Sisters Who Code Build a Native Plant App

Sisters Sufyana, 14, and Aydina Johnson, 12, developed a Maryland native plants app touted by the state

By Delaney McPherson
Next Generation
Mar 26, 2026

WHILE ATTENDING A PLANTING EVENT held by the National Wildlife Federation’s Sacred Grounds™ program at the Islamic Community Center of Potomac last spring, sisters Sufyana (above, left), 14, and Aydina Johnson (above, right), 12, got inspired to combine their passion for nature with their computer science skills. Together, they developed the Maryland Native Plants Search web application, which allows users to search for native plants by size, sunlight needs and more. Aydina researched the plants and built a database, while Sufyana wrote the code. They released the app in fall 2025 and have since expanded it to include native trees. The Maryland Department of the Environment is promoting the app to support the state’s goal of planting 5 million trees by 2031.

“The response to the app has been tremendous,” Aydina says. “Several hundred people have visited our tutorial video and counting.”

Part of their mosque’s Green Team, the sisters collaborated with other members on building the app. While researching, they also turned their own yard in Montgomery County, Maryland, into a Certified Wildlife Habitat^®.

Both girls are enjoying science and math classes in school, with Sufyana serving as the software lead on her robotics team and Aydina working on a coding game that features aquatic animals.

“We love to be able to use technology to solve real-world problems and help our community,” Sufyana says.

Learn more about the app.