The Plant Guide Online

Welcome to The Plant Guide Online! Find the best plants for your area's climate by entering your zip code or selecting your state below.

We launched in 2011 as a way to help gardeners, landscapers, and horticulturists easily access growing zone data by town or zip code.

Grow your own vegetables like this!

Our site combines databases from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), meteorologists, and top universities in order to show the USDA growing zones broken down with individual planting recommendations for every town and zip code in the United States. It wasn't easy (that's over 100k towns!) but we're proud to be one of the oldest and biggest plant search tools online.

To find the best plants for your area's climate, enter your zip code in the search field below.

Raised Garden Bed Kit

Easy-to-assemble raised garden bed for better soil control and drainage.

Raised Garden Planter

Elevated planter for easy access and better drainage.

Shiitake Mushroom Kit

Grow your own delicious shiitake mushrooms at home.

Since the early days of only providing USDA growing zone data, we've grown our site to offer even more help in choosing the best plants to grow for your climate. In addition to looking up your growing zone, you can now find vegetables, fruits, flowers, trees and more individually selected for your region. Find your town, learn your growing zone, and choose the right plants for your gardening or landscaping projects, knowing the data is on your side.

Self Watering Plant Pots

Innovative pots that maintain optimal moisture levels.

Wooden Chicken Coop

Spacious and secure home for your backyard chickens.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about our site? Check out our FAQ below for quick answers to common questions.

Our data is up to date through November 2023 when the USDA put out the updated version of their plant hardiness map. Based on U.S. weather data from 1991 to 2020, the map is split into 13 zones. Each zone represents a 10 degree Fahrenheit difference in the average annual low temperature.

Small Greenhouse Kit

Compact greenhouse perfect for small spaces.

Hoeing Ain't Easy Garden Sign

Fun and decorative garden sign to add personality to your space.

Hydroponic Garden Grow Kit

Grow fresh herbs and vegetables year-round with this indoor hydroponic garden system.

Zones Change!

In addition to providing the latest growing zone data from the USDA, we also keep track of how zones are changing over time and how this affects the plants suitable for your area. Take a look at the map below to see just how much zones have changed in the 11 years between the USDA updating their hardiness zone maps.

Half zone changes from 2012 to 2023

Deluxe Plastic Watering Can

High-capacity watering can with comfortable grip and precise spout.

Metal Arbor Trellis

Decorative arbor trellis for climbing plants and garden entrance.

Search The Plant Guide by state, town, or zip code to find the best plants for your area based on the latest scientific data.

Raised Garden Planter

Elevated planter for easy access and better drainage.

Self Watering Plant Pots

Innovative pots that maintain optimal moisture levels.

Raised Garden Bed Kit

Easy-to-assemble raised garden bed for better soil control and drainage.

Seedlings getting ready in the greenhouse

Best Plants for Every State

Our data covers the entire United States! To find the best plants for the climate in your state based on the latest USDA growing zone data, click on a state from the menu below.

Deluxe Plastic Watering Can

High-capacity watering can with comfortable grip and precise spout.

Raised Garden Bed Kit

Easy-to-assemble raised garden bed for better soil control and drainage.

Small Greenhouse Kit

Compact greenhouse perfect for small spaces.

Shiitake Mushroom Kit

Grow your own delicious shiitake mushrooms at home.

Wooden Chicken Coop

Spacious and secure home for your backyard chickens.

When we're not writing code for the website, we are also avid gardeners and science educators. Right now you can find us working on our own urban homesteading projects in Atlanta, GA. On our socials you can find all of our personal growing tips, as well as how to videos on homesteading skills like soapmaking, canning, mycology and more.

The Plant Guide Online is committed to the environment and the world around us. Our contributors are two time recipients of civil service awards from the White House in recognition of their contributions to the Atlanta community, as well as the Daily Point of Light Award. Many of the pictures you see on our site are from our years of volunteer service.

Raised vegetable bed rows in zone 8a

Deluxe Plastic Watering Can

High-capacity watering can with comfortable grip and precise spout.

Self Watering Plant Pots

Innovative pots that maintain optimal moisture levels.

Large Greenhouse Kit

Spacious greenhouse for extending your growing season.

Hydroponic Garden Grow Kit

Grow fresh herbs and vegetables year-round with this indoor hydroponic garden system.

Reusable Grow Bags

Breathable fabric grow bags that promote healthy root growth for your vegetables and fruits.

On our newsletter we share tips on how to grow your own organic food, as well as updates on the latest features for the site. Enter your email below to receive all the latest news (and no spam!).

We're excited to be sharing many new features and hope to hear from you soon!