This seems like an ideal use for BIT() type fields; assuming none of your multi-value fields can have more than 64 possibilities.

Then in your program, you define constants for each of the bits in each of the fields:

use enum qw[ BITMASK:Usage_ cider juicer cooking eating display_and_th
+row_away ];
use enum qw[ BITMASK:Flowers_ spring summer autumn winter ];
use enum qw[ BITMASK:Ripe_ spring summer autumn winter ];
use constant Any => -1;

...

my $sth = prepare( 'select id from trees where usage = ? and flowers =
+ ? and ripe = ?;' );

$sth->execute( Usage_cider|Usage_juicer, Flowers_spring|Flowers_summer
+, Any );
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