Nursery tags are written to sell plants, but the useful facts are all there. We read them the same way every time: name, size, light, then hardiness. Four checks, about two minutes.
The botanical name
Common names change from county to county. The Latin name in italics doesn’t. Note it down, and look for the cultivar name in quotes too: ‘Annabelle’ and ‘Limelight’ are both hydrangeas but behave nothing alike.
Mature size, not pot size
The height and spread on the tag is what the plant will be in five to ten years. Plant for that number, not for the pot in your hand. Most crowded beds we fix were planted at the right spacing for year one.
Light and hardiness
Full sun means six or more hours of direct light; part shade is three to six. Then check the hardiness zone. Most of the Triangle sits in zone 7b to 8a, so anything rated to zone 7 or colder will handle our winters.
When the tag is missing
Ask. A good nursery will know, and if they don’t, that tells you something about where the plant came from.