About Permaculture Plants
A free, comprehensive resource helping gardeners and farmers build resilient, productive food systems using functional plant species.
Our Story
Permaculture Plants began as a simple spreadsheet—a personal collection of growing notes accumulated over years of designing food forests and permaculture systems. What started as a tool for one designer quickly became something bigger.
We realized that this information—which plants fix nitrogen, which thrive in shade, which provide food while supporting pollinators—was scattered across countless books, websites, and local knowledge holders. There was no single, comprehensive, freely accessible resource for permaculture practitioners.
So we built one. Permaculture Plants is now home to hundreds of detailed growing guides, organized by function, climate, and growing layer. Every guide is written with practical application in mind, drawing on both scientific research and traditional ecological knowledge.
Our Values
Regeneration
We believe in working with nature, not against it. Every plant in our database contributes to ecosystem health.
Accessibility
Knowledge should be free. Our entire database and all growing guides are available at no cost, forever.
Community
We're building a global network of practitioners sharing knowledge and supporting each other's projects.
Resilience
Climate change demands adaptation. We help people design food systems that can thrive in changing conditions.
Get Involved
Permaculture Plants is a community-driven project. There are many ways to contribute—from submitting plant information to joining our community directory.