Above: former Purdue plant pathologist, Janna Beckerman, inspects arborvitae for cedar-apple rust.
Do you know your plants? Can you name all the flowers and trees in your landscape, or all the vegetables growing in a diverse garden? Can you identify all the vegetables and fruits at the grocery store without looking at the labels? If not, consider a learning adventure this fall and winter before the next growing season rolls around.
People often bring plant samples into the Purdue Extension office during the growing season that display problems. As an Extension professional, I try to help them identify what is wrong and offer suggestions on how to manage or improve the situation. However, the first step in that process is to know the plant you have!
Purdue Extension has a helpful website called the Purdue Plant ID Pal.
The web-based resource is easy to use. 4-H and FFA youth will find it especially helpful as they learn to identify ornamentals, fruits, and vegetables for local, state, and national competitions.
Purdue Plant ID Pal has four main sections:
You’ll find more than 850 photos of nearly 200 plants, brief text descriptions, and a glossary of botanical terms.
Each plant entry has multiple images, including close-ups of stems, leaves, flowers, fruit, and in some cases specialized plant structures that aid in identification. For example, the iris entry includes an image of specialized underground stems called rhizomes.
In addition to the four main sections, the website also has quizzes and a glossary.
So, if you feel confident and would like to test your knowledge, the quizzes can help you learn. Each quiz immediately lets you know whether you got the question right, and you may answer the question until you get it right. You go at your own pace, no pressure.
You may have always wondered what certain botanical terms actually mean. The glossary answers questions like: What are the differences between an annual, a biennial, and a perennial? What are tendrils? Besides being an attachment on a cowboy boot, what is a spur on a plant?
So, if you are looking for a good learning exercise inside when nothing is growing outside, give the Purdue Plant ID Pal a try at: http://purdue.ag/plant-id-pal.
Another helpful website for identifying ornamental woody plants is the Purdue University Arboretum, at https://www.arboretum.purdue.edu/. The Purdue Arboretum Explorer tool lets you search for trees by name, or you may take a virtual tour of trees on Purdue’s campus.
Additionally, Purdue forester Lenny Farlee has recorded short YouTube videos in an “ID That Tree” series. Access the videos at: https://www.purdue.edu/fnr/extension/resources/videos/.
Of course, many helpful books, field guides, and apps can help with plant identification. If using a phone app, I always recommend double-checking an ID with a trusted reference.