Published March 2, 2023 by Nicole Burke

Our Favorite Plant Labels for the Garden

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large plant labels

Add Character to Your Garden with Plant Tags and Plant Labels

I'll remember where I planted those seeds is one of the many lies we gardeners tell ourselves. And then we double-plant or—even worse, in my opinion—leave spaces with nothing planted.

This is where plant tags, plant labels, and plant markers come in handy. Not only can they serve a very useful function in our garden spaces, they can also bring a little personality, even charm.

We've rounded up some of our favorite plant tags and labels to help you find the right ones for your kitchen garden.

plant tags ideas

This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means I earn a small profit when you click on the link and purchase the product. The links to Etsy shops are non-affiliated—I just really like the products. All opinions remain my own.

Copper plant tags

copper plant labels in raised bed garden

Copper Plant Tags Add Warmth

Copper plant tags are a great option for Corten steel garden beds, but they can also bring out the warmth in a wood raised bed.

These 4" tall T-shaped copper plant tags come in a set of 40, plus a pen to write on them, for $17.99 on Amazon.

copper plant tags
engraved copper plant tags

Zinc plant labels

zinc plant labels

Zinc Plant Labels Are Super Durable

Zinc is resistant to corrosion, so you don't have to worry about these guys rusting any time soon.

zinc plant labels for garden

Wood plant label stakes

wooden plant tags for vegetable garden

Wood Plant Label Stakes Are a Great Inexpensive Option

Wood plant labels are cheap and easily customizable—you can paint them, stain them, or leave them natural.

These 7" natural wood garden markers from the Planter Earth shop on Etsy look really modern and come untreated ($0.99 each).

If you go with wood instead of metal, just know that you'll most likely have to replace your markers every couple of seasons, especially if you live in a wet climate or water around the markers frequently.

Ceramic plant tags for garden

ceramic plant tags for garden

Ceramic Plant Tags Bring Traditional Appeal

If your garden has a European-flair, these blue and white ceramic plant tags from the Lisa Alden Art shop on Etsy would be perfect ($12.50 each). They're a bit of a splurge, but they'll also never rust, warp, or decay. Just give them a good rinse in between your growing seasons, and you're good to go.

Rusted metal garden stakes

plant tags metal

Rusted Metal Garden Stakes Make a Statement

These stakes are much larger than the other options here, and that's because they're meant to stand out instead of blend in. The weathered steel material is perfect to match a Corten steel raised garden bed or container.

plant markers metal

Cast iron plant label stakes

cast iron plant label stakes

Cast Iron Plant Label Stakes Bring Old-World Charm

These cast iron garden plant tags from Bug Store Designs Etsy shop ($5 each) are reminiscent of antique French firebacks and are sure to make you feel like you're touring a kitchen garden in the Loire Valley.

Painted stone plant markers

plant labels diy

Painted Stones Plant Markers Add Bright Pops of Color to Your Garden Space

These painted stone herb markers from the Affinity Stones store on Etsy ($14.95 each) are really cute, and you can find so many other similar options on Etsy to fit the garden vibe you want.

If you're artsy, you could always find images of painted stone markers you like online for inspiration, grab some paint pens, and make your own. You'll end up with as many DIY plant labels as you need for the cost of a pack of paint pens.

Plant markers for seed starting

plant markers diy

Simple Plant Labels for Seed Starting

You don't need anything fancy here, so here are some inexpensive options for labeling your seed starting trays.

You could also label popsicle sticks or write on painter's tape and stick it to the sides of your trays for really simple DIY plant tags.

I recommend investing in a UV- and water-resistant marker like this one from Epic Gardening ($11.99 for pack of 5) for labeling your plant tags.

plant label marker that won't fade for garden plant tags

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Our Favorite Plant Labels for the Garden