What type of plant? Tree or shrub Vine-like Forb (a broad-leaved herbaceous plant — think "wildflower") Graminoid (grass, sedge, or rush) Fern/Fern ally Aquatic Plant

From here on, answer only the questions you want to answer!

Where did you see it? Anywhere Mountains of the Carolinas or Georgia Piedmont of the Carolinas or Georgia Coastal Plain of the Carolinas or Georgia

When does it bloom? Anytime Spring Summer Fall Winter

What color* is the flower? Any color Blue/Violet/Purple Pink/Purplish/Lavender Red/Maroon Orange Yellow White/Cream/Greenish Brown/Maroon/Purple

Describe* the flower. "It is undivided" "It's divided into 2 petal-like parts" "It's divided into 3 petal-like parts" "It's divided into 4 petal-like parts" "It's divided into 5 petal-like parts" "It's divided into 6 petal-like parts" "It's divided into more than 6 petal-like parts (this will include flowerheads in the Aster family)" "It's shaped like a bell" (campanulate) "It's shaped like a funnel" (funnelform) "It has a long thin tube that widens suddenly into a flat face" (salverform) "It's like a tube or a cylinder" (tubular) "It's shaped like an urn" (urceolate) "It's circular in outline and more-or-less flat" (rotate) "It's pea-like" (papilionaceous) (the term means resembling a butterfly) "It's really too small to see clearly"
* Shapes and colors tend to grade into one another and are perceived differently by different people. If you don't find what you're looking for, try the next closest term.

What leaf type? All types Simple or appearing simple Compound or appearing compound

What is the leaf arrangement? Any arrangement A substantial number of leaves are alternate A substantial number of leaves are opposite Leaves are both alternate and opposite Leaves are whorled (or appear to be)

Are the leaves evergreen? "Yes, the leaves are at least partially evergreen" "I don't know"

Remember, you can ignore questions you don't want to answer!

Does the plant have milky sap? "Yes, the sap is somewhat milky" "No, it does not have milky sap" "I don't know"

Is the plant "armed"? "Yes, the plant has prickles, spines, thorns, and/or stinging hairs" "No, it doesn't appear to have prickles, spines, thorns, or stinging hairs" "I don't know"
* A few plants may present as either armed or unarmed, and these will show up in both queries.

Plant origin? Show plants believed to occur in North America before European settlement plants introduced to this continent from around the world both native and exotic plants

Invasive? Show plants believed to be invading natural areas to the detriment of native species and ecosystem health both invasive and non-invasive plants

Show only members of which family? Acanthaceae, Acanthus family Aceraceae, Maple family Acoraceae, Calamus family Actinidiaceae, Kiwi-fruit family Adoxaceae, Moschatel family Agavaceae, Agave family Aizoaceae, Carpetweed family Alismataceae, Water Plantain family Alliaceae, Onion family Alstroemeriaceae, Peruvian-lily family Altingiaceae, Sweetgum family Amaranthaceae, Pigweed family Amaryllidaceae, Amaryllis family Anacardiaceae, Cashew family Annonaceae, Pawpaw family Apiaceae, Parsley family Apocynaceae, Dogbane family Aquifoliaceae, Holly family Araceae, Arum family Araliaceae, Ginseng family Arecaceae, Palm family Aristolochiaceae, Birthwort family Asclepiadaceae, Milkweed family Asparagaceae, Asparagus family Aspidiaceae, a fern family Aspleniaceae, Spleenwort family Asteraceae, Aster or Sunflower family Asteraceae, Aster or Sunflower family - with BOTH DISC AND RAY flowers Asteraceae, Aster or Sunflower family - with ONLY DISC flowers Asteraceae, Aster or Sunflower family - with ONLY RAY flowers Athyriaceae, Lady Fern family Azollaceae, Mosquito Fern family Balsaminaceae, Touch-me-not family Basellaceae, Madeira-vine family Bataceae, Batis family Begoniaceae, Begonia family Berberidaceae, Barberry family Betulaceae, Birch family Bignoniaceae, Trumpet Creeper family Blechnaceae, Deer Fern family Boraginaceae, Borage family Brassicaceae, Mustard family Bromeliaceae, Pineapple family Buddlejaceae, Butterflybush family Burmanniaceae, Burmannia family Buxaceae, Boxwood family Cabombaceae, Water-shield family Cactaceae, Prickly Pear family Callitrichaceae, Water Starwort family Calycanthaceae, Strawberry Shrub family Calyceraceae, Calycera family Campanulaceae, Harebell family Cannabaceae, Hops family Cannaceae, Canna family Capparaceae, Caper family Caprifoliaceae, Honeysuckle family Caryophyllaceae, Pink family Casuarinaceae, Casuarina family Celastraceae, Bittersweet family Ceratophyllaceae, Hornwort family Chenopodiaceae, Goosefoot family Chionographidaceae, Chrysobalanaceae, Coco-plum family Cistaceae, Rockrose family Cleomaceae, Cleome family Clethraceae, Heath family Clusiaceae, Garcinia family Colchicaceae, Meadow Saffron family Commelinaceae, Spiderwort family Convolvulaceae, Morning Glory family Cornaceae, Dogwood family Crassulaceae, Stonecrop family Cucurbitaceae, Gourd family Cupressaceae, Cypress family Cuscutaceae, Dodder family Cycadaceae, Cycad, Sago-palm family Cymodoceaceae, Manatee-grass family Cyperaceae, Sedge family Cyrillaceae, Cyrilla family Cystopteridaceae, Brittle Fern Family Dennstaedtiaceae, Bracken Fern family Diapensiaceae, Diapensia family Diervillaceae, Bush-honeysuckle family Dionaeaceae, Flytrap family Dioscoreaceae, Yam family Diplaziopsidaceae, Glade Fern family Dipsacaceae, Teasel family Droseraceae, Sundew family Dryopteridaceae, Woodfern family Ebenaceae, Ebony family Elaeagnaceae, Oleaster family Elatinaceae, Waterwort family Empetraceae, Crowberry family Equisetaceae, Horsetail family Ericaceae, Heath family Eriocaulaceae, Pipewort family Euphorbiaceae, Spurge family Fabaceae, Pea or Bean family Fagaceae, Beech family Fumariaceae, Fumitory family Garryaceae, Garrya family Gelsemiaceae, Jessamine family Gentianaceae, Gentian family Geraniaceae, Geranium family Ginkgoaceae, Ginkgo family Goodeniaceae, Goodenia family Grossulariaceae, Currant family Haemodoraceae, Bloodwort family Haloragaceae, Water-milfoil family Hamamelidaceae, Witch Hazel family Heliotropiaceae, Heliotrope family Heloniadaceae, Swamp-pink family Hemerocallidaceae, Day-lily family Hippocastanaceae, Buckeye family Huperziaceae, Firmoss family Hyacinthaceae, Hyacinth family Hydrangeaceae, Hydrangea family Hydrastidaceae, Goldenseal family Hydrocharitaceae, Frog's-bit family Hydroleaceae, Hydrolea family Hydrophyllaceae, Waterleaf family Hymenophyllaceae, Filmy Fern family Hypericaceae, St. John's-wort family Hypoxidaceae, Stargrass family Illiciaceae, Star Anise family Iridaceae, Iris family Isoetaceae, Quillwort/Merlin's-grass family Iteaceae, Sweetspire family Juglandaceae, Walnut family Juncaceae, Rush family Juncaginaceae, Arrowgrass family Krameriaceae, Krameria family, Rhatany family Lamiaceae, Mint family Lardizabalaceae, Lardizabala family Lauraceae, Laurel family Leitneriaceae, Corkwood family Lemnaceae, Duckweed family Lentibulariaceae, Bladderwort family Liliaceae, Lily family Limnanthaceae, False-mermaid family, Meadow-foam family Limnocharitaceae, Water Poppy family Linaceae, Flax family Linderniaceae, False-pimpernel family Linnaeaceae, Twinflower family Loasaceae, Loasa family Loganiaceae, Logania family Loranthaceae, Mistletoe family Lycopodiaceae, Clubmoss family Lygodiaceae, Climbing Fern family Lythraceae, Loosestrife family Magnoliaceae, Magnolia family Malvaceae, Mallow family Marantaceae, Arrowroot family Marsileaceae, Water-clover family Martyniaceae, Martynia family Mayacaceae, Bogmoss family Mazaceae, Mazus family Melanthiaceae, Bunchflower family Melastomataceae, Melastome or Meadowbeauty family Meliaceae, Chinaberry family Menispermaceae, Moonseed family Menyanthaceae, Buckbean family Molluginaceae, Carpetweed family Monotropaceae, Heath? family Montiaceae, Montia family Moraceae, Mulberry family Musaceae, Banana family Myricaceae, Bayberry family Myrsinaceae, Myrsine family Myrtaceae, Myrtle family Najadaceae, Water Nymph family Nartheciaceae, Bog-asphodel family Nelumbonaceae, Sacred Bean family Nephrolepidaceae, Sword Fern family Nyctaginaceae, Four-o-clock family Nymphaeaceae, Water-lily family Nyssaceae, Sourgum family Olacaceae, Olax family Oleaceae, Olive family Onagraceae, Evening Primrose family Onocleaceae, Sensitive Fern family Ophioglossaceae, Adder's-tongue family Orchidaceae, Orchid family Orobanchaceae, Broomrape family Osmundaceae, Royal Fern family Oxalidaceae, Wood Sorrel family Papaveraceae, Poppy family Parnassiaceae, Grass-of-Parnassus family Passifloraceae, Passionflower family Paulowniaceae, Paulownia family Pedaliaceae, Sesame family Pentaphylacaceae, Pentaphylax or Sakaki family Penthoraceae, Ditch-stonecrop family Petiveriaceae, Petiveria family Philydraceae, Frogsmouth family Phrymaceae, Lopseed family Phyllanthaceae, Leaf-flower family Phytolaccaceae, Pokeweed family Pinaceae, Pine family Piperaceae, Pepper family Pittosporaceae, Pittosporum family Plantaginaceae, Plantain family Platanaceae, Sycamore family Plumbaginaceae, Leadwort family Poaceae, Grass family Podostemaceae, Riverweed family Polemoniaceae, Phlox family Polygalaceae, Milkwort family Polygonaceae, Smartweed family Polypodiaceae, Polypody family Pontederiaceae, Pickerelweed family Portulacaceae, Purslane family Potamogetonaceae, Pondweed family Primulaceae, Primrose family Psilotaceae, Whiskfern family Pteridaceae, Maidenhair Fern family Pyrolaceae, Heath? family Ranunculaceae, Buttercup family Resedaceae, Mignonette family Rhamnaceae, Buckthorn family Rhizophoraceae, Red Mangrove family Rosaceae, Rose family Rubiaceae, Bedstraw or Madder family Ruppiaceae, Wigeon-grass family Ruscaceae, Ruscus family Rutaceae, Rue family Salicaceae, Willow family Salviniaceae, Floating Fern family Santalaceae, Sandalwood family Sapindaceae, Soapberry family Sapotaceae, Sapodilla family Sarraceniaceae, Pitcher-plant family Saururaceae, Lizard's-tail family Saxifragaceae, Saxifrage family Scheuchzeriaceae, Scheuchzeria family Schisandraceae, Star-vine family Schizaeaceae, Curly-grass family Scrophulariaceae, Figwort family Selaginellaceae, Spikemoss family Simaroubaceae, Quassia family Smilacaceae, Greenbrier family Solanaceae, Nightshade family Sparganiaceae, Bur-reed family Sphenocleaceae, Chickenspike family Staphyleaceae, Bladdernut family Stemonaceae, Stemona family Sterculiaceae, Chocolate family Styracaceae, Storax family Symplocaceae, Sweetleaf family Talinaceae, Fameflower family Tamaricaceae, Tamarisk family Taxaceae, Yew family Taxodiaceae, Bald Cypress family Tetrachondraceae, Tetrachondra family Theaceae, Tea family Thelypteridaceae, Marsh fern family Themidaceae, Brodiea family Thymelaeaceae, Mezereum family Tiliaceae, Basswood or Linden family Tofieldiaceae, False-asphodel family Trapaceae, Water Chestnut family Trilliaceae, Trillium family Tropaeolaceae, Nasturtium family Turneraceae, Turnera family Typhaceae, Cat-tail family Ulmaceae, Elm family Urticaceae, Nettle family Valerianaceae, Corn Salad family Verbenaceae, Vervain family Viburnaceae, Viburnum family Violaceae, Violet family Viscaceae, Mistletoe family Vitaceae, Grape family Vittariaceae, Shoestring Fern family Woodsiaceae, Lady Fern family Xanthorrhoeaceae, Day-lily family Xerophyllaceae, Beargrass family Xyridaceae, Yellow-eyed Grass family Zamiaceae, Sago-palm family Zingiberaceae, Ginger family Zosteraceae, Eelgrass family Zygophyllaceae, Creosote-bush family, Caltrop family
as determined by whom? Weakley's Flora PLANTS National Database Vascular Flora of the Carolinas
If you don't know what family your plant is in, try looking up a plant you know that has a similar-looking flower and browse through that family; yours may be a close relative. Or check out the resources below*.