Where can I "search" for specific plants and flowers?

What are the best sites that allow users to enter specific criteria and get a complete list of options? I have used the search feature on this site with some luck but it doesn't always include items that I know should be there. I'd like to have 3-4 awesome sites to use together (if there isn't one specific site that it just known for being a good search site.) I find that lots of search sites are missing an important piece of info in the results (like bloom time or searching by something specific like "color"), or the search criteria is too broad, or the results are limited.

For example, I bought some ivy last year on a whim (I was practically at the check-out counter), and it has turned out to be one of the prettiest and hardiest evergreen plants in my garden! It's called "Persian Ivy" or "Sulphur Heart Ivy". It's been beautiful for two years straight, no matter what the temperature is outside or how much water it gets or doesn't get!

Since I had never heard of it, I tried to learn more about this plant by "searching" for it on some of my regular "search" sites to see if it would show up. (These are sites that I thought were pretty complete!) However, this plant (ivy) doesn't show up in the results on most of the search sites that I've been using when I use the criteria that should cause it to show up.....which makes me wonder what other kinds of cool plants am I missing out on?!! =}

Some sites that I've used are Monrovia, Proven Winners, Dept of Ag, and several of the catalog websites. If anyone has some recommendations for great search sites, I sure would appreciate hearing from you! It doesn't have to be a free website either. I'd be willing to pay a membership fee or purchase a program if it was truly a good resource that offered a complete list of options and good search capabilities.

Hope to hear from you!

I find DG to be the best one, if you know who the grower of your plant was then their websites can be good too, but for a fairly comprehensive list nothing beats DG as a starting point. If I don't find what I need here, then I generally use Google. I don't think are too many sites out there that have the large number of plants that we have here in Plant Files.

Persian ivy (Hedera colchica) comes up in the first Google search. http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1105.htm
Edited to say It is in plant files simply by asking for Persian Ivy. http://davesgarden.com/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=Hedera&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=colchina&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search&searcher[species]=colchica

This message was edited May 22, 2007 9:00 AM

Thanks for the responses. I agree DG is an excellent search site. Are there any other good sites that anyone uses on a regular basis?

(I only mentioned "Persian Ivy" as an example of a plant that I didn't find on some search sites. I appreciate the Google and the DG link but I'm not really looking for this plant anymore. I'm just trying to get some ideas on what other resources would be good search sites.)

Anyone else????

I've been looking for a similar site where I can find all the basic info on specific plants, but have struck out for the most part.

What is "DG", and what is the actual addy?

You are here, just go to the menu bar and click on plantfiles. The reason I came on this site was because I could not find a comprehensive plant data base anywhere else.

Or if you're coming in through Gardens.com, then you need to go to davesgarden.com. I'm not sure if there's a direct link to the Plant Files from gardens.com or not.

ecrane is right, I just checked and plantfiles is not on the Gardens.com menu. I always use Daves Garden and forgot about the new site.

This is the first website that Farmerdill gave you but this is their search page. Just type in the name of your plant and hit search...It wil give you detailed information about the plant and how to care for it.


http://hgic.clemson.edu./search/search.htm

Aha, thanx for clarifying the gardens.com vs. Dave's. I followed the PlantFiles link that FarmerDill posted, and that is just what I was looking for, but the wording in his post didn't make any sense.

Now it does -- thanks again!