{
  "version": 1,
  "generatedAt": "2026-05-15",
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licenseUrl": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "attribution": "Verdant Meridian — https://verdantmeridian.app/data",
  "citation": "Verdant Meridian, Regional Plant Database, verdantmeridian.app/data, accessed [date]. CC-BY-4.0.",
  "sourceMethodology": "Compiled from regional wholesale grower availability lists, not retail or garden references. Commonness ratings reflect how frequently each plant appears across that market's wholesale catalogs: 1 = on every truck (core staple), 2 = regularly stocked (common), 3 = available but selective. Pruning windows and pest/pathogen identification notes are drawn from regional Cooperative Extension publications and trade horticulture references. No chemical, fungicide, or product recommendations appear anywhere in this database — diagnostic and cultural information only.",
  "policy": "No chemical, fungicide, insecticide, or product recommendations in any record. Cultural and diagnostic content only.",
  "contact": "acs31410@proton.me",
  "regionCount": 18,
  "regions": [
    {
      "id": "GA-PIEDMONT",
      "name": "Southeast Piedmont & Mid-South",
      "anchorCities": "Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, Raleigh",
      "hardinessZones": "7b-8a",
      "note": "PRIMARY list in this file. Humid, clay soils, palms unreliable.",
      "plantCount": 158,
      "breakdown": {
        "core": 57,
        "common": 80,
        "available": 21
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "GA-COASTAL",
      "name": "North Florida & Lowcountry Coastal",
      "anchorCities": "Jacksonville, Savannah, Charleston",
      "hardinessZones": "8b-9a",
      "note": "Secondary rows in this file. Sandy soil, salt, palms viable.",
      "plantCount": 17,
      "breakdown": {
        "core": 10,
        "common": 5,
        "available": 2
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "PNW",
      "name": "Pacific Northwest",
      "anchorCities": "Seattle, Portland",
      "hardinessZones": "7b-9a",
      "note": "Wet mild winters, acidic soil.",
      "plantCount": 93,
      "breakdown": {
        "core": 17,
        "common": 46,
        "available": 30
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "NORCAL-COAST",
      "name": "Northern California Coastal",
      "anchorCities": "San Francisco, Santa Rosa",
      "hardinessZones": "9b-10a",
      "note": "Mediterranean, mild year-round.",
      "plantCount": 83,
      "breakdown": {
        "core": 14,
        "common": 45,
        "available": 24
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "SOCAL-COAST",
      "name": "Southern California Coastal",
      "anchorCities": "Los Angeles, San Diego",
      "hardinessZones": "10a-10b",
      "note": "Mediterranean-subtropical, near frost-free.",
      "plantCount": 87,
      "breakdown": {
        "core": 14,
        "common": 46,
        "available": 27
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "CA-INLAND",
      "name": "California Central Valley & Inland",
      "anchorCities": "Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield",
      "hardinessZones": "9a-9b",
      "note": "Hot dry summers, cool winters.",
      "plantCount": 91,
      "breakdown": {
        "core": 14,
        "common": 52,
        "available": 25
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "DESERT-SW",
      "name": "Desert Southwest",
      "anchorCities": "Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas",
      "hardinessZones": "9a-10a",
      "note": "Arid, alkaline, extreme heat.",
      "plantCount": 71,
      "breakdown": {
        "core": 17,
        "common": 30,
        "available": 24
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "MTN-WEST",
      "name": "Mountain West & Intermountain",
      "anchorCities": "Denver, Salt Lake City, Boise",
      "hardinessZones": "4b-6a",
      "note": "High elevation, cold and dry.",
      "plantCount": 80,
      "breakdown": {
        "core": 14,
        "common": 46,
        "available": 20
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "N-PLAINS",
      "name": "Northern Plains",
      "anchorCities": "Fargo, Bismarck, Billings",
      "hardinessZones": "3a-4b",
      "note": "Severe winters, short season.",
      "plantCount": 74,
      "breakdown": {
        "core": 14,
        "common": 39,
        "available": 21
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "S-PLAINS",
      "name": "Southern Plains",
      "anchorCities": "Oklahoma City, Wichita, Amarillo",
      "hardinessZones": "6b-7b",
      "note": "Hot summers, variable cold snaps.",
      "plantCount": 80,
      "breakdown": {
        "core": 16,
        "common": 39,
        "available": 25
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "UP-MIDWEST",
      "name": "Upper Midwest & Great Lakes",
      "anchorCities": "Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Madison",
      "hardinessZones": "3b-5a",
      "note": "Cold continental.",
      "plantCount": 65,
      "breakdown": {
        "core": 14,
        "common": 33,
        "available": 18
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "LOW-MIDWEST",
      "name": "Lower Midwest & Ohio Valley",
      "anchorCities": "Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis",
      "hardinessZones": "5b-6b",
      "note": "Continental, moderate.",
      "plantCount": 100,
      "breakdown": {
        "core": 22,
        "common": 47,
        "available": 31
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "NEW-ENGLAND",
      "name": "New England & Upstate",
      "anchorCities": "Boston, Hartford, Albany",
      "hardinessZones": "4b-6a",
      "note": "Cold winters.",
      "plantCount": 87,
      "breakdown": {
        "core": 23,
        "common": 38,
        "available": 26
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "MID-ATLANTIC",
      "name": "Mid-Atlantic",
      "anchorCities": "New York City, Philadelphia, Washington DC",
      "hardinessZones": "6b-7b",
      "note": "Transitional.",
      "plantCount": 93,
      "breakdown": {
        "core": 27,
        "common": 37,
        "available": 29
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "TX-CENTRAL",
      "name": "Texas Hill Country & Central",
      "anchorCities": "Austin, San Antonio, Dallas-Fort Worth",
      "hardinessZones": "8a-9a",
      "note": "Alkaline clay, intense heat.",
      "plantCount": 81,
      "breakdown": {
        "core": 17,
        "common": 36,
        "available": 28
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "GULF-COAST",
      "name": "Gulf Coast & Deep South",
      "anchorCities": "Houston, New Orleans, Mobile, Pensacola",
      "hardinessZones": "8b-9b",
      "note": "Hot, humid.",
      "plantCount": 100,
      "breakdown": {
        "core": 18,
        "common": 48,
        "available": 34
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "CENTRAL-FL",
      "name": "Central Florida",
      "anchorCities": "Orlando, Tampa",
      "hardinessZones": "9b-10a",
      "note": "Transitional subtropical.",
      "plantCount": 94,
      "breakdown": {
        "core": 21,
        "common": 45,
        "available": 28
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "SOUTH-FL",
      "name": "South Florida Subtropical",
      "anchorCities": "Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Naples",
      "hardinessZones": "10b-11a",
      "note": "True tropical palette.",
      "plantCount": 72,
      "breakdown": {
        "core": 20,
        "common": 34,
        "available": 18
      }
    }
  ]
}