With spring just around the corner, now is the time to prepare for gardening season. Whether you’re growing fruits, vegetables, or flowers, having a green thumb–the ability to keep these plants alive–is key. However, with just 18% of Americans reporting that they “definitely” have a green thumb, gardens may be in trouble. By contrast, 38% say they have a “little bit” of a green thumb, while 44% say they do not have a green thumb “at all.” 

A look at demographic data shows that, among those with an opinion, women are slightly more likely than men to say that they do not have a green thumb (46% vs 43%). There are also generational differences, as Gen X Americans lead in believing they have a green thumb, outpacing all other age groups with the same sentiment by at least four percentage points. Gen Z, on the other hand, might be better off sticking with a fake plant–half say they have no green thumb at all. 

In terms of income, those who make less than $50K per year lead in believing they have a green thumb by a minimum of 14 percentage points. However, this data is just the start of what sets self-identified green thumbs apart from those less successful in the garden. 

Here is how those with a green thumb stack up to those with less confidence in their ability to raise and sustain plants: 

Reusable Shopping Bag Use: Forty-two percent of those who say they have a green thumb use reusable shopping bags as often as possible. By contrast, just 30% of those who only have a little bit of a green thumb and 28% who have no green thumb say the same. 

An Appetite for Cooking: Those who believe they have a green thumb are 20 percentage points more likely to love cooking than those without a green thumb. 

Soap Preferences: When making a choice between liquid or bar soap, 30% of those with a green thumb say they prefer liquid soap, while 38% of those who lack a green thumb say the same.

Cleaning Up: When cooking, green thumb individuals like to keep things clean: 50% clean up immediately after, while 24% clean up as they go. By contrast, just 44% of those who do not have a green thumb clean up right away, and 16% clean up as they go. 

Trust in Baths: Those with a green thumb are the most likely to believe that baths do, in fact, make you clean, outpacing all others with the same sentiment by at least seven percentage points. 

Clearly, those who believe they have a green thumb have strong opinions beyond the garden patch. Whether they’re pulling out their reusable shopping bags, tidying up in the kitchen, or making a game-time decision about which soap to use, green thumbs have a unique perspective on life that shapes all aspects of their consumer behavior. 

Love taking polls? Sign up to participate in the Poll of the Day here.

This article’s data comes solely from CivicScience’s database, which contains nearly 700,000 poll questions and 5 billion consumer insights.