There are so many plants in the world, that it’s near impossible to learn about them all. However, researching plants by letter is a good way to start. This list encompasses some plants that start with A, including flowers, vegetables, fruits, trees, and shrubs.
Flowers That Start With A
There are many flowers that start with A. The list below includes just some of the thousands you can find with a common or scientific name starting with the letter.
Acanthus: Also known as bear’s breeches, this genus of flowering plants lives in Asia and the Mediterranean Basin. The clumped flower spikes come in a variety of different colors.
African Flame Lily: Due to the origins of this plant, and the fact that the flower’s colors resemble flames, this plant’s common name is African flame lily. It may also be called simply a flame lily, climbing lily, or tiger claw.
Amaryllis: Amaryllis is the only genus is Amaryllidinae and only has two species. The more common is Amaryllis belladonna, which is native to the Western Cape part of South Africa.
Anemone: Anemones are part of the buttercup family. This wildflower is found on all continents except for Oceania and Antarctica.
Asian Spider Flower: Asian spider flowers are also known as tickweeds. This plant has small yellow flowers and often grows in areas where the soil is disturbed.
Astragalus: Astragalus is a genus of plants with over 3,000 different species. It’s part of the legume family and though it has beautiful flowers, it’s more often used for health and medicine.
Azaleas: Azaleas are known for their bold flowers. The most popular ones mostly originated from Asia and parts of North America.
Vegetables That Start With A
Vegetables are a difficult category, as no two people agree on what a vegetable is. But these are some of the plants usually described as vegetables that start with an A.
Adzuki Beans: Adzuki beans are also known as red beans or red mung beans. They’re found most commonly in East Asia.
Alfalfa Sprouts: Alfalfa sprouts are microgreens. Alfalfa is part of the legume family and is often used for animal feed, but the sprouts are used as food for people.
Amaranth: Various species of amaranth have different uses. Some are simply ornamental plants while others can be used as a leafy vegetable.
American Groundnut: The American Groundnut is part of the legume family. However, it’s most often harvested for the tubers and not the fruits and seeds, though they are also edible.
Arame: Arame is a vegetable of the sea. It’s a type of seaweed often used in Japan, though it’s popular in several other Asian countries as well.
Artichoke: Artichokes are actually a type of thistle. The part people eat are the flowering heads, but before they bloom.
Arugula: Arugula also goes by the name rocket or eruca. It’s a leafy vegetable known for its bitter and peppery taste.
Asparagus: Asparagus is a spring vegetable. Until they flower, they tend to grow straight up with needle-like leaves.
Fruits That Start With A
There are so many interesting fruits around the world, some you’ll never see in a grocery store. These are just some of the fruits that start with an A.
Abiu: This is a tropical fruit found in South America. The taste resembles caramel custard and the inside is creamy and jelly-like.
Ackee: Ackees are closely related to lychees and longans. It’s Jamacia’s national fruit and though a fruit, it is often cooked like a vegetable.
Ambarella: Ambarellas are also known as June plums or golden apples. They are green with a crunchy texture and tart taste.
Ambrosia Melon: Ambrosia melon is a hybrid between a muskmelon and a cantaloupe. It’s often confused with cantaloupe in appearance but has a much more floral taste.
Annatto: Annatto is a fruit that isn’t often eaten directly. While it can be used for flavor and smell, it’s often used to add a bit of an orange or yellow tint to foods.
Apple: Apples are a common fruit. They come in colors ranging from green to red and can be sweet or tangy.
Apricot: Apricots are a type of stone fruit. They are also sometimes called Armenian plums. They’re round and yellow, similar to a peach, but with more of a plum taste.
Ashwagandha: Ashwagandha is part of the nightshade family. It’s said to have many health benefits, including relieving stress and anxiety.
Asian Pear: Asian Pears are big round pears that have a little crunch. They are in the same family as apples, peaches, and strawberries.
Avocado: Sometimes marked as a vegetable, an Avocado is known for its bright green flesh that’s smooth and creamy. It also has the name alligator pear due to its rough skin.
Other Plants That Start With A
Some plants don’t easily fit into the categories above. Trees, shrubs, and succulents that start with the letter A are what you’ll find in this section.
Acacia: Acacias is a genus of trees and shrubs commonly found in Australia and Africa. They’re part of the pea family.
Agave: Agave is a type of succulent found in dry areas of the Americas. People often use the nectar as a sweetener in desserts and drinks.
Alocasia: Alocasia are popular ornamental plants, with a large number of hybrids. Naturally, they’re found in Asia and Australia.
Aloe Vera: Aloe vera is a succulent you might be familiar with. Not only are they popular for homes, but the gel inside is often used in food and skincare products.
Areca Palm: Also known as yellow palm, butterfly palm, golden cane palm, or bamboo palm, this is a small palm often used for decoration. The trunks are golden and are sometimes similar in appearance to bamboo.
Artemisia: There are roughly 400 species that fall under the Artemisia genus. They are commonly called sagebrush, mugwort, or wormwood.
Ash Tree: Ash trees are trees in the lilac and olive family. They are highly beneficial to the soil as they raise the pH and increase nutrients.
Summary of Plants That Start With an A
Plant | Scientific Name |
---|---|
Acanthus | Acanthus |
African Flame Lily | Gloriosa superba |
Amaryllis | Amaryllis |
Anemone | Anemone |
Asian Spider Flower | Cleome viscosa |
Astragalus | Astragalus |
Azaleas | Rhododendron |
Adzuki Beans | Vigna angularis |
Alfalfa Sprouts | Medicago sativa |
Amaranth | Amaranthus cruentus |
American Groundnut | Apios americana |
Arame | Eisenia bicyclis |
Artichoke | Cynara cardunculus |
Arugula | Eruca sativa |
Asparagus | Asparagus officinalis |
Abiu | Pouteria caimito |
Ackee | Blighia sapida |
Ambarella | Spondias dulcis |
Ambrosia Melon | Cucumis melo |
Annatto | Bixa orellana |
Apple | Malus domestica |
Apricot | Prunus armeniaca |
Ashwagandha | Withania somnifera |
Asian Pear | Pyrus pyrifolia |
Avocado | Persea americana |
Acacia | Acacia |
Agave | Agave americana |
Alocasia | Alocasia |
Aloe Vera | Aloe barbadensis |
Areca Palm | Dypsis |
Artemisia | Artemisia |
Ash Tree | Fraxinus |
The photo featured at the top of this post is © organi/iStock via Getty Images
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