Questions tagged [identification]

Use this tag for questions that ask "what is this thing?" Pictures, geographic location, and descriptive titles are important. Ask only one identification request per question. When you get an answer, consider adding a further tag (for the flower, tree, beetle etc. that has been identified) so your question is cataloged correctly. If the question is about determining the cause of a plant problem (e.g. disease), the diagnosis tag is more appropriate.

When asking an identification question:

  • Make a good title:

    • Include the type of thing (weed, bug, plant, etc.) that you want to identify.
    • Include distinctive features. ("Red fuzzy vines".)
    • Include where it was found -- both where in the world, and where in a "micro" sense ("eating the lower leaves of my plant", "under a rock", "fungus growing on my tree trunk", etc).

    • Ask only one plant identification request per question. If you'd like more than one plant identified, feel free to ask additional questions.

  • Include at least one photo.

  • Repeat the descriptive features in your question.
  • Include how it relates to gardening.

When you get a satisfactory answer, consider adding a further tag so that your question is cataloged with other similar questions. If an answer makes the question relevant to another category (e.g. a vine later identified as Morning Glory), then it should be tagged as such.

3188 questions
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What is this large flat leafed plant with yellow flowers (central Missouri)

I live in an apartment building, and my landlord has neglected to mow the back yard for quite a while now. In this time period this unknown plant that I've never seen before has grown to a height of about 38iches (965mm). I live in Central Missouri,…
DForck42
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Does anyone know of a somewhat comprehensive plant database available online?

As a gardener I've found that doing some paperwork while gardening really assists in keeping things organized and on schedule. It occured to me the other day as I stopped to check my beeping phone that it'd be REALLY handy to have a software…
Peter Grace
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What is this potential lawn replacement plant?

I found this plant invading an unirrigated school yard lawn in Everett, Washington (USDA zone 8a): This plant is very effectively competing with the grass and might make a good lawn replacement. The foliage is feathery similar to many plants in…
Eric Nitardy
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What are these spots under the leaves in my cut flowers?

I have got a bunch of flowers, and under the leaves I noticed that there are a lot of spots. I do not know what type of leaves they are and I am not sure if the spots are eggs. Should I be worried about them?
kidra.pazzo
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How can I identify an apple variety?

We put in four young apple trees a few years ago, two cookers and two eaters, four different varieties. Now that those puny trees have grown up and started to produce a substantial crop, we're wondering which varieties they are. The labels have been…
Tea Drinker
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Please identify this green jello organism

I live in Okinawa, where the climate is sub-tropical, somewhat like Hawaii or Florida. The green jelly stuff shown below is fairly common in my neighborhood, and has recently started to appear in my garden. I think it’s disgusting, and I’d like to…
bubba
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What is this plant with red, green and yellow colored leaves and little white flowers?

I'd like to get a hint to identify the beautiful plant with red, green and yellow leafs in the picture below. The color of the leaves has been like that since the plant has been there (at least since June this year), so no autumn specialty. In some…
Patrick B.
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Need help identificating this bee-attracting shrub

A friend of mine came back from a nearby mountain with this flower from a wild shrub that was very common in the area where he walked. The area where these are found is the west-Alps, around -1300- 1500 meters above sea-level. *After a while, I…
J. Chomel
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Please help me identify this tree with irregular leaves

I found this tree growing on a farm on the outskirts of Johannesburg, South Africa. p.s. The pink fabric is not part of the tree :p
Richard C
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What is this long-rooted vine in my yard?

I'm in Massachusetts, and recently moved into a new house. We have a vine in the yard which I have been having trouble identifying so far, and I was hoping someone here might know. It has not yet flowered, so I am unable to give any information on…
Suzanne Hillman
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Is this orange-yellowish-flowered plant a wildflower or a weed?

Can you please id this flower that grows here and there in my garden: The zone is 7. All photos are of separate plants.
Aleksandar M
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Are these bright orange bugs with beady black eyes ladybugs?

I have a few bugs on my pumpkin plant that seem to be eating the leaves. They are shaped like ladybugs but the color isn't red and black. It's more of a shiny bright orange. Since ladybugs are good for controlling aphids and pests, I want to keep…
Spinor8
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Is this caterpillar-like insect a good guy or a bad guy?

I found this guy that came out of a drainage hole of the pot when I watered it. Small, fast moving. I took the pic by mobile. It is small so had trouble focusing on it, and it was moving fast, too. Should I be worried about this insect, or not?
4-K
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What is this bug on my adenium plant and what should I do?

I have a dozen adenium plants and on a few of them these mysterious bugs appeared this morning. It's winter season here, the current temperature is ranging between 7°C to 20°C (45°F to 65°F). What should I do about this bug?
Saurabh
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What are the teeny tiny white bugs on my tomatoes?

The bugs are exceptionally small. I've included a video here. It may be related to the stretched and disfigured appearance of my tomatoes.
Michael Pryor
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