Perennial Flower Identification

Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made, and forgot to put a soul into. ~ Henry Beecher

Mr. Beecher is so right with his statement. Blossoming flowers enthrall people admiring them. These beauties bring joy and pleasure to all sunken souls. Flowers are always given as a token of love and appreciation. They are also given to sick people as a 'get well soon' wish. Flowers spread love and joy to the world with their mesmerizing colors, shapes and fragrances.

As a garden owner, you take a lot of pains to grow these timeless beauties that make your flower garden the most beautiful in the neighborhood. You have always proudly displayed your flowering beauties to everyone who visits you. You may have many times faced a common question, "What is the name of this beautiful flower?". This becomes a very embarrassing question at times when you yourself can't identify it. One of the many types of flowers are perennial garden flowers.

Identifying Perennial Flowers
Perennial flower identification is based on the overall identification of the plant. Perennial flowers are ornamental plants that live for 2-3 years. These short lived perennial flower plants do not die after one season of growth, they survive the winters and grow every spring. There are many perennial flower seeds available in the nursery that can be used to grow perennial flower plants. These plants burst into color every year during the same time. There are many types of perennial garden flowers available for every season and climate. The perennial flowers make your garden full of colors all year round.

The perennial plants range from low growing shrubs to tall plants. There are perennial garden plants that have bright colors and glowing seed heads similar to few ornamental grasses. The perennial seeds are planted once and the perennial plants have colorful leaves. Perennial plants are excellent for covering a shady spot. Another method of identification is that they are easy to grow and maintain.

Types of Perennial Flowers
Perennial flower identification is based on the amount of sunlight required for their growth such as:

• Full Sun Perennials: These perennial garden flowers grow well in areas that receive 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight everyday. These perennial garden flowers include Lavender, Astilbe, Salvia, Artemisia, Chrysanthemum, Iris, Poppy and Japanese Anemone and Day Lily.
• Part Shade Perennials: These perennial flower plants do not require full sun and grow in partial shade. They are found growing under trees that have sunlight penetrating through their foliage. These perennial garden flowers include Primrose, Bleeding Heart, Foxglove and Ligularia.
• Full Shade Perennials: The perennial flower seeds of these plants should be planted in an area that is in devoid of sunlight. These shade loving perennial garden flowers survive under evergreen trees and thickly branched trees. These perennial flower plant includes Ferns, Amsonia, Pulmonaria, Brunnera and Hosta.

Identification can also be based upon type of soil they are found to grow.

• Dry Soil Perennials: These perennial flower plants require dry climate and very little water for growth. They can grow well in dry soil gardens, and you do not require to water them frequently. These perennial garden flowers include Lavender, Amsonia, Bluestar, Wormwood and Yarrow.
• Average Soil Perennials: The soil containing equal amount of sand, silt and clay is the right soil to grow perennial flower seeds. These perennial flower plants require enough sunlight and water to grow. These perennial garden flowers include Meadow Sage, Alstroemeria, Aster, Columbine, Geranium and Peony.
• Moist Soil Perennials: These perennial flower plants thrive in soil that is constantly wet. They grow in moist soil and blossom even after a heavy downpour. These perennial garden flowers include Cardinal Flower, Brunnera, Astilbe, Pulmonaria, Iris and Foxglove.

Some other identification tips include that the plant should be able to grow outdoors and should be of temperate climate. The perennial flower seeds are also shed like the annual plants, but they take at least one more year to grow. The other way to identify is to take a sample to the local nursery and ask them for help. You can also use the modern tool, the Internet and search for similar looking plants. Or upload a flower picture of the perennial flower online and ask people to answer your query. You can even ask Cooperative Extension Agent in your area for help in identifying your perennial garden flower.

I hope this article gives you a fair idea on perennial flower identification. Enjoy gardening more perennials in your garden and be greeted with colorful flowers of different shapes, sizes and colors.