There is nothing new about your idea. Searchable plant data bases and landscape design graphics programs are common. There are likely to be some that have the two already integrated in some manner. If this is a business plan you need to do a lot more research on what is already available.

Creating a plant database that would be useable across the country would be a massive undertaking or you would have to get permission to use one that already exists. The alternative is a short, generic, big box list of common landscape plants by region. That now puts your website on the dying side of trends in horticulture and landscape design.

Thank you Emothrium and Chris for the feedback.

Christopher - Can you link the searchable plant databases and landscape design programs? I'm curious to see what they look like.

Floridata, Missouri Botanical Garden, Monrovia to name but a few. The government and universities have countless plant data bases. You will have to look for landscape design programs on your own. Search right here. That question gets asked all the time.

planttr , look at https://plantlust.com/ and https://www.egardengo.com/ Both PNW based sites but perhaps similar to what you are looking for.

KayEss

Thanks everyone. Based on this feedback, I’m reorienting the site to focus on creating a tool to help create a blueprint for your landscape design project. Thoughts?

"creating a tool to help create a blueprint for your landscape design project"

Even more difficult to accomplish through an app than one that only deals with plant selection. And there are also many websites that can help with landscape design but they are only just tools, much like using a paper and pencil, just in a digital format.

What kind of a background do you have that would facilitate the creation of a landscape design website?

I’m envisioning this as a web app, not a mobile app. My background is in software engineering but I’m very interested in landscape design as I’m running into design issues with my current home. Having a tool to help plan this would be helpful and from what I have seen out there it is either too expensive or too clunky to use.

Which websites have you seen used for landscape design?

Lordy, there are zillions!! Sketch Up, Land Design, Smart Draw, Garden Planner, just to name a few. And then all the CAD type programs used by the pros. But to reiterate my previous statement, these are only tools and unless you have an understanding of landscape design and all the elements involved, they are not going help much with the actual design process.

I am a professional designer but I don't use any website and draft by hand.

Are these options free? Are they user friendly for non-pros like myself?

Yes, most are free. I have no idea how user friendly they may be, as I have never used them.

HERE is a search of the LD forum for previous discussions about software applications.....at more than 5000 hits, you should be able to find something that works for you !!

Very cool thank you for sharing!

You mean like "Dave's Garden?" Because it doesn't get any better than that!

Dave's Garden is not a website for either plant selection or landscape design. It is just a discussion forum....much like GardenWeb.