Native water lotus flower on Orange Lake. Florida has more than 4,200 plant species growing outside of cultivation, according to the Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants. Out of those 4,200 species, nearly 3,000 are considered native.The majority are terrestrial plants: they live on dry land. There are also hundreds of aquatic plant species that live in damp or wet soils or in the water. In the U.S., only two other states have more plant diversity than Florida.lant managers rarely control native plants. However, there are times when it is necessaryâto clear navigation routes or when water levels have been manipulated and resulted in an over-abundance of native plant species in an area. In undisturbed systems, native plants are usually in balance with their environment.