# Can you help me ID these plants/flowers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 18, 2005, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-help-me-id-these-plants-flowers/304381 "2005-05-18T11:23:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-help-me-id-these-plants-flowers/304381/41 "2005-05-18T21:53:05Z")
I’d go with crocus for A too; this can easily be confirmed by digging down a little - if it’s crocus, the stems will be attached to a teardrop-shaped bulb with a dark brown fibrous sheath. C is _definitely_ Lily of the Valley. Definitely D is a grape hyacinth - there are a number of different species and varieties, but I’d say you’ve got _Muscari aucheri_ - syn _tubergenianum_), on the basis of the paler blue unopened flowers and the white-rimmed mouths. E is a paeony. F is definitely _Alliaria_ - I’m very familiar with this plant as I gather it for food. B is most probably day lilies - if nothing else, because the person that planted paeonies, crocuses and grape hyacinths would probably also choose day lilies. We might all end up surprised on that one though. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-help-me-id-these-plants-flowers/304381/42 "2005-05-18T22:17:52Z")
\*\*E \*\*is identical to the peonies I have in my yard. The leaves begin very reddish, and become green as they mature. Mine are covered with buds now, and in a couple more weeks we’ll have huge pink flowers. When the buds get bigger, they’ll attract ants, which eat the sweet syrup holding the buds together, enabling the flowers to open. **D** : grape hyacinths (_Muscari botryoides_ and other varieties) is a totally different plant than “regular” hyacinths (_Hyacinthus orientalis_). They are usually smaller, more “clustered” and lack the intense fragrance and color variety of the regulars. ---
**Author:** ![Corii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Corii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corii)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-help-me-id-these-plants-flowers/304381/43 "2005-05-18T22:59:23Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > When the buds get bigger, they’ll attract ants, which eat the sweet syrup holding the buds together, enabling the flowers to open. So THAT’S why we always had ants on our peony buds! When I was a kid I was both fascinated and mystified by that. ---
**Author:** ![RumMunkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@RumMunkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RumMunkey)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-help-me-id-these-plants-flowers/304381/44 "2005-05-19T00:54:50Z")
> [@](#): > > When the buds get bigger, they’ll attract ants, which eat the sweet syrup holding the buds together, enabling the flowers to open. > > _So THAT’S why we always had ants on our peony buds! When I was a kid I was both fascinated and mystified by that._ It also kinda explains why there are so many ants around here too. I figured they just loved to live in the rotting tree stumps and rotting railroad ties the previous owners\* left here, now I know where their food somes from! On another note thanks to everyone for your valuable help! I knew I could get on the right track if I posted here. Keep 'em coming if you have thoughts, comments, suggestions or anything else to add… \*(_I’m just a little bitter, eh?)_ ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-help-me-id-these-plants-flowers/304381/45 "2005-05-19T01:16:40Z")
I’m definitely in the liriope camp on “A” – here’s a look at a [range of different varieties](http://classygroundcovers.com/cat--ALL-LIRIOPE--Liriope). And “C” is absolutely lily-of-the-valley. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-help-me-id-these-plants-flowers/304381/46 "2005-05-19T05:11:16Z")
We have some peonies growing in our back yard, and they started out with bronze foliage that later turned green. (I only figured out what they were from recognising them at Home Depot and reading the plant tag.) I may be along later with my own pictures of Mystery Plants Growing Round the Place We Bought. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-help-me-id-these-plants-flowers/304381.md?page=2)