How to Know Herb Plants

Look at the herb plant's leaves to identify distinct characteristics, such as whether the leaf is broad, thin, waxy, smooth, furry or glossy. Measure the leaves for an even better chance of identification. With practice, you'll be able to identify certain herbs just by examining the plant's leaves for size, color, texture and density. Examples of herbs easily identified by leaves alone are basil, with 2-inch long, broad leaves; dill and chives, with thin needle-like leaves; and violet and catnip with glossy, heart-shaped leaves.

Identify any flowers blooming on the herb plant by picking one or two blooms. Note details about the flowers, such as the color, number of petals, petal density and even the number of flowers per stalk. Compare the flowers with photos of herbs online or in an herbal guide book. Plants usually only flower at certain times per year, so note the time of year as you do your research. Some herbs that are easily identified by flowers include lavender, violets, red clover, burdock, honeysuckle and butterfly weed.

Smell the herb plant by breaking off a leaf or stalk. Determine whether the herb emits any kind of smell, and try to describe it with as much detail as you can, such as pungent, spicy, sweet, minty or citrus. Compare the herb plant to more familiar culinary herbs such as parsley, rosemary, mint, dill and cilantro. Other herbs with scents you may recognize are ginger, lavender and lemongrass.

Use your taste buds to further identify herb plants. Snap a leaf in half, and touch the broken edge to your tongue. Certain herbs have oils inside the leaves that make a distinct taste. Examples include mint, chive, basil and oregano.

Purchase an herb guide, such as "God's Wild Herbs : Identifying and Using 121 Plants Found in the Wild" by Dennis Ellingson, and "Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not So Wild) Places" by Steve Brill, to help you become familiar with each plant's identifying characteristics.