Planning a garden is an art form. It is not one I’ve conquered. I feel like master gardeners are probably great at chess. They think five moves ahead. They don’t buy four trees on a whim as we did last year when my husband and I went on a lunch date last May. Still, I’m doing the best I can to infuse my home with beauty and life. I’ll probably never be a strategic plant planner, but I try to learn a little something every year. This is why I was delighted to discover the UMN Plant Search Tool. In this piece, I’ll cover what the tool does, how I’ll be using it, and the different filters that the tool offers gardeners of all types, strategic or otherwise.
A Tool To Put All The Right Plants In All The Right Places
I have stared down the shady spots in the front of my house for years now. The ferns and lilies of the valley thrive there every year. But I plan to spread my (mostly) native garden on the sunny side of my front yard to the shady side eventually. Aesthetically, the ferns just aren’t going to work with coneflowers and butterfly weed. When I used the UMN tool, I was able to search according to the persnickety needs of that area of my lawn.
My results included Early Meadow Rue, a perennial ground cover that will look beautiful with the river rock border I plan to install once my garden is finished. I also found out that the American Cranberry Bush I have in the full sun in the backyard, which promises to be a huge draw for migrating birds, will also do well in the partial shade of my front yard. I was also intrigued by the Giant Hyssop that was mentioned; it thrives in all ranges of light and packs a punch visually, making it the perfect front yard accent.
This tool also allows you to choose the soil type as well as set limits on the size and spread of the plants, helping you receive a list of plants that is tailored to the space you’re cultivating. So next time you’re wandering through a nursery, you’ll have a few ideas up you’re sleeve. Although if you end up heading home with a couple of trees that you have absolutely no plan for, I’m certainly not one to judge.
What Is the UMN Plant Search Tool?
A part of the University of Minnesota Extension, the UMN Plant Search tool allows gardeners and landscapers to search for plants using filters relevant to their landscape, such as the light available or the soil type. The search engine allows users to choose from a scroll-down menu, perfect for the DIYer who doesn’t know exactly what they need to know. For instance, maybe you want to cultivate a butterfly garden. The plant search tool differentiates plants that attract butterflies or hummingbirds from general pollinators, letting you attract more of the pollinators that you prefer rather than bees and wasps (no offense to our striped friends).
The tool is also handy for those who are looking for native alternatives to landscaping staples that might be invasive. For example, if you love the rich, dense foliage of a Norway Maple but don’t want it performing its typical M.O. (spreading via seed and shading out native undergrowth in our forests), then you can select “Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)” under Alternative For. You’ll then see a list of a range of comparable trees that won’t pose a growing risk to the native plants in your area.
If you’re looking to plant native plants, it’s worth noting that the scroll down for native with answers “true” and “false” is Minnesota-specific and will greatly limit your results. If you aren’t getting any answers on the “true” setting, you can set it to “false”. You may then do your own research on the plants in your results; many may be native to the Midwest, even if they didn’t originate from the state of Minnesota.
How to Use the UMN Plant Search Tool: A Step-by-Step Guide
Once you pull up the tool, using it is intuitive. You do not need to fill out every section. In fact, I typically ignore the first three slots, which ask for the common name, the scientific name, and the cultivar. For my purposes, I’d like to get a list of plants in my results; there’s no need to get too specific. I typically just use the scroll down options. Click on the empty slots to discover your options. Only one menu out of sixteen has an arrow indicating that it is a scroll-down menu. Below, you’ll discover the different ways you can get the results that you’re looking for. No results? You may have narrowed down your options too much. Be aware that while it’s worth using, the MN Native Plant filter tends to dramatically reduce search results.
Choose Your Plant Type
This is the most important way to narrow down your search. Are you looking for a tree or a shrub? Would you like it to be coniferous or deciduous? This section is where I started when I first began playing with this tool. As Maria Vantrap would say, “Let’s start at the very beginning. A very good place to start”. Here are some of the options you’ll be able to choose from:
- Deciduous Shrub
- Evergreen Shrub
- Hardy Bulb
- Turfgrass
- Wildflower
- Tender Perennial
- Annual
Of course, the list goes on, but as you can see, choosing the type of plant you want goes beyond the basics. These scholars really thought it through!
Filter by Use
No, we’re not talking about starting a lumber mill or harvesting garden plants. The “landscape use” section asks gardeners why they’re planning on choosing their plants. Here are some of the options you can choose from, some of which are rather intriguing:
- Attract Hummingbirds
- Border Planting
- Edible Landscaping
- Dyes
- Good Urban Trees
- Living Mulch
- Water Garden
- Xeriscaping (Landscape that doesn’t require watering)
The list goes on. You can get recommendations for foodscaping or high-traffic areas. Whatever your landscape is used for, the UofM extension probably has it covered.
Filter by Conditions
Conditions include your plant hardiness zone, ecoregions, soil, and, of course, light. There are many soil conditions to choose from, such as:
- Prefers poor soils
- Prefers well-drained soil
- Tolerates flooding
- Tolerates pollution
I’d like to note that there is a choice that mentions alkaline versus acidic soil. It’s easy to find ways to DIY an acidity test with a quick internet search. However, if you want to learn about the elements in your soil, you can send samples to the University of Minnesota.
The regular series offers PH testing, phosphorus, potassium, and the percentage of organic matter for $21. You can also test for lead for a dollar more. While this might not help you choose what plants to grow, the testing can give vegetable gardeners and foodscapers a better peace of mind.
Filter by Aesthetics
The height and spread filter is one of my favorite filters on the UMN Plant Finder Tool. Many of us are dealing with space constraints, and while you can always trim your plant back, it’s nice to be able to limit how large the plant you’re looking for will be. You can also search via design use, seasonal interest, flower color, and texture.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of the UMN Plant Finder Tool
The trick to getting the most out of this search tool is to take it easy. It’s easy to go overboard, but if you enter too much information, you’ll likely get the “No results found” page. The native filter is a particular culprit that limits your results, as this filter is only for Minnesota natives, rather than plants native to the US or even the Midwest.
Conclusion: Build a Smarter Garden with the UMN Plant Finder Tool
Sure, I learned a little about gardening when using this tool, but I also learned a little about myself. No, really. I’ve been searching for the perfect shrub for my front yard. I wanted a small native bush that could thrive in the shade and had seasonal interest. The plant also had to bear berries for migrating birds. It’s a nice thought, but according to this tool, it doesn’t exist. That sure is nice to know after all this time. I can finally let this imaginary bush go.
The UMN Plant Finder might not be able to magic your dream plant into existence, but it can help you achieve your grand scheme. If you’re trying to achieve food security with plenty of edible perennials, the tool can help you find something delicious to grow in every part of your yard. Want your side yard to become bird city? Turn to the UMN tool. Want to plant it and forget it? This tool has tons of low-maintenance results for you to turn to. Sure, the internet can’t transform you into a master gardener. Only time and trial can do that.
Whether you’re just starting your garden and you don’t know what questions you should be asking or you’re dreaming of a specific shrub for that one spot problem spot in your yard, this tool is worth checking out. Working on a
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