Plant Search Definitions

Plant Knowledge Home Plant Search Definitions Scientific Name: The Scientific Name, also called the Latin name, universally refers to a specific plant. Return to Plant Search Cultivar: The cultivar refers to a horticultural variety that originated and persists because of cultivation. Return to Plant Search Common Name: The common name is the non-scientific name for a plant. Many common names can exist for a plant and is not univerally understood. For example, the common name for plants in the genus Cornus is dogwood. Return to Plant Search Hardiness Zone: The hardiness zone is designed to help gardeners predict whether a particular plant will be successful in a particular area. The United States and southern Canada are divided into 11 zones based on a 10 degree F difference in average annual minimum temperature. The hardiness zone system is based on the assumption that survival of landscape plants over winter is the most critical selection criterion in the plant’s adaptation to the environment. For additional information visit the USDA Hardiness Zone Map Info Page. Option Description Any Using this choice will allow selection of plants of any zone. 1 Below -50 F (Fairbanks, AK) 2 -50 to -40 F (Prudhoe Bay, AK) 3 -40 to -30 F (International Falls, MN) 4 -30 to -20 F (Minneapolis/St. Paul MN) 5 -20 to -10 F (Des Moines, IA) 6 -10 to 0 F (St. Louis, MO) 7 0 to 10 F (Little Rock, AR) 8 10 to 20 F (Austin, TX) 9 20 to 30 F (Brownsville, TX) 10 20 to 40 F (Miami, FL) 11 Above 40 F (Honolulu, HI) Return to Plant Search Plant Category: Multiple categories may be selected by clicking on categories while holding the Ctrl key down. Option Description Any Using this choice will allow selection of plants of any category. Annual and Biennials Annuals germinate, flower, set seed and die in a single growning season. Biennials germinate and grow the first year, and flower and die the second year. Aquatic Plants Plants that grow in water. Bromeliads Tropical epiphytic or terrestrial plants that produce a showy bloom. Cacti and other succulents Mostly arid, desert-like plants that require little maintenance.  Indoor or outdoor plants, depending on zone. Carnivorous plants Plants that trap and consume insects. Climbers Plants that grow upright, usually with the help of an arbor, trellis or the like. Edibles Plants that can be used for culinary purposes. Ferns and moss Prehistoric plants that are grown for their foliage, indoors or outdoors depending on zone. Fruits Small or tree fruits that are grown for eating purposes. Ground covers Plants used for the purpose of covering the ground. Herbs Plants that are grown for culinary, medicinal or therapeutic purposes. Houseplants Plants that are grown indoors or outdoors(zone dependent) for decorative purposes. Landscapes Created outdoor scenes. Orchids Plants that are grown for their exotic flowers, generally tropical. Ornamental grass and bamboo Generally low maintenance clump-forming perennials typically used as accents in the landscape or border. Palms and cycads Prehistoric tropical plants generally grown for their foliage. Perennials Hardy ornamental plants that persists for several years or more.  Grows each spring and dies back each fall. Shrubs Multi-stemmed woody plants grown for aesthetic or functional purposes. Trees Upright, generally single-stemmed large woody plant. Turf grasses Clipped foliage that forms a dense carpet used for lawns and landscape. Vegetables Plants that are grown for culinary purposes. Return to Plant Search Bloom Time: Option Description Any Using this choice will allow selection of plants of any bloom time. Year Round Blooms throughout the year. Early Winter Blooms in early winter. Mid Winter Blooms in the middle of winter. Late Winter Blooms in late winter. Early Spring Blooms in early spring. Mid Spring Blooms in the middle of spring. Late Spring Blooms in late spring. Early Summer Blooms in early summer. Mid Summer Blooms in the middle of summer. Late Summer Blooms in late summer. Early Fall Blooms in early fall. Mid Fall Blooms in the middle of fall. Late Fall Blooms in late fall. Return to Plant Search Flower Color(s): Multiple categories may be selected by clicking on categories while holding the Ctrl key down. Option Description Any Using this choice will allow selection of plants of any flower color. Blacks Flower colors include blacks. Blues Flower colors include blues. Burgundy Flower colors include burgundy. Creams Flower colors include creams. Greens Flower colors include greens. Oranges Flower colors include oranges. Pinks Flower colors include pinks. Purples Flower colors include purples. Reds Flower colors include reds. Whites Flower colors include whites. Yellows Flower colors include yellows. Return to Plant Search Maximum Height: Option Description Any Using this choice will allow selection of plants of any height. Up to 1 ft Plants up to 1 ft high. 1 to 2 ft Plants 1 to 2 ft high. 2 to 3 ft Plants 2 to 3 ft high. 3 to 4 ft Plants 3 to 4 ft high. 4 to 5 ft Plants 4 to 5 ft high. 5 to 6 ft Plants 5 to 6 ft high. 6 to 10 ft Plants 6 to 10 ft high. 10 to 15 ft Plants 10 to 15 ft high. 15 to 20 ft Plants 15 to 20 ft high. 20 to 30 ft Plants 20 to 30 ft high. 30 to 40 ft Plants 30 to 40 ft high. 60 to 100 ft Plants 60 to 100 ft high. Over 100 ft Plants over 100 ft high. Return to Plant Search Limit Search To: Option Description 10 Plants The search is limited to the first ten plants found. 30 Plants The search is limited to the first thirty plants found. 50 Plants The search is limited to the first fifty plants found. 250 Plants The search is limited to the first two hundred fifty plants found. Return to Plant Search

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