If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time then you know I’m more of a vegetable gardener. Trees, shrubs and flowers are not my strong suit. Sure, I know how to plant them, but when it comes to identifying anything other than a boxwood hedge or anything other than my favorite perennial flowers, I’m pretty much at a loss.
So here’s the problem. The home we bought on the east coast is an older home. Even though it’s not jammed packed with oodles of bushes and trees, the ones that are there, I can’t identify. Or rather, I was hoping YOU could help me identify them so I don’t have to spend endless amounts of time researching. Call me lazy. 😉
So here we go.
Plant #1 {above} It’s some sort of crawling evergreen plant with red berries and there are clumps of it all over the backyard.
Plant #2 –>Â Crape Myrtle!! Wahooo! I LOVE this.Â
We’ve got a  20 foot tree along side the house with the most amazing purple flowers. It was pretty much done blooming by the time I snapped this photo but I would sure love to plant another one of these somewhere on the property. The tree has peeling bark.
Plant #3
I think these are day lilies but I’m not sure. I mainly want to identify them so I can dig them up and give them away. 😉
Plant #4
I think this one might be a barberry plant but I’m not sure. Whatever it is, I’m not a fan. There are 4 of these right smack dab in front of the house and I want to remove them and plant a nice boxwood hedge in their place.
Plant #5
The property is littered with mounds of these orange flowers. I think they are day lilies as well and I plan to remove these too. Orange is great for pumpkins and squash, but when it comes to flowers, I’m more of a pink, purple and white kind of girl.
Plant #6
Anyone know what kind of tree this is? I like it.
Plant #7
I think this is a salvia plant. There are several of these sprinkled around the property and I plan up digging them up and grouping them together at some point.
Plant #8
Any last but not least, what the heck are these green and white striped grass plants? Does anyone know? I’m curious how tall they’ll get and how long they last. If they don’t get too big then I think I’ll move them and plant them over by the hosta plants alongside the house.
If you know what any of these plants, trees or shrubs are I would love to know.
Thanks in advance for your help,
~ Mavis
Mary Ann says
#3 is Alstroemeria
#5 is, indeed, Day Lily
#7 can’t really tell from the picture — I guess it could be a type of Salvia, but it might also be a type of Veronica
Looking forward to what others have to say. I love that tree leaf! Maple, Birch? Here in Southern California, the only thing that might be close is Liquid Amber.
Jill Dolan says
#1# is Jerusalem Cherry
#6 is purple loosetrife it’s a weed in Ontario
Michele says
#2 is a crape myrtle and #8 is green and white mondo grass. I am drawing a blank on #3 so now gotta google!
Kathy says
#1 almost looks like pachysandra, but I don’t think it has berries. So maybe wintergreen?
#2 might be crape myrtle.
#4 I think that is barberry.
#5 day lilies for sure.
#8 is monkey grass! Or liriope is its technical name. It’s a variegated type.
Looks like some landscaping work is in your future!
Michele says
Every time I call #8 Monkey Grass people look at me strange. Lol. Plant stores list it as “Mondo Grass”. But I always call it Monkey Grass personally.
Nicole says
Yes…#3 is Alstromeria…frequently used in floral bouquets and arrangements.
Diane says
…and expensive to buy either at the florist or at the nursery. If you don’t want this beautiful flowering plant, Mavis see if one of your neighbors DOES. I’ve never had any luck getting one established.
Veronica says
I had white Alstromeria in my bridal bouquet. They were gorgeous! Sometimes they are called “Peruvian Lilies”. #3 is definitely an Alstromeria.
Georgia says
#2 = Crape Myrtle
#5 = Day Lilies
#7 = Salvia
#8 = Monkey Grass – http://www.wilsonbroslandscape.com/GrassFileLiriope.html
becky says
#1 I believe is lingonberry.
Veronica says
I second the vote for lignonberry. Here is a page that has the plant and berries next to a dime for sizing comparison. (scroll down past the kiwi fruits)
http://bedford.locallygrown.net/market/index/54600
Veronica says
Oh, and with lignonberries, you can plant them under blueberries for doubling the use of your land space! They both love acidic soil and lignonberries like more shade.
Marivene says
I also vote for #1 as lingonberries.
sarah says
Watch out removing #4… that stuff can attack, its full of pricker thingies. we had one at our last house and I hated it. But we moved so I never did anything with it.
Oh and the lilies go nuts and spread if you don’t keep them in check. we have day lilies here (by choice) and we have to keep them in check so they don’t end up where we don’t want them
Beth says
#2 looks like crepe myrtle (also spelled crape myrtle)
#3 looks like the freesia I have in my yard
#5 looks like a daylily
#6 maybe a type of maple?
#8 looks like the ornamental grasses we use for borders in the South
Patricia says
#6 Is a Red Maple. It will have beautiful leaves in the fall but it is not a sugar Maple.
Michele says
Tree is a maple but I can’t figure out which kind.
Dale Ann says
#1 looks exactly like the Lingonberry I have growing here, and it does crawl.
#6 appears to be a type of Maple tree.
Sandy says
#1 looks like wintergreen. Break a berry open, it should smell like wintergreen!
Wynne says
I agree, pop a berry–it should clue you into wintergreen or lingonberry, which would be more cranberry-like. Not familiar with Jerusalem cherry. If it is wintergreen, I hope you keep it–I’ve heard they’re hard to establish. So are #2, alstroemeria, which are super-long-lasting cut flowers.
4- That looks like a barberry to me, too. They’re invasive, so if you yank it, I wouldn’t pass it on.
5- Day lily. Did you know the original plain, ligher orange day lilies are edible top to tuber? You have a different cultivar which may not be, though. Would you keep it if you could eat it?
8- Liriope (you can barely make out its purple flowers in the photo). They do really well here and can be divided like hosta.
Sandy says
#8 is Ribbon grass.
Jenny says
#1 looks a lot like Kinnikinnick.
Jennifer says
Mavis,
It looks like you have been running around my backyard taking pictures! It looks like everyone has already ID’d the plants correctly, but I hope you’re in my area cause I’d love to get some of the lillies and could send you off with another crepe myrtle!
z says
#1- Kinnikinnick
#7- Salvia
Jenny says
6- These leaves look like our one of maple varieties.
4- That is a barberry. I hate those bushes. On Saturday I was pulling weeds around one and the barb went through a pair of leather gloves.Our children have learned to stay away from them. In the fall ours turn bright red and look pretty.
5- That is a day lily. They grow wild around here in Wisconsin.
Judy says
First i’m confused.. I thought you lived on the West coast? Did you buy a second home on the East Coast? I would have to agree the closest with Beth on the plants. Definitely you have a Crepe Myrtle, Freesia , some type of Maple, being from the East I would say a Red Maple, a Barberry (watch your hands) and Mondo grass of some type ( there are many) Landscapers use them a lot..some people call them monkey grass, but most won’t get taller then 12 to 18 inches and they can be divided when they get to bushy and wide. oh yes and Definitely you have a Day Lilly..they also are known to multiply and come in a huge Variety of color..very addictive!
Sarah says
Yeah I am confused too! You bought a house on the east coast?
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes. 🙂 We bought a vacation home there. I’ll post more about it when I get the chance.
Judy says
Awesome! I have one in Florida! I can’t wait to see yours! Where on the east coast did you buy your vacation home??
Diana Cox says
#1 looks like a winterberry to me…
# 2 is definitely a crape myrtle
#3 is alstroemeria – so pretty cut!!
#5 is definitely a daylily – wish I could take them off of your hands! 🙂
Sandra says
Plant #3 is alstroemeria. They are deer resistant and lovely as a cut flower. I use them in corsages. More about them, with photos:
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/alstroemeria/
Herdog says
I’m going to break for the norm on #1. I think it’s an bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi). I believe it grows on the east coast.
#2 is Crape Myrtle and comes in all sorts of wonderful and beautiful colors but that violet is my fav! Lucky girl.
So when do we get to see some pics of the home?
Tangela says
#2 Crepe myrtle
#6 Maple tree
#8 Monkey grass – variegated liriope – I know Hostas prefer shade, and the liriope prefer sun. Both can tolerate the other, but they do best in their preferred sunlight. They shouldn’t get any taller than what you have. They will get wider, but then they need to be divided. HTH
Kristina Z says
If #1 is indeed a lingonberry, those are good eating, lucky girl! They are really tart, sort of like a cranberry. Lingonberry preserves are a staple in Scandinavia, and very yummy. I buy the preserves at Cost Plus here in CA, but there are also a number of online retailers who sell them. Ikea sells a wonderful lingonberry juice cocktail, which is delicious in sparkling water, though I find their lingonberry preserves over-sweetened. Totally jealous. They would never grow here in hot CA.
Fee- says
I think that really is a lingonberry. We Finns love lingonberries, they are amazing in jam, juices and even pies. I usually make my blueberry pie with some lingonberries in it.
I was just outside in a forest with my dog and picked some lingonberries. My dog loves them too!
Nora says
No. 1 is a lingonberry, check it out here – http://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preiselbeere
Back in (Central and North) Europe we have it quite regularly, although not in a planted garden, but in the wild. We go out and pick them in the woods in autumn.
Is is lovely, you can make great jam out of it. It’s a perfect match for any winter roast like venison.
ilona says
#1 ~ I have no idea
#2 ~ I want to say Rhododendron, but I think I would be wrong … do you have a long shot of it?
#3 ~ A type of Freesia
#4 ~ I agree that it is Bayberry … does it have thorns? I used to have to prune mine wearing a long-sleeved flannel shirt and welder’s gloves. When I first moved into the house where they grew, they were in shabby shape … a little investigating and I discovered that the ground around them was infested with Japanese Beetle Grubs … I used milky spore to the get that under control and also removed a lot of debris that was rotting in the clusters of branches and taking the stems with it … they actually thrived very well after that … sorry you don’t care for them, but I know they can be a challenge.
#5 ~ yep, Orange Day Lilies … good luck with getting rid of them ALL … just when you think they are gone, BAM! there they are again!
#6 ~ I have this same tree in my yard and wonder if it’s a Maple or a Birch, but I truly have no idea … wait, let me check my tree book … if I can find it … be right back … well, that was a bust … I even did searches on Beech and Aspen … the only one that looked close was a Maple leaf, but I just don’t think it’s a Maple … I have a tree guy coming out to prune my Bartlett Pear tree; I will see if he knows.
#7 ~ Salvia
#8 ~ Monkey Grass … I have a couple clusters of it and like it … http://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-and-when-to-trim-a-monkey-grass-border/
ilona says
Well, I should have read the other comments BEFORE posting mine … I stand corrected that the #4 is Barberry … and DUH! #2 is Crepe Myrtle … I only have 2 off those bushes in my yard, peeling bark and all … one is white and the other (small as it is) is an amazing DEEP red … apparently the lower branches need trimming to force intense blooming … plus then those lower branches don’t WHACK! you when mowing around them! : )
Delores says
I think others have pretty much identified the plants for you. I just want to add that there is a group on Facebook called Plant Identification that you can join and submit pics to and then others will help. Though, since you have your blog readers, you may not need the group. But it is really informative and fun to see all the different types of plants.
Donna Jantzer says
I am a little out of my element with East coast flora, but maybe #6 is an amur maple. http://leafsnap.com/species/Acer%20ginnala/ Sound like it? And too bad for me that it is on the East coast because I would so take some starts of the lovely orange day lilies. I am definitely an orange, red, yellow flower girl, and I love them.
Diane says
I’ll pipe in regarding #1. I also think it is bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) as Herdog says above.
You may know it by the name “Kinnikinnick” which is what it is often called in the Pacific NW. My dad has it on the
walkway to the front door to his house. It always gets great comments, people ask him all the time what it is and he takes great delight in confusing them with the name Kinnikinnick! (Ka-nik-a-nik, at least how he pronounces it)!!
Congratulations on the new house. Good grief, I can hardly take care of my one place. I couldn’t imagine dealing with two.
Still so exciting.
kcb says
2 is a crepe myrtle for sure. More common colors are white & pink. We had a beautiful white one in our yard in AL. I asked about them at the nursery here & was told that will grow here, but usually do not flower. In the south we called 8 “monkey grass” & used it as a border & accent.
Debbie says
I think #1 could be a Cranberry!!!!
Maryellen says
Have you tried the extension office for the region where you new house is located? I bet someone there could ID all your plants.
Kari says
If you indeed have lingonberries, you MUST make jam of it! I pay a small fortune for jam each year to use on lefse and Swedish pancakes. You will LOVE!
Kari says
I looked it up, and I’m almost positive it is lingonberry!!! Lucky girl!!!
Debbie says
#5 is daylily – a sun loving perennial
#6 is a maple tree – lovely shade tree
I have a master gardener close by who hold an annual perennial sale every spring – just a thought for you to consider if have plants you need to thin or don’t want.
Happy gardening
Jackie Mann says
1 — Low Bush Cranberry. Excellent for eating. Smash one between your fingers and see if it smells like cranberry. If so, get picking and make sauce.
Paula says
I think #1 is wintergreen; if you’re very brave, you can taste one of the berries to find out. #8 could be variegated liriope. If so, it will get purple flowers in the spring.
Leslie says
Coveting those barberries! Wish I could take those off your hands :))
Angela Redwine says
The tree is a red maple (Acer rubrum). Nice shade tree but sometimes considered kind of a junk tree. They don’t have the best shape in my opinion, but a lot of that depends on pruning, growth conditions, etc. Good luck!
Jen says
I don’t have much help with the plants but I will say I am super excited to hear you got a home in NH- I am from NH and have friends/family in the area so it is kinda fun to think of some of your blog being so close to home 🙂
Nikki says
You sure do have some traditional east cost plants! The barberry is a red barberry. They are planted to protect areas with their barbs – deer and burglars alike respect them! How big is the maple? You can order syrup taps and have fun!!!
lindsey says
#7 is Veronica, it looks very much like Salvia, but is not.
Helen in Meridian says
If you have lingonberry, make your crepes and put lingonberry and cottage cheese filling. Elmer’s Pancake house here and in Portland would serve Lingonberry crepes.
Cecily says
#1- I would lean toward this being wintergreen. As someone suggested, crush a berry or leaf and smell it.
#3
Cecily says
#3 Definitely Alstroemeria
#4 Barberry
Debbie from Alaska says
#1 rosehips?
#3 alstroemeria
Debbie from Alaska says
p.s. Alstroemeria last a long time in a vase. I have them all over my house. They always last a good month or so. No joke.
Katie says
Looks like you’ve got your answers above, but I wanted to add that Japanese Barberry is not only a pain (literally!) to prune and remove, but it is also an invasive species in much of the US. Get rid of it! They have very long taproots, which makes them next to impossible to get out. I had to hire someone to pull them out with a machine. Buggers.
Renay says
1 – most likely Wintergreen. 2 – looks like a clematis. 3 – alstroemeria. 4 – – barberry. 5 – daylily. 6 – maple. 7 – veronice. 8 – zebra grass. All of these will grow here, but are most likely different varieties suited to the east coast. Take a clipping of each and ask your local nursery (fun adventure!!!) which variety and any special tips. What fun to garden in a different zone!
Maggie White says
1 – looks like hawthorne
3 – astrolomeria
4 – barberry
5 – daylily
6 – red maple
7 – It’s a salvia
8 – liriope, or variegated monkey grass. That is about as big as they get. Depending on where you are (zone 7+) they will stay evergreen. Otherwise, chop them back in winter.
Kristy says
I am a lover of plants. I propagate and start from seeds many
Plants and I live in gig harbor. I also do wedding flowers.
1. Bear berry ground cover
2.crape myrtle
3.alstromeria. One of the longest lasting cut flowers!
4.barberry ground cover
5.daylillie
6.Washington hawthorn
7.purple salvia
8.variegated mondo grass.
Jennifer says
#5. Oh. My. It’s not only a daylily – it’s a tiger lily… which they no longer sell because they’re invasive.
I grew up with them & ADORE them… Don’t suppose you’d consider shipping them? I’d happily reimburse you for shipping!!!
CathyB says
#1 does not look like the lingonberries that we have around here, the leaf is totally different. So it is either a different type from west coast to east coast or it is not lingonberry.
kim sanders says
Sounds like you have them all figured out. If number four is not thorny then it may be loropetalum. It is a great hedge, much like boxwood, that gives a lot of color variation to your hedges. If it is thorny then it probably is barberry, which by the way is supposed to be deer resistant. Don’t know if that is an issue or not. You can dig the tiger lilies and put them in pots. They can be quite invasive but look beautiful en masse when blooming. If you haven’t had crape myrtles, then make sure you prune them each year. We do it in March but depends on how far north you are as to when to prune them. You may want to look around the area where your crape myrtle is planted. You may find, as I do, that there are a lot of free baby trees growing. They grow fairly quickly. Mondo grass is a great border and the variegated type is not so invasive. Doesn’t require a lot of water either. Have a great time discovering the east coast! Love your blog!
Victoria 'Pinkie' Bennett says
no 3 is alstromerias (peruvian lily )
no 5 day lily
no 7 salvia
Shannon says
#1 – While at first I thought it might be lingonberry, I don’t think it is. This plant has similar leaves, but they are thicker and curl under. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccinium_vitis-idaea. In Alaska, we call this “lowbush cranberry.”
I think it is what we in Alaska call “bear berry.” See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctostaphylos_uva-ursi. A commenter called it “kinnikinnick,” which I think is what folks in that neck of North America call it.
Elizabeth in Upstate NY says
Based upon your earlier pictures, would guess that your yard is professionally designed. Perhaps the neighbors [or your real estate agent] could tell you who designed it or who maintains it. Then you could get the details of the plants.
Re plant #6, the maple. The leaf shape is not that of sugar, silver or red. You haven’t mentioned the bark, or how it is planted. Does the bark flake off? If yes, then it may be a sycamore, which is part of the maple family. Is the tree in a border with other random tree plantings, or is it a ‘specimen’ plant? i.e. planted as a focal point. If a specimen plant, then I would guess that it is one of the Japanese Maples which are often used as focal points in landscaping.
And finally, don’t forget the county cooperative extension agent for help in identifying your plants.
KFinnemore says
I would make just this one comment about your daylily.
In my area (Southern New England), that looks more like a tiger lily, which are native and grow wild.
The maple will turn a beautiful color in the fall.
Geo D says
#1 Partridge Berry
#4 Orange Day Lily
#5 Red Maple Tree
#7 Violet Sage
#8 Liriope Muscari Variegated
Erin says
Someone mentioned that #7 might be a purple loosestrife. Please try to rule this out. It’s an invasive species and should be destroyed appropriately.
#6 looks like it might be a maple tree, but many trees have maple-like leaves. Try looking for any maple keys. I think these are the key to identifying this one.
ilona says
Re: #3 ~ Peruvian Lily … just a note: I was internet shopping on the Henry Fields website and one of these plants, on sale, goes for $23.99!
Marnie says
My husband says you might want to compare your #6 tree to a vine maple – we have one in our yard and really like it – it loves our hot summers and survives our cold winters in Saskatchewan