All Game Items - Plants vs. Zombies

All Game Items – Plants vs. Zombies

This guide covers every major item in Plants vs. Zombies (original 2009 release), grouped logically by category. Items include plants (offensive/defensive tools), consumable instant-use plants, currencies, collectibles, lawn equipment, and special items from the Zen Garden and minigames. Each entry details what the item does, how to obtain it, when it is most useful, and any notable synergies or upgrades.

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1. Plants (Offensive & Defensive)

Plants are your primary tools to stop zombies. They are placed on the lawn using Sun (the main resource). Most are unlocked by progressing through Adventure Mode or purchased from Crazy Dave’s shop.

1.1. Sun Producers

Sunflower

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Upgrade:

Twin Sunflower

Synergy:

Sun-shroom

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Twin Sunflower

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

1.2. Offensive Plants (Peashooters, etc.)

Peashooter

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Upgrade:

Gatling Pea

Synergy:

Snow Pea

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Repeater

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Gatling Pea

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Split Pea

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Threepeater

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Cabbage-pult

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Melon-pult

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Winter Melon

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Chomper

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Spikeweed

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Spikerock

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Magnet-shroom

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Bloomerang ? Not in original PvZ? Actually Bloomerang is from PvZ 2; not in original. So ignore.

1.3. Defense Plants (Walls, Traps)

Wall-nut

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Upgrade:

Tall-nut

Synergy:

Tall-nut

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Pumpkin

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Garlic

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Tangle Kelp

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

1.4. Explosive & Instant Use Plants

Potato Mine

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Cherry Bomb

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Jalapeno

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Squash

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Ice-shroom

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Doom-shroom

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Coffee Bean

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Glow-shroom

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Plantern

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Lily Pad

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Umbrella Leaf

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Marigold

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Cattail

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Spore – Not in original, skip.

Hypno-shroom

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Puff-shroom

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Fume-shroom

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Scaredy-shroom

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Starfruit

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Kernel-pult

Effect:

Obtain:

Use:

Synergy:

Flower Pot (not really a plant, but used in Roof levels) – Actually Flower Pot is automatically placed on roof; serves as base for plants.

1.5. Upgrade Plants

Gatling Pea – Upgrades Repeater (see above)

Twin Sunflower – Upgrades Sunflower (see above)

Winter Melon – Upgrades Melon-pult (see above)

Spikerock – Upgrades Spikeweed (see above)

Tall-nut – Upgrades Wall-nut (see above)

Gold Magnet (?) Actually not in original. There is a Magnet-shroom that removes metal, but no gold magnet. There is a Magnet-shroom that collects coins? No, it only removes metal. Coin collection is automatic.

2. Consumables & Instant Items

2.1. Strategic Plant Items

Slots: The game has a limited number of plant slots (default 8). Additional slots can be purchased from Crazy Dave’s shop (costs 50,000 coins for the 9th slot, 100,000 for 10th? Actually original: slot 9 costs 50,000 coins, slot 10 costs 100,000 coins). These allow you to bring more plant types into battle.

Shovel: Not a consumable but a tool. Allows you to dig up a plant and refund half its sun cost? Actually in original, digging up a plant gives no refund. It just removes the plant to free space. Important for rearranging.

Lawn Mowers: Automatic defenses. At the start of each level, you have one lawn mower per row. When a zombie reaches the end of the lane, the lawn mower activates, destroying all zombies in that lane. After use, it’s gone for that lane (but can be reused later? No, each mower is one-time). In Survival: Endless, lawn mowers are key defenses. They can be replaced by purchasing Mower Recharge from Crazy Dave? Actually there is an upgrade that gives new mowers after each flag in Survival? I recall the Lawn Mower replacement is a service from Crazy Dave costing 2,000-3,000 coins each time? Not exactly an item.

3. Currencies

Plants vs. Zombies

Sun

Coins/Money

Sun (the glowing yellow orbs)

Source:

Use:

Collection:

Tips:

Coins / Money

Types:

Diamond

Source:

Tree of Wisdom

Use:

Future

Wall-nut First Aid

Zen Garden

Mushroom Garden

Earning:

4. Collectibles & Achievements

Achievements / Trophies (on console/Steam): Not physical items but unlockable. Each achievement gives gamerpoints or a trophy. Examples: \"Home Lawn Security\" (complete Adventure Mode), \"China Shop\" (beat a level with only Wall-nuts and Instant plants), \"Alive & Kicking\" (survive 20 waves of Survival: Endless).

Zen Garden Plants: There are three types of plants that can be grown in the Zen Garden: Marigold, Mushrooms, and Aquatic? Actually the Zen Garden has 8 plant types that drop as seeds from zombies: Sunflower, Peashooter, Wall-nut, Snow Pea, Chomper, Repeater, Cactus, and Marigold. Wait, original Zen Garden includes: Sunflower, Peashooter, Wall-nut, Snow Pea, Chomper, Repeater, Cactus, and Marigold. These are purely decorative and can be watered, fertilized, and played with for fun. They yield coins and occasionally special items like Fertilizer or Plant Food? Actually the garden provides coins and sometimes Diamonds / Treasures. The plants themselves are collectibles.

Seeds:

Use:

Tree of Wisdom: A special tree that grows if you buy seeds from Crazy Dave? Actually the Tree of Wisdom is a separate item; it is a tree that you can feed Fertilizer (purchased from Crazy Dave) to grow. It gives you tips and eventually a Gold Trophy? It also gives achievements. The tree has no combat use.

Diamonds / Treasures: Rare drops from zombies or from Vasebreaker levels. Collecting 30-40 diamonds? Not needed for progression but for high score.

The Wheel of Wonder: A minigame where you can win various items, including plants, sun, coins, etc. Not a persistent item.

5. Key Equipment & Special Items

Lawn Mowers – Essential for each lane. They are your last line of defense. In Survival: Endless, you can start with less mowers if you use the "Pool" screen? Actually always start with one per lane.

Shovel – Tool to remove plants. No cooldown. Useful for rearranging or removing damaged plants.

Slots (Plant Selection) – The number of plants you can bring into a level. Upgradable via shop.

Chocolate – Not in original PvZ; appears in PvZ 2. So ignore.

Plant Food – Not in original; exclusive to PvZ 2.

Coffee Bean – Already listed under plants; it is both a plant and a consumable.

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6. Summary Table of Key Items

Item	Category	Use	Cost	Unlock
Sunflower	Sun production	Generates 25 sun	50 sun	Level 1-1
Peashooter	Offense	Shoots peas	100 sun	Level 1-1
Wall-nut	Defense	Blocks zombies	50 sun	Level 1-3
Potato Mine	Explosive	Kills zombie on contact	25 sun	Level 1-2
Cherry Bomb	Explosive	AoE 3x3	150 sun	Level 1-6
Snow Pea	Offense/Crowd control	Slows zombies	175 sun	Level 2-5
Fume-shroom	Offense	Penetrating fumes	75 sun	Level 2-2
Tall-nut	Defense/Upgrade	High HP wall	125 sun (upgrade)	Shop 5,000 coins
Gatling Pea	Offense/Upgrade	4 peas/sec	250 sun (upgrade)	Shop 7,500 coins
Winter Melon	Crowd control	Slowing splash damage	300 sun (upgrade)	Shop 10,000 coins

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7. Important Synergies & Strategies

Sunflowers + Twin Sunflowers: Early game economy. Place at least two columns before spending on offense.

Peashooter + Torchwood: Doubles damage per pea. Gatling Pea + Torchwood is the highest DPS combo.

Snow Pea + Melon-pult? Not direct synergy, but combining slow with splash is good.

Tall-nut + Pumpkin: Ultimate wall – protects plants from Bungee and Gargantuars.

Potato Mine + Tall-nut: Place Tall-nut in front of a Potato Mine to stall zombies while mine arms.

Jalapeno + Cherry Bomb: Clear a lane and a 3x3 area quickly.

Magnet-shroom + Coffee Bean: Essential for removing Bucketheads in daytime.

Threepeater + Torchwood: Place Torchwood in front of the middle lane; all three lanes’ peas get fire.

Starfruit + Kernel-pult: Good for roof levels due to angle attacks.

Marigold + Magnet-shroom? Not synergistic; just place Marigolds in safe zone.

8. How to Obtain Rare Items

Upgrade plants: Purchase from Crazy Dave’s shop after unlocking the base plant. Prices range from 2,000 to 10,000 coins.

Extra plant slots: Buy from shop for 50,000 and 100,000 coins.

Diamonds: Drop from zombies in later levels and from Vasebreaker minigames. No permanent effect.

Zen Garden plants: Buy seed packets from Crazy Dave (random) or find as level rewards. Water and fertilize to grow.

Tree of Wisdom: Buy fertilizer from shop (2,500 coins each) to feed the tree; grows and gives tips.

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9. Conclusion

All items in Plants vs. Zombies fall into a few categories: plants (towers, defenses, instant-use), currencies (sun, coins), upgrades, and collectibles (Zen Garden, achievements). Understanding each item’s role and synergy is key to mastering the game. For new players, focus on unlocking Sunflowers, Peashooters, and Wall-nuts first, then gradually invest in upgrades and additional slots from the shop. The ultimate goal is to build an economy that sustains a powerful defense, using instant plants as panic buttons. Good luck defending your lawn!