Frequently Asked Questions

How does Biota find my ecoregion?

Enter your zip code during onboarding and Biota maps it to your EPA Level III ecoregion — a scientifically defined region based on shared land, soil, and climate conditions. No GPS or account required.

Do I need to create an account?

No. Biota works entirely without an account. Just enter your zip code and start exploring native plants in your ecoregion right away.

Is Biota free?

Yes — Biota is free to download and use. There are no subscriptions, paywalls, or in-app purchases.

Can I change my zip code after setup?

Yes. Go to Settings → Reset Location to enter a new zip code. This updates your ecoregion and refreshes your plant list to match the new area.

Where does Biota's plant data come from?

Plant species, images, and native range data are curated from authoritative sources including USDA PLANTS and iNaturalist. Ecoregion boundaries come from the EPA's Level III Ecoregion dataset.

Why are there no plants showing for my area?

This usually means your zip code didn't resolve to a supported ecoregion, or the app couldn't connect to fetch plant data. Try resetting your zip code under Settings → Reset Location, and make sure you have an internet connection when opening the app for the first time.

How are the plant collections organized?

Plants are organized into curated collections — such as pollinators, drought-tolerant species, edibles, and shade plants — all filtered to your specific ecoregion so every plant you see is relevant to where you live.

Are invasive species included?

No. Biota's plant lists are filtered to native species only. When you identify a plant using your camera, Biota will flag if the identified plant is not native to your ecoregion.

How accurate is the plant identification?

Identification accuracy depends on photo quality and how clearly the plant is visible. For best results, photograph leaves, flowers, or distinctive features in good lighting. Biota cross-references identification results against your ecoregion's native species to give you relevant context.

Does identification work offline?

No — plant identification requires an internet connection to process your photo. Browsing your ecoregion's plant list works offline once data has been loaded.

Can I identify plants from existing photos in my library?

Yes. Tap the identify button and choose Photo Library to select an existing photo instead of taking a new one.

Are my photos stored or shared?

No. Photos are sent to an identification service solely to generate a result and are not stored afterward. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

Does Biota track my location?

No. Biota uses your zip code — not GPS — to determine your ecoregion. Your zip code is stored locally on your device and is never transmitted to us.

What data does Biota collect?

Biota does not collect personal information. The only data stored is your zip code and the ecoregion metadata derived from it, and that data lives entirely on your device. Read our Privacy Policy for the full picture.

How do I delete my data?

All data Biota stores is on your device. Reset your location under Settings → Reset Location to clear location data, or uninstall the app to remove everything. We have no copy of your data.

The app isn't loading plants. What should I do?

Check your internet connection first. If you're connected, try force-closing the app and reopening it. If the problem persists, go to Settings → Reset Location and re-enter your zip code to refresh your plant data.

The camera or photo library isn't working.

Biota needs camera and photo library permissions to identify plants. Go to your device's Settings → Biota and make sure Camera and Photos access are enabled.

I entered my zip code but got the wrong ecoregion.

Some zip codes span ecoregion boundaries. If the assigned ecoregion doesn't feel right, try a zip code closer to the center of your area, or email us at hello@mybiota.co and we'll look into it.

The app crashes on launch.

Make sure you're running the latest version of Biota from the App Store or Google Play. If updating doesn't help, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app. If the issue continues, please email us with your device model and OS version.

How do I report a bug?

Email hello@mybiota.co with a description of the issue, your device model, and OS version. Screenshots or screen recordings are always helpful.

Can I suggest a feature or a plant species?

Yes — we'd love to hear from you. Send suggestions to hello@mybiota.co. Plant coverage requests are especially welcome; let us know your ecoregion and which species you'd like to see added.

My question isn't answered here.

Reach out directly at hello@mybiota.co and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.