How to Identify a Houseplant
Ask for help., Identify the houseplant yourself., Examine the plant carefully., Answer these questions if possible and record them in a notebook., Search your reference books for a match., Record the name, including the Latin name, when you have a...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Ask for help.
Take the plant or a few leaves, flowers and seeds to a greenhouse or nursery that sells houseplants and ask if someone can identify it.
If your county Extension office has a horticulturist, take the plant to him or her for identification.
Take a good clear photo of the plant and some close ups of plant parts and post photos online in garden forums.
Ask for help with identification from these online communities.
Send photos to plant diagnostic clinics, college horticulture departments or other experts for identification. -
Step 2: Identify the houseplant yourself.
Collect some houseplant reference books, making sure that they cover houseplants and not just native plants or garden plants.
Some of these helpful references are listed below.
Try the library for plant reference books you can look at for free.
Ask nurseries and greenhouses if they have references you can look at.
The County Extension offices in many US states may also have references you look at or purchase at a nominal fee. , Try to look at a complete specimen with leaves, stems, roots and any flowers, fruits or seeds. , Use a hand magnification lens if needed.
What color and shape is the flower, seed or fruit? Does the flower have male and female sex organs in each flower or flowers with only one type of sex part.
See the Tips section for sex part identification.
How many petals does the flower have? If it has too many to count, just use the term multiple.
Does the flower have sepals--the little green leaf-like structures sometimes found on the back of flowers? Split open fruit or seed pods and see if there are sections inside and what the seeds look like if there are any.
What shape and size is the leaf? Are the leaves divided into lobes or leaflets? What is the shape of the leaf’s edge? Is it smooth, or does it have small “teeth” or big jagged “teeth”? How do the leaves attach to the stem? How do the branches attach to the trunk (if it has any)? Are they arranged opposite each other or alternately on the stem or is there no visible stem? Does the leaf have hairs? What color is the leaf on the front and back? Look at the shape of the stem and its color.
Look at the root system to see if it is fibrous, tap rooted, or does it have bulbs or tubers. , Look for a plant that seems to look like your plant.
Read the description of the plant and compare it to your observations.
Compare the description of each part; don’t stop with just the flower or leaf if you have other parts to compare. , -
Step 3: Examine the plant carefully.
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Step 4: Answer these questions if possible and record them in a notebook.
-
Step 5: Search your reference books for a match.
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Step 6: Record the name
-
Step 7: including the Latin name
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Step 8: when you have a match and label your plant.
Detailed Guide
Take the plant or a few leaves, flowers and seeds to a greenhouse or nursery that sells houseplants and ask if someone can identify it.
If your county Extension office has a horticulturist, take the plant to him or her for identification.
Take a good clear photo of the plant and some close ups of plant parts and post photos online in garden forums.
Ask for help with identification from these online communities.
Send photos to plant diagnostic clinics, college horticulture departments or other experts for identification.
Collect some houseplant reference books, making sure that they cover houseplants and not just native plants or garden plants.
Some of these helpful references are listed below.
Try the library for plant reference books you can look at for free.
Ask nurseries and greenhouses if they have references you can look at.
The County Extension offices in many US states may also have references you look at or purchase at a nominal fee. , Try to look at a complete specimen with leaves, stems, roots and any flowers, fruits or seeds. , Use a hand magnification lens if needed.
What color and shape is the flower, seed or fruit? Does the flower have male and female sex organs in each flower or flowers with only one type of sex part.
See the Tips section for sex part identification.
How many petals does the flower have? If it has too many to count, just use the term multiple.
Does the flower have sepals--the little green leaf-like structures sometimes found on the back of flowers? Split open fruit or seed pods and see if there are sections inside and what the seeds look like if there are any.
What shape and size is the leaf? Are the leaves divided into lobes or leaflets? What is the shape of the leaf’s edge? Is it smooth, or does it have small “teeth” or big jagged “teeth”? How do the leaves attach to the stem? How do the branches attach to the trunk (if it has any)? Are they arranged opposite each other or alternately on the stem or is there no visible stem? Does the leaf have hairs? What color is the leaf on the front and back? Look at the shape of the stem and its color.
Look at the root system to see if it is fibrous, tap rooted, or does it have bulbs or tubers. , Look for a plant that seems to look like your plant.
Read the description of the plant and compare it to your observations.
Compare the description of each part; don’t stop with just the flower or leaf if you have other parts to compare. ,
About the Author
Emily Hamilton
Committed to making lifestyle accessible and understandable for everyone.
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