How to Identify Maine Wildwood Flowers

Black Eyed Susan is an easily recognizable Maine wildflower.

Wildwood flowers or wildflowers grow throughout Maine. Gardeners in this state may want to identify native wildflowers to create a meadow garden, generate ideas for a native plant garden or appreciate their community's natural resources. Common Maine wildflowers include cardinal flower, fireweed, marsh marigold and common milkweed. Identify wildflowers in Maine throughout the late spring to early autumn, as each month brings new variety.

Things You'll Need

• Pen
• Paper
• Camera

Instructions

1. Count the number of petals and leaves on your flower. Note their size, shape and texture. Leaves may have paler undersides and can be hairy. Flowers may have different color stamens or centers.

2. Write down as much information you can about the plant. How tall is it? How are the leaves arranged along the stem? Are there more than one flower per stalks or only one?

3. Notice what time of year it is, and what environment you found the flower growing in because certain flowers only bloom at specific times of the year.

4. Photograph the flower so you can accurately identify it later using photo galleries of New England wildflowers.

5. Identify your wildflower by entering the information you have gathered into the form at Realtime Rendering Wildflower Identification, a database of New England wildflowers. Through data about the flowers, leaves and bloom time, this website matches potential wildflowers that fit your description. It provides a link to images of each potential match and a full range of defining characteristics.

6. Scan the wildflower gallery at Texas A & M to identify your Maine wildflower from photos. While Texas is far from Maine, the two states share many wildflowers, so you may be able to visually scan this database for images of your flower.

Tips & Warnings

• Call a Maine master gardener if you cannot identify the plant. These volunteers are trained in all aspects of gardening, including flower identification.

References

• Wildflower Farm: Wildflowers Native to Maine
• University of Maine: Native Plants

Resources

• Texas A & M: Wildflower Identification
• Real Time Rendering: Wildflower Identification
• University of Maine: Master Gardeners