Placing Plants
Select a plant species in the Plant Browser, then click the canvas to place it. Each click places one plant; double-click or press Escape to stop.
Placing PlantsPlacing plants in Gardenly3D is a two-step process: first choose a species in the Plant Browser, then stamp instances onto the canvas with individual clicks. Each placed plant carries the species name, scientific name, and a visual profile (tree, shrub, groundcover, etc.) that controls how it renders in 2D and 3D views. You can also place a generic profile plant without a species name and fill in the details later — useful when sketching before plant selection is finalised.
Method 2: Place a generic plant from Add Object
Open the Add Object panel and go to the Plants tab. Each plant profile tile (StandardTree, Bush, etc.) has a Place button. Click it to start placing a generic plant of that profile without associating a species from the database. You can add the species name in the Inspector after placement.
Tool sidebar fields
While the placement tool is active the sidebar shows: Name (the common name of the selected plant, editable), Scientific Name (the scientific name, editable), and Position XY (the cursor position in canvas coordinates, updated live). Editing the Position field and pressing Enter or Tab pins the placement to that coordinate.
Adjusting after placement
After placing a plant, switch to the Select tool (V) and click the plant to select it. Drag to reposition. Use the Properties 2D tab in the Inspector to set an exact position, rotation, and size. The Plant tab in the Inspector shows visual customisation options specific to the plant's profile.
Place at an exact coordinate (optional)
To place a plant at a precise location, type the X and Y values into the Position field in the tool sidebar and press Enter or Tab. The placement pins to that coordinate. This is useful when matching a site survey grid or aligning to a hardscape edge.
Finish placement
Press Escape or double-click the canvas to end placement and return to the Select tool. You can also click Apply in the tool sidebar. The tool deactivates and your placed plants are now selectable entities on the canvas.
Alternative: place a generic plant from the Add Object panel
If you want to sketch plant positions before deciding on species, open the Add Object panel and go to the Plants tab. The tiles are grouped by category (Trees, Shrubs, Perennials, Ground Cover, Climbers). Click a profile tile (for example Round Shrub, Spreading, or Ground Cover) to activate the placement tool for a generic plant of that profile — no species association required. You can add the Name and Scientific Name in the Inspector after placement.
Reposition and adjust after placement
Switch to the Select tool (press V) and click a plant to select it. Drag to reposition it freehand. For precise control, open the 2D Properties tab in the Inspector to enter an exact position, rotation, and scale. Open the Plant tab in the Inspector to change visual options such as canopy size, trunk height, and display style — these settings affect how the plant renders in both 2D plan view and 3D perspective.
For natural-looking plantings, place trees and large shrubs first to lock in the structural framework, then fill in with perennials and groundcovers around them. Odd-number groupings of the same species (3, 5, 7) read as more organic than even-number rows. Keep clicking to stamp multiples quickly — switch to the Select tool only when you need to move an individual plant.
Gardenly3D searches a two-tier plant database: your account's curated regional library first, falling back automatically to the full global species index if no match is found. Both tiers return the same placement experience — the species' visual profile and metadata travel with the placed entity.
Frequently Asked Questions
I placed a plant but it shows no species name. Why?
Plants placed from the Add Object panel are generic profile instances and start without a species record. Select the plant, then type a common name into the Name field and a scientific name into the Scientific Name field in the Inspector. To carry species data through automatically, use the Plant Browser and click Place in Garden instead.
How do I place many copies of the same plant quickly?
The placement tool stays active between clicks — each click places one instance of the current species. Select the species once from the Plant Browser and then click repeatedly on the canvas to stamp as many copies as you need. Press Escape or double-click only when you are done with that species.
How do I place a plant at an exact coordinate?
While the placement tool is active, click into the Position field in the tool sidebar, type the X and Y values, and press Enter or Tab. The next placement is pinned to that coordinate. After placement, you can also set an exact position through the 2D Properties tab in the Inspector.
Can I change the name or scientific name of a plant I have already placed?
Yes. Select the plant with the Select tool, then open the 2D Properties tab in the Inspector. In the General section, edit the Name and Scientific Name fields. To use the visual settings for a specific habit, adjust the shape controls in the Plant tab.
Why does the plant look different in 3D compared to the 2D plan?
The 2D plan view renders the plant as a top-down symbol scaled to its canopy spread. The 3D view uses a full volumetric representation with trunk height, crown shape, and foliage detail derived from the species profile. Both views use the same canopy size value — adjust it in the Plant tab of the Inspector to affect both simultaneously.