unripe pods can also be mixed with spiced vinegar to create a garnish.
11. Narrow-Lipped Helleborine
- Common Name(s): Narrow-lipped helleborine
- Scientific Name: Epipactis leptochila
- Native to: Europe
These small species of orchid are found near birch and alder trees, although they are becoming less common due to woodland clearing. They were once very common in Scotland and England.
12. Night-Scented Stock
- Common Name(s): Night-scented stock, Evening stock
- Scientific Name: Matthiola longipetala
- Native to: Europe and Asia
The beautiful name comes from the fact that the plant releases its heaviest fragrance at twilight. This beautiful plant can be grown in gardens and balcony boxes across North America.
13. Norway Maple
- Common Name(s): Norway maple
- Scientific Name: Acer platanoides
- Native to: Europe and western Asia
This species of maple is neither classified as hard nor softwood and is thought to be the species used by Stradivari and Guarneri, the famous Italian violin makers.
The tree takes well to urban areas and is largely grown for shade in the United States.
14. Nepeta
- Common Name(s): Nepeta
- Scientific Name: Nepeta
- Native to: Europe, Asia, and Africa
This flower group includes the species known as ‘catnip,’ known well to any cat owners. The plant binds to a cat’s olfactory receptors and gives them a sense of euphoria.
If you have a cat, you have certainly seen them go wild for this.
15. Nuttall's Waterweed
- Common Name(s): Nuttall's waterweed, Western waterweed
- Scientific Name: Elodea nuttallii
- Native to: North America
An aquatic plant, this weed grows submerged in lakes and rivers. It is also sometimes added as a decorative feature to aquariums.
16. Nerine
- Common Name(s): Nerine, Guernsey lily, Jersey lily, Spider lily
- Scientific Name: Nerine
- Native to: South Africa
This beautiful flower has been cultivated across the world, and many hybrids have been created. The colorful long-lasting blooms can be sold commercially as cut flowers.
17. Nebraska Fern
- Common Name(s): Nebraska fern, Walking fern
- Scientific Name: Asplenium rhizophyllum
- Native to: North America
These ferns grow all over Europe, America, and Asia, typically in shady, bouldered regions.
18. Nemophila
- Common Name(s): Nerine, Guernsey lily, Jersey lily, Spider lily
- Scientific Name: Nerine
- Native to: South Africa
This beautiful flower has been cultivated across the world, and many hybrids have been created. The colorful long-lasting blooms can be sold commercially as cut flowers.
19. Neomarica
- Common Name(s): Neomarica, Walking iris
- Scientific Name: Neomarica
- Native to: Mexico and Costa Rica
You need to see these pretty flowers fast as their summer bloom is short-lived. It can grow well in shade, surviving on low levels of sunlight.
20. Nierembergia
- Common Name(s): Nierembergia, Cupflower
- Scientific Name: Nierembergia
- Native to: Argentinia
Named after the Spanish Jesuit and mystic Juan Eusebio Nieremberg, the adorable cup-shaped flowers of nierembergia and its neat growth habit make it a commonly used annual flower in gardening.
21. Nigella
- Common Name(s): Nigella, love-in-a-mist, or devil in the bush
- Scientific Name: Nigella damascena
- Native to: Southern Europe, North Africa, and southwest Asia
With the beautiful flowers set among the spiky bush, these have been a favorite in English gardens since the 16th century.
22. Nolana
- Common Name(s): Nolana, Chilean bellflower
- Scientific Name: Nolana
- Native to: South America
These beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers are actually related to tomatoes, potatoes, and bell peppers.
They can survive extreme heat and produce wonderful sky-blue flowers.
23. Nogal Tree
- Common Name(s): Nogal tree, Brazilian walnut, Tropical Walnut, Nogal Criolla
- Scientific Name: Nogal
- Native to: The Old World
Another term for walnut trees, grown for their wood and edible seeds. These are also excellent shade trees to plant in tropical climates.
24. Natal Ruby Grass
- Common Name(s): Natal Ruby Grass
- Scientific Name: Melinis repens
- Native to: Africa
These tall grasses grow straight up before fanning out. Their flower spikes begin a purple-red and fade to light pink.
The light fluffy seeds easily stick to fur and clothing, spreading the plant. It is often found along roadways in many states, including California, Texas, and New Mexico.
25. Needle Palm
- Common Name(s): Needle Palm
- Scientific Name: Rhapidophyllum hystrix,
- Native to: Subtropical eastern Gulf and the south Atlantic United States
This is one of the most cold-tolerant palms in the world, growing in warm temperate climates but not needing the high heat of many other palms.
26. Nutmeg Tree
- Common Name(s): Nutmeg
- Scientific Name: Myristica
- Native to: Indonesia
The delicious spice comes from the ground seed of this tree. The covering of the seed is also used as a separate spice, mace. The majority of what we use today is produced in Indonesia.