Read the plant's label

A plant's label is of the utmost importance to the gardener. It provides a short description of the plant, as well as important information concerning its maintenance. Here is a sample of the information most often found on a label and the ways to understand various labels.
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The plant name
Zone
Plant dimensions
Exposure

The plant name

Generally we find Latin and English names on the first lines of the label. Why Latin? Because Latin is a universal language that is used in horticulture throughout the world. Contrary to French and English names that can differ from country to country and region to region, Latin names are used uniformly throughout the world. Horticultural nomenclature was developed in the 18th century. It was created by a Carl Von Linneaus, a Swedish botanist who devised a method of classification for each and every plant.
AcerPlatanoid"Globosum"
(maple)(Norway)(globe)
GenusSpeciesEpithet
Genus. The first word employed to designate a plant identifies its genus. The genus groups plants with similar characteristics.

Species. Species is ranked as the second word in a plant appellation. A species groups plants of the same genus that can reproduce naturally among themselves. For example, there are Acer platanoids and Acer sacharums.

Epithet. Sometimes a name is followed by the plant's epithet. This describes a plant's botanical particularity: its leaf or flower color, its shape... The epithet can also designate the name of its discoverer.
Ex. columnaris = colonne; glauca = blue; variegata = two colors; aurea = yellow.
Hybride. When a plant is grown from crossing of two different species of the same genus, it becomes, botanically speaking, a hybrid. Its species name is then designated by an "x", the multiplication sign.
Ex. Gaillardia x grandiflora is a cross between Gaillairdia asiatata and Gaillardia pulchella.

Zone

Plants don't always share the same resistance to winter conditions. Thus, we can say that they are more or less "rustic". As case in point, a given plant may resist a Montreal winter, but will perish if left out in the Quebec City region. The basis by which we evaluate the degree of resistance to cold is known as the "rusticity zone". Environment Canada, after having surveyed the minimal temperatures throughout the country, has created "rusticity zones".

These zones are divided into ten regions, delimited by their minimal winter temperatures.

The zone indicated on a label shows that a plant will be designated as "rustic". For example, the Montreal region is designated as zone five, while the Quebec region is designated as zone four. It is possible to cultivate plants from zone one, two, three and four in a zone four, but a designated five won't survive. A designated zone five will not survive as a plant cannot resist zone four temperatures. Other factors can influence your "rustic" zone (wind, water, protected areas), so call an expert at your garden centre.

Plant dimensions

The height and width indicated on the label indicates its size at maturity. Thus, it is necessary to allow room for the plant to grow normally. Do not be influenced by its size at the moment of purchase.

Please note, often we find two measures on growers labels: one indicates the plant's height at maturity and the other indicates the plant's size at the time of purchase (which determines the price). The buyer should not confuse the two.

Exposure

Light exposure needs vary from one plant to another. Some require direct sunlight, while others prefer shade. We usually find this information in the form of a drawing or an abbreviation on the label.
The information shown on plant labels is important. They allow the gardener to orient his plant purchases to assure compatibility with plants that are already in the garden. Take the time to read the labels and thus, give your plants optimal conditions.
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