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Online Plant Databases (Canada & United States)

Published on July 2, 2019Last updated November 18, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

This post contains affiliate links.
Read full disclosure statement here.

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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.

Foxgloves growing in the garden.

Plant Databases

Popular garden plants.

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 flag United States | Canadian flag 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.

Related: How to Understand Plant Names | Botanical Latin

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 ♛

Ebook

Seed Starting For Beginners ebook cover.

Seed Starting for Beginners
Sow Inside Grow Outside

by Melissa J. Will

NEW EDITION | Everything you need to get started with indoor seed starting for indoor and outdoor plants. Grow what you want—any time of year!

About This Ebook | Visit Ebook Shop

This ebook is a digital file (PDF format) you save to your device. It is not a physical product.

Buy Now
$8 US

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Garden plants including lupines, columbine, peony, clematis.
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Melissa J. Will - Empress of DirtWelcome!
I’m Melissa J. Will a.k.a. the Empress of Dirt (Ontario, Canada).
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