Where to search
You can search for plant types in the Back Office under Plant varieties and nicknames, on the Plant Type Library tab. The same database is also connected to plant-type selection fields, such as when you add Plants to a Display in the Back Office or mobile app.
In a plant-type field, start typing part of a name. Matching suggestions appear in a drop-down list. Standard entries from the Plant Type Library appear in regular font, while custom plant types appear in bold.
Search by part of a name
Start with a distinctive fragment of the name you know. You do not need to type the full name, and a useful fragment can narrow down the suggestions more quickly than a broad search.
For example, if you are looking for “Dracaena Janet Craig” or “Dracaena Janet Lind”, try searching for “Janet”. This narrows the options so you can more easily pick the variety you need.
Likewise, if you are looking for “Aglaonema Silver Bay”, try searching for “Silver” instead of “Aglaonema”. Searching for the distinctive part of the variety name can bring the relevant result up more quickly.
The best search fragment is often the part of the name that distinguishes the variety from other plants in the same group.
Try part of the scientific name if you know it.
Search by a common name, such as “spider plant” or “money tree”.
If the name you know does not return the expected result, try another part of the name or a different name used for the same plant.
Try synonyms and alternative names
A plant may be known by more than one name. The Plant Type Library includes scientific synonyms and common names, so searching by an alternative name can help you find the right entry.
When you search by a synonym or nickname, the matching result can help you identify the plant type. One Big Green records the scientific name as the plant type, helping keep inventory information consistent.
Know when to use a nickname or custom plant type
If your company uses a familiar nickname for a plant that already exists in the Plant Type Library, use the nickname feature rather than creating a duplicate plant type. Nicknames provide an alternative way for your team to refer to the same standard entry.
Use a custom plant type when you need to record a mix or arrangement rather than a specific species, for example “Bromeliad mix”, “Succulent mix”, or “Moss art”. If you do not yet know the exact species, you can use a custom plant type such as “Unknown” as a temporary placeholder and update it when the plant is identified.
If you cannot find the plant type
Try searching by a different part of the name, a common name, or a synonym. If you still cannot find the plant type you need, use “Request a new plant variety” in Plant varieties and nicknames.
Practical tips
Start with a short, distinctive fragment of the name instead of typing the full name immediately.
For variety names, try the distinguishing word first - for example, search “Janet” for Dracaena Janet Craig or Dracaena Janet Lind, or “Silver” for Aglaonema Silver Bay.
Try the scientific name, common name, and synonym if the first search does not find the plant.
Review the matching suggestions before selecting an entry, especially when several names look similar.
Remember that a nickname or synonym helps you find the plant, but the scientific name is recorded as the plant type.
Use custom plant types for mixes or arrangements, not as substitutes for standard plant types that already exist in the database.
Use “Unknown” temporarily when the plant cannot yet be identified, then update it once you know the correct species.
If the plant type is missing, use “Request a new plant variety” rather than creating a duplicate custom entry for a specific species.