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.

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6 votes
1 answer
573 views

What is this fast growing plant and should I rip it out?

So we planted a big new garden, and I think my wife sprinkled some assorted seeds (possibly wildflower?) and now we have three huge plants growing that don't seem to either produce flowers or fruit/...
thebringking's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
1k views

Can anyone identify this weed with jagged leaves and tiny white flowers?

Here is the image: It grows in the Northeast USA in poor soil. A bit invasive but pulls out easily. I have an idea of what it is but would like confirmation. Does not smell or taste herbaceous.
wot's user avatar
  • 61
5 votes
1 answer
493 views

This plant doesn’t want to stay alive

I have searched everywhere. It was given to me by a friend who kept almost killing it. Consequently, I keep almost killing it too because I can’t figure out what it is or how to care for it. There ...
Gwendolyn's user avatar
  • 430
5 votes
5 answers
997 views

What is this huge succulent plant? [duplicate]

I recently saw this plant in a shop. It looks like an amazingly big succulent. What kind is it? I wonder if it needs much light and if it produces flowers? Edit Zoom to the area where flowers emerge (...
J. Chomel's user avatar
  • 3,720
4 votes
4 answers
3k views

Acer platanoides vs Acer pseudoplatanus

How to tell with great certainty if an Acer is platanoides or pseudoplatanus, if we are sure it is one of the two? Here are the pictures of my five maples' leaves: First, all together: Acer 1: ...
VividD's user avatar
  • 5,800
4 votes
2 answers
323 views

What is this "palm" looking houseplant and how do I take care of it?

I'm not sure what this plant is but I've had it for for 3-4 years. I've watered it about twice monthly and it's right by a giant window. For the last month, the branches have been getting weaker and ...
Borna Almasi's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
3k views

Identify a plant with pronounced white veins on dark green ovate leaves

For Mother's day I bought my mother a basket with three different kind of flowers. She wants to take them out of the basket and into their own pots, and needs to know what plants are they to take ...
Helwar's user avatar
  • 187
3 votes
1 answer
100 views

What is this yellow and black insect and how to get rid of them?

This insect creates a very small beehive like home in a corner of our pergola. What are they are how can I get rid of them? I tried spraying Ortho Home Defense insect killer but they came back. Or ...
zengr's user avatar
  • 133
3 votes
2 answers
702 views

What is this shrub with long pointed leaves?

I bought this shrub at Aldi back in the spring. It was just a rootball with a small branch. The label said it was a blueberry, but now that it has leaves, it doesn't look like a blueberry plant. What ...
bgrobertson's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

What is this mint-family plant with small, pink flowers in Lynchburg, VA?

The honey bees like this one. Each branch has many small flowers that bloom consecutively.
antony.trupe's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
3k views

What is this purple stalked, berry producing plant? [duplicate]

It has small, white flowers with 5 petals.
antony.trupe's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
451 views

Succulent (aloe?) with strange growth coming from the stem

I inherited a mystery house plant that I assumed was some type of aloe. Honestly I wasn't too worried about it (it seemed happy and pretty enough😅) until it got these yellow growths where the leaves ...
katie ras's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
354 views

What is this houseplant with variegated leaves that thrives growing in water?

A friend who was moving away left it with me; he had no idea what it is. It's currently growing in a glass mason jar of water - and has grown to an impressive size doing so - and I'm trying to figure ...
Otto's user avatar
  • 29
2 votes
0 answers
136 views

What is this tiny black insect found on my cacti?

I need help identifying an insect, it is very small, not much bigger than the head of a pin, it is black. It kind of resembles a slug because it has the true small antennas. It was originally on a ...
Alex.M's user avatar
  • 131
33 votes
4 answers
18k views

How can I tell if a plant given to me is patented?

Sometimes, I receive an unlabeled plant start from a friend, and they do not know if it is patented. If I want to grow and sell a plant in question, is it okay to just take the chance, or is there a ...
J. Musser's user avatar
  • 51.7k
17 votes
3 answers
7k views

Is this heavy blue-green growth on my tree trunk and branches a form of lichen?

I have a tree with a fairly heavy growth across its trunk and branches; I suspect that it's a form of lichen but I'm not sure. Is this something that will negatively affect the growth or health of ...
Mahmoud Al-Qudsi's user avatar
16 votes
2 answers
11k views

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 ...
Tea Drinker's user avatar
  • 9,553
15 votes
3 answers
11k views

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 ...
Patrick B.'s user avatar
  • 4,436
14 votes
3 answers
10k views

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's user avatar
13 votes
2 answers
11k views

What is this weedy grass and how can I control it?

I have a grassy weed with flowering seedheads at the top. What is it and how do I get rid of it in my yard?
Kellenjb's user avatar
  • 1,262
13 votes
2 answers
990 views

Is this beetle on my apricot tree a pest?

My apricot tree is infested with black and white beetles on the branches. They are 2-3 cm / 1 inch long. I can't find an identification on the web. There is no visible damage to the tree. Is this ...
Jonathan's user avatar
  • 1,907
13 votes
1 answer
4k views

What is this white growth on my cactus?

I have several cacti growing in my yard and one (t. pachanoi, if it matters) has developed a white layer across the top of the plant. It is very fine and looks almost sandy, like perhaps a mould or ...
Mark McDonald's user avatar
13 votes
2 answers
5k views

Hexagonal bush?

I have seen the pictured bush today when hiking around Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. From a distance, hexagonal patterns are visible: Adjacent branches grow in an almost perfect 45° angle relative to ...
feklee's user avatar
  • 329
12 votes
1 answer
1k views

What are these tall, tree-like shrubs and how often should I water them?

My wife and I just bought a property and I don't know anything about plants or trees. Can someone tell me what the large trees/bushes/plants are and also how often do I need to water them?
schmudu's user avatar
  • 245
12 votes
1 answer
2k views

What kind of chili turns brown and shrivels when ripening on the plant?

I have a few of these chili plants growing and they produce a longish (approx 4", sometimes curled chili that turns brown and begins to shrivel (slightly) when it ripens. It does not transition to a ...
user avatar
12 votes
4 answers
6k views

Do clovers cause any problems?

I have a lot of what I think is Clover in my garden. Should I be concerned?
Dan's user avatar
  • 4,351
11 votes
1 answer
13k views

What's the name of this plant that has large, broad leaves with white spots?

I have this plant at home and I need to know its name so I can better take care of it. Here is a picture of the plant.
George Yacoub's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
900 views

What is this weed in my lawn and how do I control it?

I have this stuff growing throughout my yard. I live in Southern NJ, USA. It seems to only appear Mid/Late July - August. It grows in patches and if I don't pull, can spread pretty rapidly across ...
Brian's user avatar
  • 1,093
10 votes
2 answers
7k views

What is this plant with a thick woody stem and waxy leaves?

I found this plant in the recycling room in my building and its taken quite well to its new home. But what is it?
max's user avatar
  • 509
10 votes
2 answers
3k views

What is this spiky tree?

What is this spiky tree as seen in northern Mississippi? Another one:
bill999's user avatar
  • 739
10 votes
2 answers
932 views

What is this aloe-like plant?

After searching a little, I think it is a hybrid aloe x gasteria, aka gasteraloe, maybe gasteraloe superba. Here are the pictures: One of its babies, if this helps: And its flowers: What species ...
Augustin's user avatar
  • 687
9 votes
2 answers
2k views

Is this plant Giant Hogweed?

In getting our spring landscaping underway, we've run into a bush that a family member is sure that this plant (pictured) is Giant Hogweed. Click photo for full size British Columbia considers this ...
tbonz's user avatar
  • 93
9 votes
2 answers
810 views

What is this wetland plant with small white flowers in a spiral around the stalk?

This is a plant we found for the first time today. We live near an area that contains a vernal pool and frequently floods but never drains out. In 10 years, I've never seen this plant before. Can ...
Troy's user avatar
  • 91
9 votes
1 answer
625 views

Can Oyster mushrooms grow on a Yucca tree?

I am not certain of the exact species of this Yucca (Maybe Yucca Guatemalensis?) But there are several of these trees growing in the front yards of several homes in a co-workers neighborhood in the ...
renesis's user avatar
  • 1,750
9 votes
1 answer
1k views

What are these small brown curved seeds?

I got a plastic bag of seeds from my friend in church, but I don't know which kind of plant they will grow into when they come out. Would you please identify this seed?
LowyChan's user avatar
  • 521
8 votes
1 answer
749 views

Can this tree be an eucalyptus tree growing in Central Europe?

I have this tree in my garden. The previous owner, who planted it, told me it is a kind of eucalyptus. When rubbing a leave between the fingers it indeed has the smell I know of eucalyptus-sweets. 3 ...
Patrick B.'s user avatar
  • 4,436
8 votes
1 answer
648 views

Are both of these patches crabgrass?

I have what appears to be, two types of crabgrass growing. One with thicker, longer, higher blades. Another with skinnier, shorter blades. I have seen the "real crabgrass video", but still not able ...
Brian's user avatar
  • 1,093
8 votes
1 answer
4k views

What is this annual weed with square stems and purple bracts?

This plant is a low-growing cool season annual. I'm guessing it is in the mint family because of it's square stems, triangular hairy leaves and distinctive odor. The plants are 4-8" tall, and grow ...
J. Musser's user avatar
  • 51.7k
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

What is this weed with ribbed stems and whorls of 1" to 2" long thin leaves?

Lately this weed has been growing all over my property. It is bright green, has tiny white flowers and kind of creeps along the ground as vines. It comes up fairly easily in clumps when I pull it, ...
Luke Powell's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
921 views

Help identifying a tree in Southwest Florida

Chances are this will be a duplicate, and I can't post photos yet, so apologies in advance... We have a small tree in our new backyard in SW FL. It's partially hidden behind a sea grape plant that ...
unkfrank's user avatar
  • 639
8 votes
3 answers
9k views

Are these maggots and are they okay in the soil around the roots of a fruit tree?

Just dug these up from around the roots of a stone fruit tree. Are they maggots? Are they good or bad for the soil around the roots of the tree? Do they harm the tree in any way? If yes to the ...
Guy's user avatar
  • 2,986
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

Plant only flowers after rain, and not from being watered. What plant is it?

My landlord has this plant in his garden. (See pictures at the bottom.) I water it for him several times a week, using water from a closed well. It doesn't usually rain here. There's maybe one or two ...
Fiksdal's user avatar
  • 584
8 votes
2 answers
181 views

What is this pale mint green shrub with hay-colored booms from Tenerife, Canary Islands?

What is this pale mint green shrub that has hay-colored booms? It seems to thrive on lava fields and develops lignified stems. It can be found around 28.266°,-16.588° in Teide National Park on ...
dakab's user avatar
  • 692
7 votes
2 answers
5k views

What is this tall spring plant with yellow flowers?

The plant shown below puts up new green stalks in early spring, growing to 3 to 7 feet tall. It puts out its yellow flowers in late March or early April (in the Willamette Valley of Oregon), soon ...
mgkrebbs's user avatar
  • 349
7 votes
1 answer
979 views

What is this tall tree with narrow leaves and sweet red fruit?

This 7 m (23 ft) tall tree has been growing over my deck for some time, and I've ignored it until I saw a Tui eating its fruit the other day. I'm in Wellington NZ. My landscape designer didn't know ...
Graham Chiu's user avatar
  • 23.2k
7 votes
1 answer
645 views

Is this a tiny Bloodgood maple sapling? How should I care for it?

While mowing the lawn yesterday, my husband stumbled across this tiny plant. It's barely two inches tall. Some people down the street have a beautiful large tree that looks like a Bloodgood maple, and ...
Sue Saddest Farewell TGO GL's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
907 views

What is this houseplant with narrow, pointed, waxy leaves?

I got this plant, but I have no idea of its name. Which plant is it?
Alain's user avatar
  • 173
7 votes
1 answer
5k views

Is this aloe vera root rot?

Can someone verify if this is root rot on my aloe vera? It was starting to wilt so I had to re-pot. There were more root "hairs" but they were slimy and black and most of them stayed with the old dirt....
jes516's user avatar
  • 171
7 votes
2 answers
1k views

What kind of small/bonsai-tree is this pictured one?

Recently I moved to a new house and there was a bonsai tree that seems to be very weak. What kind of bonsai tree is it?
S. Ana's user avatar
  • 71
7 votes
1 answer
696 views

Can someone identify this Bonsai tree?

I was hoping someone would be kind enough to identify this tree for me. I want to properly care for it and I think identifying it would be a good first step. Any help on this would be appreciated, ...
Bryan's user avatar
  • 205