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Plant Encyclopedia

The Plant Encyclopedia is a vast database of nearly 40,000 plants. You can search by any number of options including scientific name, common name, and plant category. You can also search by a combination of factors. For example, selecting USDA Hardiness, Plant Category, Bloom Time, and Flower Color, will give you a list of plants that thrive in your part of the world. Please click here to access the Zone Lookup Tool Search for plants by Common Name: OR Scientific Name: OR by Plant Details Category: any annuals and biennials aquatic plants bromeliads bulbous plants cacti and other succulents carnivorous plants climbers edibles ferns and moss fruits ground covers herbs houseplants landscape orchids ornamental grasses and bamboos palms and cycads perennials shrubs trees turf grasses vegetables Plant Characteristic: any columnar decorative berries or fruit dwarf edible flowers edible nuts high maintenance irregular growth habit low maintenance medicinal peeling bark poisonous prostrate round seed start spreading vase-shaped weeping Plant Tolerance: any deer drought heat & humidity pollution rabbits seashore slope wind Flower Charcteristic: any double erect fragrant horizontal long lasting night blooming nodding old fashioned/heritage pendent poisonous showy single unusual Flower Color: any blacks blues burgundy creams greens oranges pinks purples reds whites yellows Foliage Charcteristic: any fragrant small leaves medium leaves coarse leaves deciduous evergreen poisonous semi-evergreen Foliage Color: any black blue-green to gold dark green green red to burgundy silver to cream variegated yellow-green to gold Bloom Time: any year round early spring mid spring late spring early summer mid summer late summer early fall mid fall late fall early winter mid winter late winter To: any year round early spring mid spring late spring early summer mid summer late summer early fall mid fall late fall early winter mid winter late winter Height: any up to 1 ft 1 to 2 ft 2 to 3 ft 3 to 4 ft 4 to 5 ft 5 to 6 ft 6 to 10 ft 10 to 15 ft 15 to 20 ft 20 to 30 ft 30 to 40 ft 40 to 60 ft 60 to 100 ft over 100 ft OR by Plant Environment Hardiness Range: any 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 To: any 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Heat Range: any 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 To: any 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Light Type: any Deep Shade Shade Part Shade Dappled Part Sun Sun Full Sun To: any Deep Shade Shade Part Shade Dappled Part Sun Sun Full Sun Soil Type: any Sand Mostly Sand Some Sand Sandy Loam Loam Clay Loam Some Clay Mostly Clay Clay Bark Potting Soil To: any Sand Mostly Sand Some Sand Sandy Loam Loam Clay Loam Some Clay Mostly Clay Clay Bark Potting Soil Water Type: any Arid Semi-Arid Dry Normal Moist Boggy Wet To: any Arid Semi-Arid Dry Normal Moist Boggy Wet