How To Read Plant Tags

When I started landscaping around a house we were fixing up, I scoured plant tags to see which ones could survive our dry, high-altitude climate. But I couldn’t resist the temptation to buy a few of my old favorites, though the tags suggested they were questionable for our location.

That was a big mistake, and a hard lesson learned. None of those plants survived the winter.

“Plant tags are meant to provide you with the basic information needed to keep your new plant alive,” says Justin Hancock, a horticulturist at Costa Farms.

“Research shows that the plant tag is the number one source of information people use when shopping for plants. Some enthusiasts even keep tags in scrapbooks so they have a resource to fall back on for every plant they own.”

But while plant tags are meant to set you up for success, some can actually lead to your plant’s demise! We asked plant experts Hancock, Lisa Eldred Steinkopf and Susan Bacus Morgan for their best advice on reading and interpreting plant tags.

Why Plants Have Tags

Plant tags, stickers or stakes come with nearly all potted indoor and outdoor plants. They contain basic information about the general needs of a plant, including air temperature and water requirements, to help you decide if it’s a good fit for your circumstances.

“Plant tags are like a user manual for horticulture,” says Bacus Morgan, an avid gardener and manager of Star Roses and Plants. “Ideally, they tell the consumer everything they need to know to grow a specific plant successfully.”

Plant Tag Info

Some plant tags are simple. Others more involved. Of course, the more information a tag contains, the better.

“There’s not a lot of consistency with plant tags,” Hancock says. “Where the tag comes from depends on factors such as the retailer, who may require growers to use their brand’s tag, and the grower, who might buy pre-made tags rather than create their own.”

Regardless, most plant tags include:

• The plant’s common and botanical (scientific) names. Because common names can vary by region, it’s helpful to have the scientific name to thoroughly research what the plant needs.
• Light requirements, like sun or shade. “Indoor plants almost always appreciate more light than what you see on the plant tag,” says Hancock
• How often to water it. “Which I ignore,” says Steinkopf, aka The Houseplant Guru. “Better to check your plant on a schedule, but not necessarily water it on a schedule.”
• The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone, which lets you know what temperature extremes it can withstand.
• How tall and wide a plant may grow, especially helpful for planning outdoor spacing. Note: For especially slow-growing plants, like evergreen shrubs, Hancock says the tag often only gives the average size it will reach in 10 years, rather than its full mature size.

More in-depth plant tags might also include:

• A photo of the plant for reference.
• Tips for getting it established in your garden, like what size hole to dig, and how often to mulch and fertilize.
• Maintenance tips like deadheading (aka removing spent flowers).
• Attributes like drought tolerance, rabbit and deer resistance, attractiveness to pollinators, fragrance, flower color and bloom season.
• Suggestions on other plants to pair it with.
• For edibles, advice including soil pH and flavor profile.
• QR codes and website information, which link to more detailed care instructions.

Are There Plant Tag Red Flags?

Absolutely.

“The information on the tag should include guidelines to care for the specific plant,” says Steinkopf, “but unfortunately often it is not all that helpful or it is too generic.” So if a plant tag only says something like “houseplant” or “tropical plant,” it might only give vague information for a class of plants, but not your plant specifically.

Other problematic plant tags to watch out for include:

• A picture that doesn’t match the plant: If the picture doesn’t show what’s in the pot, that means it’s a generic tag or someone accidentally stuck the wrong one on. “Even if the picture matches, look up the plant on a reputable website or in a good houseplant book to be sure the information is correct,” says Steinkopf. “Just because the picture is correct, doesn’t mean the information is.”
• Lack of information: Even detailed tags might not include important considerations like whether it’s poisonous or spreads aggressively.
• Geographical variances: A requirement like “full sun” means one thing in southern Florida and something different in northern Minnesota. “It might seem like a Zone rating should be black and white, but I’ve seen the same plant from three different growers with three different USDA Hardiness Zone ratings,” says Hancock. “Because it’s based on the average, there’s a fair amount of interpretation.”

About the Experts

• Justin Hancock is a horticulturist at Costa Farms, the world’s largest houseplant grower. He has more than 25 years of experience in the horticulture industry as a garden editor, retail garden center operator and plant tag information specialist.
• Lisa Eldred Steinkopf founded The Houseplant Guru, a website devoted to teaching people how to care for their plants. She’s also a writer, lecturer and author of Houseplants: The Complete Guide; Grow in The Dark; Creative Houseplant Projects; and Bloom.
• Susan Bacus Morgan is a manager at Star Roses and Plants, a plant wholesaler in West Grove, Pennsylvania. She contributes to the introduction of novel plant genetics that provide solutions for young plant growers and home gardeners alike. When not working, she can be found in the garden or tending to the bees in her apiary.