Identifying and recognizing shrubs is a skill that any hobby gardener can acquire. In order to be able to reliably identify a species, various plant characteristics and conditions at the place of growth must be examined. At first, the amount of information is confusing. But with a little practice, the first successes can be seen quickly and it is easier to determine each time.
Before the determination
If you want to identify garden shrubs, most of the identification keys are not sufficient. Not only native species are planted in the garden. Many ornamental shrubs come from other countries and climatic regions, which makes it difficult to determine. Slowly approach this area and first try to spot native shrubs. If you master the basic skills of identification and recognize the basic shapes of leaves and flowers, you will find it easier to identify exotic plants. Don't give up too quickly, because the many relevant determinants can cause confusion, especially at the beginning. Put on a notebook and get a first impression of these aspects:
- Location:Does the shrub grow in the forest, by bodies of water or on meadows?
- Blossom:Does the wood develop an inflorescence or single flowers?
- Flowering time:Does the shrub bloom in spring, summer or autumn?
- Fruit:If any, what do they look like?
- Leaves:What is the shape of the foliage and how are the leaves arranged on the branch?
- Branches:Is the bark smooth or textured?
- Buds:What shape do they have and how do they grow on the branch?
Tip: Also take properties like Height and Growth habit true and watch out for structures such as thorns or spines.
Classify leaf position
Notice how the leaves sit on the branch. This so-called leaf position is a
decisive characteristic and usually represents the first classification of the species. Basically, trees are divided into two main groups. Their leaves are opposite or whorled if at least two leaves are facing each other at the same height on the branch. This group includes grape elder or common lilac. The second main group are species whose leaves are alternate or tufted. In species such as raspberry, potato rose and sloe, the leaves arise at different heights.Identify leaf shape
There are numerous leaf shapes that mix with one another and form intermediate shapes. Try to recognize a rough shape in the sheet so that you can make an initial narrowing down. Can exclude species. Make notes about whether the leaf area appears simple or is cut into multiple partial leaves. These partial leaves represent the leaflets in botany. If the leaves are not completely incised, botanists speak of fingered or curved leaves. The following leaf shapes are typical for simply designed leaves:
- egg-shaped to elliptical: Bird cherry, common spindle bush, red honeysuckle
- round to heart-shaped: Summer and winter linden, common hazel
- elongated to lanceolate: Sea buckthorn, willow
- fingered or booked: Common snowball, hawthorn, grapevine
The completely pinnate leaves are a botanical peculiarity, because the supposedly numerous leaves are only one leaf. The number of leaflets varies depending on the species. Leaves that have a terminal partial leaf at the tip are referred to as unpinnate. This includes most of the bushes and shrubs such as elderberry or vinegar tree. Pinnate pairs of leaves are symmetrical and do not develop leaflets at the end.
Note: If you're tiny
discover small leaflets at the base of the stem, do not be misled. This leaf is not pinnate, but has stipules.Note special leaf properties
Not only the shape is a relevant determinant, but also the hairiness, leaf margin and veins are developed in a species-specific manner. The leaf margin can be very different. In most shrubs, this is completely inconspicuous and appears smooth, which is why many species are difficult to separate from one another. The range of species is limited as soon as the foliage is creased, toothed or sawn. Some plants pursue special survival strategies and protect themselves from predators with conspicuous structures. Other leaf shapes are an adaptation to certain living conditions. Take a close look at the sheet and look for clearly visible features:
- noticeable leaf veins: Dogwood and cornel with upwardly curved lateral veins
- prickly leaf margin: European holly develops leaves with pointed spines
- sawn to serrated leaf margin: Whitebeam, bird cherry
- downy hairy leaves: Woolly snowball, silver willow
Identify flowers
When the garden shrubs are in bloom, it is easy to identify, even for beginners. Here, too, try to assign the flower to a certain basic shape. Each flower shape is typical of a certain family, which is why you can narrow down the species in question at a glance. Not all plant families are home to species that grow shrubby. Among the shrubs, lip-shaped, star-shaped or bell-shaped flowers are typical:
- radial or star-shaped: Common hawthorn, common daphne, common buckthorn
- mirror symmetrical: True honeysuckle, red honeysuckle
- bell-shaped to jug-shaped: Cotoneaster, gooseberry, buckthorn
In some woody plants, numerous inconspicuous individual flowers crowd together in dense inflorescences, making the shape of the individual flowers difficult to recognize. Birch and willow trees are an example of unusual flower shapes. They develop inflorescences called catkins. These plants do not value attractive petals because they are pollinated by the wind or by insects.
Tip: Use all your senses to determine, because smell and haptics also provide information about the respective species.
Classify fruits
There are different approaches to categorizing fruits. The simplest variant is a rough breakdown according to the juice content. In contrast to nuts, berries and apples are very juicy. Some species do not develop nutrient-rich or juicy nutrient tissue, but rather send their seeds on their way with a simple protective cover. There is a whole range of these special forms
Range of different types of fruit:- hairy fruits: Common clematis
- Nuts wrapped in overgrown leaves: Hornbeam
- cone-like fruits: Nail bush
- woody capsules: Common lilac
Look at the size of juicy fruits and nuts and see whether they grow individually or in clusters on a stem. These features often allow conclusions to be drawn about the original flower shape, so that you can recognize shrubs without flowers. Berries can also be divided into color categories. A reliable determination with the usual keys is only possible if the fruits are in a ripe state. They go through different stages of maturity in which they can change color several times.
Winter determination: twigs and buds
If you want to determine ornamental shrubs and bushes in winter, you need to look at the shrub in its entirety first. Growth form and branches are important determinants. Also make a note of the height of the plants, because the species have adapted to different areas of life with their growth form. Since these properties are not yet sufficient for a reliable identification of the species, you should use additional properties. You can look at the bark of the branches. Since the structure and color of the branches vary according to age, these aspects represent additional information. It is more important that you take a close look at the buds. These can be designed in different ways:
- Basic form: narrow, ovoid to elongated, rounded, conical
- Colour: light brown to whitish, dark brown to black, red to reddish brown, greenish
- End: pointed or rounded
- Position: alternate or opposite
Since the determination on the basis of the buds is not easy, a slow approach is recommended. Identify ornamental shrubs in summer based on their flowers and leaves. Then keep an eye on the trees that have been identified and observe the changes. Also, look for old leaves and fruits on the ground in winter, because you can clearly recognize the trees by them.
Procedure for coniferous bushes
Conifers have developed completely different structures. Its leaves are greatly reduced and appear in the form of pointed needles. The flowers have no conspicuous petals because they are wind pollinated. The fruits also differ from those of the hardwoods, because they are usually cone-shaped and occasionally berry-shaped. However, the procedure for determining is similar. Most species can already be clearly identified using the needles. If the leaf characteristics are not enough, turn your attention to the flowers and fruits.
