Herbaceous Ornamentals

Question 1

Plants with fleshy, soft, or succulent stems. Many for back to the ground in the winter, but some are evergreen

Answer 1

Herbaceous

Question 2

A plant that completes its lifecycle in one growing season

Answer 2

Annual

Question 3

Plants that can live for many years, although genetic factors and suitability for the location and site also impact longevity

Answer 3

Perennial

Question 4

A plant that needs a portion of two growing seasons to complete its life cycle

Answer 4

Biennial

Question 5

Plants that will survive a mild winter but may be killed in colder or harsher winters. Often these are perennial in a zone warmer.

Answer 5

Tender perennial or half-hardy annual

Question 6

Plants that may be annual or perennial in their native range, but act as annuals in Tennessee landscapes due to their inability to survive freezing temperatures and poor performance in cool temperatures (below 50° F).

Answer 6

Tropicals

Question 7

Plants used for culinary or medicinal purposes due to a range of properties including taste and fragrance. They can be annual, biennial, or perennial.

Answer 7

Herbs

Question 8

The first question to ask when planning for herbaceous plantings is “What is really ____ on this site?”

Answer 8

Possible

Question 9

What is not a component in the environment of the planting bed for herbaceous plants in the landscape?
A. Soil moisture
B. Soil type
C. Plant cultivar
D. Sunlight
E. Air movement

Answer 9

C.

Question 10

__________ means the site gets a few hours of direct sunlight during the day, but plant survival and performance are greatly impacted by whether the direct light is during the _______ or _______.
A. Dappled shade, evening, morning
B. Full sun, morning, afternoon
C. Partial shade, cool, raining
D. Partial shade, morning, afternoon

Answer 10

D.

Question 11

What is the main difference between an annual and a biennial plant?

Answer 11

The amount of time it takes to complete their growing cycles; 1 growing season for annuals; parts of 2 growing seasons for biennials

Question 12

True or False: Groundcovers should only be used in challenging areas or locations where low maintenance is desired.

Answer 12

False

Question 13

Which statement(s) is/are true about bed preparation for herbaceous plants?
A. No soil is perfect for every plant
B. Soil amendments, such as sand, can quickly remedy a poorly drained site
C. Generally, a good target soil pH is 6.3-6.8
D. Multiple applications of herbicide may be needed for some weeds
E. All of the above
F. All but one of the above

Answer 13

F.
(B is false)

Question 14

It is common for losses of herbaceous plants to be blamed on _______, but actually the death was likely the result of ________.

Answer 14

cold temperatures; poor drainage

Question 15

Should be planted in the fall to enable dormancy to initiate bloom

Answer 15

Spring flowering bulb

Question 16

Should be planted immediately

Answer 16

Bare root plant

Question 17

Can be removed from bed, dried, and stored over the winter in a frost-free area to replant the next year

Answer 17

Tender bulbs and rhizomes

Question 18

Annual plants that provide quick color in the landscape that can be purchased or started from seed

Answer 18

Bedding plant

Question 19

Fall planting is often best to enable establishment and root growth

Answer 19

Hardy perennials in containers

Question 20

Which of the following are things that a gardener should keep in mind about managing herbaceous plants in the landscape?
A. Wilting does not necessarily mean the plant is dry.
B. Heavy fertilization can actually reduce bloom in some cases.
C. Insect feeding damage should be weighed against potential pollinator impact in deciding when or if to spray.
D. Landscape fabric can actually increase the difficulty of removing weeds.
E. All of the above

Answer 20

E.

Question 21

Which statement(s) about designing with herbaceous plants in the landscape is/are true?
A. Principles of design are not necessary wen planting flowering annuals and other herbaceous plants.
B. To achieve satisfactory results, the rules of the color wheel must be followed in planting beds.
C. Tall plants should be placed only at the back of the planting bed.
D. Monochromatic plantings do not provide enough interest in the residential landscape.
E. Color, form, texture, and the line can be used in the design and application of herbaceous plantings, but the gardener’s eye is important.

Answer 21

E.

Question 22

Which of the following are incorrect about using herbaceous plants in the landscape?
A. Herbs are often well suited to full sun and ‘lean’ nutrition.
B. How a groundcover spreads should be an important consideration.
C. The movement of grasses can be an important contribution to the landscape.
D. All ferns require very moist and shady locations.
E. The UT Gardens trial results and plantings can be an excellent source of information on regional use and adaptability in TN.
F. None of the above.

Answer 22

D.