Plant Identification for Beginners

Hello all,

I have quite a few plants in my garden that I have inherited from the previous owners, and a fair few that I have planted myself and promptly lost the labels.

I know I could probably post some pictures, and someone on this wonderful forum will know exactly what they are, but I was wondering if I couldn't at least have a bit of a go at identifying them myself. How would I go about it? For example, if I have a plant with white flowers and pale green elliptical leaves, are there books, web-sites etc out there that I could use to narrow down the possibilities?

Thanks in advance
Bryn

 

I reckon such references do exist. I have a British wildflower book and a tree book that both work on that exact principle. For example, in the wildflower book, the reference has you note the number of petals on a flower, along with the general shape of it, and then gives a list of pages where you will find families of plants that fit that criteria. Then of course having narrowed it down, the descriptions will tell you height, colour, flowering time, seed details, leaf details etc so you can pin it down precisely.

 

A good gardening picture book is helpful. You don't need to spend a fortune - check out remaindered bookshops or car boot sales for them. Once you have an idea, I also find the BBC gardening website useful, or just doing a google search.

 

I think the collins books are pretty hard to beat as a reference guide.


I think some people just have a knack-a quality I much admire because for all the time I spend on gardening and research I can't id plants for toffee.

 

Don't sell yourself short Claire - I think you're spot on many times

 

Thanks for the ideas, folks. I guess a picture book is the way to go...I found a couple of fairly lavish Readers Digest ones in a charity shop today, so my plant identity education starts here.

 

I have been looking for this thread for ages-I got the books wrong, I meant the Oxford Books of reference.


Like you do, I found the actual book of wildflowers on the top of the bookshelves as soon as I posted and then couldn't find the thread again afterwards. Sorry, my mistake.

 

Thanks, Claire - will take a look at those too

 

I second the bbc website, it is a very useful tool. Also have a good look about your local garden centre, chances are the plants that were planted there, came from there in the first place. Always a good place to start.

Good luck on your quest

Kev

 

A good website for general identification and especially weed ident. is Down garden services, I forget the URL though. sorry. but google it all the same.