EcoRestore | Plant search tools
Species selection is an integral component of every active restoration project. Build your planting palette based on a thorough site assessment, including soils, climate, disturbance history, resource availability, and any remnant native vegetation. When possible, use nearby undisturbed reference sites or historical records as a guide. Species selection should also be informed by specific project goals. Choosing locally native species that are well suited to site conditions is critical for long‑term success. There is a growing suite of online tools to aid land managers in matching genetically and ecologically appropriate plant species and populations to specific restoration sites.
Additional Plant Selection Resources
NRCS California eVegGuide
This electronic vegetation guide uses Calflora's extensive plant database and a map based interface to find plants and seed for NRCS land conservation practices.
Calscape
California Native Plant Society created Calscape to make it easier for more people to find and grow beautiful native plant gardens.
Calflora
A searchable plant species database provided by an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Users can search for native plants near their restoration site using the "What grows here" tool.
Seeds of Change
Seeds of Change is an open-source decision support tool for ecological restoration efforts in California developed by researchers at UC Berkeley. It matches potentially suitable seed collection and planting sites by analyzing data on climate, soils, and species distributions.
Mojave Seed Menus
Developed by the US Geological Survey in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, Mojave Seed Menus is a spatial decision-support tool designed to help land managers create suitable seed mixes for restoration sites within the Mojave Desert ecoregion.