Landscape Plant Identification

Identifying plants helps a gardener take care of the plants specific needs.

Having the ability to identify plants in the back yard or out in the wild can be a fun task. The task is made much easier with the aid of a key or a field guide.

Plant Characteristics

Plants are extremely varied from species to species. Leaves, stems, buds, fruit, the general shape and the overall appearance of plants vary greatly among flowers, shrubs and trees. All of these differences can be used to determine the name of each species.

Plant Keys

A number of online and text-form plant keys can be used to identify landscape plants. These require the user to go through a series of questions about the plant's appearance. Each question refines the search to a narrower field, until the corresponding species is reached at the end.

Field Guides

Field guides offer a picture or photograph of each species and a detailed description of the plant. There are millions of species of plants, far too many for one book. Landscaping field books will be reflective of the kinds of plants that are appropriate for landscapes in individualized environments.

References

• UAF Cooperative Extension: Plant Identification
• Florida Natural Inventory: Using The Field Guide
• Oregon State University Department Of Horticulture: Landscape Plants

Resources

• United States Department Of Agriculture: Plant Key