01
bepflanzen
to plant
To provide an area, such as a flower bed, garden, or balcony planter, with plants.
example
Wir wollen den Vorgarten im Frühling mit neuen Blumen bepflanzen.
We want to plant new flowers in the front garden in spring.
bepflanzen
to plant
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Meanings
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
The verb 'bepflanzen' (to plant) is inseparable. The prefix 'be-' remains firmly attached to the verb stem 'pflanzen' (to plant) in all tenses and sentence structures.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat den ganzen Balkon mit Kräutern bepflanzt.
She planted herbs all over the balcony.
Sentence structure with preposition
The typical sentence structure is: [area in the accusative] + mit + [plants in the dative] + bepflanzen. So you plant AN area WITH something.
EXAMPLE
Der Gärtner bepflanzt das Beet mit bunten Tulpen.
The gardener plants the flower bed with colorful tulips.
Focus on the area
The prefix 'be-' changes the focus of the verb. While 'pflanzen' (to plant) focuses on the individual plant ('eine Rose pflanzen' — to plant a rose), 'bepflanzen' (to plant / to cover with plants) focuses on the area being covered ('ein Beet bepflanzen' — to plant a flower bed).
EXAMPLE
Die Stadt lässt den Kreisverkehr neu bepflanzen.
The city is having the roundabout replanted.
Compare with
bepflanzen vs pflanzen
to plant
'pflanzen' and 'bepflanzen' are similar because both have to do with plants in the soil. The difference is in the focus. With 'pflanzen', the plant is the focus: you plant a flower, a tree, or herbs. With 'bepflanzen', the area or container is the focus: you plant a bed, a garden, or a balcony planter with plants. The words can be confused because the action looks almost the same. Ask yourself: If it is about the plant itself, 'pflanzen' fits. If it is about the area, 'bepflanzen' fits.
bepflanzen
Heute bepflanzt die Klasse das Beet vor der Schule mit Blumen.
Today the class is planting flowers in the bed in front of the school.
pflanzen
Du kannst die kleinen Kräuter jetzt in einen größeren Topf pflanzen.
You can now plant the small herbs in a larger pot.
In real life
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