Plant questions

cucurbit vine (gourd/squash family)

What is this cucurbit vine growing wild on my trellis?

This looks like a cucurbit vine – something in the gourd/squash family, such as pumpkin, bottle gourd, or another edible squash – probably a volunteer from kitchen scraps or old compost. Let it flower and fruit to know exactly which one.

tomato

What plant is this seedling I planted?

The seedlings in the photo are tomato plants. Give them strong sun, a bigger pot or bed, and support as they grow taller.

sapodilla (chikoo)

What is this tree with brown round fruits – is the fruit edible?

This looks very much like a sapodilla (chikoo) tree, whose ripe fruit is edible and sweet, but never eat anything based only on an online ID. Have a local plant expert or neighbor familiar with the tree confirm it in person before tasting.

How can I identify this small cutting with only one damaged leaf?

From the photo, the plant is too small and damaged to confidently identify; it looks like a young aroid-type houseplant grown from a stem cutting. Let it grow a few new leaves and nodes, then compare leaf shape and growth habit for a more reliable ID.

foxglove

What is this large rosette plant that popped up on its own?

This looks like a foxglove (Digitalis), growing in its first-year leaf rosette. It’s a pretty biennial flower, but every part of the plant is highly poisonous, so only keep it if it’s away from pets and children.

What is this low, grey‑green wild plant spreading over the ground?

From the photo it looks like a low, spreading wild herb with small grey‑green, slightly hairy leaves—likely a common weedy species, possibly in the mint family. A close, clear photo of a single stem, leaf arrangement, and flowers or seed pods is needed for a confident ID.

ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa, variegated cultivar)

What is this colorful, striped foliage plant with yellow-edged leaves?

This is a variegated ti plant, a Cordyline fruticosa cultivar grown for its colorful striped leaves. Treat it like a warm-climate ornamental: bright light, evenly moist soil, and protection from cold.

common evening primrose

What is this rosette weed with smooth green leaves in my yard?

This looks like a young common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) growing as a basal rosette. Let it grow if you’d like tall yellow flowers later, or pull it now if you consider it a weed.

What is this volunteer shrub growing in my Durham, NC garden bed?

From the photo it looks like a young, weedy shrub rather than a desirable ornamental. In the Durham, NC area, seedlings of invasive shrubs like privet or bush honeysuckle commonly pop up like this, so it’s safest to treat it as a weed and remove it unless you positively identify it with flowers or fruit.

lobster claw heliconia

What is this tropical plant with red hanging claw-like flowers?

This is a Heliconia, commonly called lobster claw or false bird of paradise. It’s a tropical ornamental that loves warmth, bright light, and consistently moist soil.

morning glory vine

What is the name of this volunteer vine on my fence?

This looks like a volunteer morning glory vine (Ipomoea species), a common self‑seeding climber. Let it grow if you like flowering vines, but pull it out early if you don’t want it to spread.

cape gooseberry

What is the name of this plant with papery lantern-like fruits?

This plant is a Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana), also called ground cherry or rasbhari in many places. It’s a small fruiting plant with edible orange berries inside papery lantern-like husks.

soursop

What plant has this green spiky hanging fruit?

The plant is a soursop tree (Annona muricata), a tropical fruit tree with soft, spiky green fruits. Let the fruit grow until it becomes slightly soft and the spines flatten a bit before harvesting.

What is this unknown garden plant with glossy, lobed green leaves?

From the photo alone it’s hard to confidently give a precise ID, as many young shrubs and perennials have similar glossy, lobed leaves. Let it grow a bit and watch for flowers, fruits, or any thorns, and take clearer photos of the whole plant and stem to narrow it down.

variegated philodendron

What is this green and white variegated climbing plant?

This looks like a variegated philodendron, often sold under names like Philodendron ‘White Wizard’ or similar white‑variegated philodendron types. Treat it like a typical climbing philodendron: bright indirect light, regular but not soggy watering, and support to climb.

bitter gourd

What is this vining plant with deeply lobed leaves (looks like bitter gourd)?

From the leaf shape and the thin climbing vines, this looks very much like wild bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), a cucurbit relative of cucumber and pumpkin. Let a few flowers or fruits form to confirm the ID before eating it.

turkey berry (pea eggplant)

What plant is this with clusters of small green berries and large lobed leaves?

This looks like turkey berry (Solanum torvum), also called pea eggplant. It’s a wild relative of eggplant that makes clusters of small green berries often used in cooking when fully developed and cooked, but the plant and raw fruits are mildly toxic, so don’t eat it unless you’re sure and know how it’s prepared locally.

celery

What is this leafy herb-like plant I forgot I planted?

The plant in the photo is celery, growing as a leafy clump from the base. Start harvesting outer stalks as needed, or let it keep growing thicker if you prefer larger stems.

moringa (drumstick tree)

What is this plant with small oval leaflets – is it moringa (drumstick tree)?

This looks like a young moringa tree (Moringa oleifera), also called drumstick tree or sahjan. It’s a fast‑growing edible tree whose leaves, flowers, and pods are commonly used as a vegetable and in herbal remedies.

coriander (cilantro)

What is this leafy herb I picked from my garden for cooking?

This looks like coriander (also called cilantro), a common leafy herb used fresh in cooking. Rub a leaf and smell it—if it has a strong, lemony-spicy aroma, it’s safe to use as coriander greens.

rubber plant

What plant is this with thick dark leaves and a red central spike?

This is a Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica), likely a dark or ‘Burgundy’ type. The red “pencil-like flower” in the middle isn’t a flower at all, but the sheath of a new leaf that will soon unfurl.

papaya

What plant is this tall tree with lobed leaves and green elongated fruits?

The plant in the photo is a papaya tree (Carica papaya). It produces the familiar papaya fruits, which start out green and turn yellow or orange as they ripen.

butter daisy (Melampodium)

What is this bushy plant with many small yellow daisy‑like flowers?

This looks like a Butter Daisy (Melampodium), a compact, sun‑loving annual with lots of small yellow daisy‑like flowers. Plant it in a sunny spot with well‑draining soil and it will bloom for months with minimal care.

red radish

What is this long red root vegetable in my garden?

This looks like a long red radish variety, similar to a red daikon or “candle” radish. Treat and use it just like other radishes—roots are eaten raw or cooked, and young leaves are edible too.

variegated century plant (Agave americana 'Marginata')

What plant is this variegated spiky rosette grown by the roadside?

This is a variegated century plant, a type of agave (Agave americana ‘Marginata’). It’s a tough, sun‑loving succulent often used in roadside and garden borders.

mint

What is the name of this mint-like herb plant?

This looks like a type of mint, most likely common mint or spearmint. Rub a leaf between your fingers and smell it – a strong, cool minty scent will confirm it’s a mint plant.

What is this low silvery rosette plant with ridged leaves?

It’s a young rosette‑forming wild plant, likely a biennial or perennial that hasn’t sent up a flower stalk yet. The only way to be sure what it is will be to let it grow and identify it once it flowers.

ambarella (June plum)

What is this Polynesian fruit that tastes like pineapple and mango?

This looks like ambarella (also called June plum or golden apple), a Polynesian fruit tree whose tart, crunchy fruits can taste like a mix of pineapple and mango. Start by confirming the ID from a fallen ripe fruit: it should turn golden-yellow and have a very fibrous stone in the center.

magnolia

What is this bright pink pod with red seeds in my garden?

This is a magnolia seed pod, the fruit that forms after a magnolia flower fades. The pink bumpy cone splits open to reveal the bright red seeds inside, which birds often eat or you can try to grow.

purple shamrock (Oxalis triangularis)

What is the name of this purple, shamrock-like plant?

This is a Purple Shamrock, also called Oxalis triangularis, a bulb-forming plant with triangular leaves that open in the day and close at night. Grow it in bright indirect light and well‑draining soil, letting the top soil dry slightly between waterings.

mulberry (Morus)

What is this plant with serrated leaves and mulberry-like catkins?

This looks like a mulberry tree (Morus), grown for its sweet berries and as food for silkworms. Let it grow in full sun, water regularly while young, and you’ll soon get edible fruits once the catkins develop and ripen.

philodendron (red hybrid, e.g. ‘Rojo Congo’ / ‘Imperial Red’)

What is this red-leaf philodendron plant called?

This is a type of red-leaf Philodendron, most likely a hybrid such as ‘Rojo Congo’ or ‘Imperial Red’. It’s a climbing aroid that likes bright, indirect light and evenly moist soil.

Mexican petunia (Ruellia simplex)

What is this tall plant that suddenly grew in my pot?

This looks very much like a young Mexican petunia (Ruellia simplex), a common ornamental that often self‑seeds into nearby pots. Let it grow a bit and watch for purple, trumpet‑shaped flowers to confirm.

tropical pitcher plant

What is this hanging plant with red pitchers?

This is a tropical pitcher plant (Nepenthes), a carnivorous vine that catches insects in its hanging pitchers. Keep it in bright filtered light, high humidity, and evenly moist soil so it can keep making those pitchers.

papaya

What is this volunteer plant with deeply lobed leaves in my garden?

This looks like a young papaya (Carica papaya) that has sprouted from a dropped seed. If you have space and good sun, you can let it grow into a fruiting papaya tree, otherwise remove or transplant it while it’s still small.

purple shamrock (Oxalis triangularis)

What is this purple plant with triangle leaves and pink flowers?

This is a Purple Shamrock (Oxalis triangularis), also called False Shamrock. It’s a bulb-like houseplant with purple, triangular leaves and pale pink flowers that does best in bright, indirect light and lightly moist soil.

bitter gourd

What is this vine with deeply lobed leaves – is it bitter gourd?

This looks like a wild/volunteer bitter gourd (bitter melon) vine, a cucurbit with deeply lobed leaves and tendrils. Let a few fruits develop to confirm the ID: they should look like small, warty green gourds that turn orange when ripe.

eggplant (brinjal)

What plant is this with purple fruits and star-shaped flowers?

This is an eggplant plant, also called brinjal. Give it plenty of sun, a bigger pot or ground space, and regular feeding for better growth and more fruits.

Abutilon (flowering maple / Chinese lantern)

What is this hardy yellow shrub with hanging bell flowers?

This looks like an Abutilon shrub (often called flowering maple or Chinese lantern). Take semi‑ripe cuttings from non‑flowering shoots in warmer months, keep them humid but well‑drained, and they should root much better.

earth star (Cryptanthus)

What kind of plant is this pink striped rosette houseplant?

This is an Earth Star, a type of bromeliad from the Cryptanthus group. Grow it in bright indirect light, keep the soil just slightly moist, and it will keep that pretty pink color.