Because the National Science Education Standards (1996) outline specific things K-8 students should know about plants, and previous data indicated that elementary students had difficulty understanding some major ideas about plants and plant growth, the authors of this article thought it appropriate to initiate an investigation to determine the current thinking of elementary and middle school students related to these topics. Plants are a vital component of the Earth. They are the basic connection between the sun and the energy flow that exists in all ecosystems. Students have daily experiences with plants from an early age and should know a great deal about plants as they combine their daily observations and experiences with concepts presented each year in school. However, misconceptions are also introduced and reinforced at early ages. Understanding these misconceptions can help teachers to better address them in the classroom. (Contains 5 tables.)