diff --git a/library/modules/Items.cpp b/library/modules/Items.cpp
index 3d35edb29..3bc468d04 100644
--- a/library/modules/Items.cpp
+++ b/library/modules/Items.cpp
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ std::string ItemTypeInfo::getToken()
     std::string rv = ENUM_KEY_STR(item_type, type);
     if (custom)
         rv += ":" + custom->id;
-    else if (subtype != -1)
+    else if (subtype != -1 && type != item_type::PLANT_GROWTH)
         rv += stl_sprintf(":%d", subtype);
     return rv;
 }
diff --git a/plugins/createitem.cpp b/plugins/createitem.cpp
index f32c51c03..ad80cff64 100644
--- a/plugins/createitem.cpp
+++ b/plugins/createitem.cpp
@@ -390,6 +390,10 @@ command_result df_createitem (color_ostream &out, vector <string> & parameters)
             // default to empty to display a list of valid growths later
             tokens.push_back("");
         }
+        else if (tokens.size() == 3 && tokens[0] == "PLANT")
+        {
+            tokens.erase(tokens.begin());
+        }
         else if (tokens.size() != 2)
         {
             out.printerr("You must specify a plant and growth ID for this item type!\n");