How do you identify your young plants?

17 years ago

Hi! Each year, I have the same problem: I don't know what is what until it starts to bloom, or matures. How do you discern what is what in your garden, early on?

Also, is there a good guide that tells when to expect to see seedlings and young plants?

One last note: I posted a question in the seed propagation forums. I thought those who have/had wildflower gardens could help out, as well :) The location is: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/post.cgi

Thanks :)

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Comments (6)

cjlambert
17 years ago
Here are a couple of sites I've found helpful. The first is from the UK, but they do have a fairly extensive collection of seedling pics. The other site is a little closer to home, and deals with mainly NA natives. Aside from that, just being familiar with what's out there helps. After a couple of years, you learn what's a keeper, and what's not. You never know what might turn up.
Hope this helps.
Carol

http://theseedsite.co.uk/seedpods.html
http://mdc.mo.gov/grownative/plantID/
waplummer
17 years ago
Experience is the best teacher!
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nywoodsman
17 years ago
Its better to learn what seedlings represent unwanted weeds so you know what to pull.Sometimes an unknown seedling may turn into something very desirable that you didn't plant.You,ll more quickly learn what the weed seedlings look like.They're the ones that are everywhere,especally in the disturbed areas.The rare sprout that looks differert you might want to leave to let grow into something more identifiable.
ladyslppr
17 years ago
I try never to pull up anything I can't positively identify. That way I hope to avoid pulling any volunteers that I might want to keep. It shouldn't take too long to learn to identify the common weeds in your garden and pull those. I've had several interesting native plants volunteer in my garden - most recently Wood Sage (aka American Germander) appeared unexpectedly.

If I am sowing seeds that I am not familiar with, I often sow a few in a pot (I often use the edges of a larger potted plant) so that I will know what the seedlings look like, and this helps identify them in the garden.
john_mo
17 years ago
There is a new pocket-sized guide to ID seedlings of native forbs of the midwest. I don't have a copy yet, but it is produced by the Missouri-based 'Grow Native' program, which always does great work.

Here is a link that might be useful: 'Grow Native' seedling guide
ourfamilygarden
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you all for the wonderful replies! The two websites were very good! They show a variety of plants at various stages. Also, I'm going to check out that book!

With regard to recognizing weeds, that's a very good point! I do not like to pull anything, either, as I have had new things come up in my garden, that I've liked. So, I think I will try to pay more emphasis to that. I seem to have a difficult time determining the "weeds" when they are young, for some reason. LOL.

I'd like to tell what some of the plants are, as I'd like to move some of them while they are young. I often end up with Evening Primrose, for example, in areas where I'd like to move them while they are young. So, that's one reason I'd like to learn how to recognize them while they are very young :) For some reason, I mix them up with other things, every year, until they are more mature :P

Thank you to all, for such helpful replies!!!

How do you identify your young plants?

Comments (6)

cjlambert

waplummer

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How do you identify your young plants?

Comments (6)

cjlambert

waplummer

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nywoodsman

ladyslppr

john_mo

ourfamilygardenOriginal Author

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