Plants

Plants are found all across Terraria, and may grow from certain block types given various conditions. Most can be harvested for use, and may additionally drop seeds for replanting. Different biomes generally have distinct plant life.

Herbs
Herbs are used at a Placed Bottle to craft potions.

Mushrooms
Regular Mushrooms can be turned into Vile Mushrooms and vice versa using Purification Powder, Unholy Water, or Holy water respectively.

Vines
Vines can be seen hanging from Dirt Blocks if grass has spread there, or from Mud Blocks with Jungle Grass. In either case, there must be empty space below for vines to grow (a Torch or a Wood Platform, for example, will block them). Vines can be cut easily with nearly any Weapon or Tool, as the whole vine will instantly be destroyed if the top piece of the vine or the block that the vine is hanging from is destroyed. If that cannot be done, a vine can be destroyed by hitting it with a pickaxe or latching onto the block it is hanging from with a grappling hook. Vines block light, but do not impede movement. The vines can be colored if the block they spawn from is painted.

Unlike tall grass, vines do not require sunlight and will grow underground or in front of walls.

Hallow vines will spread Hallow, and Crimson vines will spread Crimson.

Vines will never drop the Vine object; this is an uncommon Man Eater drop.

The Guide to Plant Fiber Cordage allows the collection of Vine Ropes from vines.

Cacti



 * Main article: Cactus

Cacti grow naturally on Sand in the Desert biome, they can be cut with an axe and used to make weapons, armor, potions and placeables. Mining the sand block underneath it will cause the entire plant to drop.

Thorny bushes


Thorny Bushes are plants that grow naturally in the Corruption, the Crimson and the Underground Jungle, like grass. Unlike grass though, Thorny Bushes will damage the player on contact. Currently, there are three types of thorny bushes: brown bushes that grow in the Underground Jungle which deal 25 damage, purple bushes that grow in the Corruption that deal 10 damage, and red bushes that grow in the Crimson that also deal 10 damage. Thorny Bushes grow in all directions (not just upwards), and may spread. All NPCs and enemies are immune to them. They cannot be obtained as an item. The Corruption variant of Thorny Bushes spreads corruption, and the Crimson variant spreads crimson. The Jungle variant, however, does not spread jungle grass. Thorny bushes cannot grow over or otherwise affect vines. Therefore, vines can prevent the propagation of Corruption/Crimson across large gaps that would otherwise require careful maintenance. However corrupt/crimson bushes will convert jungle bushes in Hardmode. Additionally, in Hardmode, the Corruption/Crimson can convert Jungle thorny bushes into the Corruption/Crimson versions and continue to spread.

Sunflowers

 * Main article: Sunflower

Sunflowers are a surface plant, prevent the spread of The Corruption and The Crimson and provide the normal biome atmosphere, clarifying up the ambient, and a buff to players in a 50-tile radius, increasing movement speed and reducing monster spawn rate in a minor effect. However, they will only affect the blocks they are on.

Life Fruit

 * Main article: Life Fruit

Life Fruits can be consumed to permanently increase the player's Health by 5 points. They are found in the Jungle during Hardmode, after defeating one Mechanical Boss. On the Console and Mobile versions, Life Fruits can be found prior to defeating a Mechanical Boss, just in much smaller numbers; defeating a Mechanical Boss increases the amount that can grow.

Dye Plants

 * Main article: Dye

Dye Plants can be crafted into Dyes at a Dye Vat. They can be encountered in various biomes.

Strange Plants

 * Main article: Strange Plant

Strange Plants are a very rare variety of plants that can be traded with the Dye Trader for different, animated dyes.