Test 3 Flashcards
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Leaves- Opposite, simple, 2-4” long & wide, 3-5 triangular ovate lobes, Sinuses irregularly toothed, Petioles red & 2-4” long, Fall colors = greenish yellow/yellow/red, Not always red in fall (cultivar?). Size & Growth rate- 40-60 ft high, Medium to fast. Hardiness- Zones 3-9; select local seed sources. Habit- Varies, Irregular branching to ovoid, rounded crown. Flowers- Jan-April (depends); Before leaves in dense clusters, Female more showy, Red pedicel, Culture, Many soils; moist, Slight acid. Landscape value- One of first to get fall colors (much variation), Specimen, park, street.
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
Leaves- Opposite, simple, 3-6” across; 5 lobes, Middle often 3-lobed, 3-5” petiole, Green above & silvery beneath in summer, Green-yellow-brown combo in fall, Usually no red in fall. Size & Growth rate- 50-70 ft, Fast. Hardiness- Zones 3-9. Habit-
Upright branching forming rounded crown,
Pendulous branchlets that turn up at ends. Culture- All soils; good on poor ones, Moist conditions, Don’t plant near sidewalks/structures (roots). Landscape value- Dr. Dirr claims it’s a liability with age, Fast shade on rugged sites.
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
Leaves- Opposite, simple, 3-5 lobed, Narrow & deep sinuses, 2-3” petiole, Yellow/burnt orange with limited red in fall. Habit- Oval-rounded, Egg-shaped, Dense foliage. Culture- Does not grow well in tight situations (planter boxes, small lawns).
Landscape value- One of the best shade/lawn trees, Good fall color, Not good on polluted/stressful sites, Can suffer in southern heat.
Japanese maple (Acer palmatum)
Leaves- Opposite, simple, 2-5” long & wide, 5 to 7 to 9 deep lobes, Lance ovate to oblong lobes, Emerge early (March), Green in summer, Yellow/bronze/orange/purple/red in fall. Size & Growth rate- 15-25 ft high with equal or greater spread, Varies with cultivar (6-50 ft), Slow to medium, Select adaptable cultivar. Habit- Rounded; branches have layered effect, Small tree or multi-stemmed shrub. Culture- Protect from late frosts (leafs out early), Afternoon shade is good; full sun can be okay (cultivar?). Landscape value- Flexible uses; artistic, Specimen, accent, shrub border.
(Ilex spp.) General info.
> 400 species, Evergreen or deciduous. Leaves: alternate, entire, serrated or spiny, First season fruit with several seeds inside, Fruit persists through winter (color & food), Need male & female close together (dioecious), Takes heavy pruning; to near ground or leafless, Choose best cultivar for your area.
Chinese Holly (Ilex cornuta)
Leaves- 3 prominent spines at broad apex, 1 to 2 spines on each side at base; total spines = 5-9, Cultivars vary in spine number; single terminal spine, Plastic texture. Habit- Bushy dense shrub, Can train as tree. Flowers- 4 petals; ¼ to 1/3” wide, Males very fragrant, bee attractors, Mid-late March/early April. Culture- Durable; tolerant to heat, drought, pH, pruning, & shade. Landscape value- Not popular in designs, Use depends on cultivar- Iron clad for durability.
American Holly (Ilex opaca)
Leaves- From 1 to 8 spines on each side, Variable color: green to yellow green (olive). Habit- Pyramidal in youth & cylindrical crown at maturity, Wide, open branching; contorted, 15-30 ft high in landscape, Slow growth. Culture- Partial/full sun, Needs good drainage, Prune in winter. Landscape value- Slow growth & too many superior hollies often does not justify use, Over 1,000 cultivars.
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Leaves- Opposite, simple, 3-6” long, Rounded at base, Curved veins (6-7 pairs) that are pubescent, Good lasting fall color. Size & Growth rate- Variable (location), 20-25 ft is a good specimen, Slow. Hardiness- Grows 5-9, Use local sources. Habit- Low branched tree, Wider than high (at maturity)Branching has appeal , 20 ft = good specimen, Slow. Flowers- Greenish yellow & not showy, Open before leaves, 4 white bracts bring color, April-May. Culture- Partial shade; no full sun, Minimize stress (heat, drought, cold), Stress can bring pest issues. Landscape value- 4 season character: flower, summer & fall foliage, fruit, & winter habit), Accent color against dark background.
Lady Banks’ Rose (Rosa banksiae)
Leaves- Alternate, compound pinnate, 3-5 leaflets, Evergreen, Pubescent rachis. Habit- Climber, Thornless stems, 15-20 ft (can get out of hand). Flowers- White or yellow, 1” across; slight fragrance, April-June. Culture- “Thrives with neglect”, Tolerates salt spray, Sun or shade. Landscape value- Fences, trellises, walls, ‘Lutea’ is common southern cultivar.
Old Fashioned Weigela (Weigela florida)
Leaves- rounded at base; sharp point at apex, 6-9 feet height & 9-12 feet wide; deciduous, Can be smaller in adverse conditions, Spreading, dense, rounded shrub; branches arch. Perfect rosy pink flowers in May-June; funnel-shaped. Must have full sun; shade causes dieback. Pruning may be needed to keep shape; after flowering. Shrub border, group/massings; foundation planting. Looks like it needs to hide in winter.
Japanese aucuba/spotted laurel (Aucuba japonica)
Usually 6-10 feet in height, Dense upright-rounded shrub; evergreen, Slow grower, Leaves are 3-8 inches long; elliptic to lanceolate, Purple flowers in March-April, Berry-drupe fruit in Oct-Nov; often hidden. Requires shade; looks sickly in sunny areas, Used under tree canopies, Foundation plantings on east & north sides, Many cultivars, Cultivar of ‘Variegata’ = “Gold Dust Plant”.
Chinese Parasol (Firmiana simplex)
8-12 inches long and wide, 3-5 lobes; long petiole; palmate, Smooth green-gray bark, Tropical appearance; 30-45 feet high. Flowers are 10-20 inch long panicles, Pea-sized fruits soon follow, Does well in sun and shade, Many unusual features make it appealing (leaves, bark, flowers, fruit), Native to China and Japan.
Chinese Pistache/Pistachio (Pistacia chinensis)
Compound pinnate leaf about 10 inches long, 10-12 leaflets; lanceolate, Stem has orangish lenticels, Deciduous; brilliant orange-red fall color. 30-35 feet high and 25-35 feet spread, Oval-rounded outline, Upright/arching branching, May need pruning as youth to form it then gets into form as it ages. Full sun; drought resistant; no pest issues, Lawn, park, street use (urban), Used for resilience and fall color.
Banana shrub (Michelia figo)
Alternate, simple evergreen leaves, Oval to obovate; entire, Brown pubescence when young, Can be yellow-green in winter; dark green other times. Dense, upright, oval/rounded habit, 6-10 ft high and wide. Flowers are yellowish green, tinged purple, 1-1.5” long and wide, Fragrant and smells fruity, April-June. Well drained, fertile, acid soil, Partial shade is best (okay in full sun), No big pest problems, Well adapted to coastal plain.
Lemon bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus)
Alternate, simple, evergreen, Entire margin, Lanceolate in shape, Lemon scented when bruised/crushed. Zones 8-11- Subject to winter damage in some areas. Habit- Large shrub/small tree. Flowers- perfect with showy anthers and stamens, Crimson color in 4-5 inch inflorescence. Fruit- Capsules along branches; appear as buttons, Can last for year (unsightly?). Full sun, May require winter protection in northerly areas, Prune heavy fruited limbs, Can rejuvenate, Value is the flower effect, Specimen shrub, hedge or container plant.
