Identifying common garden plants help please

[Pea]

Hello,

I would love some help identifying these plants with either common names / regional names / scientific names and or any information about them.

• Image titled 'Little purple plant' was a plant that had tiny little purple flowers and clods of little translucent flies living underneath them that flew like specs of dust. Help identifying these flies also welcomed.
• Image titled 'red root' was growing near a fence and had a long deep root that when snapped in half was a bright red colour.
• Tall Tree was a tall shrub type plant that had chunk stems that snap/can be pruned without much resistance. Little black fly loved it wild cluster on the stems. It would grow back on its own accord after being cut back.
• Image 'unknown yellow flower' is just that.
• Image 'unknown weed' should perhaps be named 'unknown plant'
• Image 'unknown dandelion' - are there different types of dandelions? Some grew very tall, some were short a various leaf shapes.

Many thanks

 

[Oliver Buckle]

The yellow flower looks like a ragwort, there are a couple of them, Oxford ragwort and tansy ragwort, that I know of. Quite different species, but very similar in appearance.

The composita does not look like a dandelion leaf to me, there are a lot of very similar flowered plants, have a look at sow thistles and hawkweeds.

The tall tree leaf looks like something in the sycamore/maple family, think the Canadian flag.

The red root leaves and root look like parsley, except it has a pale coloured root, bet it is related though.

The little purple flowers, check out toadflax, lesser not greater, that has yellow flowers.

 

[Pea]

Hello,
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and for all of your thoughts and information on the types of plants that you recommend I research into further. All very helpful as I did not know where to start.

Thank you
Pea

 

[NigelJ]

• Image titled 'Little purple plant' was a plant that had tiny little purple flowers and clods of little translucent flies living underneath them that flew like specs of dust. Help identifying these flies also welcomed. Possibly a toadflax
• Image titled 'red root' was growing near a fence and had a long deep root that when snapped in half was a bright red colour.
• Tall Tree was a tall shrub type plant that had chunk stems that snap/can be pruned without much resistance. Little black fly loved it wild cluster on the stems. It would grow back on its own accord after being cut back. Elder (Sambucus nigra) normally a shrub/bush rather than tall tree.
• Tall tree plant leaf: Maple or Sycamore (Acer)
• Image 'unknown yellow flower' is just that.
• Image 'unknown weed' should perhaps be named 'unknown plant'
• Image 'unknown dandelion' - are there different types of dandelions? Some grew very tall, some were short a various leaf shapes.

Most people post pictures of the flowers and the complete plant in the ground for id purposes it makes it easier though less fun.

 

[Pea]

Good morning Nigel,
Many thanks for taking a look at my post and taking the time to help identify these photos. It is really very helpful.
Thanks again, Pea

 

[cpp gardener]

The first 'dandelion?' -- isn't
The 'little purple flowers' looks like Kenilworth ivy (but probably isn't)
The first 'type dandelion' looks like Sow Thistle. The second one IS probably a Dandelion.
The 'unknown weed' looks like Fireweed Epilobium.
Best guesses from over here.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Might be worth getting a flora from the library. They are not too difficult to use if you follow the instructions, basically questions in pairs, such as 'Is the stem square or round'. Each answer leads to the next question until there is only one possibility left. The only difficulty is learning the botanical names for parts of the plant, but that is a one off.

 

[Plantguy]

Those all look like weeds to me!

 

[Pea]

The first 'dandelion?' -- isn't
The 'little purple flowers' looks like Kenilworth ivy (but probably isn't)
The first 'type dandelion' looks like Sow Thistle. The second one IS probably a Dandelion.
The 'unknown weed' looks like Fireweed Epilobium.
Best guesses from over here.

Hello, thank you so much for replying and sorry for a delayed response! the 'plot' thickens (excuse the pun). Thanks again.

 

[Pea]

Might be worth getting a flora from the library. They are not too difficult to use if you follow the instructions, basically questions in pairs, such as 'Is the stem square or round'. Each answer leads to the next question until there is only one possibility left. The only difficulty is learning the botanical names for parts of the plant, but that is a one off.

Ah, many thanks Oliver for this recommendation.

 

[Pea]

Those all look like weeds to me!

Ah. Is there a definition for weeds or type of categorisation based on look / property? Thanks again for replying, and sorry for my slow response.

 

[cpp gardener]

They're 'plants out of place'. Plants growing where you want something else to grow. There are plants that almost no-one wants to grow (like Sow Thistle and Crabgrass) that are usually classified as 'weeds'. Some people like to eat some of them, though.

 

[Pea]

They're 'plants out of place'. Plants growing where you want something else to grow. There are plants that almost no-one wants to grow (like Sow Thistle and Crabgrass) that are usually classified as 'weeds'. Some people like to eat some of them, though.

Ah, I see, many thanks cpp gardener fro replying.