Search Type

Equals

If you choose Equals as your search type, your search results will include only those items whose criteria (item number, botanical name, plant type, etc.) EXACTLY matches what you entered.

Begins With

If you choose Begins With as your search type, your search results will include all items whose criteria begins with what you entered. This search type does not require you to enter a complete word, only the first few letters.

Contains

If you choose Contains as your search type, your search results will include all items whose criteria contains what you entered in any part of its name. This search type does not require you to enter whole words, only parts of words.

Example

If you enter the word lily in the Common Name field and select Equals as your search type, you will not get any results. If you keep the word lily in the Common Name field and select Begins With as your search type, you will get all items whose common name has lily as the first four characters. If you then change your search type to Contains, you will get all items whose common name contains lily in any part of it.