Download Selecting Plants for the Design



Tree- a single- stem, woody perennial plant
reaching the height of 12 feet or more.
Some trees such as a birch have several
stems, but that is a rare case.
◦ Trees may be deciduous or evergreen
◦ Deciduous-lose their leaves.
◦ Evergreen- stay green year-round or don’t lose
their leaves.




Shrubs- are multi-stem, woody plants that do
not exceed 20 feet in height.
In general shrubs are as tall as they are wide.
They can be deciduous or evergreen.
Ground cover- may be woody or herbaceous.
It forms a mat less than 1 foot high covering
the ground. Grass is the most common
ground cover.



Vines- are woody or soft stemmed
(herbaceous) plants that need some type of
support. They may climb on objects or along
the ground.
Annuals- are herbaceous plants that live for
one growing season and are valued for their
flowers or colored leaves( foliage).
Perennials- a plant that has a life cycle of
more than 2 growing seasons. They can be
trees, shrubs, or herbaceous.

Ornamental grasses- are grasses valued for
their textures and colors which add interest.




Is the naming of plants.
Horticultural plants have two types of name:
common names and botanical names.
Common names for the same plant can be
different especially in different parts of the
country.
Genus- is a closely related group of plants
made up of one or more species. Example:
Red Maple, Silver Maple, Sugar Maple– are all
Acer


Species- is composed of plants that show
characteristics that distinguish them from
other groups in the genus. Example– Red
Maple is Acer rubrum.
Variety- a group of plants within a species
that show a significant difference from other
plants in the species. (Example a plant with
thorns vs. one without thorns)

Cultivar- a plant that is created by grafting or
cuttings.



Fewer trees are used in landscapes than other
plants, because of their size and since they
may live for 100’s of years.
Shade Tree- a large tree with a spreading
canopy.
Ornamental Tree- a smaller tree used for its
beauty.



Hardiness- the ability of a tree (or other
plants) to withstand cold temperatures.
Our part of Ohio is in Zone 5, we can use
plants that can tolerate 1,2,3,4, and 5.
Messiness- avoid using trees that are known
to drop fruit, twigs, and peeling bark. Messy
trees can increase labor needed to maintain
the appearance of the landscape.



Specimen plants- displays outstanding form,
texture, and colors. It can stand alone
because of these colors.
Group plantings- consists of several different
species of shrubs. The group provides a
bigger impact than alone.
Hedges- consists of all one type of shrub.
They define space, they tie other landscape
elements together, and they may screen
views.



Screens- is a solid mass of one type of shrub.
It serves as a living wall that effectively blocks
views.
Foundation plants- are shrubs that are placed
around the foundation of the house. They
help soften the corners of the house and
block the view of the foundation.
Shrub borders- a mass of many shrubs on
the border of the property.




Provide an accent of color to the landscape.
Use with caution, since they can be so
colorful.
Use flowers near outdoor living area or in
small numbers near the entry way to the
public area.
Flowers should enhance the house and
landscape and not distract from them.




Flowers should be planted in front of woody
plants or physical structures.
Place taller plants to the rear.
Avoid mixing colors in the beds.
Angled or incurves flower beds work the best.