How to Identify Plants & Flowers

Identifying plants and flowers is an effective tool for making a list of what your would like to grow, finding out what type of native vegetation is growing in your yard and figuring out what species of plants are invasive weeds. Many gardeners have invasive plants growing in their yards that are crowding out native species. By learning how to identify what is growing in your yard, you can take out these species that can compete with ornamental plants.

Things You'll Need

• Soil pH test
• Paper
• Pencil
• Camera

Instructions

1. Find out what zone of the country your live in to learn which plants are native to your region. Look at the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. The map indicates the average low temperatures for 11 different zones. Though the map proves helpful for figuring out what will be adaptable to your garden, it will not show soil drainage or freeze-thaw cycles.

2. Conduct a soil test to find out your soil's pH range. Plants and trees grow within a specific pH range. For example, blueberries thrive in acidic soil and aloe grow in alkaline soil. Find out what your soil's pH range is by purchasing a soil testing kit. Dig a hole up to 6 inches deep, and collect soil samples. Mail the soil sample to the address provided in the kit, and wait for the results. Use the results to help you determine what is growing in your yard.

3. Draw a diagram of your yard and conduct a walk through. List plants and flowers that you can name and take pictures of anything that you aren't sure about. Identify on your diagram where each plant is growing in your yard.

4. Follow the link in resources to see pictures of all the plants that are native to each state and match up your pictures. Green foliage often look the same to the untrained eye. Be sure to look at leaf and bud shape, size of plant and color of branch.

5. Take your pictures to a local nursery. Ask the folks at the nursery if they can identify the plants in the pictures. Or walk through their inventory to match your pictures to their stock.

Tips & Warnings

• Follow this link at www.plants.usda.gov to find out what invasive weeds and plants grow in your state. Conduct any removal measures like pulling out the plant or using herbicide to remove these plants from your yard.

• Avoid planting any vegetation that will not grow within your soil's pH range.

References

• Natural Resources Conservation Service
• National Gardening Association