Primary source hierarchy
We start with the USDA PLANTS Database for standardized names and broad U.S. distribution. We use the EPA ecoregion framework to avoid treating state borders as ecological borders. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map helps describe cold tolerance, but a hardiness zone does not establish native status.
Regional interpretation
State agencies, university extension services, native plant societies, botanic gardens, and conservation organizations are used to interpret local habitat, landscape behavior, and practical care. We favor sources that identify authorship, revision date, and geographic scope.
Recommendation rules
- A plant must have a plausible Mid-Atlantic fit, but every profile states when the broad range needs local confirmation.
- “Tidy” describes a design use, not ecological superiority. Spreading plants can be valuable when their colony is planned.
- Hardiness, sunlight, and moisture are treated as separate filters.
- Claims about pets, livestock, pesticides, edible use, or medical use are excluded unless separately reviewed by an appropriate authority.
- A drainage-sensitive plan includes a scope warning and does not replace structural or stormwater advice.
Use of automation
Structured tools may assist with organizing source data, drafting comparisons, and checking consistency. Every published field card is intended to have human editorial review for scope, internal consistency, source links, and unsupported certainty. Automation is not presented as personal gardening experience.
Images
Botanical photographs are used only when their reuse terms are known. Each plant field card identifies the photographer or source organization, links to the original record, and states the applicable public-domain or Creative Commons license. Most current photographs use the CC0 public-domain dedication through research-grade iNaturalist observations; selected U.S. federal government images are marked public domain. Images may be cropped responsively by the page layout, but their plant content is not altered.
Corrections
Plant taxonomy, distribution records, and best practices change. A public corrections channel will be attached to the final production domain before monetization. Material corrections will be noted on the affected page.
Last editorial review: August 8, 2026