The plant encyclopedia that shows its sources
Open Grow Guide is a reference for houseplants, garden plants, trees and edibles. Each entry brings care, hardiness, pet safety, problems and propagation together on one page, with every fact traced to USDA, Kew, university extension services or the ASPCA.
How the encyclopedia is built →Monstera deliciosa
- LIGHT
- Dappled sun or partial shade (2–6 hours of direct sun)
- WATER
- When the top quarter to third of the mix is dry
- USDA ZONE
- 10–12 (outdoors)
- SOIL PH
- Neutral (6.0–8.0)
Sources: NC State Extension Plant Toolbox · ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Our standard
One reference, organized the way you grow
Six sections cover the plants people actually grow. Entries open section by section, as each one meets the sourcing standard.
Houseplants
Light, watering, humidity, soil and repotting for the plants people keep indoors.
Pet-safe plants
Plants with a cited non-toxic record for cats and dogs, with the source for each one.
Vegetables & herbs
Planting windows, spacing and harvest timing matched to your hardiness zone.
Trees & shrubs
Mature size, hardiness range and site requirements, before you plant.
Perennials
Plants that return each year, organized by sun, shade and zone.
Hardiness zones
What your USDA zone means and which plants will survive your winters.
Everything about a plant, on one page
Every entry follows the same structure, so the answer is always in the same place: the numbers first, then the detail you need to act on them.
How entries are sourced and checked →Care at a glance
Light, water, humidity, soil and feeding in a fixed table you can scan in seconds.
Verified names
Accepted botanical name, family and synonyms, reconciled against Kew's World Checklist of Vascular Plants.
Toxicity and edibility
Cat and dog risk, the compound involved, symptoms to watch for, and the citation.
Zone and climate fit
USDA hardiness range, native distribution and suitability for growing indoors.
Problem diagnosis
Pests, diseases and symptom-first troubleshooting for yellowing, leaf drop and rot.
Propagation
Each method with the right season and typical rooting time.
Know what's safe before it comes home
Every entry states cat and dog toxicity with the compound involved, the symptoms to watch for and the source. When no reliable source exists, the entry says "unknown", never "safe".
Badges: Non-toxic · Toxic · Highly toxic · Unknown
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Spider plant Chlorophytum comosum · ASPCANon-toxic
-
Peace lily Spathiphyllum spp. · ASPCAToxic
-
Sago palm Cycas revoluta · ASPCA; NC State ExtensionHighly toxic
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Calathea Calathea spp. · ASPCANon-toxic
USDA hardiness zones at a glance
Hardiness zones are based on the average coldest winter night in an area. If your zone falls inside the range on a plant's label, it can usually stay outdoors year-round.
| Zone | °F | °C |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | −40 to −30 | −40.0 to −34.4 |
| 4 | −30 to −20 | −34.4 to −28.9 |
| 5 | −20 to −10 | −28.9 to −23.3 |
| 6 | −10 to 0 | −23.3 to −17.8 |
| 7 | 0 to 10 | −17.8 to −12.2 |
| 8 | 10 to 20 | −12.2 to −6.7 |
| 9 | 20 to 30 | −6.7 to −1.1 |
| 10 | 30 to 40 | −1.1 to 4.4 |
| 11 | 40 to 50 | 4.4 to 10.0 |
Built on primary sources
Taxonomy and native range come from Kew's World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS. Care guidance and toxicity come from university extension services, the ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline. Code confirms each cited page still supports the fact, AI drafts only from those checked facts, and every drafted sentence is checked back against them. Read the editorial policy.