Perennial Identification

Core Characteristics for Perennials Identification

Perennials return each year; annuals don't. For confident perennial identification, start with the leaves. Add flowers when they appear in the correct season. Below you can find the major characteristics that help a scanner to define perennials.

Leaf Shape

Leaf shape helps to recognize perennials in your garden because each plant species tends to have distinctive leaf features — size, edge, vein pattern, and arrangement. When making perennial plant identification by leaf pictures, the following shapes can be:

• Lanceolate: long and narrow with a pointed tip. Salvia and Veronica grow this way. The blade widens near the base and tapers toward the end.
• Ovate: egg-shaped with the wide part near the stem. Hostas are a classic example. Many bellflowers also have this shape.
• Palmate: lobed like an open hand. Hardy geraniums and hellebores carry this outline. Count the lobes, as their number varies depending on the species.
• Cordate: heart-shaped with a notch at the base. Brunnera and Canada wild ginger are perfect examples. The notch is the part that needs to be captured in the photograph.
• Linear: grassy blades without a visible stalk. Irises, daylilies before bloom, and ornamental grasses are in this category.

Some perennials have mixed leaf shapes. Young and mature leaves can be very different. By focusing on the shape of a mature leaf, the list of possible variations quickly narrows down.

Leaf Texture

Texture narrows the list further when you identify perennials. Two species can have the same outline but feel completely different. Enlarge the photo or run your finger across the leaf itself. Perennials have several standard surface types: 

• Smooth and glossy: Bergenia and European ginger have such textures. In photographs, light reflects off the leaf blade; this sheen alone is a clue.
• Fuzzy: Typical for lamb's ear and some salvias. Fine hairs filter light and give the leaf a gray or silvery tint.
• Leathery: Hellebores and late-season peonies are good examples. The leaf blade feels stiff and holds its shape when bent.
• Puckered: Hostas are usually in this category. The surface bulges between the veins; gardeners call this corrugation.
• Waxy: These are sedums and other succulents. The leaf blade is covered with a light coating — it's easily erased with your thumb.

Hairs, grooves, and coatings are best seen with side lighting. The shape and texture provide the recognition tool with almost everything it needs. 

Flower Characteristics

Flowers help a perennial identifier to correctly detect plants in controversial situations. A flower contains more information about a species than any leaf. The number of petals, color scheme, and shape of the entire inflorescence all help to find the right species ID. Perennial flowers have several basic forms: 

• Daisy-type: A flat row of petals around a central disk. Coneflowers, rudbeckia, and asters belong here. The color of the disk helps distinguish similar species.
• Spikes: Small blooms are arranged one above the other on a vertical stem. Salvia, veronica, and liatris grow this way. Liatris opens from the top down, which is rare.
• Flat clusters: dozens of tiny blooms at a single level. Yarrow and tall sedums are common examples.
• Bells: Hanging or nodding cups. Campanula and digitalis belong to this type. The opening angle is important for the ID.
• Plumes: Feathery inflorescences above the foliage. Astilbe and feather grasses are perfect examples.

Also, pay attention to the flowering time. Plants blooming in spring, midsummer, and fall rarely bloom simultaneously within the same genus. A photograph of a flower usually allows a perennial plant identifier to accurately recognize the species, not just the genus.

How to Take a Photo for Perennial Identification

Perennials confuse people — their foliage changes seasonally, and flowering lasts for weeks. Many species look similar. Therefore, the quality of your photo determines the accuracy of the result. Below, you can see common challenges in perennial identification and tips on how to resolve them for the most confident ID.

Remember! One clear photo in good lighting is better than multiple blurry shots.

How Botan Identifies Perennials

Details decide the result in perennial identification. Vein patterns matter. The same goes for leaf margins and the arrangement of petals on the stem. 

Botan's detector captures the entire picture and compares it with a database of thousands of species. You receive the name and care recommendations for the specific plant.