Weatherproof outdoor plant labeling solutions

December 12, 2022 2:28 PM

I would like to label my outdoor plants and have it be permanent. Some plants I ordered from a nursery came with a paper-like tag with black marker writing and these tags have not faded in three years - I know it is possible. I am open to paper, metal, plastic, tied to the plant, staked in the ground, whatever. Ideally the medium would support writing the plant's botanical name (i.e. fine point writing), but if I need to just write A-32 and have a directory where I look the plant up, that's fine too.
posted by xo to Home & Garden (16 answers total)

The nursery probably had a dedicated, professional-grade thermal label printer. Those are usually too expensive for most home gardeners, so people I know tend to go with a metal tag that has A-32 embossed on it either professionally or otherwise or labels with a UV resistant cover, though some people will use nail polish. It looks like that company also offers custom printed ones for prices that are pretty reasonable in small quantities.
posted by joyceanmachine at 2:55 PM on December 12, 2022

Galvanized steel labels with a paint marker are a classic long term solution.
posted by rockindata at 2:57 PM on December 12, 2022 [3 favorites]

Weatherproof marking pen from Johnny's Seeds - I've never used it but the company is very trustworthy and they sell to both hobby gardeners and actual farms and nurseries.

Or this Leonard Long-Lasting Nursery Marker Pen came up when I searched for "marker pen nursery."

You could even ask the nursery what brand of markers they use.
posted by mskyle at 3:01 PM on December 12, 2022

We have used these, and this. I enjoy the chore of stamping out the names, however. YMMV.
posted by furnace.heart at 3:03 PM on December 12, 2022 [2 favorites]

Lee Valley Tools has these copper tags that can be inscribed/engraved using a ballpoint pen. Seems nifty. They also have plant markers that work with grease pencil or permanent garden marker that they also have available.
posted by MelanieL at 3:09 PM on December 12, 2022 [2 favorites]

Emboss-o-tags!

You hand write firmly with a nice ball point pen (wider tip works better imo), and it embosses the tag, no special tool required. Classy, durable, easy; thanks for reminding me I want to order a set :)
posted by SaltySalticid at 3:10 PM on December 12, 2022 [3 favorites]

For a little more than the nicer letter punches HF compares their set to (or the same price if you can deal with more barebones kits) you could get a little desktop CNC router and make engraved tags, plus lots of other things. The little ones go for between $150 and $200 on amazon (without an enclosure).

Here's All3DP's CNC-3018 pro 2022 buyers guide.

But if you have no interest in other bits and bobs I'd go with a paint pen, and a stencil if you want to do it especially neatly. Cut up wood trim, or metal flashing, or ceramic tiles can all work.
posted by snuffleupagus at 3:13 PM on December 12, 2022

Have you tried Tyvek-based tags, which *can* be written on with Sharpies (i.e. permanent markers?) How long have those lasted for you?

Another option is to get a small laminator and just laminate the paper tags, which would make them effectively weatherproof. But those can get expensive. Probably business card / ID card sized one will do very nicely.
posted by kschang at 3:23 PM on December 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

Depending on what plants you have, you could support an artist! I wonder if you could ask for specific names.
posted by lulu68 at 3:30 PM on December 12, 2022

My sister and I write on rocks with a paint pen. Lasts through the winter snow.
posted by kitcat at 3:47 PM on December 12, 2022 [3 favorites]

Another option would be to use a wood burning tool. Basically an oversized and more rudely made soldering iron.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:05 PM on December 12, 2022

Brother P-touch TZe labels are weatherproof and impervious to fading. The label makers support making flag style labels that would work to label plants directly or to attach to some sort of wire stake. We use them to permanently label outdoor electrical equipment. Little battery operated labelers start around $50. The label cartridges are somewhat expensive but not prohibitively so for your application. Knock cartridges are available but who knows how durable the would be.
posted by Mitheral at 7:37 PM on December 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

I like using paint on rocks. It makes a nice indoor wintertime project.

Go basic with the plant name or get creative and paint representative leaf shape or whatever for help in identifying perennials to make weeding earier.
posted by mightshould at 2:52 AM on December 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

When you get sturdy tyvek packages, you can cut it in strips, use Magic Marker, and attach it to a low branch.
posted by theora55 at 6:47 AM on December 13, 2022

Having worked in nurseries and botanical gardens I can tell you that there is no 100% permanent way to do this. Redundancy is extremely helpful, i.e. having more than one type of label on each plant. For legibility down the line the zinc markers that record impressions with ballpoint pens or embossing stamps are hard to beat. Avoid copper- while it looks nice it can be toxic to plants.

Many plastics become brittle and break down especially with sunlight. You can bury a plastic or metal tag with with a label printed on high quality tape. Burying tags, or driving them into the ground on a stake usually works well for longevity of the tag- however plants can get moved without their accompanying tag. So a tag on the plant and in the ground really helps.

I've been in gardens where signs that needed to be visible to patrons were made of wood and engraved with a wood engraver. If you maintain them with a sealant they can last for a very long time.
posted by oneirodynia at 12:47 PM on December 13, 2022 [3 favorites]

Also: never use Sharpies. These markers are what we used in a nursery I worked at where plant signs were out in the sun and rain for years.
posted by oneirodynia at 12:54 PM on December 13, 2022