Native plant resources

USDA PLANTS Database

United States, serving United States and territories. Listed as a reference, not an endorsement.

Overview

The USDA PLANTS Database provides standardized plant names, distribution data, characteristics, images, and references for plants of the United States and territories. This listing is provided for reference, not as an endorsement, certification, ranking, or guarantee of current availability.

Services and programs

  • Plant distribution data
  • State and county searches
  • Plant reference information

What to verify before you go

Contact the organization or review its official source before making a trip, placing an order, joining a garden, or applying for funding. Details that commonly change include:

  • State or county distribution
  • Native versus cultivated status
  • Current taxonomic treatment

Related directory resources

Browse all native plant resources or return to the directory hub.

Sources and last verified

Source: USDA NRCS PLANTS Database. Last checked 2026-10-04.

The USDA PLANTS Database provides standardized plant names, distribution data, characteristics, images, and references for plants of the United States and territories.

What this listing covers

The database supports state and county searches and is useful for checking distribution and accepted plant names. It is a reference, not a nursery inventory.

Before labeling a plant native

Check the geographic scope and whether the record describes a native, naturalized, or cultivated plant. Use regional sources for local planting decisions.

More tools

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Plan

Seed starting calculator

Find the right time to start seeds indoors.

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Plan

Harvest date calculator

Estimate a harvest window from planting and maturity dates.

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Plan

Succession planting

Map repeat sowings so the harvest keeps coming.

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Plan

Fall planting calculator

Count backward from first frost to last sowing dates.

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Garden guides

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Greenhouse growing

Greenhouse temperature guide for seeds and seedlings

Use crop-specific greenhouse temperatures for seed germination, seedlings, frost protection, and ventilation, with practical day and night ranges.

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Diagram of a raised bed cross section showing timber walls, a layer of existing soil or coarse fill, and the measured depth of new soil being added.

Materials

How much soil does a raised bed need?

How to measure a raised bed and turn the volume into bags or bulk cubic yards, with a worked example for a common 8 by 4 bed.

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October calendar diagram showing planting windows for garlic, spring bulbs, hardy greens, and cover crops closing as the first fall frost approaches.

Seasonal

What can I plant right now in my garden?

In early October, most US gardeners can still plant garlic, spring bulbs, hardy greens, and cover crops. Here is what is still open and what has closed.

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Diagram of a tulip bulb in a soil cross section planted at about three times its own height, pointed end up, with a depth marker of 6 to 8 inches.

Fall planting

When should I plant tulip bulbs?

Plant tulip bulbs in fall, about 6 to 8 weeks before the ground freezes. Here is how the window shifts by region and how deep to plant.

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Plant library

Browse all plants
Illustration of lavender spikes

Flower

Lavender

A fragrant perennial for hot, sunny, well-drained sites and dried-flower use.

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Illustration of a coneflower with drooping petals and a raised cone center

Flower

Coneflowers

Long-lived perennial flowers that bloom through summer heat and support pollinators.

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Illustration of nasturtium round leaves and orange flowers

Flower

Nasturtiums

Easy annuals with edible flowers and leaves, thriving in lean soil where others struggle.

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Illustration of petunia trumpet shaped flowers on a trailing vine

Flower

Petunias

Long-blooming annuals for beds, borders, and containers in full sun.

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Glossary terms

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plant biology

True leaves

True leaves are the first leaves that resemble the mature foliage of a plant and develop after the seedling's cotyledons.

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plant labels

Variety

Variety can mean a named plant type in everyday garden language, or a formal botanical rank below species. Read the surrounding label to know which meaning applies.

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plant biology

Vernalization

Vernalization is the exposure to cool conditions that enables some plants to flower. Learn why winter temperature can affect bulbs, biennials, and cool-season crops.

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soil

Water-holding capacity

Water-holding capacity is the amount of water soil can store for plant use after excess water has drained away from the root zone.

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Gardening directories

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Native plant resources

North American Native Plant Society database

The North American Native Plant Society database organizes native plants by type, habitat, light, and soil moisture for regional plant research.

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Native plant resources

Xerces Society Pollinator Conservation Resource Center

The Xerces Society provides regional pollinator conservation resources, planting guidance, and habitat information for gardeners and land managers.

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Native plant resources

Native Plant Trust regional native plant resources

Native Plant Trust provides New England native plant information, garden resources, and plant sales tied to regional ecology.

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Seed companies

Hudson Valley Seed Company

Hudson Valley Seed Company publishes a seasonal seed catalog with vegetable, herb, flower, wildflower, garlic, and bulb selections.

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