The Ultimate Garden Glossary: Essential Terms for Every Green Thumb

Welcome to the Planted Wellness Garden Glossary—a growing collection of gardening terms to help you better understand the world of plants, soil, and design! Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting your hands dirty for the first time, this guide will make sure you're up to speed on the language of the garden.

We’ll be updating this glossary every year, so bookmark this page and check back for new terms as our gardening wisdom grows!

Soil & Growing Conditions

The foundation of any successful garden starts with healthy soil. Understanding soil composition, amendments, and growing conditions will help you choose the right plants and improve their overall health.

Healthy soil isn’t just dirt—it’s a living ecosystem full of beneficial microorganisms, nutrients, and organic matter that feed your plants. Some soils drain too quickly, while others hold water too tightly. Some are packed with nutrients, while others need a little boost.

Gardeners work with different soil types (like loamy, sandy, or clay soil) and make adjustments using mulches, fertilizers, and organic amendments to create the perfect growing conditions. Factors like pH levels, moisture retention, and aeration also play key roles in plant health.

Want to improve your soil? Try adding compost, cover crops, or mycorrhizal fungi to boost fertility naturally.

Clay Soil

Heavy, compacted soil that holds water but drains poorly, making it harder for plant roots to grow.

Fertile Soil

Soil that is rich in nutrients, organic matter, and beneficial microorganisms—ideal for strong plant growth.

Green Manure

Plants, such as clover or rye, that are grown and tilled into the soil to enhance its fertility naturally.

Loamy Soil

A well-balanced soil made up of sand, silt, and clay. It holds moisture well while still allowing for proper drainage.

Mulching

The practice of covering soil with organic (leaves, straw) or inorganic (rocks, plastic) materials to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate temperature.

Mycorrhizae

Beneficial fungi that form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, improving nutrient absorption and soil health.

pH Level

A measure of soil acidity or alkalinity, ranging from 0 (acidic) to 14 (alkaline), with most plants preferring a range of 6-7.

Sandy Soil

Loose, well-draining soil that struggles to retain nutrients and moisture.

Soil Amendment

Any material added to soil to improve its structure, drainage, or nutrient content (e.g., compost, biochar).

Plant Types & Growth Habits

Plants come in all shapes, sizes, and lifecycles. Some grow for only one season, while others return year after year. Some spread through underground rhizomes, while others rely on wind, animals, or self-seeding to multiply.

Understanding how plants grow can help you plan your garden, ensuring everything has enough space, light, and nutrients to thrive. Some plants, like perennials, will come back every year, while others, like annuals, must be replanted. Certain plants will spread aggressively (hello, mint!), while others stay compact and tidy.

Knowing a plant’s growth habit—whether it’s a climber, groundcover, or taproot grower—can help you decide where to place it in your garden.

For example, hardy plants can survive harsh winters, while drought-tolerant species require less water—perfect for xeriscaping or dry climates. Bolting is something to watch out for in veggies like lettuce and cilantro, as it causes premature flowering and bitter leaves.

When planning your garden, think about how each plant grows, spreads, and interacts with its environment for a balanced, thriving space.

Annual

A plant that completes its entire life cycle—germination, growth, flowering, and seeding—within one season.

Biennial

A plant that takes two years to complete its life cycle. It grows leaves in the first year and flowers in the second.

Bolting

When a plant flowers and produces seeds prematurely, often due to heat stress (common in lettuce, cilantro).

Climber

A plant that grows upward using tendrils, twining stems, or aerial roots (e.g., peas, clematis).

Drought-Tolerant

Plants that thrive with little water, ideal for xeriscaping (e.g., lavender, succulents).

Evergreen

A plant that retains its leaves year-round instead of shedding them seasonally.

Groundcover

Low-growing plants that spread across the ground, helping to prevent erosion and suppress weeds.

Hardy

A plant that can survive harsh conditions, such as extreme temperatures or poor soil.

Leggy

When a plant grows long, weak stems due to inadequate light, often stretching towards a light source.

Perennial

A plant that lives for multiple years, returning seasonally with new growth each year (like echinacea or lemon balm).

Rhizomes

Underground stems that grow horizontally, sending up new shoots and roots (e.g., ginger, mint).

Root Bound

When a plant has outgrown its container, causing its roots to become tangled and compacted, which can limit its ability to absorb nutrients.

Self-Seed

A plant that naturally drops its seeds, allowing new plants to grow without human intervention (e.g., calendula, dill).

Suckers

Shoots that grow from the base or roots of a plant, often taking energy away from the main plant.

Taproot

A deep, central root that anchors the plant and stores nutrients (e.g., carrots, burdock).

Gardening Techniques & Design

Gardening isn’t just about growing plants—it’s about strategic planning, soil management, and biodiversity. Whether you’re planting an herb garden, a pollinator-friendly landscape, or a raised bed for vegetables, choosing the right techniques can boost yields, prevent pests, and create a thriving ecosystem.

Techniques like companion planting, intercropping, and succession planting help maximize space and productivity. For example, planting basil with tomatoes not only improves flavor but also repels pests. Some plants, like marigolds and nasturtiums, work as natural pest deterrents, keeping unwanted bugs away from more vulnerable crops.

Other techniques focus on soil health, such as Hügelkultur (a no-dig composting method), green manure (cover crops that enrich the soil), and vermiculture (worm composting).

Proper pruning, deadheading, and pinching help plants grow stronger and bushier, while hardening off seedlings ensures they survive the transition from indoors to outdoor gardens.

Garden design is also about functionality—whether it’s creating a low-maintenance xeriscape, installing a permaculture guild, or setting up a raised bed garden for accessibility. Knowing your climate, soil type, and available sunlight will help you make smart choices when designing your space.

Air Pruning

Encouraging root growth by allowing roots to be exposed to air in special containers, preventing circling roots.

Companion Planting

Growing plants together to enhance growth, deter pests, or improve flavor (e.g., basil and tomatoes).

Cover Crop

A plant grown primarily to improve soil health, such as legumes or mustard greens, rather than for harvest.

Deadheading

Removing spent flowers to encourage more blooms and prevent seed formation.

Guild Planting

A permaculture technique where plants are grouped together to support each other, such as the “Three Sisters” garden (corn, beans, and squash).

Hardening Off

Gradually acclimating indoor or greenhouse-grown plants to outdoor conditions before transplanting.

Hügelkultur

A composting technique where plants grow on raised beds filled with decomposing wood, improving water retention and fertility.

Intercropping

Planting multiple crops together in the same space to maximize productivity and reduce pests.

Pinching

Snipping off the tips of stems to encourage bushier growth (common with basil, zinnias).

Succession Planting

Staggering plantings over time to ensure a continuous harvest (e.g., planting new lettuce every few weeks).

Vermiculture

The process of composting with worms to create nutrient-rich soil amendments.

Winter Sowing

A method of planting seeds in containers outdoors during winter, allowing for natural cold stratification before germination in spring.

Xeriscaping

A landscaping technique that reduces or eliminates the need for irrigation, using drought-tolerant plants like lavender and yucca.

Garden Aesthetics & Plant Arrangements

A well-designed garden isn’t just productive—it’s beautiful, balanced, and intentional. Whether you’re creating a wildflower meadow, a structured vegetable garden, or a cottage-style herb garden, plant placement is key to achieving a harmonious look and feel.

Design principles like thrillers, fillers, and spillers help create visually appealing container gardens, while low-mounding plants and groundcovers soften hard edges. Canna-like flowers add a tropical touch, while trailing vines bring a sense of movement.

Understanding plant height, shape, and texture ensures that tall plants don’t overshadow shorter ones, and that there’s a balance of colors and textures throughout the season.

Want to attract more pollinators? Plant a mix of native wildflowers, herbs, and nectar-rich blooms to create layers of color and texture while supporting local biodiversity.

Whether you prefer structured rows or a free-flowing landscape, choosing the right plant combinations, color schemes, and layering techniques will make your garden a feast for the eyes and the soul.

Canna-Like Flowers

Flowers that resemble Canna plants, typically large, tropical, and brightly colored.

Fillers

Medium-height plants that add volume and complement the thriller in a container or garden bed (e.g., coleus, petunias).

Low-Mounding Profile

Plants that grow close to the ground, spreading outward in a neat, compact shape.

Spillers

Trailing plants that cascade over the edges of containers or garden beds, creating a lush, overflowing look (e.g., sweet potato vine).

Thrillers

Tall, eye-catching plants used as the focal point in container gardens (e.g., purple fountain grass).

Wildlife & Pollination

A thriving garden is more than just plants—it’s an ecosystem filled with birds, bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects that help pollinate, control pests, and maintain balance.

Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds play a crucial role in food production by transferring pollen from flower to flower, allowing plants to produce fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Without them, many of our favorite foods—including tomatoes, squash, and berries—would struggle to grow.

Some plants are pollinator magnets, attracting beneficial creatures to your garden. Milkweed, echinacea, and lavender are favorites for bees and butterflies, while evening primrose and moonflower attract nighttime pollinators like moths and bats.

Beyond pollination, gardens also provide shelter and food for other wildlife. Native plants support local ecosystems by providing food sources for insects and birds, while host plants like parsley and fennel give caterpillars a safe place to grow before turning into butterflies.

Even some pests have their purpose—ladybugs and lacewings, for example, feast on aphids, acting as natural pest control. By planting a diverse mix of flowers, herbs, and vegetables, you can create a garden that sustains wildlife while maintaining balance.

If you want to take it a step further, avoid pesticides, provide water sources, and plant a mix of blooming flowers throughout the seasons to ensure pollinators have food year-round.Deciduous

Plants that shed their leaves seasonally, such as oak trees and elderberries.

Forb

A broad-leaved, non-woody plant (not a grass), often found in wildflower meadows.

Host Plant

A plant that serves as a food source and habitat for insect larvae (e.g., parsley for swallowtail caterpillars).

Keystone Species

A plant or animal that plays a critical role in the ecosystem, such as milkweed for monarch butterflies.

Pest-Resistant Plants

Plants that naturally repel or withstand pests without chemical intervention (e.g., marigolds, garlic).

Pollinator-Friendly Plants

Plants that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, helping to sustain biodiversity (e.g., milkweed, echinacea).

Trap Cropping

Planting a sacrificial crop to attract pests away from your main plants (e.g., planting nasturtiums to distract aphids).

Understory

The layer of plants growing beneath taller trees in a forest or food forest system.

Final Thoughts

Gardening is both an art and a science, and learning the lingo helps you grow with confidence! Whether you’re starting your first herb garden, designing a pollinator-friendly space, or experimenting with permaculture techniques, this glossary will be your guide.

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What other gardening terms should we add? Let us know!