Download nursery/landscape

NURSERY/LANDSCAPE
CAREER DEVELOPMENT EVENT
(Revised 2008)
Nursery/Landscape
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Nursery/Landscape Career Development Event
Purpose: Knowledge of the identity of plant materials is essential to an appreciation of use and
culture of plants for beautification of the home, grounds, and public areas. Proper identification
of a plant is precluded by lack of knowledge of the characteristics of that plant pertaining to
growth and flowering habits and specific characteristics of leaves, stems, and flowers. Positive
identification of plants is valid only when the Latin name is used. Common names vary from one
area to another and cannot be considered positive identification. In order to make this event as
nearly authoritative as possible and of utmost value in increasing the student's knowledge of
Nursery/Landscape plants, live plant materials, supplemented by slides and photographs, should
be used for study and will be used for identification in the area and state contests. An elementary
study and short description of 50 selected nursery/landscape plants adaptable to all areas of
Louisiana is designed to meet the requirements of the FFA entrants in the area and state events.
Objectives:
1.
To develop students' skills in identifying common Louisiana landscape plants using both
the botanical and common names.
2.
To develop students' knowledge of the principles and skills involved in propagation,
growth requirements, growing techniques, harvesting, marketing and maintenance of
nursery plants and landscape turf.
3.
To develop students' knowledge of the principles and techniques of landscape design and
construction.
4.
To develop students' abilities to identify unhealthy plant conditions due to pest,
nutritional or physiological disorders, and mechanical or chemical injury.
Rules and Regulations:
1.
All general rules apply except where indicated in the specific rules of this event.
2.
A team will consist of no less than three but no more than four members. The team score
will be calculated by adding the three highest scores of the members participating in the
event. The lowest score will be dropped. (Rev. 08)
3.
The event will have two phases on the area level and 3 phases on the state level.
Phase I:
Rev. 95
Nursery/Landscape
Identification of Plant Materials:
Form 14 will be used to identify the 25 specimens. Each specimen will be
designated by a number. Thirty seconds per plant will be allowed in this
phase of the contest. Ten points per correct answer will be awarded. Total
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for this phase will be 250 points.
Phase II:
General Knowledge:
University personnel will develop and administer an objective test of 50
questions. Questions will be worth five points each. The total for this
phase will be 250 points.
Phase III:
Landscape Design Evaluation (State Level Only): To demonstrate
knowledge of the principles and techniques of landscape design and
construction. This phase will follow National Rules.
4.
Contestants may not have the Identification Card in their possession during the
examination.
5.
The plants used in the event will be those plants as identified by the scientific names only.
The scientific name is the basis for all plant identification and selection.
6.
Only live plants (must be planted and have roots) may be used for the identification phase
(Revised 99) at the area and state contests. (Revised 08)
7.
The four highest scoring teams in each area will represent their respective areas in the
state event.
8.
Tie Breakers: (apply in the order listed)
a. The fourth team member’s score added back in (total score for team). If a team
included in the tie has only three members then use “b” then “c”. (Adopted 08)
b. The highest score on the general knowledge exam (total score for team)
c. The highest score on the identification phase (total score for team)
9.
The written exam shall be randomly generated from the bank of test questions adopted in
the General Rules in 2007. (Adopted 08)
10.
The bank of test questions may be edited yearly to improve the quality of the questions
(i.e. fix errors, etc.) Updates shall be highlighted and posted on the state FFA and LATA
websites prior to the spring events. (Adopted 08)
11.
The official source book for plant reference on this CDE shall be the latest edition of
Identification, Selection, and Use of Southern Plants for Landscape Design, by Neil
Odenwald and James Turner. It is available from Claitor’s Books (www.claitors.com).
(Adopted 08)
12.
Adopt a new scorecard where every plant is assigned a number. Each student writes the
corresponding plant number on the scorecard. (Adopted 08)
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COMMON NAME: Glossy Abelia
BOTANICAL NAME: Abelia x grandiflora
A cross between Abelia chinensis and Abelia uniflora. Hardy as far north as New York and
Boston, with protection.
Fast rate of growth. Performs best in full sunlight and well-drained, fertile soil. Abelia grows
well in partial shade, but the flowering is more sparse.
Broad, rounded form, twiggy, medium-fine texture, medium-dense mass.
Foliage:
Simple, opposite, ovate rounded, entire or dentate or attenuate at the base. Acute,
3/4 to 1/2 inches long, serrate, shining above, nearly glabrous. Reddish-bronze
when young, bronze-purple in fall. Young stems purple.
Flower:
White, magenta tube, campanulate, 3/4 inch long, stamens not exserted. Terminal
panicles. Blooms from May till frost. Sepals persist after petals fall and thus
appear to be flowers. May have several bloom cycles. Fragrant. Very delicate.
Landscape
Values:
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Nursery/Landscape
Glossy, reddish-green foliage
Withstands clipping--excellent for hedges
Very fast growth
Summer flowering
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COMMON NAME: Red Maple
BOTANICAL NAME: Acer rubrum
Native from Texas to Florida. Widely distributed in the Cypress-Tupelo Gum swamps in Lower
Louisiana. Commonly found in drier parts of the swamps. May be pyramidal and usually
branching near ground; dense oblong to oval form.
Medium rate of growth; does best in swamplands but will grow in uplands. Propagated seeds.
Upright oval form with medium texture and medium density.
Foliage:
Simple, opposite, palmately five-lobed, coated on under surface with dense white
hairs. Red to yellow autumn color. Leaf stems red.
Flower:
Dioecious, bright red in late winter before foliage, small but profuse.
Fruit:
Bright red with divergent wings 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long before foliage. More
conspicuous than the flowers and remain about three to four weeks.
Branches:
Grow upward at about 45 degree angle. Trunk smooth and light gray.
Landscape
Values:
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Excellent red color in late winter, or early spring flowers and fruit
Ability to grow in wet soil
Red to yellow autumn foliage
Clean, colorful, attractive at all seasons
Smooth, light gray bark
Deciduous tree
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COMMON NAME: Norfolk Island Pine
BOTANICAL NAME: Araucaria heterophylla
Evergreen tree of great height in native land of Australia. A very dependable tub specimen
which grows best in full sun in well-drained, fertile soil. Pyramidal form. Branches are borne in
symmetrical, horizontal tiers. Propagation by cutting.
Foliage:
Awl-shaped in juvenile form, to one-half inch long. Branches five to seven per
tier, spirally arranged, fine textured. Light green. Geometrical symmetrical
branches.
Landscape
Values:
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4.
Indoor plant
Tub specimen in protected areas
Accent
Distinctive form
Remarks:
1.
Old plants sometimes considered unattractive when branches begin to
droop.
Not winter hardy in most of the region except for isolated protected
positions and in central and south Florida.
If kept indoors, container should be turned occasionally to preserve
symmetrical form. As much direct sunlight as possible should be
provided.
Should be fertilized every month during summer and fall if plant is
outdoors.
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COMMON NAME: Japanese Aucuba
BOTANICAL NAME: Aucuba japonica
Native of the Himalayas to Japan. Widely grown in southern gardens in shaded positions.
Performs best in partial shade where the soil is moist, acid, loose and well-drained. Most
plantings require the addition of extra organic matter and sand to improve soil texture. Should be
protected from direct midday hot summer sun.
Slow to moderate growth rate producing a stiff, upright to irregular form.
Foliage:
Dark green and shining, ovate or oblong, to seven inches long. Coarsely toothed
above the middle. Simple, elliptical. Normally multiple stemmed.
Fruit:
Clusters of bright red berries. Produced in winter on old, mature female plants
only, but both sexes must be planted.
Landscape
Values:
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Shaded positions
Coarse texture
Variegated foliage
Containers
Accent
Remarks:
1.
Berries are seldom present, perhaps because both sexes are not usually
planted.
Variegated forms include:
‘Variegata’-- Dark green with golden-yellow specks and splotches,
compact form.
‘Picturata’--Dark green with prominent golden-yellow splotches,
especially in center of leaf, slow growing.
‘Sulfur’--Dark green leaves with golden edges, serrated.
For best growth, variegated forms require more light than solid green
selections.
A leaf fungus disease is a major problem. This is usually associated with
poor growing conditions--improper drainage, too much light and excessive
shading.
Especially well adapted for northern and southeastern exposures.
Somewhat difficult to predict this plant's performance. Requires more
exacting planting conditions than most people think.
Seems to be better adapted to growing conditions out of the extreme lower
South where an ideal specimen may become five to six feet tall, multiple
stemmed and quite dense. In the lower South the aucuba is normally thin
and relatively short-lived.
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COMMON NAME: Azalea
BOTANICAL NAME: Azalea indica
Native to Japan, grown widely in the southern states north to Memphis, and on the Pacific Coast.
Medium rate of growth. Grows in sun and high shade. Provide a moist, sandy soil, good drainage,
with high organic matter content. Grows well under high branching trees such as pines. Propagated
by cuttings.
Dome form, has sympodial branching, medium texture, and is medium dense to dense.
Foliage:
Alternate, simple, entire, one to one and a half inches long, pale beneath, with bristly
hairs on both surfaces.
Flower:
White, pink, purplish, orange-red, two to three inches across, funnel-shaped. Spring.
Landscape
Values:
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Flowers
Mounding form
Understory plant
Remarks:
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Subject to petal and leaf blight, red spider, die-back--all common.
Must have acid soil, good drainage, and mulching because of shallow roots.
Use raised planting beds where poor drainage (external or internal) exists.
Most variegated and pastel flowered forms are small sized and easily kept
below six feet.
Chlorosis (yellow foliage) is a major problem where pH is too high.
Flowering may be extended several weeks in spring by using proper variety.
Withstands heavy pruning.
Azaleas will not bloom well and become very open in heavy shade.
Soil preparation is very critical for success of this plant.
Irrigation needed during droughts since flower buds are set in midsummer.
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COMMON NAME: River Birch
BOTANICAL NAME: Betula nigra
A native deciduous tree occurring from Massachusetts to Florida and Kansas and widely distributed in the
South along the sandy banks of small streams and rivers but absent from the Mississippi River floodplain.
Grows in association with American elm, sycamore, red and silver maples, hackberry, box elder, willow,
poplars, and beech. Thrives in a moist sandy, acid soil (5.5 to 6.5 pH). Foliage turns yellow in alkaline soils
but fairly adaptable to most conditions.
Fast rate of growth. Easily transplanted in small sizes. Propagated by layering, cuttings, and seeds.
Upright oval tree, often multi-trunked with branching at about 60o. Texture varies from medium while in leaf
to fine in winter. Medium to rather open density.
Foliage: Simple, alternate, irregularly doubly serrate leaves to three inches long. Broadly wedged-shaped with
impressed veins. Whitish below. Light yellow autumn color but not outstanding.
Flower: Male flowers in catkins appearing before the leaves. Female flowers in short upright clusters.
Fruit:
Oblong, cylinder like cones to one-and-one-half inches long. Individual fruit with two wings.
Trunk: Reddish brown shaggy, peeling paper like bark on young trees, turning to dark brown and scaly on
older trees. New branches silky brown. Twigs bitter. Highly variable.
Landscape Values:
Remarks:
Nursery/Landscape
1. Exfoliating bark
2. Multi-trunked character
3. Ability to grow in sandy soils
4. Yellow autumn color
5. Naturalistic setting
6. Impressive foliage
1.
Aphids (plant lice) may be a severe problem on young trees in early spring. Usually
relatively easy to control with a systemic insecticide. Borers can also be troublesome on
old specimens.
2. In moist, fertile soils young specimens increase in size very rapidly.
3. At its best for landscape specimen during first ten to fifteen years. Old specimens less
impressive as shade trees. Relatively short-lived.
4. Several young specimens may be planted together to make a single multi-trunked cluster.
5. Normally best to begin with a five to six foot tree. Dieback is often a problem in large
specimens.
6. Fertilize young trees in late winter just before new growth begins
7. Important to have a soil pH of 6.5 or below; otherwise trees will become chlorotic
(yellow).
8. In large, mature trees, falling twigs and dieback cause a litter problem.
9. The ‘Heritage’ cultivar has especially attractive light beige colored bark and produces a
broadly oval form and lustrous dark green foliage. Has good resistance to extreme heat,
cold and flooding.
10. Occasional pruning may be necessary in winter to remove basal suckers. Never prune
large limbs in spring because of excessive bleeding of sap.
11. B. paprifera the paper birch, is a much loved picturesque deciduous tree in the upper
South and New England. The white, papery, peeling bark is a distinctive feature.
Growing requirements are similar to the river birch.
12. B. pendula, the European white birch, is also a favorite in the north. The weeping form
and white bark with block ridges are outstanding features. Do not attempt to grow this
tree in the lower South.
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COMMON NAME: Brazil Bougainvillea
BOTANICAL NAME: Bougainvillea spectabilis
Native to South America. Popular summer tropical vine in extreme South.
Medium to fast rate of growth. Easily grows in most soils, thriving best in full sunlight. Blooms
most profusely when there is slight moisture and fertilizer stress. Restricting the root area seems to
increase the bloom in the South where excessive moisture causes too much vegetative growth.
Performs best in semi-arid conditions, such as those found in southern California. Withstands
droughts well.
Foliage:
Simple, alternate, ovate to elliptic lanceolate, commonly entire. More or less
pubescent or tomentose, short or blunt pointed and broad at base. Spiny.
Flower:
Inconspicuous, enclosed by bracts in shades of red, orange and pink. Intense colors.
Landscape
Values:
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2.
Fast growth.
Overhead structures where color can be seen from above, otherwise a vertical
display is best.
Container plantings.
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Remarks:
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Nursery/Landscape
Bougainvillea glabra--Leaves are glabrous or nearly so.
Colors range from purple and magenta to lighter shades.
Prolific flowering in full sun with moderately dry and infertile soil.
Rampant growth normally at expense of flowers.
Listed in many references as Bougainvillea brasiliensis.
Cultivars:
‘Hawaii’--Variegated golden yellow foliage.
‘Orange King’--Bronzy orange flowers in sprays.
‘Sunfire’--Strong vine, bright rose-yellow flowers.
‘Scarlett O'Hara’--Fast growing, bright red flowers.
‘Rosenka’--Dwarf, mounding, free flowering, gold and pink.
‘Barbara Karst’--Masses of brilliant ruby red flowers. Good in dry areas.
Cold damaged parts should be trimmed back in late winter.
A plant should be maintained in the same container for several years.
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COMMON NAME: Schefflera (Octopus Tree)
BOTANICAL NAME: Brassaia actinophylla
Native of New Guinea, Java and Australia. Performs best in filtered sunlight and shade and a
well-drained, moist, fertile soil. Propagated by air-layering.
Foliage:
Glossy, palmately compound, usually six to eight leaflets, elliptic, leathery.
Woody branches terminate with compound leaf rosette. Medium coarse,
lacquered green.
Flower:
Three to four feet long, terminal on mature plants.
Landscape
Values:
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Interior plant
Tub planting in protected areas
Remarks:
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Mealybug, aphids (plant lice) and spider mites are major insect pests.
Tolerant of medium-low light intensity and relatively low humidity.
Leaf disease a major problem indoors.
One of the best selections for large scale indoor plantings.
For indoor use, with as much direct sunlight as possible. In low-lighted
interiors, bottom leaves turn yellow and drop. Soil should be only slightly
moist to the touch, and fertilized every four to six weeks with liquid
fertilizer recommended for indoor plants, following manufacturer's
recommendations.
Indoor specimens should be moved to porches, covered patios, and other
outdoor protected areas during summer months for improved growing
environment. Increase frequency of watering and fertilization.
Protect from danger of frost.
When indoor specimen becomes thin and straggly with excessive leaf
drop, cut it back to within 15 to 18 inches of the soil and allow new shoots
to form. Move plant to a shady, outdoor position in early spring where
conditions are more favorable. By late autumn a new plant may grow
from the old stump. Observe water needs closely and fertilize every two to
three weeks. Fairly healthy specimens which have lost most lower foliage
may be air-layered.
Listed in most references among the indoor plants requiring medium light.
The recommended light is around 200 foot-candles and the minimum is
approximately 75 foot-candles for a 12-hour duration.
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COMMON NAME: Japanese Boxwood
BOTANICAL NAME: Buxus microphylla ‘Japonica’
Native to Japan. The most popular Boxwood for southern plantings.
Medium rate of growth. Suited to any well-drained soil. Thrives in sun and partial shade.
Propagated by cuttings, suckers, division or layering. Hardy with protection in New York and
central New England. Rounded, compact low, vigorous shrub, fine texture, dense mass.
Foliage:
Simple, opposite, medium yellow-green, new growth light green to one inch long.
Obovate or obovate-lanceolate. Young branches usually angled or winged and
hairy. Small cleft at end of leaf. Broadest slightly above middle.
Flower:
Inconspicuous
Fruit:
Inconspicuous
Landscape
Values:
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Neat, compact small evergreen shrub
Excellent for hedges
Remarks:
1.
All boxwoods have shallow roots and require a mulch until well
established. Should not be cultivated deeply.
Red spider mites are major problem.
Nematodes and root fungus disease are major problems and may be
serious enough to question the wisdom of using plant in large quantities.
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COMMON NAME: Common Camellia
BOTANICAL NAME: Camellia japonica
Native of China and Japan. Popular winter flowering shrub for outdoor culture from North
Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico and on the Pacific Coast; greenhouse culture in northern region.
Relatively slow rate of growth. Provide a loose, fertile, well-drained, acid (pH of 5.0 to 6.0) soil.
Maintain a two to three inch layer of mulch around plants to keep soil moist and to protect from
intense heat. Propagated by seeds, grafting and cuttings from current season's growth in summer.
Upright, oval form with upright branching and spreading as the plant gets older. Medium
texture, medium density in shade; dense, positive form in full sunlight.
Foliage:
Alternate, simple, toothed leaves, four inches long. Dark green and shiny above.
Flower:
Red, pink, white or variegated, to five inches across. Single, partly or completely
double. Blooms in late autumn and through spring.
Fruit:
Seeds nearly globose to 3/4-inch across. Capsule. Produced in spring.
Landscape
Values:
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Long blooming season
Shady, understory conditions
Glossy green, leathery foliage
Upright, rather positive form
Remarks:
1.
Scale insect is a serous problem and will normally require annual
treatment.
Its positive form often makes it difficult to combine with other plants
except in shade where the form is somewhat irregular.
Old specimens may be reclaimed as small evergreen trees by careful
pruning.
Partial shade is essential for small plants, and some shade is beneficial for
larger ones. Winter shade is needed to protect foliage and flowers.
Essential to provide well-drained site with both adequate surface ad
internal drainage. Plantings can be raised if necessary to ensure adequate
drainage.
Fertilize with an azalea-camellia fertilizer or a complete fertilizer such as
an 8-8-8, or similar, at the rate of 1/4 to 1/2 pound per well-established
plant. Fertilizer, should be applied in late winter just before new growth
begins.
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COMMON NAME: Redbud
BOTANICAL NAME: Cercis canadensis
Native from Canada to Florida and Texas. Widely distributed in the South except for the coastal
region and areas which have poorly drained soil.
Fast growth when young. Performs well in full sunlight to partial shade and in a fertile, welldrained, acid soil. Volunteers are abundant where mature trees exist.
Upright, oval, irregular form. Fine texture in bloom, medium to medium-coarse in foliage with
seed pods. Medium density.
Foliage:
Alternate, simple, entire, broad cordate, abruptly acute, three to five inches long,
five to nine prominent radiating veins. Swelling below leaf blade. Dull green.
Flower:
Tiny pea-like, rosy pink (magenta), 1/2 inch in clusters on old wood. Sometimes
on the trunk and branches. Blooms in February to March. Tree is three to four
years old before flowering.
Fruit:
Flattened pod, green with magenta, turning brown, almost black in fall and winter.
To 3 1/2 inches long.
Branches:
Blackish brown, two-ranked; often quite irregular. Zigzag stems. Lenticels on the
stems.
Landscape:
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Early spring color
Yellow autumn color
Small flowering tree
Under-story tree
Remarks:
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Short-lived, usually about 15--20 years in the lower South.
Leaf spot is a serious disease which defoliates trees prematurely.
Not well adapted to the extreme lower South because of several problems.
Among these are stem canker and borers. Some isolated old specimens
are in the area but not abundant.
Cultivars:
‘Alba’--White flowers
‘Forestry Pansy’--Purple foliage
‘Oklahoma’--Glossy foliage, dark purple flowers
4.
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COMMON NAME: Japanese (Flowering) Quince
BOTANICAL NAME: Chaenomeles speciosa
Native of Asia, widely distributed throughout the United States. Well adapted for North
Louisiana.
Medium fast rate of growth; prefers sun; thrives in loamy soil; tolerant of heavy pruning. Most
effective in cooler areas. Propagated by seeds and root or half-ripened stem cuttings.
Rounded, dense twiggy and thorny mass, medium texture.
Foliage:
Alternate, simple, ovate or oblong, acute, sharply serrate, dark glossy green, one
and a half to three inches long, bronze as leaves unfurl in the spring. Leaf drop in
early fall. Spiny branches. Leafy, kidney-shaped stipules at base of each leaf.
Flower:
Flowers apple blossom-like to two inches across, two to six flowers in cluster,
clustered tightly along branches in early February. Colors include scarlet, pink,
white, orange, salmon in single and double varieties.
Fruit:
Quince-like, pome, two to four inches in diameter. Green to reddish green,
turning yellow in fall. Used for jelly. Apple-like.
Landscape
Value:
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Flower in late winter and early spring
Deciduous shrub
Massing
Remarks:
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Sheds leaves much earlier in south Louisiana due to leaf diseases.
Several plants needed for cross-pollination if fruit is desirable.
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COMMON NAME: Flowering Dogwood
BOTANICAL NAME: Cornus florida
Native from Maine to Florida and Texas. Widely distributed in the uplands of the lower South
but absent from the Mississippi river floodplain.
Fast growth as a seedling but relatively slow after third year. Performs best in partial shade and
sun where conditions are ideal. Provide an acid (5.5 to 6.5 pH), fertile, loose, moist, welldrained soil with a low water table. Propagated by cuttings, budding, seeds, and grafting.
Dense, mounding form in full sunlight; more upright-oval in shade. Branching horizontal and
sympodial. Medium Texture. Relatively open in shade.
Foliage:
Opposite, simple, entire elliptic to oval. Two to six inches long. Bright red in
fall. Young stems are green, turning gray with age. Bark is in small block
segments.
Flower:
Small yellow in dense heads, subtended by four large, petal-like white bracts, each
with a deformed blackened apex. Very showy, appearing in spring before and
after foliage, depending on genetic strain.
Fruit:
Bunches of bright red berried in late summer and fall, sometimes lasting through
winter if not eaten by birds.
Landscape
Values:
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Remarks:
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Nursery/Landscape
Flowers (bracts)
Red autumn color
Horizontal branches
Red fruit attracts birds
Small flowering tree
Understory tree
Naturalistic settings
Winter form
Interesting bark
Fertilizer requirements for dogwoods are quite low.
Flower size of the new grafted cultivars is twice the size of native
seedlings.
Very sensitive to heavy, poorly drained soils and is most often a failure on
sites where the top soil has been disrupted. This is a highly unpredictable
tree, and there are far more failures than successes in the lower South.
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COMMON NAME: Spotted Dumb Cane
BOTANICAL NAME: Dieffenbachia maculata cv.
Native of tropical America. Popular indoor plant in the south. Grown primarily for large showy,
variegated foliage. Erect form when small and often an irregular, bending form as a mature
plant. Leaf patterns vary greatly according to cultivar.
Will survive indoors with filtered sunlight but grows best when it receives direct sunlight several
hours per day. A southern or southeastern exposure is preferred for best indoor culture. Use a
soil mix with a high organic matter and sand content to ensure adequate drainage.
Propagation is by stem cuttings. Each joint with a bud will form a new plant when partially
buried in potting soil mix.
Foliage:
Large, oblong to elliptic. Coarse, with striking, irregular patterns. Three times as
long as broad; sheathing leaf stalks almost as long as blade. Prominent joints on
stems.
Flower:
Spadices within thick spathes on old plants.
Landscape
Values:
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3.
Indoor container plant
Greenhouse
Outdoors in protected positions during summer
Remarks:
1.
Should be kept only moderately moist and fertilized monthly when plant is
actively growing using a liquid indoor plant food.
Mealy bugs and aphids (plant lice) are common insect pest.
Several new selections available in the trade. Older and still popular
cultivars include the following:
‘Amoena’--Dark green foliage, white markings.
‘Picta’--Pale green with cream marking.
‘Rudolph Loehrs’--Yellow leaves edged with green and marked with
creamy white spots.
Dieffenbachia is extremely sensitive to cold temperatures well above
freezing. Wilting often occurs at approximately 50o F.
Plant contains poisonous sap that may cause temporary speech loss if
eaten.
When used indoors, dieffenbachia requires medium light. Recommend
200 foot-candles of light for a 12-hour duration, with a 75-foot candle
minimum.
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COMMON NAME: Warneckii Dracaena or Striped Dracaena
BOTANICAL NAME: Dracaena deremensis ‘Warneckii’
Among the most widely used tropicals. For general indoor plantings it grows in reduced light but
will tolerate morning sunlight if the change to outdoors is gradual. Provide a fertile, loose, welldrained soil. A clustering of foliage formed on tall stalks with basal foliage dropping as plants
mature, exposing bare trunks. Medium texture and medium density. Moderately-slow growth
rate.
Foliage:
Landscape
Values:
Remarks:
A rosette cluster of sessile sword-shaped leaves, with green and white stripes.
Stout branching canes are produced with no foliage on the lower portions of old,
tall canes.
1. Dependable interior plant
2. Variegated foliage
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Nursery/Landscape
3. Relatively low light plant
4. Distinctive form and texture
Improper moisture relationships (excess, insufficient and spasmodic
watering) cause leaf tip browning. Very low light intensity may also cause
premature leaf drop and tip burn.
Many horticulture variations available in the trade. New selections include
dwarf and more compact forms.
Fertilize every four to six weeks when growing indoors, provided that
growing conditions are reasonable good. When growing outdoors, during the
summer, fertilize every two to three weeks.
Plant in a porous soil mix containing a high organic and sand content. Repot
every two to three years or when plant becomes severely pot-bound.
Many of the problems associated with growing this dracaena indoors is
normally due to inadequate natural light. For best results, provide four to six
hours of natural light per day from a southern or southeastern exposure.
Plants growing in positions with little or no natural light must be rotated
every six to eight weeks to locations with better growing conditions. The
dracaenas are among the best indoor foliage plants for positions which
receive a minimum amount of natural light. Recommendations are for 100150 foot-candles of light (twelve hour duration) with a minimum amount of
50 foot-candles.
Tall, straggly dracaenas may be reclaimed as shorter, more compact
specimens by cutting back tall canes to about two feet from the soil line. Side
buds will produce new growth relatively fast, especially if plants are place
outdoors during the summer months.
Periodic grooming required as old foliage becomes unsightly.
‘Janet Craig’ is a highly popular selection which has broad dark green leaves.
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6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Corn Plant Dracaena
BOTANICAL NAME: Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’
Popular indoor plant that tolerates low light intensity. Responds best to fertile, well-drained
potting mixture of garden loam soil, organic matter and sand. Medium growth rate, coarse
texture.
Foliage:
Strap-shaped rosette of dark green, arching, broadly striped and banded leaves.
Yellow down center; 18--24 inches long, three to four inches wide. Canes large
and cornstalk-like.
Landscape
Values:
1.
2.
3.
Large scale indoor plants
Relatively low light requirements.
Erect form
Remarks:
1.
Tip burn is a common problem; usually a sign of excessive moisture or
inadequate light.
One of the most versatile of all indoor plants.
Direct sun outdoors will scorch foliage.
Mealy bugs and aphids are common insect problems, but there are several
insecticides available for their control.
Soil moisture should be kept on the slightly dry side. When growing
indoors, should be fertilized every month to six weeks depending on the
amount of light. Use a liquid indoor plant food.
Should be removed to outdoors in a protected place during the summer
months to encourage accelerated growth. Should be watered daily and
fertilized every two weeks following manufacturer's recommendations.
The loss of lower leaves as plant produces new foliage and becomes older
is a natural condition.
Several improved horticultural selections available in the trade.
Recommended 12 hours of 100--150 foot-candles of light with a minimum
of 50 foot-candles.
This dracaena performs well in reduced light and is likely among the top
two or three plants most suitable for indoor uses. Even individuals who
have a difficult time growing plants can be reasonably successful with this
one.
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6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Japanese Fatsia
BOTANICAL NAME: Fatsia japonica
Native of Japan. Widely planted in the region for its attractive foliage. Needs a loose, welldrained, moist soil, and partial shade, especially during the afternoon. Slow rate of growth until
it becomes well-established and then somewhat more rapid. Propagated by cuttings and seeds.
Dense, rounded form with foliage at top of leggy stems. Coarse texture.
Foliage:
Stiff, shiny above, orbicular to reniform in outline. Eight to 10 inches across,
leathery cordate or truncate at base, cut below the middle into five to nine ovateoblong, dentate and undulate lobes, with sinuses open at bottom. Petioles eight to
12 inches long. Dark blue-green.
Flower:
Creamy white, in late fall, in umbels more than one inch across, clustered on oneinch long stems. Somewhat prominent.
Fruit:
Rounded clusters of berrylike fruit. Each berry 1/3 inch across, turning black,
gives a coarser texture to umbels than the flowers do. Produced in winter and
early spring.
Landscape
Values:
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Coarse Texture
Glossy evergreen leaves
Outstanding shade tolerance
Winter blooms
Tub specimen
Moderate tolerance to salt spray
Remarks:
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Not fully hardy in cold winters in upper South.
Leave are small and often burn in full sunlight.
Cannot tolerate heavy, wet, poorly drained soil.
Selections with more compact forms are available in the trade.
Sometimes used as an indoor plant, but it must receive several hours of
direct light. Place outside during summer months.
Seeds collected in late winter and early spring are easy to germinate.
Clean black pulp off of seeds and plant in a mixture of moist peat moss
and sand.
Fatsias should be fertilized in late winter or early spring. Use a general
all-purpose fertilizer.
Scale insect is a severe pest. Severe infestation often kills plants.
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Nursery/Landscape
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6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Weeping Fig
BOTANICAL NAME: Ficus benjamina
A large tree in its native habitat of India but widely used for large scale indoor plantings. Will
grow in full sun to partial shade. For potting mixture, see Ficus elastica.
Medium density, medium fine texture, graceful drooping branches. Medium growth indoors;
rapid outdoors.
Foliage:
Oval to elliptic, two to five inches long, dark glossy green. Aerial rootlets
common.
Fruit:
Red, about 1/2 inch long but not common indoors.
Landscape
Values:
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3.
Large scale indoor container specimen
Medium fine texture
Graceful, drooping branches
Remarks:
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Sudden changes in growing conditions cause leaf drop.
Not hardy for outdoor use in Louisiana.
Banyan Tree is also a common name, but the true Banyan Tree is Ficus
benghalensis.
Versatile indoor plant if several hours of natural light (preferably southern
exposure) are available daily. Intolerant of low indirect light. Severe leaf
drop will occur. Keep soil slightly moist.
Responds well to outdoor culture during the summer in a protected
position. Water daily and fertilize every month when growing outdoors.
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6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Decora Rubber Plant
BOTANICAL NAME: Ficus elastica ‘Decora’
The rubber plant is a large tree in native habitat of Malaya. A fertile, well-drained potting
mixture (by volume) of five parts organic matter (pine bark, peat moss, or equal), two parts sandy
loam soil, and one part coarse builders' sand is a good growing medium. There are other good
mixes available. Grows well in full sunlight to partial shade.
Medium growth rate indoors. Rapid outdoors in warm climates. Coarse texture, open density.
Foliage:
Alternate, oblong-elliptic, six to 11 inches long. Thick. Dark green and glossy.
Landscape
Values:
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Large-scale indoor container specimen
Coarse texture
Irregular form
Dark blue-green foliage
Cold hardy for outdoor use in Zone 10 and the lower part of Zone 9.
Sudden changes in growing conditions cause leaf drop.
Leaf drop influenced by light, moisture, and humidity.
Old spindly plants may be rejuvenated by cutting back top to within 18
inches of the soil line in late winter. Place plant outdoors during summer
months. New shoots will form and begin growth in late autumn.
‘Decora’ is a very fine cultivar available in the trade. Has larger, broader
leaves than standard rubber plant. Ficus pandurata is popular cultivar.
Needs several hours of natural sunlight for indoor culture, preferably
southern or southeastern exposure. Place outdoors in a protected area
during summer months. Fertilize monthly and water daily to encourage
fast growth.
Relatively inexpensive, highly promoted plant that is readily available.
There are more disappointments than successes with this plant. Rubber
plants are intolerant of harsh growing conditions of most indoor spaces.
Most critical factor is light intensity. A warm region outdoor plant that
has been forced into places where it does not perform well.
Along with other popular indoor plants the rubber plant is grown for
export in large outdoor nurseries in Central America.
Requires medium light. Recommend 200 foot-candles of light for a 12hour duration with 75 foot-candles as the minimum.
22
6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Common Gardenia, Cape Jasmine
BOTANICAL NAME: Gardenia jasminoides
Native of China. A highly popular shrub in southern landscapes. Grows well in full sunlight to
partial shade. Provide a moist, well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.0.
Foliage:
Often whorled, undulate, lanceolate-obovate, two to five inches long. Mediumcoarse texture. Dark, glossy green.
Flower:
White, appearing waxy. Early summer blooms with a few in fall. Very fragrant.
Landscape
Values:
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Mass screening
Summer flowering
Evergreen shrub
Tub specimen
Distinctive fragrance
Mounding form
Dark, blue-green foliage
Combines will with other shrubs.
Remarks:
1.
White fly, nematodes, sooty mold and cottony cushion scale are serious
problems. Require periodic spraying.
A very popular plant in old gardens of the South.
Chlorosis (yellowing of foliage) is common problem, usually because iron
is unavailable.
Very sensitive to heavy, poorly drained clay soil.
Gardenia thunbergia- Small foliage and flowers. Showy fruits in the fall.
Outstanding specimen at Rosedown Gardens, St. Francisville, LA.
Cultivars:
‘August Beauty’--Dense mass of lustrous green foliage. Large flowers.
‘Mystery’--Medium size, glossy green foliage, creamy white flowers.
‘Veitchi’--Longer blooming period than above cultivars. Many flowers.
Used by florists for cut flowers.
Performance of gardenias is somewhat unpredictable. With favorable
conditions they are basically trouble-free except for a few insect pests. In
heavy poorly drained soils, plants become yellow and are difficult to grow.
Fertilize shrubs in late winter with 8-8-8, or similar, at the rate of 1/4
pound per square yard of area covered by the plant.
Gardenias are long-lived shrubs where growing conditions are favorable.
Provide space for large plant. Otherwise, frequent pruning is needed.
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6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Ginkgo, Maidenhair Tree
BOTANICAL NAME: Ginkgo biloba
Native of China; has been widely planted in the United States. Sometimes referred to as a living
fossil. One of our oldest known plants. Known to have grown for 150 million years.
Very slow growth. Thrives in well-drained soil. Propagate by seeds, layering, grafting, or
cuttings.
Irregular, broad, oval form, with horizontal branching. Medium texture. Open to medium
density.
Foliage:
Simple, two to five inch broad, fan-shaped with parallel venation, one to four inch
petioles, thin, clustered at the ends of spur shoots, turning golden yellow in fall.
Flower:
Two types on different trees; staminate, yellow in catkins; pistillate, long stalked,
inconspicuous.
Fruit:
Green to orange-yellow with a silvery bloom. about one inch diameter, pulp foulsmelling. Plum-like. Undesirable.
Landscape
Values:
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Remarks:
Nursery/Landscape
Street tree
Long lived
Strong structure
Fall color
Consistent, symmetrical, positive form
Deciduous tree
Female trees produce foul smelling fruit. Plant only male trees.
Free of insects and disease and tolerant of city conditions.
Spectacular autumn color; complete leaf drop in short period--5-7 days.
Drought tolerant.
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6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: English Ivy
BOTANICAL NAME: Hedera helix
Native of Europe, Canary Island, North Africa and Asia. Brought to the United States by early
colonists. Slow to medium growth rate. Best in shade and in moist, acid soil. Propagate by
cuttings or layering. Make 6-10 inch long cuttings in November or December. Till beds 8-10
inches deep, add generous amount of humus, set cuttings 8-10 inches apart. Rooting occurs by
early spring.
Woody vine climbing to 40 feet in trees. Fine, medium and coarse textures depending on
cultivar. Medium density, noncompetitive covering. Climbs by aerial rootlets.
Foliage:
Alternate, simple, entire, coarsely dentate or usually three to five lobed. Dark,
lustrous green above, pale or yellowish green beneath. Long petioled.
Landscape
Values:
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Remarks:
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Nursery/Landscape
Shade tolerant ground cover
Arbor, trellis, fence covering
Vigorous vein
Excellent ground cover for under-plantings--bulbs, other shade tolerant
plants
Espalier, topiaries
Container plantings
Planters.
Often seen growing on tree trunks and in tree canopies. Seldom affects the
host plant unless growth blocks out sunlight.
Many cultivars with distinctive foliage, but most not readily available.
Susceptible to root and stem fungus which kills plant. Use fungicide
drench several times each month in July, August, and September. Follow
manufacturer's directions.
English Ivy can be grown in considerable sunlight if a moist, fertile
planting bed is prepared and maintained during early years of plant
establishment.
A loose, porous, well-drained soil is essential for acceptable performance.
Two or more foliage types may be observed on same plant depending on
age of planting. Variation in foliage is normally observed then ivy begins
to climb. Flowering and fruiting often occur on mature plants.
More than 50 named cultivars with many leaf variations from lobed to
round and heart-shaped that have smooth, wavy, ruffled, or curled leaf
margins.
Fertilize sparingly in late winter only. Late applications encourage root
and stem diseases. Use 1 pound of complete fertilizer (8-8-8) per 100
square feet of planting.
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6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Hosta, Plantain Lilly
BOTANICAL NAME: Hosta species
A native of China and Japan and a highly popular perennial over much of the country. Low growing,
tufted plants especially well adapted for the cooler regions of the country in Zones 5,6, and 7. However,
they will grow well farther south if given a cool, moist soil in semishade. Some species perform well in
Zone 9 where they have a relatively short dormant period.
Foliage forms a low mounding clump with dense growth and coarse texture. Propagated by division of
clumps and seeds.
Foliage:
Broadly oval, heart-shaped to lance-shaped leaves, each six to ten inches long, four to six
inches wide. Yellow-green to dark blue-green depending on species and cultivars.
Parallel veins normally prominent. Foliage dies back to the ground in winter.
Flower:
White, blue or lilac flowers in terminal clusters on tall stalks above foliage. Tubular
florets to two inches or more. Hyacinth-like. Summer and autumn. Many cultivars
fragrant.
Landscape
Values:
Remarks:
1. Ground cover
2. Coarse, textured clump foliage
3. Summer flowers
4. Shade tolerance
1. Hostas do well in woodland settings where the soil is porous and where there is a high
organic matter content. Good drainage is essential. They are easy to grow and
perform better in the lower South than once thought.
2. An occasional spraying of foliage to prevent damage by leaf eating insects is about all
the special care they require during the summer. Fertilize in early spring with an all
purpose plant food.
3.
Nursery/Landscape
5. Detail design
6. Naturalistic setting
7. Borders
Some of the most popular species and cultivars include the following:
H. Decorata -- Oval leaves with winged petioles, white margins, lavender-purple
flowers on thirty inch stems in July.
H.fotunei -- Large, oval, blue-green leaves, to two feet tall, purple or white flowers.
H. ‘Honeybells’ -- Compact form, fragrant lavender flowers on two foot stalks, late
summer.
H. japonica -- Oval to lance-shaped leaves tapering at both ends, four to six inches
long. Lavender to lilac colored flowers on eighteen to twenty-four inch stalks.
H. ventricosa -- Leaves broadly oval, narrowed to winged stalks, four to nine inches
long. Petioles twenty inches long. Blue flowers, June to July Reported to do
well in the deep South.
H. plantaginea ‘Royal Standard’ -- Vigorous grower with glossy, light green
leaves, fragrant flowers on two foot stems in August.
H. sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ -- a large species, stalks to two feet tall, broad, puckered,
seer-sucker-like leaves and distinctive bluish color.
H. ‘Gold Crown’ -- Has a tight rosette crown with thick yellow-edged leaves.
H. undulata ‘Albo-marginata’ -- an excellent small tufted variegated selection
26
6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Chinese Holly
BOTANICAL NAME: Ilex cornuta cv.
Native of north China. A widely cultivated holly and parent of several popular cultivars.
Medium-fast growth rate. Best in fertile, well-drained soil with a clay base, although quite
tolerant of most conditions. Dense in sun, relatively sparse foliage in shade. Propagate by seeds
or cuttings.
Usually an upright, oval form with dense foliage. Considerable seedling variation. Medium
texture.
Foliage:
Alternate, simple, quadrangular-oblong, with three strong spines of nearly equal
size at the dilated apex, one to two strong spines on each side of truncate base, but
rounded at base of older plants. Dark, glossy green above, 1/2 - 5 inches long,
sharp pointed lobes. Bristly. Plastic-like.
Flower:
Greenish white. No major landscape value. Female plants produce berries
without seeds.
Fruit:
Scarlet, berrylike drupe, clustered, short pedicels, 3/8 inch in diameter.
Landscape
Value:
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6.
Red berries conspicuous in winter
Glossy, dark, evergreen foliage
Vigorous plant
Screen and barrier
Specimen
Cut foliage
Remarks:
1.
Important cultivars available in the trade:
‘Burfordii’--Burford is like parent, but leaves are entire, ending in one
blunt point at tip. Less bristly appearance. Male plant not needed for
berries.
‘Rotunda’--Dwarf Chinese holly. Has rounded form to 4 x 4 feet.
Yellow-green foliage. Very spiny.
‘Carissa’-- Broad-spreading to mounding form, to three feet tall with a
four to five foot spread, smooth foliage, one spine.
‘Nellie R. Stevens’- Dark, glossy green foliage and excellent fruiting.
‘Needlepoint’-- Very dark green foliage, dense upright form, excellent
fruiting cultivar. Highly popular in the trade.
Largest fruit of all the cultivated hollies.
Scale insect a severe problem in the lower South.
2.
3.
Nursery/Landscape
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6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Japanese Holly
BOTANICAL NAME: Ilex crenata cv.
One of the best of the Japanese selections. Grows well in sun to partial shade, in moist, fertile,
well-drained soil.
Upright, oval form. Dense compact growth. Medium texture. Medium growth rate. Propagate
by cuttings.
Foliage:
Alternate, elliptic to obovate-oblong. Dark, rich green. Five-eights to 1/4 inch
long, about 1/2 inch wide. Boxwood-like foliage.
Flower:
Inconspicuous. Spring. No major landscape value.
Fruit:
Black. autumn and winter. Often concealed by foliage.
Landscape
Values:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Medium-small evergreen shrub
Clipped hedge
Upright form
Mass and single specimen plantings
Remarks:
1.
Both surface and internal drainage are essential for the Japanese hollies.
Otherwise they are plagued with root disease problems.
Old specimens have interesting, somewhat irregular form but are seldom
seen because of severe pruning techniques.
Ilex crenata ‘Rotundifolia’ is oldest and for many years was most popular
Japanese holly. Seldom used much because of root rot and other disease
problems. Noted for its upright, oval form and dark green foliage.
Ilex crenata ‘Microphylla’ has an upright, dense form with small, fine
textured leaves.
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Nursery/Landscape
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6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: American Holly
BOTANICAL NAME: Ilex opaca
Native from Massachusetts to Florida and Texas. Widely distributed.
Slow growth rate; does well in sun and shade. Propagate by seed and cuttings. Prefers fertile,
well-drained soil. Found in rich, moist bottomlands, borders of swamps and dry but wellprotected slopes. Frequently found on sandy soils near coast. Even, pyramidal form, medium
texture, dense mass. Short spreading branches. Sparse canopy when growing in shade.
Foliage:
Oval or elliptic. Lanceolate with large remote spiny teeth, rarely entire, dull green
above, yellowish beneath. Variable in size, shape and spines.
Flower:
White, inconspicuous, dioecious
Fruit:
Bright red berry-like drupe on female plant, 1/4 inch in diameter on current year's
growth, usually solitary. Autumn to spring.
Landscape
Values:
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Nursery/Landscape
Form
Abundant fruit
Evergreen
Long lived, very desirable ornamental
Yellow-green foliage
Gray trunk
Wildlife food
Screening
29
6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Yaupon
BOTANICAL NAME: Ilex vomitoria
Native from Virginia to Florida and Texas; tolerates most conditions in Louisiana including
coastal areas. Native to woodland areas; grows best in well-drained soils. Fruits best in open
sunny sites, but also grows well in partial shade.
Medium rate of growth. Propagated by seed.
Oval to oblong form with irregular branching, often multi-trunked, fine texture and medium
density.
Foliage:
Alternate, simple, oval or oblong, 1/2 to one inch long, obtuse, crenate-serrate,
glabrous. Gray twigs and trunk.
Flower:
Tiny white flowers in spring, clustered on branches of the previous year.
Dioecious.
Fruit:
Translucent red berries in late fall through winter, 1/4 inch diameter. Only female
plants have berries.
Landscape
Values:
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5.
Multiple stems, gray branches
Excellent fruiting
Good for seaside locations--salt spray tolerant
Screening mass
Sculptural form
Remarks:
1.
2.
3.
Berry-bearing strains usually called variety 'Foemina.'
Fruit reported to be eaten by several species of birds.
Population is abundant in Louisiana--often forming thickets and becoming
a pest in some situations.
Frequently given special pruning treatments in the trade for making unique
forms for landscape projects.
A very tough and dependable holly.
4.
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Nursery/Landscape
30
6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Dwarf Pfitzer Juniper
BOTANICAL NAME: Juniperus chinensis ‘Pfitzeriana’
Native of Himalayas, China, and Japan. Very popular low-spreading evergreen in the region.
Medium-fast growth rate. Prefers sunny, open situations. Grows best in sandy to loamy,
moderately moist soil, but grows well in rather dry, rocky or gravelly soil. Propagate by seeds
which germinate in the second or third year, or by cuttings of nearly ripened wood in fall.
Broad, wide-spreading shrub with horizontally spreading branches. Fine texture. Dense mass,
becoming somewhat open with advanced age.
Foliage:
Opposite or whorled, linear, pointed and spreading or scalelike, appressed,
rhombic, obtuse, and grayish green in tiers of four with bluish band above.
Juvenile foliage may be awl-shaped.
Landscape
Values:
1.
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3.
4.
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6.
7.
Spreading form
Texture
Vigorous growth
Durable
Mass plantings
Old, reclaimed specimens
Long-lived
Remarks:
1.
Most plants with needle-shaped leaves root more easily than those with
scalelike leaves; side graft the latter in winter.
Old specimens are very picturesque but require considerable vertical and
horizontal space for natural spread.
Juniperus chinensis ‘Hetzi’ is another popular juniper. Has 45 degree
branching rather than the horizontal lines of the Pfitzer.
‘Pfitzer Aurea’ (Golden Pfitzer) is similar to regular Pfitzer but has
yellow-tipped foliage.
Allow ample space for broad spread. Difficult to confine in small space
and not easily pruned.
Most junipers difficult to transplant. Usually not worth effort and cost
considering high mortality rate. Get professional help for moving large
sizes.
Plant pests include bagworms, spider mites, canker, and juniper blight.
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6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Crape Myrtle
BOTANICAL NAME: Lagerstroemia indica cv.
Native of China. Widely naturalized in the southern states. Unrivaled among small flowering trees in ease of
culture, length of bloom and many other features. Performs best in full sun and in loose, well-drained soil with a pH
of 5.0 to 6.5.
Mounded to upright form with irregular branches. Medium-fine texture, open to medium density.
Foliage: Mostly opposite, entire leaves, elliptic to oblong, to two inches. Dark, dull green; yellow to red autumn
color but highly unpredictable.
Flower: To one and 1/2 inches with fringed petals in showy terminal panicles. Blooms profusely all summer.
White, pink, purple, watermelon red are common colors.
Fruit:
Woody capsule, dark brown, persists most of the winter.
Branches:
Upright grown. Attractive exfoliating bark.
Landscape
Values:
1.
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3.
4.
5.
Irregular, buff colored, stems with interesting detail
Summer and early fall flowering
Autumn color (varies with cultivars)
Baffle and screen
Small flowering tree
Remarks:
1.
Most successful small flowering tree for the region. Crape myrtle has many landscape
values and adapts to wide range of growing conditions.
Highly abused tree because of improper pruning practices. Branches or trunks should be
thinned not sheared across the top of specimen. Clean, unbroken lines of trunks and
exfoliating bark are important winter features. Improper pruning causes heavy, swollen
joint-like structures on main trunks. Light tip pruning in mid to late summer induces
more flowering.
Relatively easy to transplant in large sizes. Only a reasonable size soil ball is necessary
when transplanting large specimens.
Mildew, sooty mold and aphids are serious pests. Several applications of an insecticide
during growing season may be necessary for control.
Main limitation to successful performance of the crape myrtle is its unwillingness to grow
in shade. Form is weak and flowers sparse in shade. Plants become spindly in old
established landscapes where large tree canopies compete with crape myrtles.
Very difficult to purchase crape myrtles by cultivar names and match colors. Highly
desirable selections are easily vegetatively propagated to increase a preferred type.
Dormant cuttings, 6-8 inches long, root with little difficulty during winter months. Take
cuttings in December and place in moist, sandy soil for remainder of the winter. Rooting
normally occurs in mid-spring.
Select crape myrtles at very early age for particular form, types, and number of trunks.
Tree is widely adapted for varying space types. Single-trunked plants are available for
small, restricted spaces; multiple-trunked forms available for large specimen types and for
use in groupings.
Difficult to select crape myrtles for landscape projects since unable to specify cultivars
for particular form and color. Most nurseries list crape myrtles only by color or color and
size. Few cultivars developed prior to the last decade.
2.
3.
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5.
6.
7.
8.
Nursery/Landscape
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6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Japanese Privet
BOTANICAL NAME: Ligustrum japonicum cv.
Native of Japan and Korea. Widely used evergreen shrub in the South. Medium-fast growth
rate. Best in loose, fertile soil and full sun to partial shade. Tolerant of most conditions except
poor drainage. Propagate by seeds and cuttings.
Narrow upright branches with rounded canopy. Medium texture and dense foliage.
Foliage:
Opposite, simple, entire, rounded ovate to ovate-oblong 2-4 inches long. Smooth
margins. Dark green and glossy above, light green beneath. Wavy leaf, 4-5 pairs
of veins.
Flower:
Small white sessile flowers in terminal panicles. Blooms in spring. Heavy
fragrance. A nuisance in some situations.
Fruit:
Dark berrylike drupe in terminal clusters. Oval, about 1/3 inch in diameter.
Green, turning black in autumn.
Landscape
Values:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Dense evergreen with glossy foliage
Fragrant flowers
Autumn and winter fruit
Trained as a multi-trunked, small evergreen tree
Clipped or unclipped hedge
Screen
Remarks:
1.
White flies a major insect problem. Spray several times during the
summer.
Birds are attracted to fruit, especially in mid to late winter.
Tolerates heavy pruning. Prune in late winter before new growth begins.
L. texanum reported to produce fewer water sprouts.
Ligustrum coriaceum (curly-leaf ligustrum) is an upright, dense evergreen
shrub, highly promoted in the trade.
Tolerates urban conditions well.
Cultivars ‘Howardi’ and ‘Frasieri’ have variegated foliage.
Although many people dislike ligustrum, it is a highly dependable
evergreen shrub or small tree that tolerates adverse conditions in many
landscapes.
Major disease problems reported are one or more leaf spots and root rot.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Nursery/Landscape
33
6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Tuliptree
BOTANICAL NAME: Liriodendron tulipifera
Native from Massachusetts to Wisconsin, southward to Florida and Mississippi. Widely
distributed in the South. Absent in the floodplains. Grows best in moist, fertile soil with good
drainage. Normally present with other hardwoods. Medium-fast growth rate.
Erect, narrow-oval to pyramidal form, branching at approximately 60 degrees, tall, straight trunk.
Medium-coarse texture. Medium density. Propagated by seeds. Self-seeding.
Foliage:
Simple, alternate, 3-5 inches long, almost as broad. Apex truncate, notched,
maybe entire. Four lobed, similar to shape of tulip. Bright green, turns yellow in
autumn.
Flower:
Tulip-shaped, about 2 inches long, greenish yellow marked with orange. Stamens
shorter than petals. Appear in spring with foliage. Sometimes concealed by
foliage. Flowers when tree is 5-7 years old.
Fruit:
Two to three inches long, cone-shaped aggregate, very conspicuous after foliage
has dropped in late autumn. Break up into one-seeded, winged fruit (samara).
Branches:
High, aspiring branches. Flattened, duckbill-shaped buds. Ash-gray bark.
Landscape
Values:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Yellow autumn color
Pyramidal form
Clean shade tree
Coarse texture
Park, street and lawn tree
Native of the region
Remarks:
1.
Does not transplant readily in large sizes, but its relatively fast rate of
growth makes up for the difference in size.
Aphids secrete objectionable sticky liquid.
Very sensitive to a high water table such as found in New Orleans.
Fertilize annually in late winter for accelerated growth with high nitrogen
fertilizer in the root zone.
Wood somewhat brittle in young, fast growing specimens.
State tree of Tennessee.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Nursery/Landscape
34
6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Bullbay (Southern) Magnolia
BOTANICAL NAME: Magnolia grandiflora
Native from North Carolina to Florida and Texas. Climax species grows in association with
beech, oaks, and other hardwoods. Thrives in loose, moist, fertile, acid soil and in full sun to
partial shade. Sparse flowering in shade. Very sensitive to depth of planting and heavy,
compacted soils. Specimens appear stunted in poor soils. Medium-slow growth rate. Growth
rate can be accelerated with annual application of high nitrogen analysis fertilizer.
Dense, upright, pyramidal form in sun for 15 to 20 years. Loose, open density in shade. Coarse
texture.
Foliage:
Alternate, simple, four to eight inches long, oval-oblong tapering both ways.
Stiff, leathery, shiny green above and rusty tomentose beneath. Stout, green
twigs.
Flower:
Large, white, 7-8 inches across with 6-12 waxy, fragile petals; filaments purple,
carpellary cone prominent. April to June with occasional flowers earlier and later.
Highly fragrant. Does not bloom until tree growth slows. Usually around 7
years.
Fruit:
Conelike, cylindric, three to four inches long, purplish, turning rusty brown with
bright red, shiny seeds hanging from a filament-like thread when mature.
Landscape
Values:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Evergreen, dense foliage
Positive form
Coarse texture
Summer flowering
Rusty color on underside of foliage
Salt tolerant
New selections bloom early
Remarks:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Form changes as tree grows from juvenile to mature size.
Dense shade--usually requires a grass substitute beneath canopy.
Blooms sooner and more profusely if roots are confined.
Cultivars:
‘Majestic Beauty’--Extra large flowers, pyramidal form.
‘St. Mary’--Slow growing, compact form, bronze in color.
‘Samuel Sommer’--Large, fragrant flowers to 14 inches; leaves to 10
inches or more. Reported to be the best in cultivation.
‘Russet’--Compact, dense foliage and branches, leaves russet-brown
beneath.
Magnolias are relatively high maintenance trees because they drop foliage
periodically throughout the year.
5.
Nursery/Landscape
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6/27/2017
Nursery/Landscape
36
6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Chinese (Saucer) Magnolia
BOTANICAL NAME: Magnolia x soulangiana
A hybrid of Magnolia quinquepeta and Magnolia heptapeta. Widely grown in the South.
Considered a favorite small tree. Medium growth rate. Performs best in full sunlight and a
loose, loamy soil with a pH of 5.0 to 6.5. Propagated by seeds, cuttings, and grafting.
Upright, oval form with upright branching, medium texture and dense when in foliage; open in
winter when trunks, branches, and twigs are outstanding features.
Foliage:
Alternate, simple, entire, four to seven inches long. Broad ovate to obovate to
broad-oblong and abruptly short pointed. Sometimes turning yellow in late
autumn.
Flower:
Open saucer-shaped four to six inches across, purplish or rose on the outside with
a creamy white center. Blooms in late winter and early spring before foliage.
Fruit:
Two and one-half to 3 inches long, ovoid or nearly globular. Knobby, rosecolored.
Landscape
Values:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Flowers in late winter and early spring
Smooth gray multi-trunked character
Interesting large flower buds in winter
Large, fuzzy winter buds
Remarks:
1.
2.
Highly fragrant flowers
Soulangiana cultivars:
‘Alba’--White with pink shading at base
‘Alexandrina’--Large, fleshy pale pink.
‘Rubra’--(M. rustica rubra)--Rose-red.
Blossoms open during mild winter days but subject to frost damage.
Large, showy, fuzzy buds in winter.
3.
4.
Nursery/Landscape
37
6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Flowering Crabapple
BOTANICAL NAME: Malus species and cv.
Native from Virginia to Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Widely distributed along small
stream bottoms and woodland edges where soil is moist. Tolerant of most soil conditions and
full sun to partial shade.
Medium growth rate after becomes established. Rapid growth as seedling or root sprout.
Propagate by seeds and root sprouts.
Broad, mounding form with crooked, irregular branching. Medium texture and density.
Foliage:
Alternate, simple, 1-1/2 inches long, 1/2 to 3/4 inches wide. Elliptic to oblongobovate, apex rounded or acute, base cuneate. Dull green above, light green
below. Margin crenately serrate. Toothed leaves occur on shoots of rapid growth
and summer branches with zigzag stems. Branches charcoal colored.
Flower:
Pale to dark pink, one inch across, three to five in a cluster. Early spring before
and with the foliage. Flower buds are much darker color than open flowers.
Fragrant.
Fruit:
Three-fourths to one inch in diameter, flattened at ends. Shallow cavities.
Yellow-green. Maturing in fall.
Landscape
Values:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Woodland edges
Small flowering tree
Usually multi-trunked
Native tree
Wildlife food
Remarks:
1.
2.
3.
Edible fruit for making jelly and preserves.
Root suckers usually abundant, forming thickets in native habitat.
Leaf spot (rust fungus) usually defoliates trees prematurely in late summer,
especially following prolonged rainy periods.
Performance as cultivated tree is unpredictable and tree is short-lived.
Young root sprouts maintain the population in native habitat.
4.
Nursery/Landscape
38
6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Heavenly Bamboo
BOTANICAL NAME: Nandina domestica
Native of China and Japan. Widely used over the entire southern region.
Medium growth rate. Best in fertile, moist soil in full sun to partial shade. Tolerant of most
conditions. Upright, oval form with foliage at top of stiff stems. Medium density. Fine texture.
Foliage:
Bipinnately and tripinnately compound, one to five leaflets one to two inches
long, alternate, entire. Young growth tinged with red, turning bright red in winter.
Flower:
White, small, in terminal panicles. Sepals and petals shed and expose stamens.
Blooms in late April.
Fruit:
Bright red berries, 1/4 inch across, in terminal clusters. Autumn and winter.
Landscape
Values:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Erect form with multiple stems
Red berries in autumn and winter
Red winter foliage
White flowers
Slightly salt tolerant
Fine texture
New foliage copper colored
Grows well in containers
Remarks:
1.
2.
For red foliage color, locate plants in sunny, exposed locations.
Remove one-third of tallest canes each year to keep planting dense and
compact. Make cuts near ground level in late winter.
Available in smaller, more compact selections. These include:
‘Compacta’ which grows to approximately 30 to 36 inches,
‘Nana’ which is somewhat smaller at around 12 to 18 inches,
‘Pygmaea’ at less than 15 inches,
‘Harbour Dwarf’ - low-growing, dense form, popular because of dense
compact mass.
Tolerates considerable shade where form will be upright and open.
Considerable seeding variation in foliage size and glossiness.
One of the most durable plants available for a single clump or heavy mass.
Miniature forms are prone to mildew, a disease which requires frequent
spraying, especially in the lower South.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Nursery/Landscape
39
6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Japanese Photinia
BOTANICAL NAME: Photinia glabra
Native of Japan. A highly popular large evergreen shrub in the region. Especially well adapted
for the upper South. Performs best in a loose, moist sand, well-drained soil and full sunlight for
best leaf coloration. Medium growth rate. Propagated by seeds and cuttings.
Upright, oval form. Medium texture. Medium density. Soft natural growth if not harshly
pruned.
Foliage:
Alternate, obovate, elliptic or oblong-obovate, cuneate at the base, acuminate,
serrulate. Two to three and 1/2 inches long. Petioles approximately 1/2 inch
long. New growth bright red, turning green after several weeks.
Flower:
Three - five inch panicles of white flowers in early spring. Somewhat prominent.
Fruit:
Red. Subglobose, berrylike pome in summer. Sometimes not prominent.
Landscape
Values:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Screening mass
Red color on new growth
Large, evergreen shrub
Hedge
Remarks:
1.
2.
New foliage following pruning is red regardless of season.
Root fungus and fire blight are severe problems with the red leaf photinias
in the lower South. Questionable as to what extent they should be used.
Requires full sunlight to have intense red foliage.
Relatively easy to keep plant within a given area by pruning.
Loose, well-drained soil is essential. Plant is sensitive to heavy, poorly
drained soils. Do not plant unless have near-perfect drainage conditions.
Highly popular shrub in the trade because of the outstanding foliage color,
especially at the time of new growth in early spring.
Should be fertilized sparingly in late winter or early spring.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Nursery/Landscape
40
6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Loblolly Pine
BOTANICAL NAME: Pinus taeda
Native from New Jersey to Texas. Rapidly invades idle fields, hence it is frequently called Old
Field Pine, not found growing naturally on coastal plains and on the lower Piedmont Plateau.
Fast rate of growth; prefers sun. Propagated by seed.
Broad oval form with irregular horizontal branching, medium texture, and medium density.
Foliage:
Leaves in three's (rarely two), slender, six to nine inches long. Dull green.
Flower:
Yellow pollen cone in March.
Buds:
Smooth brown terminal buds about 1/2 inch in diameter.
Fruit:
Brown cone, two to six inches long, oblong-cylindrical to ovoid or conic, prickly
at the top of each cone scale. Each scale thickened at apex.
Bark:
Divided into broad, thick ridges by deep furrows. Twigs reddish-brown.
Landscape
Values:
1.
2.
3.
Evergreen tree
Medium texture
Fast rate of growth
Remarks:
1.
Loblolly Pine and Slash Pine are similar in overall form and character.
West of Mississippi use Loblolly; east of Mississippi use Loblolly and
Slash Pine.
Slash Pine grows fastest for first 20 years, then Loblolly Pine is fastest of
the southern Pines.
Grows well in poor soils.
Fusiform rust is a serious disease for which there is no control; pine tip
moth and colaspis beetle are two insect pests.
Excellent high shade for many understory trees and shrubs.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Nursery/Landscape
41
6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Japanese Yew
BOTANICAL NAME: Podocarpus macrophyllus
Native of Japan. Highly popular evergreen shrub in the lower South and on the West Coast.
Often used as container plant in the North and East. Relatively slow growth rate. Performs best
in full sunlight to partial shade and in a loose, fertile, well-drained soil. Propagated by seeds and
cuttings.
Narrow, upright, columnar form with horizontally spreading branches and somewhat pendant
branchlets. Fine texture, very dense mass. Old specimens maybe pruned into small evergreen
tree.
Foliage:
Simple, alternate, narrowly lanceolate, narrows toward apex, and acute or obtuse
at base, gradually narrows into short petiole. Three to four inches long, more than
1/3 inch wide, with distinct midrib above. Lustrous dark green above, paler
below.
Flower:
Yellow catkin-like make flowers and greenish inconspicuous female flowers.
Fruit:
Oval-shaped fleshy, purple-violet berry, 1/2 inch long on female plants. Edible.
Landscape
Value:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Upright form
Fine texture
Evergreen shrub or small tree
Screening mass
Remarks:
1.
2.
Can be heavily clipped, although natural form is usually preferred.
Cultivar ‘Maki’ has small leaves and is shrub-like. Excellent gray-green
color on new growth.
Subject to root rot fungus in wet soils.
Very sensitive to heavy, poorly drained clay soils.
Reported to be slightly salt tolerant.
Better than average soil preparation necessary for good performance.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Nursery/Landscape
42
6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Thundercloud Flowering Plum
BOTANICAL NAME: Prunus cerasifera ‘Thundercloud’
Native of southwest Asia. Medium to fast rate of growth. Best in full sun and well-drained soil.
Upright, oval form with dense, ascending branches. Propagated by cuttings and seeds.
Foliage:
Alternate, elliptic to ovate, finely serrate. Dark purple, bleaching in the summer.
Young stems purple. Lenticels on stems.Flower: Delicate pink-white in spring
before foliage. Fragrant flowers.
Fruit:
Drupe to one inch diameter. Matures late summer. Not of major ornamental
value.
Landscape
Values:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Distinctive foliage color
Spring flowers
Small deciduous tree
Accent
Remarks:
1.
2.
3.
Will not retain purple color in dense shade.
Short-lived tree, especially in the extreme South.
Several pests but borers and scale are the most serious and often kill the
tree.
Single and double flowering selections available in the trade.
Sun bleaches purple foliage in fully exposed locations in lower south.
Better color results if protection is given from hot afternoon sun.
Some of the common cultivars:
‘Atropurpurea’--Popular in the trade. Large leaves, pink flowers, dense
upright branches.
‘Hollywood’--Leaves first appear as green then turn deep purple.
‘Thundercloud’--Reported best. Retains purple color for lengthy period.
Flowering occurs after tree is 3-5 years old and growth has tapered off.
Highly visible tree in any planting. Effective tucked into planting of
neutral green foliages. Provides strong contrasts in landscape setting.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Nursery/Landscape
43
6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Firethorn
BOTANICAL NAME: Pyracantha coccinea
Native of southern Europe and western Asia. Widely planted in the South. Medium-fast growth
rate. Thrives in full sun on fertile, well-drained, acid to strongly alkaline (pH 5.5-7.5) soil.
Propagate by seeds or cuttings of ripened wood in fall. Not easy to transplant, especially large
sizes.
Upright, spreading form with heavy horizontal branches, lateral twigs on stout spreading basal
branches. Fine texture, medium density.
Foliage:
Alternate, simple, oval-oblong to oblanceolate, 3/4 to one and 3/4 inches long,
acute, toothed. Glabrous or slightly pubescent when young. Branches with
numerous short spines. Young branchlets and petioles grayish pubescent.
Flower:
Small, white in corymbs to two inches across. Spring blooms. Somewhat
prominent.
Fruit:
Bright, orange-red, round apple-like berries, 1/4 inch in diameter. Clusters of fruit
very conspicuous. Persistent in fall, winter through early spring.
Landscape
Values:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Very valuable for seasonal interest
Fine texture
Espalier on walls and other flat surfaces
Screening mass
Wildlife food
Remarks:
1.
Pyracantha koidzumii may be equally as important in the trade. It has
flattened red berried, entire leaf margins, and an upright spreading form
with heavy horizontal branches. ‘Victory’ and ‘Santa Cruz’ are popular
cultivars.
Berries are produced on two-year wood. Keep some of previous season's
wood when pruning in late winter. Cannot tolerate severe pruning.
Selectively thin to maintain a restricted area.
Fireblight is severe disease problem on old specimens. Relatively shortlived.
Train into espalier by removing all branches which grow out of desired
form.
Major cultivars include:
‘Lalandei’--orange-red berried, likely the most popular;
‘Lowboy’--low, broad spreading;
‘Pauciflora’--very hardy, orange berries;
‘Aurea’--yellow berries;
‘Kasan’--orange-red berries;
‘Monrovia’--excellent fruiting.
White fly, scale, aphids, spider mites and sooty mold are major pests.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Nursery/Landscape
44
6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Bradford Pear
BOTANICAL NAME: Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’
Medium to fast rate of growth. Prefers sun. Provide fertile, well-drained soil.
Columnar when young, becoming more oval with age. Becoming very popular in South.
Foliage:
Alternate, simple, oval to oblong-ovate two to four inches long, new leaves
coppery, quickly turning bright green. Heavy, glossy, purple autumn color.
Flower:
White, one inch across appearing with new foliage in the spring. Lasts for a very
short time--one week to 10 days.
Fruit:
One-half inch in diameter and are not a nuisance in well-maintained landscape
plantings as are those of the Pyrus communis.
Landscape
Values:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
White flowers in spring
Erect form
Fruit attractive to wildlife
Small, urban sites
Sidewalk tree
Deciduous tree
Remarks:
1.
2.
Not as susceptible to fireblight as is the Common Pear.
A selected form of Callery Pear, suitable for the South. Blight resistant
and more upright form than other selections. More desirable than callery
seedlings, most of which have prominent spines.
Nursery/Landscape
45
6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Shumard Oak
BOTANICAL NAME: Quercus shumardii
Native of the southern United States, widely distributed in Louisiana in well-drained locations,
but not abundant. Found on deep, rich, bottomland soils along streams and swamp borders;
usually occurring as an occasional tree in mixed hardwood forests.
Medium rate of growth, prefers full sun and well-drained soils. Propagated by seeds.
Upright oval form when young, rounded when old. Coarse texture and dense.
Foliage:
Alternate, simple six to eight inches long by three to four inches wide, obovate,
seven to nine lobed, lobes broadest at apex, teeth bristle-tipped, turning red in fall.
Sinuses between lobes variable, narrow to broad. Uniform lobing.
Flower:
Staminate, drooping catkins and pistillate flowers in many-flowered spikes;
conspicuous yellow-green to brown in spring.
Fruit:
Acorn is 3/4 to one inch long, 3/4 inch in diameter, cup saucer to shallow cup
shaped enclosing one-third of nut; nut broadest at base with tapering sides and
rounded apex. Requires two years to mature.
Landscape
Values:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Excellent large shade tree
Very dependable red autumn color for the lower South.
Oval form
Glossy foliage
Remarks:
1.
2.
Annual applications of fertilizer encourages rapid growth.
Distinguished from Southern Red Oak by more uniform lobing and
absence of dense pubescence on undersurface.
Nursery/Landscape
46
6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Live Oak
BOTANICAL NAME: Quercus virginiana
Native from Virginia to Florida and Mexico. Most popular oak in deep South. Medium-fast
growth rate for first 10 years, then slow. Best in full sunlight. Tolerant of wide range of soil
conditions. Does best in a moist, fertile soil. To hasten growth, prune, water, and fertilize
regularly.
Short thick trunk and broad-spreading, mounding form at maturity with almost horizontal
branches growing near the ground. Medium-fine texture. Medium density.
Foliage:
Alternate, simple elliptic or oblong, 1 /2 to five inches long. Leathery, dark
glossy, blue-green above, gray pubescent below. Margins of spring leaves are
entire and occasionally revolute; summer growth is usually sparsely toothed.
Often hollylike.
Fruit:
Acorns in clusters of one to five on peduncles 1/2 to three inches long; acorn is
1/2 inches long and 1/3 inch in diameter. Seedling volunteers abundant,
especially in loose, moist soil.
Trunk: Bark is thick dark and divided into broad, heavy ridges by deep narrow furrows.
Landscape
Values:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Broad-spreading form
Long-lived tree
Large evergreen
Easily transplanted in large sizes
Salt spray tolerant
Remarks:
1.
2.
Dieback is a problem in old trees growing under stress.
Growth rate can be accelerated by annual applications of fertilizer and
supplementary watering during summer. Apply 1/2 to 2 pounds of
complete fertilizer (10-10-10) per year of age of tree in late winter.
Natural form of tree is best if specimens are allowed to grow in large open
spaces. Less successful as a street tree in some cases.
Considerable seedling variation. Some are nearly deciduous in late winter.
Yellow-green of catkins is a striking feature in early spring.
Dwarf live oak (Quercus minima) is indigenous to pine flatwoods and
deep sands behind beach sites. This oak is associated with burned
woodlands and is only oak found on regularly burned sites. Height is
under 6 feet. Evergreen leaves are 2-5 inches long and variable in shape.
Twigs are reddish colored.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Nursery/Landscape
47
6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Indian Hawthorn
BOTANICAL NAME: Raphiolepis indica
A native of China, raphiolepis has become a highly versatile, widely planted intermediate sized shrub. It
performs well in a moist, fertile, well-drained soil and grows best in positions which receive direct morning
sunlight.
The form is dense-mounding to irregular, depending on the cultivar. Some are very compact and low
growing, others open, tall and rangy. Plants have thick, stiff branches with medium textured foliage.
Moderate growth rate.
Foliage:
Oblong-lanceolate leaves, each to three inches long, bluntly toothed. Dark green and
leathery. More dense near tips of branches.
Flower:
Flowers about one-half inch across in clusters with slight variations with each cultivar.
Profuse blooming in midspring. White to dark rosy-pink. Blooms intermittently through
summer and fall.
Fruit:
Prominent berries to one-fourth inch in diameter. Green turning purple in late autumn.
Normally borne in clusters.
Landscape
Values:
Remarks:
Nursery/Landscape
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Low to medium sized shrub
Flowers - white to dark rosy-pink
Purple to black fruit
New foliage copper colored
Massed as ground covers
1. Performance is unpredictable. Apparently the most important considerations for good
growth are adequate drainage, proper soil preparation, several hours of direct sunlight
each day, and good air circulation.
2. Cercospora leaf spot, a serious disease of some cultivars, but will be less severe if
plants are protected from heavy dews and provided with about six hours of direct
sunlight each day.
3. Relatively easy to keep size restricted by selective pruning after flowering.
4. Reported to be tolerant of salt spray.
5. Many cultivars listed in the trade. Some of the most popular include the following:
‘Ballerina’ -- Mostly dwarf, normally under two feet, dark pink flowers
‘Pink Cloud’ -- Medium height, to three feet, light pink flowers
‘Jack Evans’ -- Compact, broad spreading, double pink flowers
‘Enchantress’ -- Large rosy-pink flowers, compact growth, to three feet
‘Springtime’ -- Moderately fast growth to four feet in height
‘Clara’ -- White, Maintains low dense form for several years. Excellent foliage
‘Janice’ -- Dwarf, pink
‘Peggy’ -- White, compact growth
6. R. umbellata -- Yeddo hawthorn is very similar and was once more common than R.
indica. Leaves are thicker broader and more rounded but general landscape values
about the same as the large growing Indian hawthorn selections.
48
6/27/2017
COMMON NAME: Hybrid Tea Rose
BOTANICAL NAME: Rosa x cv.
A group of widely planted shrubs used primarily for seasonal color. Essential to provide full
sunlight an a raised bed with loose, fertile, well-drained soil. Plant new roses in winter. Prune
established roses in late January. Fast growth. Open density. Medium texture.
Foliage:
Alternate, Glossy. Compound, three to five leaflets.
Flower:
Solitary or in clusters from early spring to frost. Many colors. Blooms on new
wood. When cutting and pruning, cut back to a five-leaflet leaf.
Landscape
Values:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Remarks:
Very strict spraying schedule and annual pruning required for good performance.
Color--spring through fall
Cut flower
Bedding plant--color display
Enrichment
Rose Classifications:
1.
Hybrid Teas: Large pointed buds, long stems, specimen blooms borne
singly or in clusters of three to five blooms per stem.
2.
Floribundas: Medium-sized bloom, flat-topped clusters. Color display.
Profuse bloomer. Shorter stems than hybrid teas. Abundance of flowers.
3.
Polyanthas: Large flower cluster but each flower in cluster is smaller
than floribunda. Clusters tend to be cone-shaped. Seed primarily in mass
plantings for color accent over extended period.
4.
Grandiflora: Most recent introduction. Combines good qualities of
hybrid teas and floribundas. Long stemmed flower in small clusters.
Individual flowers are medium large.
5.
Climbers and Ramblers: This type possesses great vigor and produces
long canes. Needs support. Many variations in climbers.
6.
Miniatures: Specialty rose group. Usually grow only 12 to 15 inches
high.
7.
Tree roses: Not a specific type; refers to horticultural treatment.
Roses are highly specialized. Each type requires special cultural practices to produce quality
flowers. A reference on roses should be consulted before making a major investment in this
plant.
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COMMON NAME: Bridal-Wreath
BOTANICAL NAME: Spirea prunifolia
Native of Korea and China. Medium rate of growth. Performs best in full sunlight and moist,
well-drained soil. Grows well in partial shade, but flowering is sparse.
Slender, upright, vase form with many stems arising from central crown forming dense clump.
Fine texture.
Foliage:
Glabrous or pubescent beneath, dark glossy green above. Elliptic to oblong,
pointed at both ends, 1 inch long. Finely toothed. Sometimes red or yellow
autumn color.
Flower:
Double white, blooming in early spring before leaves. Thickly set in clusters
along branches. Button-like. Especially showy in cooler sections of the country.
Landscape
Values:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Spring bloom
Fine texture
Ease of culture
Upright, vase form
Relatively long-lived
Remarks:
1.
2.
Does not perform as well in the extreme South as it does in upper South.
Thin out old, nonproductive canes at or near ground level. Remove onethird of the tallest canes each year to encourage denser growth and better
flowering. Never destroy natural form by shearing across the top.
Bridal wreath begins flowering soon after Spiraea thunbergii (baby's
breath spirea).
It blooms soon after most of the early azaleas.
Best autumn color of all the spireas.
The upright form of this spirea is somewhat more positive than the other
spireas and may be more difficult to combine with other shrubs.
All spireas are relatively free of most insect and disease pests. Leaf spot
fungus and powdery mildew are problems sometimes. Among the easiest
shrubs to grow because of their tolerance to wide range of conditions.
They require less maintenance than most other shrubs and are long-lived.
Spireas should be fertilized in late winter just before new growth begins
using a complete fertilizer such as an 8-8-8, or similar, at the rate of
approximately 1/4 pound (one cup) of fertilizer per well-established plant.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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COMMON NAME: Bald Cypress
BOTANICAL NAME: Taxodium distichum
Native of North America; at one time the chief lumber tree of the Mississippi River Floodplain. Widely
distributed in Louisiana as a native and in cultivated state.
Fast rate of growth for first seven to 10 years, then slow. Grows well in highlands and in water.
Conical form with horizontal branching. Fine texture. Medium dense.
Foliage:
Alternate, leaves usually spreading in a flat plane on the sides of branchlets, feather-like, each
leaf 1/2-3/4 inches long by 1/16 inches wide. Emerald-green in spring, rust-brown in fall.
Branches right angle to trunk.
Flower:
Purplish pollen-producing cones in long drooping clusters. Conspicuous after branchlets
have shed.
Fruit:
Seed bearing cone globose, roughened, about one inch in diameter.
Landscape
Values:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Form
Ability to grow in we and dry soils
Fine texture
Foliage color--spring and autumn
Remarks:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Only deciduous conifer
State tree of Louisiana
May have knees when growing in wet areas
Very durable wood
Taxodium ascendens, Pond Cypress is more upright and has imbricated leaves.
Several new horticulture forms but not readily available in trade.
When old, tops have nearly horizontal branches.
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COMMON NAME: Asian Jasmine
BOTANICAL NAME: Trachelospermum asiaticum
Native of China. Fast growth rate. Does well in sun and shade. Propagate by layering or cuttings.
Foliage:
Opposite, simple, entire, elliptic or obovate, 1-1/2 inches long. Glossy, dark green. Slender
wiry stems.
Landscape
Values:
1.
2.
Ground cover
Evergreen vine
Remarks:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Variegated form T. asiaticum variegatum is popular for landscape developments.
For rapid ground cover, cover bed with two or three inches of pine bark.
Shear every second or third year if lower mat covering is preferred.
Weeds and grasses are not a major problem once surface is covered.
Difficult to use with small mounding shrubs, bulbs, and other inter-plantings because
of the rank, competitive growth.
This species does not flower. To introduce fragrance into planting, one Star Jasmine
may be added for every 15 to 20 of the dwarf ground cover type.
In colder regions, foliage turns a dark reddish-purple after first major frost.
6.
7.
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COMMON NAME: Windmill Palm
BOTANICAL NAME: Trachycarpus fortunei
Native of eastern Asia, very hardy, from North Carolina south on the east and from Oregon south on the
Pacific Coast.
Slow growing palm. Grows best in full sun. Propagated by seeds.
Erect form with dense head on a slender trunk with umbrella-like branching, coarse texture, and dense
foliage mass.
Foliage:
Fan-shaped nearly orbicular, three feet or more across, palmately compound, leaves divided
into stiff segments, drooping on mature blades, dull dark green; smooth petioles.
Flower:
Long clusters of yellow flowers 1/2-3/4 inches long, from spring to fall.
Fruit:
Small, bluish, three-carpelled and deeply angled, pea-like fruits after flowers, in clusters.
Trunk:
Covered with dark brown coarse hair-like or burlap-like fiber.
Landscape
Values:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Coarse texture
Columnar trunk
Flowers of mature specimens
Tub specimen
Remarks:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Expensive in large sizes because of slow growth.
Columnar trunk
Hardy Palm in areas where cold temperatures may damage other palms.
Not easily obtained in large sizes.
Trunk is covered with burlap-like fiber and constricted at base.
Performs badly in heavy, poorly drained soils.
Grows well along coast; tolerant of light salt spray.
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COMMON NAME: Chinese Wisteria
BOTANICAL NAME: Wisteria sinensis
Native of China. Thrives in moist, fertile soil, and full sunlight to partial shade but quite tolerant of most
conditions. Not easy to confine. Very fast growth. Propagate by seeds or cuttings of an old, mature,
blooming plant. Provide sturdy support.
A woody vine, with twining branches, medium texture, and dense growth.
Foliage:
Pinnately compound, alternate, 7-13 leaflets, usually 11. Ovate-acuminate or ovatelanceolate, short-stalked, 2-3 in. long. Silky with appressed hairs when young.
Flower:
Blue-violet, pea-like, one inch long, in pendulous clusters six to 12 inches long. Blooms in
spring with a few scattered through the summer.
Fruit:
Flattened seed pod, elongated, two-valved, velvety, light brown.
Landscape
Values:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Profuse flowers before foliage
Vigorous growth
Can form a tree or standard specimen by careful pruning.
Pendulous character of flowers.
Fragrant
Trunk character
Remarks:
1.
Stimulate flowering by withholding fertilizer, water and by root pruning. Flowering
is sparse when vines are actively growing.
Requires frequent pruning to restrict size.
Vigorous growth can kill trees by strangulation or shading
Heavy growth may damage wood and painted surfaces.
Bloom delayed for 5+ years if started from seed or nonflowering wood. Purchased
plants need at least one flower present to ensure age.
Cultivars available in the trade.
‘Alba’--white flowers
‘Caroline’--lavender flowers
Wisteria floribunda--Japanese wisteria has very prominent flowering racemes to 20
in. or more. Pinnately compound leaves with 13 to 19 leaflets. Colors available in
the trade include white, pink, and purple.
2.
3.
4.
5.
7.
8.
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