Dataset contains lists of plant indicator species extracted from the JNCC Common Standards habitat monitoring guidance for the UK. The Common Standards Monitoring (CSM) approach was developed in order to standardise the monitoring of designated nature conservation sites. As well as extracting (and sometimes interpreting) the plant species noted in the CSM guidance documents, we provide links to CSM habitats, National Vegetation Classification communities, National Plant Monitoring Scheme (https://www.npms.org.uk) indicator species, and provide current taxonomic names in a lookup table. This work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council award number NE/R016429/1 as part of the UK-SCAPE programme delivering National Capability. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/2c433c5b-8d15-49a7-aae7-b1f027d17e0e