SimplyScapes gives you access to thousands of plants tailored to your climate zone. Whether you're browsing for inspiration or looking for something specific, the Plant Library makes it easy to discover the perfect plants for your design.

Search

Looking for a specific plant? Use the search bar at the top of the Plant Library.

1. Click the Plant icon on the right side of your screen
2. Type a search term in the search bar (common or Latin names work)
3. Press the enter key to see the results

Search results appear in the space below.  To exit the search press the close ('X') button in the search bar.  This will return you to the previous screen.

⚠️ Important: Why you might not see results

Our search looks for exact and partial character matches, which means spelling matters! If you search for "hydrangea" but spell it "hydrenga," you won't see results even though we have many hydrangeas in the library.
This doesn't mean the plant isn't there - it just means the search couldn't find the exact spelling.

Tips for finding what you need:

→ Check your spelling - Even small typos can affect results
→ Try shorter searches - "hydran" works better than trying to spell the full name
→ Try partial names - searching "maple" finds all maple varieties
→ Use Latin names for precision - "Acer" shows Japanese maples, sugar maples, etc.
→ Search by characteristics - type "Japanese" to see all Japanese plant varieties
→ Browse by type instead - Sometimes browsing "Shrubs" is faster than searching

Still can't find it? See "I can't find a certain plant. Now what?" for more troubleshooting help.

Plant Types

Browse plants organized by their function and form in your landscape.

Plant types include:

• Shade Trees - Large trees that provide cooling canopy and structure to your landscape
• Shrubs & Roses - Versatile mid-sized plants for borders, hedges, and focal points
• Perennials & Annuals - Flowering and foliage plants that return each year (perennials) or provide one season of color (annuals)
• Ornamental Grasses - Textural plants that add movement and year-round interest
• Conifer Trees - Evergreen trees that provide structure and winter color
• Flowering Trees - Smaller trees that showcase seasonal blooms
• Edible Plants - Fruits, vegetables, and herbs for productive landscapes
• Vines & Groundcovers - Low-growing or climbing plants for coverage and texture
• Succulents - Water-wise plants with thick, fleshy leaves
• House Plants & Tropicals - Indoor and warm-climate specialty plants

Click any type to see all plants of that type suitable for your project.

Plant classification isn't always clear-cut. A shrub pruned one way might function as a small tree; a groundcover could also climb as a vine. Each plant in SimplyScapes has one assigned type based on its most common use, but you might use it differently in your design. For more flexible browsing, try Collections - where plants can appear in multiple groups.

Favorites

Create a personal collection of plants you love or frequently use.

To add a plant to your favorites:

• Find the plant in the library
• Click the heart icon in the top right corner of the plant thumbnail

Your favorited plants appear at the top of the main Plant Library screen. If you have many favorites, click "View All" to see your complete list.

To remove from favorites:

• Click the heart icon again - it will show a line through it when removed.

Plant Combinations

Start with ready-to-use plant recipes that are proven to work together for maximum effect and beauty.

Plant Combinations (formerly Design Templates) show you proven plant pairings for specific design styles or purposes. These combinations take the guesswork out of plant selection and include recipes from EZ Scapes™ from Proven Winners® Perennials.

To use a combination:

1. Browse the available combinations beneath collections
2. Click to view the plants included
3. Add individual plants from the combination to your design

Plant Collections

Need inspiration? We've curated special collections to help you find plants by function rather than type.

Unlike Plant Types which classify plants by their form (tree, shrub, etc.), Collections organize plants by what they do. Since plants often serve multiple purposes, they can appear in several collections. For example, a native flowering shrub might be in "Native Plants," "Beautiful Blooms," and "Pollinator Friendly."

Collections can have sub-collections to help you narrow your search. For instance, the "Beautiful Blooms" collection features seasonal sub-collections featuring plants that bloom for specific seasons: Early-Spring, Spring, Summer, Fall, and All Season Long ("All-Season Anchors).

Find collections beneath the plant type categories:

• Beautiful Blooms - Flowering plants for seasonal color
• Foliage Focus - Interesting textures and leaf colors
• Pollinator Friendly - Support bees and butterflies
• Low Maintenance - Easy-care options
• Native Plants - Species indigenous to your region
• More...

Click any collection to explore the plants inside.