When we talk about urban planning and nature, we often think of large parks designed by architects, but some believe that true transformation begins on our own balconies. Max Delporte , a multifaceted professional who combines forestry engineering with landscape design, has dedicated much of his career to breaking down the barrier between the average citizen and the complex world of botany.
Their approach isn't based on ostentation, but on a philosophy of austere growth and passion . For Delporte, the success of a project doesn't lie in million-dollar investment rounds or having an office in the trendiest neighborhood, but in the ability to adapt to the environment, almost like natural selection, always prioritizing the quality of the work over excessive financial expectations.
The birth of a digital botanical radar
The spark that ignited the creation of Plantsss arose from a very common question that Max heard while working as a gardener in cities as diverse as Versailles, Barcelona, ​​Dublin, and Antwerp: what can I plant here? Realizing that people didn't know which species were suitable for their climate or soil, he decided to transfer all that knowledge to a mobile application.
This project, founded with Santiago Lyon, is described as the Spotify of plants . It's not just a database, but a virtual library that uses geolocation to tell you exactly what vegetation will thrive in your area, functioning as one of the best apps for identifying suitable plants and species, whether you live in an apartment in Providencia or in the wetlands of Chiloé. The app aims to encourage young people to rediscover the habit of strolling through parks and easily recognizing the flora around them, free of charge.
A design intended to captivate
To avoid making the information boring or overly technical, the team applied a golden rule: keep the content simple, specific, and engaging . Drawing inspiration from minimalist Japanese aesthetics, they transformed complex scientific data into visually appealing fact sheets. Thanks to this attention to aesthetics, the project received recognition from the National Design Fund (Fondart ).
The tool offers several features that make it stand out:
- Precise georeferencing: Filter botanical information based on the user's exact location to recommend native or endemic species.
- Social interaction: Through the camera, users can share findings, growing tips, and resolve common questions, creating a collaborative network.
- Specialized catalogs: It has the so-called PlantsssList, which organizes plants into categories such as medicinal, carnivorous, aphrodisiac, urban gardens or even species linked to ancestral Mapuche rites.
- Nursery locator: Connect theory with practice by allowing you to find the nearest points of sale to acquire the desired plant.
Educating to conserve biodiversity
Max Delporte argues that modern cities have been built on ego and immediacy, forgetting that a plant needs time to mature. Therefore, the goal of Plantsss is to empower citizens . If everyone reforests their own neighborhood, the collective result will be a much cleaner and more sustainable city.
The project's methodology follows a logical chain: educate, value, and conserve . Delporte argues that we only care for what we know and value. A clear example is how our perception of a chocolate bar changes when we understand that it comes from the Theobroma cacao tree ; this knowledge increases our appreciation for the natural resource. This vision has led the app to win the Latin America Green Awards , competing against thousands of projects from across the continent.
A multidisciplinary team and a global vision
The platform's internal workings are divided according to the expertise of its creators. While Max, as botanical director , coordinates the programming and the sections on urban trees and indoor plant care apps , his partner, an environmental lawyer, manages content related to endangered species and protected areas. This synergy has allowed the app to have a presence in 67 countries , with particular success in Spain, Mexico, and Chile.
Despite their growth, they remain committed to ensuring the tool is 100% free . Charging for access to the information would create a barrier between people and nature, which goes against their social mission. This openness has facilitated international partnerships, including collaborations with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and medicinal plant experts from Cuba.
This initiative has succeeded in turning mobile technology into a bridge to ecological awareness, demonstrating that the combination of austerity, scientific rigor and attractive design can generate a real impact on urban biodiversity and the environmental culture of thousands of people around the world.
