How to Find Your Perfect Plant Match at the Missouri Botanical Garden

Have you ever wondered what kind of plants would thrive in your garden? Finding the right plant for your garden can be a daunting task, but not anymore. Thanks to the Plant Finder feature of the Missouri Botanical Garden website, you can easily search for plants by various criteria and view their photos and profiles. The Plant Finder is a useful tool that can help you discover new and exciting plants for your garden, learn more about their features and requirements, and enjoy the beauty and diversity of the Missouri Botanical Garden.

The Missouri Botanical Garden is a botanical garden located in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. It is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the nation and a National Historic Landmark. It has a collection of over 7,500 plants from around the world, which are displayed in various gardens and conservatories.

In this article, we will show you how to use the Plant Finder to find your perfect plant match at the Missouri Botanical Garden. We will also explain the benefits of using the Plant Finder, the types of plants you can find, and some tips and tricks to make the most of it. By the end of this article, you will be able to:

• Use the Plant Finder to search for plants by scientific name, common name, or selected characteristics.
• Compare different plants and view their photos and profiles.
• Find plants that suit your preferences, needs, and conditions.
• Find plants that solve common gardening problems, such as plants that tolerate drought, deer, clay soil, black walnut, etc.
• Discover new and exciting plants for your garden, and learn more about their origin, culture, problems, garden uses, wildlife value, etc.
• Enjoy the beauty and diversity of the Missouri Botanical Garden, and explore its collection of plants.
• Use the Plant Finder features, such as the plant list, the plant profile, the plant records, the plant mapper, etc.
• Grow and care for the plants that you find, and access the resources and tools that can complement the Plant Finder.

Are you ready to find your perfect plant match at the Missouri Botanical Garden? Let’s get started!

Benefits of Using the Plant Finder

The Plant Finder is a database of plants that are growing or have been grown in the Kemper Center display gardens and selected additions. The Kemper Center is the home gardening division of the Missouri Botanical Garden, and it showcases plants that are suitable for the St. Louis region.

The Plant Finder can help you find plants that suit your preferences, needs, and conditions. You can search for plants by scientific name, common name, or selected characteristics, such as:

• Plant type: annual, biennial, bulb, cactus/succulent, fern, grass, ground cover, herb, perennial, shrub, tree, vine, etc.
• Zone: the USDA hardiness zone that indicates the minimum winter temperature that a plant can survive.
• Sun: the amount of sunlight that a plant prefers or tolerates, such as full sun, part sun, part shade, or full shade.
• Water: the amount of water that a plant requires or tolerates, such as dry, medium, or wet.
• Height: the mature height of a plant, measured in feet or inches.
• Spread: the mature width of a plant, measured in feet or inches.
• Color: the color of the flowers, fruits, or leaves of a plant, such as blue, green, orange, pink, purple, red, white, yellow, etc.
• Bloom time: the season or month when a plant produces flowers, such as spring, summer, fall, winter, January, February, etc.
• Maintenance: the level of care that a plant needs, such as low, medium, or high.
• Uses: the purposes or functions that a plant can serve in a garden, such as border, container, cut flower, dried flower, edible, erosion control, hedge, naturalize, rain garden, rock garden, specimen, street tree, etc.

You can also find plants that have specific features or qualities, such as:

• Flowers: showy, fragrant, insignificant, good cut, good dried, or other winter interest.
• Fruit: showy, edible, or other winter interest.
• Leaves: colorful fall, evergreen, or quick to establish.
• Missouri natives: plants that are native to Missouri or the Midwest region.
• Plants of merit: plants that are selected by the Missouri Botanical Garden for their outstanding qualities and performance in the St. Louis area.
• Wildlife: plants that attract or provide food for birds, hummingbirds, butterflies, or other wildlife.
• Plants that tolerate: plants that can withstand or resist certain adverse conditions, such as rabbit, deer, drought, heavy shade, erosion, clay soil, dry soil, wet soil, shallow rocky soil, black walnut, air pollution, etc.

The Plant Finder can help you solve common gardening problems, such as finding plants that can grow in challenging sites, such as dry shade, wet clay, or deer-infested areas. You can also find plants that can provide solutions for specific needs, such as erosion control, privacy screening, or edible landscaping.

The Plant Finder has many features that make it easy and convenient to use, such as:

• Advanced search: you can refine your search by using multiple criteria, such as plant type, zone, sun, water, height, spread, color, bloom time, maintenance, and uses. You can also exclude plants that have certain characteristics, such as thorns, invasive, or poisonous.
• Plant list: you can view the results of your search in a list format, which shows the scientific name, common name, and a brief description of each plant. You can also sort the list by scientific name, common name, height, or spread. You can also save or print your plant list for future reference.
• Plant profile: you can view the details of each plant in a profile format, which shows the photo, scientific name, common name, family, genus, plant type, zone, sun, water, height, spread, color, bloom time, maintenance, flowers, fruit, leaves, Missouri natives, plants of merit, uses, wildlife, plants that tolerate, origin, culture, problems, garden uses, and other details of each plant. You can also view related plants or related searches for each plant.
• Plant records: you can view the information about the living collection of plants in the Missouri Botanical Garden, such as the accession number, location, quantity, provenance, and notes of each plant. You can also view the plant records of the plants that are no longer in the collection, such as the reason for removal, the date of removal, and the previous location of each plant.
• Plant mapper: you can view the map of the Missouri Botanical Garden, and locate the plants that you are interested in. You can also search for plants by location, such as garden, bed, or grid. You can also view the plant mapper in full screen mode, and zoom in or out of the map.

The Plant Finder uses information from various sources, such as:

• The Missouri Botanical Garden Live Collection, which provides comprehensive information about the living collection of plants in the garden, such as the scientific name, common name and many more.

Types of Plants You Can Find

The Plant Finder can help you discover new and exciting plants for your garden, and learn more about their characteristics and care. You can find a variety of plants that are displayed in the Missouri Botanical Garden, such as flowers, fruits, leaves, Missouri natives, plants of merit, etc.

Here are some examples of plants that you can find using the Plant Finder, and why they are worth growing or visiting:

• Magnolia stellata (star magnolia): This is a deciduous shrub or small tree that produces fragrant, star-shaped white flowers in early spring, before the leaves emerge. It is native to Japan, and it is a plant of merit that can be used as a specimen, hedge, or border. It prefers full sun to part shade, and medium to wet soil. It grows up to 15 feet tall and wide, and it is hardy in zones 4 to 9. You can view its photo and profile [here].
• Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed): This is a perennial herb that produces clusters of bright orange flowers in summer, which attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. It is native to North America, and it is a Missouri native and a plant of merit that can be used in a butterfly garden, meadow, or naturalized area. It prefers full sun and dry to medium soil. It grows up to 3 feet tall and wide, and it is hardy in zones 3 to 9. You can view its photo and profile [here].
• Acer palmatum (Japanese maple): This is a deciduous tree that has palmate leaves that change color from green to red, orange, yellow, or purple in fall. It is native to Japan, Korea, and China, and it is a plant of merit that can be used as a specimen, bonsai, or container plant. It prefers part shade and moist, well-drained soil. It grows up to 25 feet tall and wide, and it is hardy in zones 5 to 8. You can view its photo and profile [here].
• Hydrangea macrophylla (bigleaf hydrangea): This is a deciduous shrub that produces large, showy clusters of pink, blue, or white flowers in summer, depending on the soil pH. It is native to Japan and China, and it is a plant of merit that can be used as a cut flower, dried flower, or border plant. It prefers part shade and moist, well-drained soil. It grows up to 6 feet tall and wide, and it is hardy in zones 6 to 9. You can view its photo and profile [here].

These are just some of the plants that you can find using the Plant Finder. There are many more plants that you can explore, such as:

• Flowers: iris, peony, rose, lily, daffodil, tulip, etc.
• Fruits: apple, pear, peach, cherry, grape, strawberry, etc.
• Leaves: hosta, fern, coleus, heuchera, coral bells, etc.
• Missouri natives: coneflower, black-eyed Susan, goldenrod, aster, milkweed, etc.
• Plants of merit: crape myrtle, witch hazel, viburnum, lilac, dogwood, etc.

You can browse the plants by family, genus, or common name, or use the related searches feature to find more plants that match your criteria. You can also view the photos and profiles of each plant, and learn more about their origin, culture, problems, garden uses, and other details.

The Plant Finder can help you enjoy the beauty and diversity of the Missouri Botanical Garden, which has a collection of over 7,500 plants from around the world. You can visit the garden and see the plants in person, or take a virtual tour online. You can also locate the plants that you are interested in using the plant mapper, and see where they are growing in the garden.

The Plant Finder is a great way to discover new and exciting plants for your garden, and learn more about their features and requirements. You can find plants that suit your preferences, needs, and conditions, and grow them in your own garden. You can also find plants that solve common gardening problems, and provide solutions for specific needs. You can also find plants that are unique, rare, or interesting, and appreciate their beauty and diversity.

Tips and Tricks to Make the Most of the Plant Finder

The Plant Finder is a user-friendly and convenient tool that can help you find your perfect plant match at the Missouri Botanical Garden. However, there are some tips and tricks that can help you use the Plant Finder more effectively and efficiently, such as:

• Refine your search: You can use the advanced search feature to refine your search by using multiple criteria, such as plant type, zone, sun, water, height, spread, color, bloom time, maintenance, and uses. You can also exclude plants that have certain characteristics, such as thorns, invasive, or poisonous. This can help you narrow down your results and find the best plants for your garden.
• Compare different plants: You can compare different plants and view their photos and profiles. You can also sort the plant list by scientific name, common name, height, or spread. This can help you choose the best plants for your garden, and see how they differ in their features and requirements.
• Save or print your plant list: You can save or print your plant list for future reference. You can also email your plant list to yourself or someone else. This can help you keep track of the plants that you are interested in, and share them with others.
• Access the plant records: You can access the plant records of the plants that are growing or have grown in the Missouri Botanical Garden. You can view the accession number, location, quantity, provenance, and notes of each plant. You can also view the plant records of the plants that are no longer in the collection, such as the reason for removal, the date of removal, and the previous location of each plant. This can help you learn more about the history and status of the plants in the garden.
• Use the plant mapper: You can use the plant mapper to locate the plants that you are interested in the Missouri Botanical Garden. You can view the map of the garden, and see where the plants are growing. You can also search for plants by location, such as garden, bed, or grid. You can also view the plant mapper in full screen mode, and zoom in or out of the map. This can help you plan your visit to the garden, and see the plants in person.

These are some of the tips and tricks that can help you make the most of the Plant Finder. You can also use the help feature to get more information and guidance on how to use the Plant Finder.

Conclusion

The Plant Finder is a valuable tool that can help you find your perfect plant match at the Missouri Botanical Garden, and learn more about their features and requirements. You can use the Plant Finder to search for plants by scientific name, common name, or selected characteristics. You can also compare different plants and view their photos and profiles. You can find plants that suit your preferences, needs, and conditions, and grow them in your own garden. You can also find plants that solve common gardening problems, and provide solutions for specific needs. You can also find plants that are unique, rare, or interesting, and appreciate their beauty and diversity. You can also enjoy the beauty and diversity of the Missouri Botanical Garden, and explore its collection of plants. You can also use the Plant Finder features, such as the plant list, the plant profile, the plant records, the plant mapper, etc. You can also grow and care for the plants that you find, and access the resources and tools that can complement the Plant Finder.

The Plant Finder is a useful tool that can enhance your gardening experience and knowledge. Whether you are a beginner or an expert gardener, you can find something new and exciting using the Plant Finder. Whether you want to create a beautiful, functional, or sustainable garden, you can find the right plants using the Plant Finder. Whether you want to visit the Missouri Botanical Garden in person or online, you can find the plants that you are looking for using the Plant Finder.

We hope you enjoyed this article, and learned how to use the Plant Finder to find your perfect plant match at the Missouri Botanical Garden. If you have any feedback, questions, or suggestions, please let us know. We would love to hear from you. Happy gardening!