Perennial Flower Identification
Tips On Perennial Flower Identification
Beginning gardeners often see lovely flowers that they may like to include in their own gardens, but without having skills in perennial flower identification, it is sometimes difficult to describe the flower when trying to purchase it. Learning to identify the flowers can also help when admirers of your garden ask “Oh! What kind of flower is that?”
A perennial flower is one that does not need to be replanted each year like an annual does. Instead, these plants are hardy enough to survive their dormancy during the cold months and then come back in the spring. They typically live between three and four years.
The way to learn perennial flower identification is to become familiar with the plants. Start with learning the basics, such as which plants are shrubs and which grow in tall stalks. While the next portion of information may not help you with sight identification of particular flowers, it will be helpful to know how such plants are categorized.
Perennials are separated by several factors. One is how much sunlight they require in order to maintain optimal health and reach their full growth potential. There are three categories that pertain to light.
Full Sun Perennials
These are plants that must have sunlight for a minimum of six hours per day in order to thrive. Some examples are poppy, day lily and lavender.
Partial Shade Perennials
These plants do not require full sun and are a good choice for planting underneath other foliage or close to your home where the sun may be partially blocked during a large part of the day. A couple of examples are primrose and foxglove.
Full Shade Perennials
These plants do best in an area where there is little light. They work well as ornamentation underneath large trees. Ferns are one example of a full shade perennial.
Perennials are also separated by their needs regarding soil.
Dry Soil Perennials
These are plants that do not require much watering. They do best in soil that is mostly dry. Examples include lavender and wormwood.
Average Soil Perennials
This is the most common type of perennial and these plants do well in a soil that is a mixture of clay and sand. They require that the soil never go completely dry, but do not usually need daily watering. One example is a peony.
Moist Soil Perennials
As the name implies, these plants require that their soil remain wet all of the time. You will notice their flowers blooming even following the heaviest of rains. An example of a moist soil perennial is an Iris.
The reason that information about how perennials are categorized is important is because the more that you know about these plants, the more natural it will be for you to be able to identify them.
If you wish to add a perennial flower that you have seen to your landscaping but do not know the name of the plant, the best thing that you can do is take a picture of the plant. If that is not possible, make notes about where it is planted and the color and shape of the flowers and leaves. That information will help the experts at your local nursery with the perennial flower identification.
For now, just keep learning all that you can. As you continue to garden, you will find that it becomes second nature to properly identify plants.