Landscape, Garden & Horticultural Terminology
Below is a listing of common landscaping, gardening and horticultural terms and their definitions:
Annual - Entire life cycle lasts only one growing season. Because they rely on a short life cycle to reproduce, annuals usually produce prolific, showy displays of blooms throughout one season. Geraniums and Pansies are both examples of annual plants.
B&B- Stands for "balled and burlapped." B&B plants are grown by commercial growers in the field, then dug, cutting away up to 90% of the plant or trees roots. With the availability of container grown trees, which have all their root systems in tact, many nurseries no longer sell B&B material. B&B trees do allow for larger plant material to be transplanted to home landscapes. Problem is, it can take years for a B&B plant or tree to recover from the field digging process. We've found that a smaller, properly planted container grown tree (1.5" caliper) planted next to a larger B&B tree (3" caliper) will catch up with and pass the B&B tree within a year or so.
Bedding plant - Plants (mainly annuals), nursery grown and suitable for growing in beds or containers. Quick, colorful flowers.
Biennial - Grows foliage during the first year, blooms during the second, then dies. Biennials are often mistaken for perennials, since they drop seed during the second year to create new plants. Most Foxgloves, Parsely, and Hollyhocks are examples of biennials.
Botanical name - The Latin name given to identify one specific plant by genus and species. Every plant has a unique botanical name. Botanical names are in Latin, a dead language, so that the same name can be used universally for identification without requiring translation. Botanical names are the single most reliable way to correctly identify plants by name.
Bract - Modified leaves growing just below a flower. Often confused with the flower itself.
Bud - Early stages of development of a flower or plant growth.
Compost - An organic soil amendment resulting from the decomposition of organic matter. You can make your own compost.
Common name - Although not entirely reliable, common names are more widely used by gardeners. This is why we use the common names of plants more often than not on this site. In our plant listings we provide both common and latin names. If you want to positively identify a particular plant the latin name is the most reliable. Sometimes a plant can be known by several common names and this can become confusing.
Conifer - Technically, any cone-bearing plant. These include (but are not limited to) mostly evergreen plants with needle-, scale-, or awl-shaped leaves like Pine, Hemlock and Juniper. Other popular conifers are Cryptomeria and Leyland Cypress. Conifers are useful in the landscape as screens or hedges, but there are lower-growing varieties such as the many varieties of groundcover-type Junipers that are useful in mass plantings in beds or on slopes.
Container-grown - Refers to plants that have been commercially grown from a seedling or cutting in a container. Container grown plants and trees will have all of their root system in tact. Sometimes, container-grown plants and trees can become "root bound". Before planting and when you remove a plant from its container, make sure to lossen roots that are circling around the root ball. This will facilitate quicker "rooting in" of a plant or tree and therefore faster growth.
Cultivar - Short for "cultivated variety," a cultivar is a plant selected by man from a species for specific traits. The cultivar ilex cornuta 'Carissa' (Carissa Holly) was selected for its dense growth habit and shiny foliage. Carissa holly came from a branch that grew from the Chinese holly, but looked and behaved different from Chinese holly. Cultivars are not able to reproduce naturally and remain true to form; they must be propagated by asexual techniques like cuttings, layering or divisions. Of one cultivar, there is very little variation between single plants. For example, all Carissa Hollies grow to near the same size having the same form - you might say, like clones.
Cultivate - Process of breaking up the soil surface, removing weeds, and preparing for planting.
Culture - The best environment or care recommended for a given species. For example, Azaleas thrive in a culture of acidic, well-drained soil rich with organic matter and most, excluding the Southern Indicas and some of the Encore Azlaeas, prefer morning sun with afternoon shade.
Dead head - No, this is not someone who follows a rock band around the country...at least not here. The process of pinching off used or spent blooms to keep the plants well groomed and to prevent them from setting seed. Dead heading flowers will often promote continued bloom.
Deciduous - Drops all leaves every winter and puts on new foliage each spring. The spectacular fall color we enjoy each fall is thanks to deciduous shade trees and shrubs preparing to drop their leaves.
Dormancy - The yearly cycle in a plants life when growth slows and the plant rests. Fertilizing should be withheld when a plant is in dormancy.
Double flower - A flower with many overlapping petals which gives it a very full appearance. Tea Roses and some varieties of Camellias and Peonies are known for their production of stunning, semi or fully double flowers.
Drip line - The circle which would exist if you drew a line below the tips of the outer most branches of a tree or plant.
Espalier - Espalier is the process of training a tree or shrub so its branches grow in a flat pattern against a wall, partition, fence, trellis or other structure.
Evergreen - Maintains its foliage year round. Many hollies, azaleas, and all junipers are just a few examples of evergreens.
Foundation planting - The basic group of plants used to transition from a house or building to its surrounding natural terrain. Foundation plants should frame the house and complement its architecture. Foundation plantings usually consist of a combination of hardy evergreen trees, shrubs and groundcovers. Additional plantings such as accent plants, corner plants and seasonal color beds using annuals or perennials build upon this initial framework to create an attractive, multi-layered landscape. Since foundation plants will be used against the home, designers often select varieties of plants that are known to be very hardy and long-lived in a region.
Genus - A family of plants marked by similar characteristics. For instance, the genus 'Ilex' refers to all plants in the Holly family. A genus is divided into subgroups called species. The plural of genus is genera. Example: 'Carissa' Holly = Ilex cornuta 'Carissa' (Ilex being the genus - cornuta being the species)
Germinate - The process of the sprouting of a seed.
Groundcover - Traditionally, any spreading plant used to cover a specific area of the landscape. There are many shrubs, annuals, perennials, grasses and vines that would fit that description. Groundcover plants are used in design to fill all the areas between other plants, tying the landscape together and reducing the need for mulch.
Growth rate - Generally refers to a plant's vertical growth rate over a given period of time. While a particular species may be designated a slow grower, it is important to remember that a plant's growth depends on many variables, such as moisture, nutrition, light, etc. Some fast growing shrubs might grow slowly if planted in an undesirable culture or plants that are thought to be slow growers might grow faster when planted in a desirable culture.
Habit, or Growth habit - The manner of growth of a particular plant. Common terms used to describe plant habits would be spreading, creeping, mounding, clump-forming, sprawling, bushy, globose, pyramidal, vase-shaped, broad, rounded, twining, etc.
Hardy - Able to withstand extreme low and high temperatures common to a local geographic area. Excluding annuals, tropicals and some herbs, it's important to make sure plants you select are considered hardy for your area. The USDA Hardiness Zone Map is a useful tool that indicates the lowest temperatures that can be expected each year in various regions across America. Based on these low temperatures, the United States has been divided into numbered regions, or "zones". For example, if you live in South Florida, chances are, you garden in Zone 10.
Herbaceous - Having little or no woody tissue, hard stems or bark. The main classes of these fleshy, soft-tissued plants are annuals, perennials and biennials.
Humus - The brown or black organic part of the soil resulting from the partial decay of leaves and other matter.
Hybrid - The offspring resulting from the union of different species, varieties or genera. Plants can be naturally hybridized in nature or by the tinkering of man.
Loam - A rich soil composed of clay, sand, and organic matter.
Micro nutrients - Mineral elements which are needed by some plants in very small quantities. If the plants you are growing require specific 'trace elements' and they are not available in the soil, they must be added.
Native plant - Any plant that occurs and grows naturally in a specific region or locality.
Node - The part of a stem from which a leaf or new branch starts to grow.
pH - Basically, pH is a measure of the amount of lime (calcium) contained in your soil. A soil with a pH lower than 7.0 is an acid soil, a soil pH higher than 7.0 is alkaline soil. Soil pH can be tested with an inexpensive test kit or by your Local Extension Service.
Organic Gardening - Growing organically refers to the method of gardening utilizing only materials derived from living things that have not been disturbed or affected by non-organic toxic substances that might be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife or the natural environment.
Peat moss - The partially decomposed remains of various mosses. This is a good, water retentive addition to the soil, but tends to add to the acidity of the soil pH. When planting in clay soils it is best to avoid using peat moss but rather a soil "conditioner".
Perennial - Any plant that lives year after year, storing up energy in its roots during its dormant period, typically winter, and then renewing itself in the spring using that stored energy. Trees and shrubs have such life cycles, but the distinction "perennial" generally refers to herbaceous (non-woody) perennials (flowers and grasses). Most perennials die back to the ground during their dormancy, but there are some such as Dianthus and Ice Plant that will remain evergreen and provide winter interest.
Potting Soil or Mix? - There are the cheap "dollar-a-bag" potting soils that we can only recommend as a soil ammendment or conditioner when planting in garden soil, and then there is potting "mix". Potting mixes are soil mixtures designed for use in container gardens and potted plants. Potting mixes should be loose, light, and sterile.
Propagation - Various methods of starting new plants ranging from starting seeds to identical clones created by cuttings or layering.
Rhizome - A modified plant stem which grows horizontally, under the surface of the soil. New growth then emerges from different points of the rhizome. Irises and some lawn grasses are rhizome plants.
Root ball - The network of roots along with the attached soil, of any given plant.
Rootbound - A condition which exists when a potted plant has outgrown its container. The roots become entangled and matted together, and the growth of the plant becomes stunted. When repotting, loosen the roots on the outer edges of the root ball, to induce them to once again grow outward.
Semi-evergreen - Foliage is green only part of the year or only part of the foliage remains year round.
Single flower - A flower having only a minimum number of petals for that variety of plant - usually one row of petals that often surrounds an "eye zone". Many daisies, such as Becky Daisy, have single flowers.
Species - A particular subgroup of a genus whose members share certain specific traits. Species names are usually descriptive of the habitat, origin, physical traits or even the person who discovered the species. The species 'cornuta', in ilex "cornuta," means China, from China.
Spore - The reproductive cell of ferns, fungi and mosses. (these plants do not produce seeds)
Sucker - No, not a lollipop or one who can easily be misled. A growth originating from the rootstock of a grafted plant, rather than the desired part of the plant. Sucker growth should be removed, so it doesn't draw energy from the plant.
Tender - Not able to withstand extreme or low temperatures. Most annuals are considered tender. However, it should be noted that some plants that are tender annuals in our region are perennial in warmer regions.
Topiary - A method of pruning and training certain plants into formal shapes such as animals.
Tuber - A flat underground stem which stores food and plant energy and from which a plant grows. (e.g. Dahlias)
Variegated - Leaves which are marked with multiple colors. Hosta Lily 'Patriot' is a good example of a variegated plant.
Variety - A naturally occurring subgroup of one species, different enough from the original species to require a different name. Varieties can reproduce naturally and remain true to form, without any assistance from man. For instance, ilex cornuta was produced in nature, but differs from the newer form in the species known as ilex cornuta 'Carissa'. Carissa Holly is not the only Ilex cornuta, there are many varieties of Ilex cornuta. 'Carissa' is the variety name.
Woody - Living tissue, such as the trunk or trunks, branches, etc., remains above the ground throughout the winter. All trees and shrubs fall into this category known as woody ornamentals.