Identification of Indoor House Plants

Complete an online search of sites that contain plant databases listing plant name, characteristics, native location and photos to help you identify your indoor house plant. Several sites allow you to input the plant description and complete a search or identify the plant by photograph.

Purchase or borrow a reference book about indoor house plants. There are many comprehensive plant "dictionaries" that list plants by name with an accompanying photo. You can review these texts to determine your type of house plants. These reference books will also have information about caring for plants.

Visit your local nursery with photos of your indoor house plants. You may also want to bring a sample leaf from your plant. Ask the nursery employees for assistance because many of them are well-trained and knowledgeable on the different varieties of plants and can help you in identifying your plants.

Peruse your local nurseries to compare their in-store stock against the plants you have at home. A large nursery will have a wide selection of indoor plants. Most plants for sale come with a plastic identification tag that has the plant name and caring instructions. Write down the names of the plants you think are a match and double-check your instincts against an online database.

Visit online forums and post photos of your plant and ask other readers to help you identify your indoor house plants. Many of the visitors to these sites, along with the forum moderators, are both interested and knowledgeable about plants and may have a different perspective or advice on the identification of your plants.