The main goal of this work was to prove the interest of metal hyperaccumulator plants in supported Lewis acid catalysis. Friedel-Crafts alkylation and acylation reveal the great catalytic activity of different plant extracts. This approach is a green solution with chemical benefits including high yield, excellent regioselectivity, small amounts of catalyst, mild conditions and concrete perspectives towards the depletion of mineral resources. The results also constitute an incentive for the development of phytoextraction programs on metal-bearing soils. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.