Signs for palms

[Guest Lucinda]

How do you permanently identify your palms in the landscape? Little signs in the ground next to the trees? Tags hanging on fronds? Other? And where do you get the materials?

I'd like something that's not too expensive, yet stays legible over time and looks worthy of the effort and money acquiring a specimen takes.

Suggestions?

[palmmermaid]

You can do a couple of things.

A trophy shop will make imprinted plastic signs that you can glue to stakes or tie on the tree with wire.

You can order metal stakes and mounts with plastic sheets to mount in the holders from a few of the nursery suppliers.

A nursery here in town is actually selling some pretty neat ones.  They look like rocks and have the green plastic plates with white letters mounted on the rocks.  The rocks have a stake on the bottom so you can mount them in the ground.

Some things to put on the tags - scientific names, common names, country of origin, year of planting, and size at planting.  I have all this information for mine and the tags and stakes but don't have them labeled yet.  My husband is bugging me to get it done so during the hot part of the day this summer, I will work on this project.

[Caryota_gigas]

We have a map drawn up of our section and each palm and plant is located on the map with a number, with a key for the names. This saves having ugly name tags scattered about your garden. I know all my Palms very well though and have never had to check on what one was called... yet...

[TikiRick]

It is a personal preference, but it is my opinion that tags hanging from palms or signs gives the appearance of a botanical garden and less of a personal collection. I don't use any tags, but it is all in a written diary instead. If someone asks, then aside from the Latin name, I can refer to the diary.

[palmmermaid]

I have a diary or plan with the information as well.  But my husband likes to show off the garden and he only knows they are palms.  So I will do it for him.  He is proud of the work I do and likes to show it off.  Gotta love him for that!

[TikiRick]

What I have seen, and done inexpensively, is go to Lowe's or Home Depot and get a bucket (1000's in a bucket!) of tin caps. They are the quarter sized flat pieces of metal that roofers use when nailing down tar paper. They are very cheap. Buy a metal engraver---used for engraving your name/address/phone number on metal property like a bicycle, appliance, or weapon.

Engrave the common name, botanical name, and the date on the tin cap, punch a hole in it with a sharp nail, and use a thin piece of plastic coated wire to secure it to the palm. It will last forever and the whole shebang may cost you $50.00.

[Darold Petty]

Lucinda, the best signs we have found are from Gary Wood, a long-time IPS member and owner of South Coast Palms in Fallbrook , California.  We use his signs at our Lakeside Palmetum.  go to  www.plantsigns.com.

[Guest Lucinda]

Thank you SO much for all the great ideas. I am still struggling with the botanical nomenclature. Two years of high school and a zoology major help somewhat, but the closest I ever got to Greek was as a sorority girl in college (several palm generations ago). With signs in place, everytime I pull a weed, a sign will serve as reinforcement  Also, it saves me from saying "Duh" or whipping out my diary/map/photos when visitors ask "what kind of palm is that?"

Lucinda

On Terra Ceia Bay, SW coast of Florida

[ghar41]

I label the palms and cycads in my garden.  For obvious plants (Queen palm) I dont bother but for the most part I have to label everything or I forget what they are!

Pencil, pen ect. on plastic or other name tags just doesn't cut it.  I can't read them after a couple of years.

These aluminum tags....

http://www.andrewcrace.co.uk/alitags/alumi...lant-labels.htm

...are definitely an improvement.  But I have found that when they come into contact with hard water, soil, ect. they corrode and they become hard to read.  I do like the ones that push into the ground better than the ones that hang from a wire.

The absolute best method I have found are the awesome botanical garden quality plant signs like the ones Gary Wood makes down in Fallbrook....  

http://www.plantsigns.com/

Good luck on your search!  

[ibreakforpalms]

In the June 2003 edition of the Palmateer (Central Florida Palm and Cycad Society publication), there is an excellent article titled "Plant Labels Made Easy" on pages 6 and 7.  Everyone should check it out.  

Go to:  http://207.210.245.133/palmateers/Palmateer_Vol23n2_06-2003.pdf

Hope this helps.  

[bgl]

Lucinda,

We've been getting quite a few signs from Gary Wood, and the signs are very nice. The only negative aspect is that if you happen to step on them (!) they break easily. (Sometimes, someone will take a step or two backwards without looking and it can easily happen...). Here's one of our signs. You decide yourself what text you want on the sign. If I remember correctly, the signs come in three sizes, 2x4, 3x6 and 4x8 inches. This is the 3x6 size.

Bo-Göran

[waykoolplantz]

We have been using the DYMO labelmaker with aluminium tape,stuck on a wire adjacent to palm...and have a complete record in a laptop...with location.

i have mixed feelings about I.D. methods...the plastic signs seem too industrial (tho may become necessary)...while the light reflecting off the metal tags can interupts the visual serenity and vista

[Gtlevine]

Where in So Cal can you buy the metal engravers? I like the small metal tags that you punch the information with an engraver and hang it from an 18 inch metal stake pushed in the ground. As the Palm grows, the stake can be moved easily. For some reason I can't find a supplier in So Cal.

Gary

[ibreakforpalms]

In my opinion the plastic engraved signs are mighty expensive, especially if you have a big collection!!!  Better spent on more plant material if you ask me.  

[Guest Lucinda]

All the suggestions are excellent. I am particularly pleased with Jason's reference to the Palmeteer article, post #18, which I read and printed out. It involves setting up a data base, a necessity anyway, plus using equipment I already have. The end result should be attractive enough for a home garden and won't dent the palm-buying budget.

It's also less pretentious for my little third-of-an-acre subdivision plot.

This board is an absolutely outstanding resource!

LLM

[NCpalmqueen]

I think I have tried every plant labeling method listed here and then some.  I am still looking for the ultimate, affordable way to label plants that will last for years and years and doesn't look too tacky.  

The laminate method works well for awhile.  The sun will eventually yellow the plastic, and then the laminate shrivels and opens to the weather.

I am trialing these labels. http://www.gardenfonts.com/

 So far, they're holding up to the harsh sun.

[Tomsky]

Years ago, I had metal signs for the palms. However, I also had a border terrier puppy who liked to chew on everything she could get her mouth on. I was afraid she might get hurt from the metal, so I took the signs away. Since then, the names are in my head, at least until I forget them.

Jack

[Kris]

I have a diary or plan with the information as well. But my husband likes to show off the garden and he only knows they are palms. So I will do it for him. He is proud of the work I do and likes to show it off. Gotta love him for that!

Dear Kitty

you & your husband are made for each other type.... i.e one complimenting the other..!

Dear Lucinda

if you are not worried about the budget,then try the once the botanical gardens have...yes the metal sign board with all the details neatly painted on it purely in black & white ! i always like this method...

love,

Kris

Note :- the thumbnails seen here all belongs to the respective member's nurseries or gathered from the travelogs from various botanical garden coverages by our members...!

[_Keith]

Lucinda,

We've been getting quite a few signs from Gary Wood, and the signs are very nice. The only negative aspect is that if you happen to step on them (!) they break easily. (Sometimes, someone will take a step or two backwards without looking and it can easily happen...). Here's one of our signs. You decide yourself what text you want on the sign. If I remember correctly, the signs come in three sizes, 2x4, 3x6 and 4x8 inches. This is the 3x6 size.

Bo-Göran

These are great. Eventually, I would like to put signs in like this one, but I have so many experimental items I hate to spend the bucks prior to giving things a few years to see what will make it. Eventually,,,,