Perennial flower identification shouldn't be a chore

When confronted with millions of different plant species throughout the world, it's no surprise that flower identification can be seen as 'Mission Impossible'. Even with the advent of the web and thousands upon thousands of images now at your disposal the task is not becoming any easier. In reality, it's probably becoming harder.

Perennial flower identification can be the hardest to undertake because once they've been dropped from the fashion set they can be hard to find. People stop growing them and knowledge about such plants begins to dissipate.

In previous posts I've offered tools for plant identification - most of them web-based - which can really help decipher your plant's name. But using these tools highlights some important considerations. That is, the more information you can supply, the better chances you will have of successfully identifying your perennial.

Here are some questions you should be able to answer when seeking others help;

Height and Growing Habit - is it tall, small, dwarf, columnar, bushy, groundcovering etc?
Foliage - is it an evergreen or deciduous? What patterns do the leaves display that might make identification easier?
Flowers - not just the shape and colour but also the flowering season and if it flowers more than once per year. Also make note of the number of petals, whether pistils are displayed or not and even how the flowers emerge
Your climate - mention any important climatic conditions. Do you live near the coast? Is it a cold-climate with regular frosts? Even your garden zone would be helpful?
Soil - are you growing this plant in a loam, sand or clay soil?
Age of the plant - also important may be where you sourced it from ie. a nursery, propagated by a friend or you found it growing on the side of the road

I, like many bloggers, are inundated with requests for information that could help identify garden perennials. The ones that I've been able to solve for most people are the ones where they have supplied an image and answered many of the questions listed above. The reason is because it gives context to deciphering what plants it could be and which ones it definitely won't be.

Posted by Stuart on April 16, 2008 10:28 AM | Permalink | Check to Subscribe to this Comment:

Comments

The toughest questions are the ones when people see a plant in a different state or country. Almost impossible to help them out.

Posted by: nhnursery | April 16, 2008 9:27 PM

Useful info...thank you! I have one rose that I would love to know the name of...I somehow lost the info before I could record it and (of course) it has turned out to be the best blue-red colored bloomer that I've ever had. If I knew the name, I'd like to buy another one --- or two. I think I'll take it one of the local nurseries and see what they think.

Posted by: Lin | April 17, 2008 7:40 AM

Looking for name of shrub.
Woody, grows up to about 5 feet. Drops leaves in fall, Long slender spikes grow from ground. Flowers are a dark purple-red look like finders on hand pointing up. Many flowers along stem 1 - 1.5 inches. Petals similar to those of a daisy only curn inward towards center. Color can be yellow to GREEN. VERy Very fragrant. Grandmother called the plant a "Sweet Rose" but it is not a rose. Do you know the name of the plant.

Posted by: James Whisenhunt | April 29, 2008 6:03 AM

i have a perennial that i cannot id help have pictures

Posted by: sue | September 18, 2008 4:51 AM

I'm looking for the name (and a actually a picture) of seeds given to me by a woman in upstate Pa.. The flowers are ground cover, spread like wild fire (although everything does for her...you should see her dafs in the spring!) they are tiny, with four petals (I think) and grow off little "stalks" that come off the bottom like a number of fingers off a hand. that's the best I can do. Any ideas for me?

Posted by: peggy | December 20, 2008 12:29 AM

trying to ID this herg: silver gray 18" mound, leaves remain in winter (Nebraska), strong smell like lavendar or sage, yellow 1/2" button flower, grows similar to lavendar

Posted by: Nancy Brown | January 26, 2009 3:51 PM

Hi, I bought this perenial about 5 years ago and have lost the plant tag. I never see it in the garden store and wish I new what it was called. It flowers about mid June to Mid August or later. Does very well in full sun. It looks to me a little like a daisy flower. The leaves a beautiful variegated. I have been dividing it and selling it just based on customers looking at my plant but I wish I could tell them the name of the plant.. If anyone knows I would appreciate it. Thank you.

Posted by: kathy | August 9, 2009 11:10 AM

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