How to Identify Foliage Plants With Blades
Many foliage plants, ones that bloom and ones that do not, have a leaf that is commonly referred to as blade-like. This type of leaf is a strong, thick leaf that is usually slender and elongated from the soil at the base of the plant. Some plants, like the hosta, however, have a foliage that is loosely blade-like. These plants are full of green leaves that protrude from the ground, but are tear drop or trumpet shaped, or possibly rounded. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Inspect the plant for a bloom. Common blooming plants that have blades include the lily, narcissus and tulip. The lily is grown with the blade-like leaves coming from each flowering stem in a trumpet shape. The narcissus has long, slender blades that are loose like tall grass. Tulip blades are loose as well, however, they are thick, wide and fewer than the narcissus. List the characteristics of the blades on the paper.
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Examine the color of the blades. The hosta plant has many varieties that come in several different color styles. The patriot hosta leaf has a dark green center with a white outside. The blue angel hosta is a blue toned deep-green plant, and the June hosta has a bright green center with a dark green ring on the outside. Write down the color variations on the paper.
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Evaluate the size of the blades. The coleus plant has large, wide blades that resemble a tear drop, while canna leaves are more slender and lengthy. The canna is also a much larger plant, at a typical 4 to 6 feet in height. Measure the blades and note the length on the paper.
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Audit the entire plant as a whole for specific characteristics. The snake plant, for example, is comprised of tall, slender blades that are dark green in the center and bright green outside. Beargrass is a 6 foot plant that is truly not a grass at all. It has very thin blades that droop over like a weeping willow under the weight. The ebony knight plant is another grass-like plant with tall blades that turn deep purple over the summer and fall. Write down any individual attributes your plant has.
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Cross check your findings with sites in the References section for plant information with pictures. Defining your plant will help you take proper care of it and give it the nutrients to help it grow healthy and strong.
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Tips & Warnings
Take a picture of your plant when it is in full bloom, if possible. Some foliage plants grown by bulbs will bloom, although some will not. However, if the plant has a blossom, you will determine the plant name quicker by comparing pictures via the bulbous guide listed in the References section.
