Online Plant Databases (Canada & United States)

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A helpful directory of online plant databases, primarily in the United States and Canada, for information on plant names, growing zones, research, and images to help ID plants.

Also see Seed Company Listings for the United States and Canada to find a seller near you.

Plant Databases

North America

All Plants | National Gardening Association Plants Database (US)
Search by characteristics, genus, and images
All Plants | USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (US)
Includes common & scientific names, photos, growing zones
Butterflies & Moths of North America
Identify Plants | Garden.org
Enter characteristics to identify your plant
Invasive Species | invasivespeciesinfo.gov (US)
Includes land and aquatic plants
Native Plants | North American Native Plant Society Database (North America)
Search by type, habitat, light, soil conditions
Native Plants Database| Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (North America)
Natural History Museum Data Portal | Look up a plant to see which Lepidoptera (butterflies & moths) rely on them.
New England | Go Botany | Identify plants
Trees | What tree is it? | (Based in Ohio, US)
Search by leaf, fruit, name
Vascan | Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN)
Weeds | New Jersey Weed Gallery and Is This Plant a Weed?

Also

Insects, Spiders, & More | BugGuide.net
Keystone Plants by Ecoregion | The National Wildlife Federation (North America)

Canada

Invasive Species | invadingspecies.com (Ontario, Canada)
Includes terrestrial and aquatic plants, fish, forest pests, invertebrates, and pathogens
Native Plants | Can-plant.ca (Canada)
Browse by region, name, characteristics, and plant type or species
Native Plant Encyclopedia | Canadian Wildlife Federation
Pollinator-Friendly Native Plants | Pollinatorpartnership.ca (Canada)
Plant Selector For Birds By Garden Zone | Birds Canada
Ontario CropIPM | broadleaf, grass, and perennial weed gallery
Identify Seeds | Canada food inspection database with images
BC Invasive Species | Includes plants, animals, fish, insects, and fungi

United Kingdom

All Plants | UK – Royal Horticultural Society (UK)
Search by sun, soil, characteristics, plant type, or season

World Plants Database

All Plants | canadaplants. ca (Canada and world) – link no longer active
Woody, bulbs, annuals, perennials, tropicals, wildflowers, and weeds

Seed Companies

Canadian Seed Company Listings | Online sellers
United States Seed Company Listings | Online sellers

Reference Book

Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers | Amazon

Find Your Frost Dates & Hardiness Zone

Plant Hardiness Zones | United States | Canada
These are listed on seed packets and plant tags to guide your choices.

Average Frost Dates | Use this calculator at Almanac.com. Enter your city and state or province to find your first and last frost dates and number of frost-free days.

Ecoregion | Learn about local native plants, animal species, and environmental conditions to make garden choices that benefit your ecosystem.

Learn More: Understanding Frosts & Freezing For Gardeners

Plants by Species / Type

Garden.org Online Plant Databases – all plant types
Includes listings of online plant databases for specific states, regions, and plant species.

Here are some popular ones:

Clematis | Identify your clematis – good for figuring out which clematis you have
Also see National Gardening Association Clematis Database
Dahlias
Daylillies
Hostas
Hydrangeas
Irises
Lilies
Ornamental Grasses
Peonies
Roses
Tomatoes | Rutgers Database
Salvias
Sempervivium
Wildflowers – Regional Listings

Plant Research & Evaluations

Search | Google Scholar for research papers
Search | University Extension research papers | Check that research is peer-reviewed.
Reference | How to properly write plant names | PDF file
The Global Seed Vault in Norway | Learn how it protects seed species from around the world

Plant ID Phone Apps

IOS and Android

The idea is great: use your phone to photograph a plant you want to identify and ask the app to ID it or narrow down the options (if it’s unsure).

I can’t say I’ve ever found a plant identification app that was accurate. Out of every 10 queries, perhaps 5 might be correct.

Also, a lot of these apps seemed to have moved to a paid model where there is a fee to either buy the app or request help.

After my last round of testing, I liked this one (somewhat):
Garden Answers | https://www.gardenanswers.com/

although I mainly rely on Google Lens.

If you’ve found one you think is excellent, I’d love to know.

Wildlife

Inaturalist | Observe, share, discuss findings around the world.
Natural History Museum | Database of the World’s Lepidopteran Hostplants
Look up a plant and find out which butterflies and moths use it as a host plant.
Butterflies & Moths of North America | Collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera.

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛