KIRTLAND, Ohio (July 8, 2025) — Holden Forests & Gardens announces the launch of Flora Finder, a new interactive, web-based tool that makes exploring the plants across Holden’s campuses easier and more engaging than ever.

Whether you’re a researcher, student, or simply a curious visitor, Flora Finder provides instant access to detailed information about thousands of trees and shrubs located across the Holden Arboretum, Cleveland Botanical Garden, and David G. Leach Research Station.

“This tool brings to life a decades-old dream,” said Ed Moydell, President and CEO of Holden Forests & Gardens. “Years ago, former Arboretum Director R. Henry Norweb envisioned a way for visitors to easily find any plant they wanted to see in our collections. With Flora Finder, that vision is now a reality. It not only helps guests connect more deeply with the plants they love but also enhances our team’s ability to care for them.”

Flora Finder is accessible from any desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device — no downloads or app installations required. You can explore it while walking through the gardens or from the comfort of your home.

Key Features of Flora Finder include:

• Location-based exploration: Use the map interface to identify the plants around you while visiting any HF&G campus.
• Robust search: Search by both common and scientific names, or filter results by location or plant type.
• Rich plant records: Each listing includes detailed background information, including origin, provenance, horticultural notes, and growing conditions.
• Garden bed insights: At sites like the Cleveland Botanical Garden, click on beds to see a full list of herbaceous plants located there.

“This is more than just a map — it’s a living library of the plants that define our collections and support our mission,” said Tom Arbour, Curator of Living Collections. “Flora Finder has already transformed our daily work. Our team now documents plants in real time with iPads in the field, which supports better curation, planning, and education.”

The development of Flora Finder was made possible by a Museums for America grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, awarded to HF&G in 2023. The project brought together staff from horticulture, research, education, marketing, and guest services, in collaboration with geospatial consulting firm Blue Raster and Mike O’Neal, developer of HF&G’s plant records system, BG-Base.

Flora Finder is now live and available to all. Visitors can scan QR codes posted throughout Holden’s campuses or visit https://holdenfg.org/flora-finder/ to begin exploring.

Curious about Flora Finder?
Join us at the Arboretum on Saturdays and Sundays anytime between 1:00 and 3:00 PM for family-friendly, hands-on activities designed to help you explore and get to know Flora Finder. These drop-in sessions are a fun and interactive way to learn more about our plants and features that make Flora Finder special. All ages welcome—come discover something new each weekend! Drop-ins are included with general admission.

Media Contact: Stacey Vaselaney at slvaselaney@slvpr.com or (216) 905-0908

About Holden Forests & Gardens
Holden Forests & Gardens is made up of two of Northeast Ohio’s most important environmental and cultural institutions—the Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden—whose mission is to connect people with the wonder, beauty, and value of trees and plants, to inspire action for healthy communities. One of the largest public gardens in the country, Holden Forests & Gardens has over 22,000 member households and an annual attendance of over 300,000 for whom we strive to provide inspirational and educational visitor experiences. Holden’s science, conservation, and urban forestry work is widely acclaimed and helping to save native trees in the Great Lakes region and beyond.

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