Plant Taxonomy

Physical form and management approach — how you grow and work with the plant.

• tree — Single-stemmed woody plant. Apple, pear, walnut, oak.
• shrub — Multi-stemmed woody plant. Elderberry, blueberry, hazelnut, currant.
• vine — Climbing or trailing, needs support. Grape, kiwi, hops, cucumber.
• perennial-bed — Non-woody, returns from roots each year. Asparagus, rhubarb, mint, chives.
• annual-bed — Planted fresh each season. Tomato, lettuce, corn, beans.
• nursery-row — Started in a nursery bed; may be transplanted later.
• cover-crop — Grown to build soil, not primarily harvested. Clover, rye, buckwheat.
• silvopasture-block — Trees/shrubs integrated with pasture for forage and shade. Black locust, alder.
• wild-stand — Naturally occurring, not cultivated. Wild blackberry, ramps.

How the plant spans seasons.

• annual — Full life cycle in one season. Tomato, corn, basil.
• biennial — Year 1 growth, year 2 flower/seed. Carrot, parsley, beet.
• perennial — Returns from roots each year, usually non-woody. Asparagus, chives.
• woody-perennial — Persists for decades with permanent woody structure. Apple, elderberry, hazelnut.

What the plant produces — why you grow it. Note: "tree" here means timber or ecosystem-service trees, not all woody plants (use Planting type → tree/shrub for form).

• vegetable — Edible roots, stems, leaves, or pods. Kale, carrot, squash.
• herb — Culinary, medicinal, or aromatic use. Basil, lavender, echinacea.
• fruit — Edible fleshy fruit or berry. Apple, elderberry, strawberry.
• nut — Edible hard-shelled seeds. Hazelnut, walnut, chestnut.
• tree — Grown for timber, lumber, or ecosystem services. Black locust, white oak. (Not for fruit/nut trees — use fruit or nut.)
• flower — Cut flowers, pollinator habitat, or ornamental. Zinnia, sunflower.
• cover-crop — Soil building, nitrogen fixation, weed suppression. Crimson clover, winter rye.
• mushroom — Cultivated or wild-foraged fungi. Yellow morel, oyster, shiitake, lion's mane.
• other — Fiber, biomass, hops, or anything that doesn't fit above.

Used by the NOP §205.205 rotation audit to flag planting the same family in consecutive years on the same bed or location.

• solanaceae (Nightshade) — Tomato, pepper, eggplant, potato.
• brassicaceae (Mustard) — Kale, broccoli, cabbage, arugula.
• cucurbitaceae (Gourd) — Cucumber, squash, melon, pumpkin.
• fabaceae (Legume) — Bean, pea, clover, black locust.
• apiaceae (Carrot) — Carrot, parsley, dill, cilantro, fennel.
• alliaceae (Allium) — Onion, garlic, chives, leek.
• chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot) — Beet, chard, spinach.
• rosaceae (Rose) — Apple, pear, cherry, plum, strawberry, raspberry.
• poaceae (Grass) — Corn, wheat, rye, oats, cover-crop grasses.
• asteraceae (Daisy) — Sunflower, zinnia, chamomile, echinacea.
• lamiaceae (Mint) — Basil, mint, oregano, rosemary, lavender.
• adoxaceae (Elderberry) — Elderberry (Sambucus spp.), viburnum.
• morchellaceae (True morels) — Yellow morel, black morel, half-free morel (Morchella spp.). Fungi, not plants — rotation rules do not apply.