Climates and Habitats

Plant care becomes easier when the plant’s native or preferred habitat is understood.

Habitat Types

Habitat	Plant examples	Care implications
Tropical rainforest	Monstera, orchids, calathea	Warmth, humidity, filtered light
Dry desert	Cacti, agave, euphorbia	Intense light, drainage, dry rests
Mediterranean	Lavender, olive, rosemary, citrus	Sun, dry summers, mild wet winters
Temperate woodland	Ferns, hosta, hellebore, trillium	Shade, leaf litter, seasonal dormancy
Grassland and prairie	Echinacea, grasses, milkweed	Sun, seasonal dry periods, deep roots
Alpine	Saxifraga, gentian, dwarf conifers	Drainage, cool conditions, high light
Coastal	Saltbush, pandanus, grasses, banksia	Salt wind, sandy soil, exposure
Wetland	Iris, reeds, lotus, papyrus	Saturated soil or shallow water
Indoor built environments	Pothos, ZZ plant, ficus	Limited light, containers, dry air

Climate Fit

Check cold hardiness, heat tolerance, humidity tolerance, rainfall pattern, soil pH, and wind exposure. A plant can be hardy in one region and impossible in another.