Hard filters
USDA zone, recorded light, documented mature size, and optional pet toxicity exclusion remove weak matches first.
Free plant recommendation quiz
Find plants for your zone, light, and garden style.
Answer six quick questions about your yard and priorities. You’ll get up to four plants with distinct jobs, each filtered by zone, sunlight, and recorded size. Then check whether the shortlist shares your soil, drainage, and water needs.
Find my plantsNo email required. About two minutes.
Step 1 of 6
Growing zone
How the shortlist works
Site fit first. Design coherence second.
The tool filters catalog records by zone, sunlight, and project size, then starts with complementary planting roles. Soil, drainage, and shared water needs remain local checks.
Palette roles
Project type changes the mix of structure, screening, massing, groundcover, specimen, and accent plants.
Preference ranking
Style affinity, care level, water needs, pollinator value, native status, evergreen foliage, and other selected goals improve rank.
Local verification
Soil, drainage, heat, local native range, cultivar, nursery stock, restrictions, and exact safety guidance still need a local check.
Focal plant
Whale's Tongue Agave
Repeat
Common Thyme
Edge and cover
Autumn Moor Grass
Accent
Artichoke Agave
Each plant passes the shown catalog filters. Before combining the shortlist, confirm shared soil, drainage, water, mature size, and local suitability.
Image credits
- Whale's Tongue Agave: Raúl Ernestoo · cc-by-sa-4.0 · cropped to 4:3
- Common Thyme: Isasza · cc-by-sa-3.0 · cropped to 4:3
- Autumn Moor Grass: Lilly M · cc-by-sa-3.0 · cropped to 4:3
- Artichoke Agave: Longwood Gardens contributor · cc-by-4.0 · cropped to 4:3
Use the result well
Treat the names as a shortlist, not a shopping command.
A useful plant recommendation narrows the field while making uncertainty visible. Bring the roles and constraints to a local nursery, then substitute within the same role when a listed plant is unavailable or a better regional choice exists.
01
Confirm the exact plant
Check the botanical name, cultivar, mature size, local performance, and any pet or human safety concern.
02
Repeat before adding
Use several of one massing or groundcover plant before introducing more species. Repetition makes a small palette feel intentional.
03
Estimate after spacing
Use confirmed mature spacing and bed measurements to estimate a cautious starting quantity.
Keep planning
Turn one answer into the next useful step.
Garden style quiz
Use seven visual choices to find your strongest style direction first.
Growing zone finder
Look up an official U.S. USDA zone or a clearly labeled global equivalent.
Map sunlight in your yard
Turn three simple observations into more reliable light zones.
Plant spacing calculator
Estimate a cautious starting quantity after you confirm mature spacing.
Best plants for privacy
Choose a screen role and mature envelope before asking the finder for a starter palette.
How to design a garden border
Set the border layers and viewing side before estimating plant quantities.
Plant finder FAQ
What this tool can and cannot tell you
What does this plant finder recommend?
It recommends up to four catalog plants, beginning with design jobs such as structure, repetition, edge coverage, and accent. Each plant passes the selected catalog filters individually; the result is a role-based shortlist, not a guarantee that every plant shares the same soil, drainage, or watering needs.
Does my USDA hardiness zone tell me what will grow?
Your zone screens for average annual extreme minimum winter temperature. It does not account for sunlight, summer heat, soil, drainage, water, local restrictions, or a plant's exact site exposure.
Are the recommendations native to my region?
A U.S. native preference only favors catalog entries marked native somewhere in the United States. Native range can be much narrower, so confirm regional and local status with a state native plant society, extension office, or local nursery.
Does the pet-safe filter guarantee safety?
No. It excludes catalog entries currently marked toxic to pets, but plant names, animal species, dose, and source guidance matter. Confirm the exact plant with your veterinarian or the ASPCA before planting.
Sources and lookup links
Look up your zone and read the temperature limits on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. For pet screening, confirm the exact botanical name in the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list, then ask your veterinarian about your animal and situation.
GardenfulSee the plant roles in your own space.
Use a photo of your yard, mark the area you want to change, and turn your direction into a visual Gardenful plan with suggested quantities and a nursery-ready list.
