IPlantz

Frequently asked questions

Why was iplantz started?

Iplantz was started to give people in warm-climate countries access to information on useful tropical and subtropical plants, including where they grow best. It is grounded on the belief that the more knowledgeable we are about useful plants and where they grow, the better we become at selecting them for food, medicine and materials. Not only to feed, clothe, house and heal us but also to create economic opportunity.

What types of plants does the website feature?

The iplantz website features trees, shrubs and herbs that are useful to humans in some way, whether as food, medicine, material, or to provide a service. And that will thrive in warm climates, be it tropical, subtropical, or Mediterranean.

Why are only some countries and towns featured on the iplantz website?

There are a couple of reasons for this. The main reason is the website's focus on plants for tropical, subtropical and Mediterranean climates. So the countries and towns featured are mainly those within these climate regions. Another reason is the lack of climate data for some towns, resulting in their omission. There are currently 4,187 towns in the database. If you would like to suggest a town to include on the website, please use the contact form to let us know.

How does iPlantz determine if a plant will grow in my location?

Successful plant growth is generally determined by two primary factors: prevailing climate and local soil conditions (texture, fertility, pH, and drainage). While iPlantz provides data for both, they are applied differently within our system:

Climate Matching: Our database contains detailed climate profiles for hundreds of plant species, including the temperature, rainfall, and dry-season conditions in which they thrive. These profiles are automatically compared with climate data from towns in our global town database. When a plant’s climate requirements match a town’s climate, that town is shown on the map as suitable for growing the plant.
Soil Suitability: We provide soil texture and pH level requirements for each plant, and you can search the plant database by soil type to find plants that are a good match for your soil.
A Note on Local Soil: While we know what soil a plant thrives in, iPlantz does not store soil data at the town level. Because soil characteristics can vary significantly from one backyard to another within the same town, we do not use soil as a factor for the automated town-mapping feature.

Conclusion: Our maps show you where the climate is right for growing a plant and keeping it productive. We recommend testing your local soil to ensure it aligns with the specific soil preferences listed on the plant's page before planting.

What type of climate data does iplantz use to publish on Google Maps where a tree or plant will grow?

The climate variables used to determine whether a particular tree or plant species is a match for a town and will grow and be reasonably productive there include:

Air temperature

Annual high

Annual low

Low of the coldest month

Absolute low

Low of the warmest month

High of the warmest month

Rainfall
Annual rainfall
Length of the dry season (months)
Rainfall pattern (Very wet summer, Savanna dry winter, Savanna dry summer, Humid subtropical, Mediterranean, Oceanic, Arid and Semi-arid).

How can I become more involved with the work that iplantz is doing?

Signing up on the website allows you to upload photos of plants (and their uses) that can then be shared with the iplantz community.