Plant Guide: Dubai gardening research

What to sow and plant in Dubai in a given month or season, plus what is flowering, fruiting or ready to harvest, the month's verdict, tips, watch-outs and the climate. Defaults to the current month in Dubai. Also returns that month's indoor-plants block (what to buy, pot up and care for indoors) unless you filter to another group. Start here for any 'what should I plant now / in October / in summer' question.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "month": {
      "description": "Month to plan for: 1–12 or a name like \"october\". Omit for the current month in Dubai. Not with season.",
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "integer",
          "minimum": 1,
          "maximum": 12
        },
        {
          "type": "string",
          "minLength": 1,
          "maxLength": 20
        }
      ]
    },
    "season": {
      "description": "A whole season instead of one month: winter (Dec–Feb), spring (Mar–May), summer (Jun–Sep) or autumn (Oct–Nov). Not with month.",
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "winter",
        "spring",
        "summer",
        "autumn"
      ]
    },
    "group": {
      "description": "Only this kind of plant: vegetables-herbs, flowers, trees-palms, shrubs-climbers, lawn-grasses, indoor (houseplants: the good months to buy and pot up) or water. Omit it to get everything plus the month's indoor block; any group other than indoor leaves the indoor block out.",
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "vegetables-herbs",
        "flowers",
        "trees-palms",
        "shrubs-climbers",
        "lawn-grasses",
        "indoor",
        "water"
      ]
    },
    "limit": {
      "default": 20,
      "description": "Most plants to list per section, 1–50 (default 20). Long lists are sampled across groups; filter by group to see more.",
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1,
      "maximum": 50
    }
  },
  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
  "additionalProperties": false
}

Search and filter the library of plants rated for Dubai's heat, salt, drought and shade: by name (English, botanical or Arabic), category, sun, water need, minimum tolerance ratings, use, garden style or planting month. For houseplants and questions like "low light, pet friendly plants for a Dubai apartment", filter by light (low, medium, bright-indirect, direct-sun), petSafe, room and size: those four filters return only plants with an indoor profile (light, tolerance of dry air and air conditioning, pet safety, size, rooms). Returns short profiles with links; call get_plant for the full one.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "query": {
      "description": "Words to look for in names (English, botanical, Arabic) and descriptions, e.g. \"date palm\", \"غاف\", \"salt tolerant hedge\".",
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 100
    },
    "category": {
      "description": "Only these plant categories (any of them): tree, palm, shrub, climber, groundcover, flower, grass, succulent, herb, edible, indoor, fruit-tree, vegetable, ornamental-grass, aquatic.",
      "maxItems": 15,
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "tree",
          "palm",
          "shrub",
          "climber",
          "groundcover",
          "flower",
          "grass",
          "succulent",
          "herb",
          "edible",
          "indoor",
          "fruit-tree",
          "vegetable",
          "ornamental-grass",
          "aquatic"
        ]
      }
    },
    "group": {
      "description": "Only this group: vegetables-herbs, flowers, trees-palms, shrubs-climbers, lawn-grasses, indoor or water.",
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "vegetables-herbs",
        "flowers",
        "trees-palms",
        "shrubs-climbers",
        "lawn-grasses",
        "indoor",
        "water"
      ]
    },
    "sun": {
      "description": "The plant's light need, exact match: full-sun, sun-part-shade, part-shade or shade.",
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "full-sun",
        "sun-part-shade",
        "part-shade",
        "shade"
      ]
    },
    "water": {
      "description": "Highest water need you accept: \"low\" keeps very-low and low.",
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "very-low",
        "low",
        "moderate",
        "high"
      ]
    },
    "minHeat": {
      "description": "Minimum heat tolerance in Dubai, 1–5 (5 = best).",
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1,
      "maximum": 5
    },
    "minSalt": {
      "description": "Minimum salt tolerance, 1–5 (5 = best).",
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1,
      "maximum": 5
    },
    "minDrought": {
      "description": "Minimum drought tolerance, 1–5 (5 = best).",
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1,
      "maximum": 5
    },
    "minShade": {
      "description": "Minimum shade tolerance, 1–5 (5 = best); use for shady spots.",
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1,
      "maximum": 5
    },
    "minEase": {
      "description": "Minimum ease of care, 1–5 (5 = easiest).",
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1,
      "maximum": 5
    },
    "origin": {
      "description": "native (UAE), adapted or exotic.",
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "native",
        "adapted",
        "exotic"
      ]
    },
    "use": {
      "description": "What the plant is for: shade-tree, specimen, hedge, screen, windbreak, groundcover, lawn, container, climber, pool-side, fragrance, edible, bedding, indoor or native-habitat.",
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "shade-tree",
        "specimen",
        "hedge",
        "screen",
        "windbreak",
        "groundcover",
        "lawn",
        "container",
        "climber",
        "pool-side",
        "fragrance",
        "edible",
        "bedding",
        "indoor",
        "native-habitat"
      ]
    },
    "style": {
      "description": "Garden style it suits: tropical, manicured, luxury or desert-modern.",
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "tropical",
        "manicured",
        "luxury",
        "desert-modern"
      ]
    },
    "plantingMonth": {
      "description": "Only plants with a sowing or planting window in this month (1–12 or a name). For houseplants this is the good months to buy and pot up.",
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "integer",
          "minimum": 1,
          "maximum": 12
        },
        {
          "type": "string",
          "minLength": 1,
          "maxLength": 20
        }
      ]
    },
    "light": {
      "description": "Houseplants that grow well in this indoor light: low (a dim room or corner), medium (a bright room, no direct sun), bright-indirect (by a window, out of direct sun) or direct-sun (a sunny window). Using light, petSafe, room or size limits results to plants with an indoor profile.",
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "low",
        "medium",
        "bright-indirect",
        "direct-sun"
      ]
    },
    "petSafe": {
      "description": "true keeps only houseplants that are non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA list); false means pets do not matter. Using light, petSafe, room or size limits results to plants with an indoor profile.",
      "type": "boolean"
    },
    "room": {
      "description": "Houseplants that suit this room: living-room, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, home-office, majlis, hallway or balcony. Using light, petSafe, room or size limits results to plants with an indoor profile.",
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "living-room",
        "bedroom",
        "bathroom",
        "kitchen",
        "home-office",
        "majlis",
        "hallway",
        "balcony"
      ]
    },
    "size": {
      "description": "The houseplant's usual indoor size: tabletop (on a table or shelf), medium (a medium pot on a sideboard or the floor) or floor (floor-standing). Using light, petSafe, room or size limits results to plants with an indoor profile.",
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "tabletop",
        "medium",
        "floor"
      ]
    },
    "limit": {
      "default": 20,
      "description": "Results per page, 1–50 (default 20).",
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1,
      "maximum": 50
    },
    "offset": {
      "default": 0,
      "description": "How many results to skip, for paging; use the nextOffset from the previous page.",
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 0,
      "maximum": 1000
    }
  },
  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
  "additionalProperties": false
}

Everything about one plant in Dubai: ratings, size, sun and water, seasonal calendar, watering in summer and winter, soil, feeding, pruning, pests, common mistakes, varieties, design use, FAQ, photos with credits and sources. Houseplants also get an "Indoors in Dubai" profile: light, tolerance of dry air and air conditioning, pet safety, size, suitable rooms and how easy the plant is to find. Accepts a slug or any common, botanical or Arabic name.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "plant": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 100,
      "description": "The plant: its slug (\"ghaf\") or any common, botanical or Arabic name (\"Prosopis cineraria\", \"غاف\"). Typos are tolerated."
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "plant"
  ],
  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
  "additionalProperties": false
}

Sow, plant, flower, harvest, prune and feed months for a set of plants (by slug, category or group), as a 12-month grid. Use it to compare timings across several plants.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "slugs": {
      "description": "Up to 30 plants, by slug or name. Omit slugs, category and group for the kitchen-garden vegetables and herbs.",
      "minItems": 1,
      "maxItems": 30,
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "string",
        "minLength": 1,
        "maxLength": 100
      }
    },
    "category": {
      "description": "All plants of one category (shows the first 60).",
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "tree",
        "palm",
        "shrub",
        "climber",
        "groundcover",
        "flower",
        "grass",
        "succulent",
        "herb",
        "edible",
        "indoor",
        "fruit-tree",
        "vegetable",
        "ornamental-grass",
        "aquatic"
      ]
    },
    "group": {
      "description": "All plants of one group (shows the first 60).",
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "vegetables-herbs",
        "flowers",
        "trees-palms",
        "shrubs-climbers",
        "lawn-grasses",
        "indoor",
        "water"
      ]
    }
  },
  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
  "additionalProperties": false
}

Dubai's monthly average high and low temperatures and rainfall (WMO 1991–2020 normals), the planting season and summer work-ban months, and the garden and pool tasks for each month.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {},
  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
  "additionalProperties": false
}

The garden styles we design in Dubai (tropical, manicured, luxury, desert modern) with mood, upkeep effort, water use, build cost per m² and key plants.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {},
  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
  "additionalProperties": false
}

The full guide to one garden style: why choose it, the mood, its anatomy, upkeep (weekly, monthly, seasonal), water, who it suits and doesn't, common beliefs vs reality, Dubai notes, variations and its plant palette.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "style": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 60,
      "description": "A style slug or name: tropical, manicured, luxury or desert-modern."
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "style"
  ],
  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
  "additionalProperties": false
}

Find our practical guides (planting calendar, summer watering, lawn grasses, indoor plants, costs, approvals and more) by keyword, topic or month. Topics (pillar): planting, indoor, costs-water, approvals, outdoor-living, maintenance.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "query": {
      "description": "Words to look for in guide titles, summaries and tags, e.g. \"summer watering\", \"lawn\", \"approvals\".",
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 100
    },
    "pillar": {
      "description": "Topic: planting, indoor (houseplants), costs-water, approvals, outdoor-living or maintenance.",
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "planting",
        "costs-water",
        "approvals",
        "outdoor-living",
        "maintenance",
        "indoor"
      ]
    },
    "month": {
      "description": "Only guides for this time of year (1–12 or a name).",
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "integer",
          "minimum": 1,
          "maximum": 12
        },
        {
          "type": "string",
          "minLength": 1,
          "maxLength": 20
        }
      ]
    }
  },
  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
  "additionalProperties": false
}

One guide in full, as Markdown, with its FAQ and sources.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "slug": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 120,
      "description": "The guide's slug, e.g. \"watering-garden-dubai-summer\" (find slugs with search_guides)."
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "slug"
  ],
  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
  "additionalProperties": false
}

How to grow vegetables, herbs and fruit at home in Dubai: the sowing and harvest calendar, raised beds vs pots vs a fruit-tree corner, a step-by-step bed build, what to do in summer, common mistakes and FAQ.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {},
  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
  "additionalProperties": false
}

The starting point for anything about houseplants and indoor plants in Dubai: choosing by light (low, medium, bright indirect, direct sun), by room and for pets; what air conditioning, tinted glass and dry air change; where to buy and what it costs; how care changes through the year; common problems; and our indoor styles, with every plant linked. Ask for one section (light, rooms, pets, dubai, year, buying, problems, styles, faq) or all of it, and add a month for what to buy and do that month. Then shortlist with search_plants (light, petSafe, room, size) and read one plant with get_plant.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "section": {
      "default": "all",
      "description": "Which part of the guide: light (by light level), rooms, pets (pet-safe plants), dubai (air conditioning, glass, dry air), year (care through the year), buying (where to buy), problems, styles (the indoor styles) or faq. all (default) returns everything.",
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "light",
        "rooms",
        "pets",
        "dubai",
        "year",
        "buying",
        "problems",
        "styles",
        "faq",
        "all"
      ]
    },
    "month": {
      "description": "Also return what to buy and do indoors in this month: 1–12 or a name such as \"october\". Leave it out for the guide alone.",
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "integer",
          "minimum": 1,
          "maximum": 12
        },
        {
          "type": "string",
          "minLength": 1,
          "maxLength": 20
        }
      ]
    }
  },
  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
  "additionalProperties": false
}

The full guide to one indoor plant style for Dubai homes: mood and palette, key plants with their light and pet safety, pots and materials, a starter set with an AED budget, how to get the look step by step, Dubai notes, pros and cons and FAQ. Take a slug from get_indoor_plant_guide (section styles); a wrong slug returns the valid ones and the closest.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "slug": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 60,
      "description": "An indoor style slug or name from get_indoor_plant_guide (section styles), e.g. \"japandi-calm\"."
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "slug"
  ],
  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
  "additionalProperties": false
}

Monthly Garden Care price (AED, excluding 5% VAT) for a Dubai villa from garden area, lawn type, pool size, complexity and number of trees, with visit frequency and the breakdown.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "areaM2": {
      "type": "number",
      "minimum": 0,
      "maximum": 2000,
      "description": "Garden area in m², excluding the pool: 0–2000."
    },
    "lawn": {
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "none",
        "natural",
        "artificial"
      ],
      "description": "Lawn type: none, natural or artificial."
    },
    "pool": {
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "none",
        "small",
        "medium",
        "large"
      ],
      "description": "Pool size: none, small (to 25 m² of water), medium (to 50 m²) or large (over 50 m²)."
    },
    "complexity": {
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "simple",
        "moderate",
        "complex"
      ],
      "description": "How demanding the garden is: simple, moderate or complex (mature, dense or intricate planting)."
    },
    "trees": {
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "0-5",
        "6-15",
        "16+"
      ],
      "description": "Number of trees and palms: \"0-5\", \"6-15\" or \"16+\"."
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "areaM2",
    "lawn",
    "pool",
    "complexity",
    "trees"
  ],
  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
  "additionalProperties": false
}

A link that opens our free 3D garden planner with the given plants already in the plant list, so the person can plan a layout or send the list to our designer.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "plants": {
      "minItems": 1,
      "maxItems": 20,
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "string",
        "minLength": 1,
        "maxLength": 100
      },
      "description": "1–20 plants, by slug or name, to put in the 3D garden planner's plant list."
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "plants"
  ],
  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
  "additionalProperties": false
}

A WhatsApp click-to-chat link with a pre-filled message (topic, plants, community and notes) for when the person wants a quote, a visit or help from our team. Nothing is sent until they press send in WhatsApp.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "topic": {
      "description": "What the message is about: garden-care, build (a garden makeover), design (a plan from the 3D garden planner), plants, kitchen-garden, what-to-plant, styles or general. Defaults to plants when plants are given, else general.",
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "garden-care",
        "build",
        "design",
        "plants",
        "kitchen-garden",
        "what-to-plant",
        "styles",
        "general"
      ]
    },
    "plants": {
      "description": "Up to 20 plants (slugs or names) the person is interested in; they are listed in the message.",
      "maxItems": 20,
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "string",
        "minLength": 1,
        "maxLength": 100
      }
    },
    "community": {
      "description": "The person's Dubai community, e.g. \"Arabian Ranches\".",
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 80
    },
    "note": {
      "description": "Anything the person wants to say, in their words (up to 500 characters).",
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 500
    }
  },
  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
  "additionalProperties": false
}