Label Layouts & Design

Although botanical label designs have no specific industry guidelines, they do follow a general layout for scientific and permanent collections. The diagram indicates what can be expected on a label and usually, the more important information is placed in the top corners with the less important items at the bottom. There are no rules of layout to follow, so labelling formats in use by major scientific gardens vary and include some or all of the following:-

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A) Scientific botanical and horticultural gardens

Scientific name (genus/species/IR/sub species/cultivar) is the most important part of the plant label and almost always placed in the centre of the label, shown in the largest font size. The rows may be centred or left-aligned.

Accession number or unique number is an important part for scientific gardens and is usually placed in the top left corner of the label. The plant name together with the accession number is the minimum requirement for nearly all gardens for permanent collections.

Common name can be included with the botanical name, depending on the garden’s requirement. Where used together, the common name is usually but not always displayed underneath the scientific name in the centre of the label.

Family name is placed in one of the corners of the label, according to a garden’s preference or tradition, (e.g. Cambridge Botanic Garden top right; RHS top left; Kew top right) and may be capitalised.

Geographical range, country of origin or natural distribution. This is generally displayed at the bottom of the label underneath the plant name. (e.g. Hilliers bottom left; RHS bottom left; Cambridge Botanic Garden bottom right; Kew bottom right).

Provenance or Source codes are usually displayed in one of the bottom corners.

Collectors’ codes: are placed in one of the top corners but often directly under the accession number on the left (e.g. Kew top left; RHS bottom right; Hilliers top right).

Verification code is usually shown in a bottom corner (e.g. RHS bottom right, Kew bottom left)

Other codes, such as to denote protected status, a commemorative or champion tree, horticultural group are all generally placed one of the bottom corners.

Botanical symbols to denote toxicity, life form, sexual arrangement, protected status, etc. can be placed in a bottom corner, while for plant species that are monoecious a symbol to denote whether the plant growing is male or female can be placed immediately after the plant name.

B) General horticultural and non-scientific gardens

These gardens usually require less formal designs for their labels, according to the aims of their collection and not necessarily with an accession number. Only those item/s that are considered necessary or of interest to staff and visitors are usually included. Other than the scientific name and common name, additional further information and codes such as denoting a commemorative plant or champion tree, horticultural group, hardiness zone or trials number are all optional.

Other images and symbols may also be appropriate, such as the RHS Award of Garden Merit logo (which is placed top right on RHS labels) or botanical symbols to denote toxicity, scent, protected status, etc may also be appropriate and are generally placed in a bottom corner.

The logo of a garden or institution may be placed their either centrally at the top or in a top corner, according to the garden’s choice or branding. (e.g. National Collections have logo top left) or botanical symbols to denote toxicity, scent, protected status, etc may also be appropriate.