Decoding Plant Tags: A Beginner’s Guide
There is a lot of information on plant tags and labels. Each brand has a different format, and perhaps different categories of information. This guide is here to help you decode what it all means, no matter the brand.
Common Name: The common name is the colloquial term the general public uses to describe the plant. This name can vary across different countries or even different regions within the country. For example, what we call a red maple here in Wisconsin is often called a swamp maple in more southern regions.
Scientific Name: The scientific or botanical name comes from a universal system used by plant professionals all over the world. The name is usually Latin and is comprised of two names, a genus and a species. The genus is always capitalized, the species is always lower case, and the whole name is italicized. The genus describes the group of plants as a whole (Coneflowers = Echinacea). The species describes the specific plant and is usually based off of the plant’s characteristics (Purple Coneflower = Echinacea purpurea, purpurea meaning purple in Latin). In some cases, you may see a genus name with ‘hybrid’ or a ‘x’ after it which indicates it is a hybrid of two different species.
Cultivar Name: The cultivar name is what breeders name the new cultivated variety. Hydrangea paniculata, a specific species of hydrangea, has over 40 cultivars bred with different sizes, shapes, and colors. Some of the more popular cultivars are Quick Fire Fab, Little Lime, and Little Quick Fire.
Size: Size is often labeled as just ‘Height’ and will tell you how tall the plant will be at maturity.
Light: This section will tell you how much light per day your plant needs. But how much light is “Full Sun” or “Partial Shade”? Here is a general time guide:
Full Sun: At least 6 hours of direct sunlight
Partial Sun: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of sunlight but should be protected from the hot midday sun
Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Zone: Zones are from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map which was compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Each zone represents a 10-degree temperature difference. Find the map here: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/
Blooms: This category usually tells you when the plant blooms and for how long by season. Some brands will use this category to describe the flower attributes.
Spacing: Spacing tells you how far apart to install your plants from each other if you are buying more than one. If width is not listed under the sizing this will give you an idea of how wide the plant will grow.
Features: This section will highlight the sought after attributes. It will explain unique characteristics, critter resistance, wildlife benefits, and/or weather tolerances (drought, high moisture, etc.).
Care: Care descriptions may vary by brand. Some brands will use it to describe how easy the plant is to care for. Other companies will use this section to detail its soil and moisture requirements, fertilizing, or pruning.
This is a general overview of what is on plant labels and can vary brand to brand. As you research plants in garden centers and online keep this in mind to help you pick the best option. If you have questions, reach out! Our sales staff is always happy to answer questions.
