Nursery mis-labelling

When we buy plants that are not fully mature, or have yet to flower, we’re trusting the nursery to give us the variety they say they’re giving us, without any way of being sure. It’s surprising how many times our trust is misplaced.

Earlier this year I bought two plants of Anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’, from different nurseries, at different times, for a white-themed bed I’m creating in our garden. They have both come into flower now. This one is undoubtedly the white form known as Honorine Jobert…

The other one has turned out to be one of the more common pink forms (the colour is a bit washed out in the photo, but trust me, it’s definitely pink)…

Is it time for an inquiry? I’ve found both plant labels, but they don’t have the nursery names on them. One, I think, was mail order; part of an order for various plants. The other I bought from a nursery in persona personalmente, as it were. The trouble is, I’ve had them for a while, I’ve visited quite a few nurseries and plant fairs this year, and I can’t remember where I bought these plants. I think I know where the mail-order one came from. But I can’t be sure which is which.

Perhaps I should have been more organised, and paid more attention, so that I could go back to the offending nursery with the evidence. But that’s not really what buying plants, and building a garden is all about. So basically, I’ll have to put it down to experience. I’m not giving up on my white bed. I’ll move the offending pink anemone (which is still an attractive flower) to somewhere more appropriate in the garden, and buy one or two more white ones when I can (and hope they turn out to actually be white!)

Wooden plant label trials

I’m trying to get away from using plastic as much as I can. I have a supply of plastic plant labels that I re-use and re-use, but they’re getting worn and brittle, and so I’ve started to look for more sustainable replacements. Over the winter I did a little trial of wooden labels. I planted up pots of bulbs – tulips, daffodils and alliums – and labelled them using a variety of wooden labels. Some were re-purposed, others were shop bought; specifically intended to be used as labels. I wrote on them in pencil, as I’ve found this to be by far the best implement when it comes to the plastic labels – I haven’t come across any ink that doesn’t get washed off in time. They’ve only been in the pots since November, and so I’d say the results were disappointing.

The first is a wooden toothbrush handle (I cut off the bristles!) The writing is still there, but it’s barely legible…

The emerging leaves tell you more. If I zoom in to the photograph I can just about read ‘ Allium christophii‘. And on closer inspection, I can pick up ‘Queen of Night’. Interesting that the alliums are more advanced than the tulips.

The next pot has two labels…

These haven’t weathered too well either. Curiously, the writing is much clearer in the photo. There’s that old cliche of the camera never lying – well I can barely read these in real life. The one on the right (for Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’) is one of the shop bought labels. They’re laminated, and as you can see, the layers of wood veneer are separating. Unfortunately I’ve thrown away the pack, and I can’t remember the make (or, fortunately, for the manufacturer and the garden centre!) In fairness to them, this hasn’t happened with all of these labels. The one on the left (for Tulipa ‘Princes Irene’) is a very thin, balsa wood type which I believe was handed out free as a drinks stirrer (I don’t usually accept these, but it was during the pandemic, and I think I wasn’t given the option). Despite their flimsy nature, these stirrer have fared the best. As you can see from the next shot…

They’re both the same shape, I just tried them different ways up. The writing is still relatively clear on this one (reminding me that I’m lucky enough to have Tulipa ‘Princes Irene’ in two pots – Hurrah!)

So, not exactly a scientific study, but it has given me an indication of just what a challenge it will be to find plant labels that perform as well as the plastic ones. It isn’t easy being green! I’d be interested to hear any experiences you may have had with plant labels in sustainable materials…

Allium christophii, just before reaching their full, spherical shape. Christophii are one of the most unusual, interesting alliums. They look almost as if they’re made of metal; very striking, and very beautiful.

Text and images © Graham Wright 2021