The vegetation of the region mostly tropical, but the differences in topography, soil and climatic conditions increase the species diversity. The porous limestone terraces of the islands, as a rule, poor in nutrients. It is estimated that within the Caribbean region contains 13 thousand species of plants, of which 6.5 thousand are endemic, such as guaiac tree (flower which is the national symbol of Jamaica) and sviteniya mahogany (the national flower of the Dominican Republic). In coastal areas, spread coconut palm, lagoons and estuaries with dense thickets of mangroves (red and black mangrove).
In the shallow flora and fauna is concentrated around the coral reefs, which contribute to the growth of almost constant temperature, pure water, and small changes in the level of salinity. In the lee sides reef lagoons occur underwater field marine grasses. All in the Caribbean Sea meets the seven species of algae. The most common thalasso tortoise (Thalassia testudinum) and Syringodium filiforme (family Cymodoceaceae), which can grow both together and the one-species fields at depths of up to 20 m. Another type Cymodoceaceae - Halodule wrightii - it grows on sandy and muddy surfaces at depths of up to 5 m. In brackish water harbors and estuaries at depths of 0-2,5 m meets the sea grass beds (Ruppia maritima). Representatives of three species belonging to the genus Halophila (Halophila baillonii, Halophila engelmanni and Halophila decipiens) live at depths of up to 30 m Halophila engelmanni not growing below 5 m, the area of this species is limited to the Bahamas, Florida, Greater Antilles and the western part of the Caribbean Sea. Type Halophila baillonii was found only in the Lesser Antilles.