Plant Education Project
To understand the care of a plant, understand its native climate and environment.
Our Information Sheets connect practical care with the climate, environment, and ecology that shaped each plant.
Need a definition? Open the Glossary and find terms as you type.
The standard plant information package
Five connected ways to understand a plant
Begin with the plant, learn where and how it lives, then put that knowledge into practice. Hens & Chicks is our first complete example of this five-part package.
| Information sheet | Purpose | Standard contents |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Plant — Plant Information Sheet | What is this plant? | Common and scientific names; family; identification features and look-alikes; native range; growth habit; mature size; roots; leaves; flowers; fruit; lifespan; basic care summary. |
| 2. Climate — Climate Information Sheet | What seasonal conditions shaped it? | Native temperature and rainfall patterns; wet and dry seasons; frost, heat, humidity, and dormancy; comparison with Lafayette; implications for indoor and outdoor growing. |
| 3. Environment — Environmental Information Sheet | Where does it grow? | Native habitat; soil or other growing substrate; drainage; moisture; pH; light exposure; elevation and terrain where relevant; sheltered or exposed locations; suitable garden or container conditions. |
| 4. Ecology — Ecology Information Sheet | How does it interact with other organisms? | Pollinators; caterpillar hosts; wildlife food and shelter; seed dispersal; competition; relationships with fungi and microbes; response to disturbance; conservation concerns and invasive behavior. |
| 5. Growing and Propagation | How do I grow and reproduce it? | Planting; watering based on conditions; soil-mix proportions; feeding; pruning; repotting; overwintering; seeds, cuttings, division, or offsets; germination requirements; common problems. |
Each complete package includes an at-a-glance summary, safety guidance, a seasonal calendar, troubleshooting, observation activities, references, photograph credits, and dated revisions.
References
Read, explore, and check the evidence
Find Seed & Plant Sources, Wildlife Reading, and the references used throughout our Information Sheets.
About
Education rooted in how plants live
The Plant Education Project is a community-education effort based in W. Lafayette, Indiana. Its purpose is to make reliable plant knowledge understandable and useful to home growers, students, volunteers, and visitors to the Westminster Village plant program.
The project begins with a simple principle: “To understand the care of a plant, understand its native climate and environment.” A care instruction by itself may tell someone what to do. Climate, habitat, soil, and ecology help explain why the instruction works—and when it may need to change.
Each Plant Information Sheet follows a consistent sequence. It identifies the plant, summarizes practical care, and connects that care to the plant’s native climate, physical environment, and ecological relationships. Supporting Information Sheets explain subjects such as watering, pot sizing, growing media, plant health, animals, and fertilizers.
The material is written for readability, with large type, plain language, photographs where practical, and predictable page organization. Scientific names and native distributions are checked against established botanical sources. Cultivation guidance is compared with university Extension services and major botanical institutions. Uncertain identifications are labeled as uncertain instead of being presented as settled facts.
This site is educational. It does not replace plant labels, pesticide or fertilizer directions, local regulations, poison-control advice, or professional medical and veterinary guidance. When a product label applies, the label is the law.
The project is being developed by James Taylor through independent study and community service, with continuing review and correction as new plants and subjects are added.
Copyright and educational use
© 2026 James Taylor. Original writing, organization, and page design may be printed or shared for educational, noncommercial use when the Plant Education Project and James Taylor are credited. Photographs and other third-party material remain subject to the licenses and credit lines shown with them. For other uses, please request permission through the contact information below.
Contact
Questions and corrections
Questions, corrections, source recommendations, and reports of broken links are welcome.
James TaylorPlant Education Project
W. Lafayette, Indiana
Email: biotech1944@gmail.com
Please include the name of the plant or Information Sheet and describe the proposed correction. Written contact is preferred so the details and sources can be reviewed accurately.