Term | Definition |
Acer palmatum
(Japanese Maple) | Height: 15-25’
●Spread: equal
spread
●Leaf: Opposite,
Star, Palmate,
Serrate-Lobed (5-9)
●Light-Dark Green,
Reds & Purples
●Fruit: Samara
●Part Shade |
Acer rubrum
(Red Maple) | Height: 40-60’
●Spread: equal
spread
●Leaf: Opposite,
Star, Serrate-Lobed
(3-5), Palmate
●Gray cast
underneath leaf
●Flower: Red Cluster
(Spring)
●Part shade-Sun |
Betula nigra
(River Birch) | ●Height: 40-70’
●Spread: 40-60’
●Leaf: Alternate,
Elliptical, Serrrate,
Pinnate
●Fruit: Nut
●Bark exfoliates
●Part Shade
●Moist soils |
Cercis canadensis
(Eastern Red Bud
or Judas Tree) | ●Height: 20-30’
●Spread: 25-35’
●Leaf: Opposite,
Cordate, Entire,
Palmate
●Flower: Purple/Pink
Cluster (Spring)
●Fruit: Pod
●Stems in zig-zag
●Shade-Sun |
Cornus florida
(Flowering Dogwood) | ●Height: 20’
●Spread: equal
spread
●Leaf: Opposite,
Ovate, Entire,
Pinnate
●Flower: White/Pink
Head (Spring)
●Fruit: Red Drupe
●Part shade |
Lagerstroemia indica
(Crape Myrtle) | ●Height: 15-25’
●Spread: 10-15’
●Leaf: Opposite,
Elliptical, Entire,
Pinnate
●Flower: Panicle
(Red, White, Pink,
Purple)
●Fruit: Brown
Capsule
●Sun |
Liquidambar styraciflua
(Sweetgum) | ●Height: 60-75’
●Spread: 40-50’
●Leaf: Alternate,
Star,
Serrated/Lobed,
Pinnate
●Fruit: Brown
Synacarp (Can be a
problem)
●Sun |
Malus
(Flowering Crabapple) | ●Leaf: Alternate,
Elliptical, Serrate,
Pinnate
●Flower: Head (Pink
or White)
●Fruit: Small Pome
●Sun |
Prunus serrulata
(‘Kwanzan’ Japanese Flowering Cherry) | ●Leaf: Alternate,
Elliptical, Serrated,
Pinnate
●Flower: Pink or
White
●Bark has horizontal
lenticels
●Part shade - Sun |
Pyrus calleryana
(Bradford Pear) | ●Leaf: Alternate,
Ovate, Crenate,
Pinnate
●Flower: White head
(smells like dog pee)
●Fruit: Bitter pome
●Sun
●Very popular for its
symmetrical form |
Quercuspalustris
(Pin Oak) | ●Height: 60-70’
●Spread: 35-40’
●Leaf:Alternate,
Pinnate, 5-9 lobes
(sinuses like a “U”)
●Flower: Brown
Catkin
●Fruit: Acorn
●Part shade – Sun
●Fast growing oak |
Quercus phellos
(Willow Oak) | ●Height: 40-60’
●Spread: 30-40’
●Leaf: Linear, Entire,
Alternate, Pinnate
●Flower: Brown Catkin
●Fruit: Acorn
●Part shade – Sun
●Best oak for overall texture
and form |
Berberis thunbergii
(Japanese Barberry) | ●Height & Width: 3-5’
●Environment: Sun
●Spines (thorns)
along stem
●Cultivars come in
varying colors
●Extremely
adaptable and
withstands dry
conditions |
Euonymus alatus
(Winged Euonymus) | ●Height: 5-8’
●Width: 3-5’
●Environment: Sunshade
●Used a lot on
highway median
because it is very
durable
●Leaves turn brillant
red in fall
●Stems have wings |
Forsythia x intermedia
(Border Forsythia) | ●Height: 8-10’
●Width: 7-10’
●Environment: Sun
●Flower: Yellow head
shape (sign of spring
coming)
●Occurs on old wood
●Stem is four sided and
has noticeable lenticels |
Norfolk Island Pine
Aracauria heterophylla | ● Height: 1-8’
● Spread: 1-4’
● Small tree with
whorled branching
● Soft green needles
● Moisture: Let dry
slightly
● Fertilizer: 2x/month
(spring-summer) &
1x/month (fallwinter)
● Light: High |
Sprengeri Fern
Asparagus densiflorus
‘sprengeri’ | ● Height: 18-24"
● Spread: 18-24"
● Lime green stems with needle-like leaves
● Moisture: Dry slightly
● All-purpose fertilizer during growing season
● Light: High
● Red Berries |
Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum | ● Height:1-3'
● Spread: 1-33'
● Arching leaves that support plantlets; has a yellow or white stripe
● ½" White Flower
● Reduce wateringin winter, but moist spring summer |
Dumbcane
Dieffenbachia maculata | ● Height: 6'
● Spread: 2'
● Elliptical thick, dark green-yellow leaves
● Moisture: Dry slightly
● Fertilize: 2x/month (spring-summer)
● Light: Medium
● Juices can temporarily paralyze vocal cords |
Golden Pothos
Epipremnum aureum | ● Vine
● Cordate, leathery leaves; bright green and marbled in yellow or white
● Moisture: Evenly
Light: High
● Fertilize lightly
throughout
growing season. |
Poinsettia
Euphorbia pulcherrima | ● Height: 1-3'
● Spread: 1-3'
● Large red, pink, white or bicolor bracts with inconspicious flowers
● Native to Mexico
● Needs 14-18 hours of dark to change color (Short-day plant)
● Moisture: Evenly
● Light: high
● Prune to keep plants
dense |
Weeping Fig
Ficus benjamina | ● Height: 8'
● Tough, leathery, shiny leaves with wavy margins
● Fertilize monthly
● Light: High
● Will lose most of its leaves if moved but will recover |
Rubber Plant
Ficus elastica
‘Decora’ | ● Height: 6'
● Leaves are thick, glossy, leathery and have a maroon midrib
● Light: low
● Milky substance inside leaf. |
Prayer Plant
Maranta
leuconeura
‘Kerchoviana’ | ● Height: 12-15"
● Satiny foliage with red veins or dark spots.
● Leaves curl at night
● Light: Medium |
Boston Fern
Nephrolepis
exaltata | ● Height: 2'
● Spread: 2'
● Fronds up to 3' long with upright and arching habit
● Light: High
● Outside-morning sun and afternoon shade |
Parlor Ivy
Philodendron
scandens | ● Vining
● Heart-shaped leaves, typically with purple or brown undersides
● Stipules turn brown and fall off
● Light: Low
● Vigorous climber |
Swedish Ivy
Plectranthus
australis | ● Vining
● Waxy, leathery leaves with scalloped edges
● Spikes of white flowers appear occasionally
● Light: High
● Good for hanging baskets |
African Violet
Saintpaulia
ionantha | ● Height: 2-10"
● Width: 2-24"
● Leaves in rosettes
● Flower cluster in shades of pink, white and purple
● Keep evenly moist
● Fertilize all year
● Light: Medium
● Take leaf cuttings |
Dwarf Schefflera
Schefflera
arboricola | ● Height: 10-12'
● Width: 1-4'
● 5-6 leaflets in a palmate arrangement
● Allow to get dry before watering again
● Light: Medium - High
● Stem cuttings or air layer |
Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum | ● Height: 2-8'
● Large elliptical, shiny leaves (Basal)
● White spathe and spadix (low bloom in low light)
● Keep evenly moist
● Fertilze monthly |
Wandering Jew
Tradescantia
zebrina | ● Height: 8-16"
● Width: 10-36"
● Purple, silver and green stirped leaves
● Tiny, purple flowers
● Evenly moist
● Light: High
● Stem cuttings
● Good for hanging baskets |
Leyland Cypress
X Cupressocyparis leylandii | ● Height: 100'
● Spread: Narrow pyramid
● Scale leaves that are flattened
● Full Sun
● Used as a
● Problems: Bag worms & shallowroots |
Southern Magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora | ● Height: 60-80'
● Spread: 30-50'
● Alternate,Elliptical, Entire& Pinnate Leaves
● Glossy top and brown underneath
● Creamy white 10" wide flower |
Mugo Pine
Pinus mugo | ● Height: up to 10'
● Spread: up to 15'
● 1-3" long needles, 2 per fasicle
● Sun-Part Shade
● Problems: Scale insects |
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus | ● Height: 50-80'
● Spread: 20-40'
● 5 needles per fasicle that have a thin white line on the middle
● Leaves appear to have a bluish green hint
● Sun |
Loblolly Pine
Pinus taeda | ● Height: 50-80'
● Spread: 30-35'
● Needle like leaves 12-18" (3 per fascile)
● Full Sun
● Acidic Soil
● One Central Leader |
Glossy Abelia
Abelia x grandiflora | ● Height: 4-6'
● Spread: 3-5'
● 1-1.5" long glossy green leaves
● Pinkish-white tube shaped flowers (summer)
● Semi-shade |
Common Boxwood
Buxus sempervirens | ● Height: 3-8'
● Spread: 3-4'
● Simple with white midrib on underside
● Part shade
● Used as a hedge
along a building |
Evergreen Euonymus
Euonymus japonica | ● Height: 5-10'
● Width: 5-8'
● Waxy, solid green and golden edged leaves (variegated will revert to solid-must prune off)
● Opposite, simple, obovate & serrated
● Stem-squarish
● Shade-Sun
● Problems: Leaf spot, euonymous scale
aphids |
Dwarf Burford Holly
Ilex cornuta 'Dwarf Burford' | ● Height: 5-6'
● Width: 4-6'
● Oblong leaves with 1-3 spines at top and slight recurve
● Sun-shade |
Fosteri Holly
Ilex x attenuata 'Fosteri | ● Height: 20-30'
● Width: 7-10'
● 1-4 spines down the upper half of leaf
● Alternate, simple, ellipticovate,& glossy
● Cluster of berries in fall/winter
● Typical Pyramid
shape |
Helleri Holly
Ilex crenata 'Helleri' | ● Height: 4'
● Width: 5'
● Wedge-based leaves with crenate margins, flat & ½" long
● Mounding habit
● Sun-shade |
Dwarf Yaupon
Ilex vomitoria 'Nana' | ● Height: 3-5'
● Width: 4-6'
● Green-reddish brown leaves
● Alternate, simple, ovate, & crenate
● Gray stems
● Sun-shade
● Drought
tolerant |
Shore Juniper
Juniperus conferta | ● Height: 1-2'
● Spread: 6-9'
● Awl shaped (1/2" long) and usually in 3's
● Stomata band with bluish-green underside
● Blue berry
● Sun-part shade
● Will grow on beach dunes or
in clay |
Ajuga | •Height: up to 2”
•Spread: 6-12”
•Spatulate leaves
•Purple, pink, white
spike flower
•Low ground cover
that forms dense
mat or mound
•Part Shade |
Florist
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum
moriflorum | •Height: 12-36"
•Spread: 16-36"
•Lobed, Elliptical
leaves
•Fall bloom (can be
forced at anytime)
•Sun
•Short-day plant
•Must be pruned 3x
throughout the year
to come back |
Canna
Canna x generallis | •Height: 1-5’
•Spread: 15-18”
•Flower as a spike in
whites to shades of
yellow, red, orange
and pink
•Leaves are rolled at
stem then spread to
elliptical shape with
noticeable bronze or
green veins and
foliage |
Shasta Daisy
Chrysanthemum
x superbum | •Height: 12-36"
•Spread: 16-36"
•Serrated, Spatulate
leaves
•Flower: JuneAugust
(yellow
center)
•Divide and replant
every 2-3 years |
English Ivy
Hedera helix • | •Height: Vine
•Spread: 12"
•Star-shaped leaves
available in
variegated form
•Part shade-shade
•Can be invasive |
Day Lily
Hemerocalis | •Height: 1-4'
•Spread: 18-24"
•Flowers in all colors
(bi-colored)
•Narrow leaf with a
crease down the
center
•Sun |
Hosta
Hosta sp. | •Height: 6-36"
•Spread: 12-24"
•Flowers clusters in
white to purple
•Foliage is green,
blue, or variegated
with white or cream.
•Spatulate shape
leaf
•Shade |
Bearded Iris
Iris x germanica
var. florentine | •Height: 8-36"
•Spread: 10-18"
•Spike flowers of
yellow, orange,
white, lilac, purple
and bicolor-has a
yellow beard in
center
•Leaves are sword
shaped and flat |
Liriope
Liriope muscari | •Height: 12-18"
•Spread: 12-15"
•Wider grass-like
foliage greenvariegated
•Flowers are white
or shade or purple
spikes
•Sun-shade |
Mondo Grass
Ophiopogon
japonicus | •Height: 6-10"
•Spread: 12"
•Foliage is thin
grass-like typically
dark green-black
•Flowers and berries
hidden in foliage
•Sun-shade |
Ageratum
Ageratum
mexicanum | •Height: 4-12"
•Spread: 6-9"
•Cottony flowers
in clusters
•Cordate, bright
green leaves
•Part shade |
Wax Begonia
Begonia x
semperflorens | •Height: 6-12”
•Spread: 6-8”
•Waxy, rounded
leaves with hairs at
tips
•Flowers in red,
pink, white with
yellow center
•Planted in masses
•Light: Shade |
Coleus | •Height: 1-3’
•Spread: 18-24”
•Contrasting leaves
with green, yellow,
white, pink, red,
orange and purple
•Used to add color in
shade gardens
•Light: Part Shade |
Impatiens | •Height: 12-24"
•Spread: 12-15"
•Masses of 1"
blooms in various
colors cover bright
green foliage
•Excellent for shady
beds and beneath
trees as well as in
containers
•Pinch back for
added flower
production
•Light: Shade |
Geranium
Pelargonium x
hortorum | •Height: 12-24”
•Spread: 12”
•Cordate, fuzzy
leaves with umbel
flowers
•Red, White, Pink
•May have zonalsshow
when in the
sun
•Light: Sun-Part
Shade |
Ivy Leaf
Geranium
Pelargonium
peltatum | •Height: Vining
• Clusters of flowers
at end of stems with
leathery scalooped
leaves
•White, red,
peppermint, pink
flowers in umbel
•Deadhead
•Sun-Part Shade |
Petunia | •Height: 6-18"
•Spread: 12-14"
•White, Red,
Purple & Yellow
tube shaped
flower
•Can get in
trailing varieties
•Sun-Part Shade |
Salvia
splendens | •Height: 1-3’
•Spread: 12”
•Ovate dark green
leaves
•Flowers on spikes
in red, white, purple
and bicolor
•Sun |
Marigold
Tagetes erecta
| •Height: 6-36”
•Spread: 12-18”
•Compound leaves
•Yellow and orange
flowers
•Strong scentedgood
to put in
vegetable garden to
repel pests
•Needs
deadheading
•Sun |
Pansy
Viola x
wittrockiana | •Height: 6-10"
•Spread: 6-8"
•Ovate, crenate
leaves
•Head shaped flower
in purple, white, red
or yellow
•Grows in late fall
and winter
•Sun-Part Shade |