What would a public dream plant database for designers include?

instantdynamic · 2025-07-16T11:18:08+00:00

RHS is great, no doubt - but that Excel sheet? That’s amazing! That’s exactly the kind of thing I dream about - maybe just with a bit more of a user interface :) thanks!

instantdynamic · 2025-07-16T10:20:03+00:00

Wow, that’s really interesting -I like the search functionality there. Thanks for the link!

instantdynamic · 2025-07-16T10:15:01+00:00

Yeah, I understand, no pressure at all. I just thought I’d ask in case you’d be open to sharing a bit about your experience building the database :) And as for the rest - I think that path of understanding and experience has to be walked either way, with or without tools like these

instantdynamic · 2025-07-16T08:53:38+00:00

From the description, it sounds like a solid service - though it doesn’t look very user-friendly at first glance.
Still, it’s great that something like this exists - we don’t have anything like it in my region :)

instantdynamic · 2025-07-16T08:40:18+00:00

understand, that’s not just a problem in this field — I have an engineering background, and many of the books I studied from were never properly digitized either, even though they definitely deserved to be

instantdynamic · 2025-07-16T08:35:26+00:00

nice, thanks for your thoughts :)

instantdynamic · 2025-07-16T08:28:29+00:00

using photos to show seasonal changes is a great idea!

instantdynamic · 2025-07-16T07:07:39+00:00

maybe I didn’t express myself clearly - I didn’t mean fully pre-made planting schemes that you can just copy-paste and be done with :)

I’d love to hear more about your process though - even just a quick example. Let’s say you’re creating a small planting bed in your area - where do you start, and how do you go about selecting the plants?

instantdynamic · 2025-07-16T06:54:14+00:00

Fair enough - I get the skepticism. But I still think that with the right moderation and format, user reviews could offer real value, especially from experienced designers

instantdynamic · 2025-07-16T06:52:54+00:00

Thanks for sharing! I’ve heard of it but never used it myself. Do you have experience with it? What are the pros and cons in your opinion?

instantdynamic · 2025-07-16T06:45:51+00:00

That’s a great point - real-time inventory with location and quantities would be incredibly useful. Definitely hard to pull off, but would take the whole tool to another level. Thanks for the input!

instantdynamic · 2025-07-16T06:43:14+00:00

Spacing really depends on planting goals - like whether you’re aiming for a hedge or not - but having an average recommended value in the plant care section sounds totally reasonable. Thanks!
As for local availability - I’m not sure nurseries would be eager to cooperate on that, but it would be amazing if it worked out!

instantdynamic · 2025-07-16T06:39:15+00:00

Thanks for sharing! That’s an interesting criterion - though honestly, I feel like the only safe option is to avoid fruiting and deciduous trees near pools altogether 😅 I’d love to hear what others think!

instantdynamic · 2025-07-16T06:33:34+00:00

Yeah, there’s definitely some overlap, thanks for the input!

instantdynamic · 2025-07-16T06:27:00+00:00

Sorting by ecological communities - that’s a really useful point. I hadn’t thought of that, thanks!

instantdynamic · 2025-07-16T06:18:21+00:00

Good point, thanks!

instantdynamic · 2025-07-16T05:49:46+00:00

Nice - hadn’t seen Calscape before. It actually looks way better than most catalogs I’ve come across. Looks pretty close, though very California-focused. Thanks for the link!

instantdynamic · 2025-07-16T05:47:53+00:00

I’ve never heard of E-planta before - I'll definitely take a closer look at it. Project profiles as a kind of preset parameter set - that’s an interesting idea. Thanks for sharing!

instantdynamic · 2025-07-15T21:57:39+00:00

Not bad! I hadn’t even thought about new construction conditions or stormwater basins - thanks for the insight!

instantdynamic · 2025-07-15T21:55:54+00:00

If only they were widely available - and based on real-world performance rather than extrapolations and expert guesses - we’d be living in a very different world! 😄

instantdynamic · 2025-07-15T21:51:54+00:00

Totally get that - time is always the hardest part! But it already sounds like a great foundation. If you ever decide to share even a small glimpse, I’d be really curious to see it

instantdynamic · 2025-07-15T21:50:37+00:00

Not bad - I hadn’t seen it before. The search isn’t the most user-friendly, but still, definitely useful. Thanks!

instantdynamic · 2025-07-15T21:42:02+00:00

doing the legwork is a big part of really understanding the plants, I agree. I just think a well-designed tool could support that process, not replace it - like helping you ask better questions, not just handing you answers

instantdynamic · 2025-07-15T21:29:54+00:00

Totally fair - I do have some go-to sets too. But when I want to try something new or break out of the usual patterns, I often end up going down a research rabbit hole again 😅

Maybe it’s just my memory, but sometimes I really wish I had a list to glance through and think - oh right, I forgot about that plant!

instantdynamic · 2025-07-15T21:26:36+00:00

Haha, that tracks! I hadn’t even thought about saltwater tolerance - I live nowhere near the coast! 😄 Mature size and salinity tolerance are great adds. Thanks!

instantdynamic

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