Native plant identifications - Ask Extension
I think/hope I have some native plants here. Can you please help with ID?
Photo 1 (6757) - type of Goldenrod
Photo 2 (6758) - a Clematis
Photo ...
Knowledgebase
Native plant identifications #867656
Asked May 08, 2024, 7:08 PM EDT
I think/hope I have some native plants here. Can you please help with ID?
Photo 1 (6757) - type of Goldenrod
Photo 2 (6758) - a Clematis
Photo 3 (6765) - hopefully Boxelder and not poison ivy
Thank you!
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
Flowers are key features with plant identification as leaf traits can be unreliable or variable based on growing conditions and plant maturity. Therefore, the goldenrod is not a plant we can ID to species level at this point, and many aster species also look very similar pre-bloom.
The clematis is also not concretely identifiable until bloom, but it resembles the native Virgin's Bower (Clematis virginiana).
An easy ID feature between Poison Ivy and Boxelder maple is the leaf arrangement -- Boxelder has leaves arranged opposite each other on the stem, whereas Poison Ivy foliage will be alternate. We can't see the leaf arrangement clearly in the photo, though it appears to be opposite.
Miri
The clematis is also not concretely identifiable until bloom, but it resembles the native Virgin's Bower (Clematis virginiana).
An easy ID feature between Poison Ivy and Boxelder maple is the leaf arrangement -- Boxelder has leaves arranged opposite each other on the stem, whereas Poison Ivy foliage will be alternate. We can't see the leaf arrangement clearly in the photo, though it appears to be opposite.
Miri
