Nicknames and custom plant types are different
A nickname is an additional name for a plant type that already exists in the Plant Type Library. It lets your team use familiar company terminology without creating a separate plant type for the same plant.
A custom plant type is a separate entry created for your company. Use it when a standard plant type does not represent what you need to record, for example, a mix of plants, a decorative arrangement, or a plant whose exact species is not yet known.
When to use a nickname
Use a nickname when your company uses a local name, abbreviation, or familiar term for a plant that is already in the Plant Type Library. This makes it easier for technicians and supervisors to find the right plant type using the terminology they know, while the inventory remains linked to the standard entry.
For example, if your team consistently uses a particular nickname for a plant, add that nickname to the matching standard plant type rather than creating a custom plant type for it.
When someone searches by a nickname or synonym, the matching result helps them find the plant type, but One Big Green records the scientific name as the plant type. This helps keep plant records consistent.
When to create a custom plant type
Create a custom plant type when you need to record something that is not best represented by one specific species in the Plant Type Library.
Plant mixes, such as “Bromeliad mix” or “Succulent mix”.
Decorative installations, such as “Moss art”.
A temporary placeholder such as “Unknown” when you do not yet know the exact plant species. Once you identify the plant, update the inventory to use the correct plant type.
Custom plant types appear in bold in plant-type drop-down lists in both the Back Office and mobile app, so they can be distinguished from standard entries.
Add a nickname to an existing plant type
In the Back Office, open Plant varieties and nicknames and go to the Plant Type Library tab. Find the plant type you want to update, then use the nickname option for that entry to add the name your team uses. Save your change.
Once added, the nickname can help users find the corresponding standard plant type when searching in plant-type fields, including when adding Plants to a Display in the Back Office or mobile app.
Create a custom plant type
In the Back Office, open Plant varieties and nicknames and go to the Custom Plant Types tab. Use the available controls to add a custom plant type, enter its name, and save it. The custom entry will then be available in plant-type drop-down lists across the Back Office and mobile app.
The exact species may not always be known when inventory is first created. In that case, “Unknown” can be used as a temporary custom plant type. Update it when you have enough information to identify the plant correctly.
Keep plant records consistent
Before creating a custom plant type for a specific plant, search the Plant Type Library first. If the plant already exists, select the standard entry and add a nickname if your team needs another name for it. Reserve custom plant types for mixes, arrangements, temporary placeholders, or other cases where a standard species entry is not suitable.
If you cannot find a plant type that should be available in the standard library, use “Request a new plant variety” in Plant varieties and nicknames.
Practical tips
Use nicknames for familiar company-specific terms that refer to an existing plant type.
Do not create a custom plant type just to store an alternative name for a species that already exists in the Plant Type Library.
Use custom plant types for mixes or decorative arrangements that cannot be represented accurately by a single standard species.
Use “Unknown” as a temporary placeholder when the species is not yet identified, and replace it with the correct plant type later.
Search the Plant Type Library before creating a custom entry, to avoid duplicates and keep inventory consistent.
Remember that custom plant types appear in bold in plant-type drop-down lists in the Back Office and mobile app.