landscape plant recognition plant descriptions – field day...

Landscape Plant Recognition Plant Descriptions – Field Day #3

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Arbutus unedo (ERICACEAE) strawberry tree S.E. Europe, Turkey, Lebanon

Leaves Flowers Fruit Other

Alternate Simple Serrate Elliptic to oblong Above –lustrous dark green Glandular

Small infl. Fls w/ corolla, urn-shaped, white Radial Perfect Ovary superior Flowers in Fall

Berry - Strawberry like ~1” across (edible) Unedo = “I eat one” (boring tasting fruit)

Tree to 30ft Evergreen Many stems Stems red Young branches glandular, pubescent

Trachycarpus fortunei (ARECACEAE) fan palm E. Asia Leaves Flowers Fruit Other

Fan shaped Round but deeply lobed Extremely large, 2-4 ft. Leathery (coriaceous) Long petioles with teeth along margin

Radial 3-parted Stamens 6, styles 3 Small, yellow flws in large hanging clusters

Fleshy drupe Looks like grape clusters

Tree to 60 ft or shrub Unbranched trunk Fibrous hairs on trunk from persisting petioles One of the few palms that are hardy here Trachycarpus = rough fruit Named after Robert Fortune, a plant hunter in the 1800s

Fatsia japonica (ARALIACEAE ) South Korea, Japan Leaves Flowers Fruit Other

Alternate 7-9 lobed (rounded sinuses) Broadly cordate base Serrate margin Shiny dark green 6-14” wide ~ wider than long Distinct u-shaped leaf scar on branch Extremely long petioles (4-12” long)

Infl – Umbels 1-1.5” across 5 parted white

Berries. Fleshy, black & round Evergreen shrub to 15 ft Many large stems Longer on lower leaves Gives a sort of tropical look


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Prunus subhirtella (ROSACEAE ) flowering cherry Japan Leaves Flowers Fruit Other

Alternate Simple Ovate to oblong-ovate 1-2 in. long Sharply, ~ doubly serrate Tip acuminate Lower – pubescent on veins Small extra-floral nectary on petiole or leaf base

Single or semi-double

Pink

½” diameter

Purple-black drupe, uncommon

Small tree to 15 ft Many branches Most delicate of the cherries – smaller, thinner branches, smaller flowers Young branches pubescent Blooms from late fall to late spring Cherries often don’t do well in NW and early bloomers like this often are the worst 'Autumnalis' is the most common cv "subhirtella" means somewhat hairy

Prunus serrulata ‘Kwanzan’ (ROSACEAE) Japanese flowering cherry Japan


Alternate, Simple Obovate to obovate-elliptic Apex long acuminate Leaves up to 5-6 in. No hair on leaves Coarsely serrate or doubly serrate Pair of extra-floral nectaries near top of petiole - large and noticeable Leaves have bronze tinge when new

Infl –Usually double corymbs Fls. bell shaped calyx tube Pink Flowers double Flower appear as the leaves unfold Not fragrant Latest blooming of local cherries


Tree to 75 ft Deciduous Most common cv of P. serrulata Difficult to tell cultivars apart by leaves. Other P. serrulata cvs: cv. Shirotae ( Mt. Fugi–) horizontal branches, semi-double, white when open, early cv. Ukon – flws pale green, midseason serrulata=small saw, refers to leaf margin


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Prunus yedoensis (ROSACEAE) Yoshino cherry Japan Leaves Flowers Fruit Other

Alternate Simple Serrate Stipluate Broadly ovate to lanceolate Narrows to slender point at apex hair on veins below Lvs vivid green

Infl – 4-6 fls 5 petals Long calyx tube Larger than P. subhirtella Pale pink


Small tree to 50 ft Hairs on new branchlets Hairs on inflorescence and calyx Flowers before or with leaves Believed to be a hybrid (P. serrulata x P. subhirtella ) – and intermediate in characters to both

Viburnum davidii (ADOXACEAE) W. China Leaves Flowers Fruit Other

Opposite, Simple Elliptic to oval 2-6” long, 1-2½” wide Distinctly 3-veined Secondary veins like ladder between primary veins Toothed towards apex Dark-bluish green above Paler below Leathery

Infl – Flat umbel-like, 2-3” wide No sterile outer flowers Radial (actinomorphic) Corolla - 5 lobed Stamens 5 White to pinkish

Drupe – metallic blue Small shrub to 3-4 ft Evergreen Warty branchlets Indestructible plant, good for parking lots (tolerates compacted soil and is low-growing)

Cunninghamia lanceolata (CUPRESSACEAE) China fir China Leaves Cones Other

Spirally arranged, 2-ranked Decurrent (base extending downward along branch) Linear-lanceolate, ~2” long Finely serrate margin Sharply pointed 2 broad stomatal bands below May get a red-bronze color in harsh winters Leaves shed as branchlets

Cones subglobose 1.5-2 in Pointed, irregularly serrate scales

Tree to 100 ft, Evergreen Often multi-trunked, drooping branches Bark brownish-reddish inner bark), scaling off in irregular plates 'Glauca' is a bluish cultivar Cunninghamia after James Cunningham, a doctor in China in the late 1600s lanceolata=lance-shaped, refers to leaves Formerly TAXODIACEAE


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Cupressus nootkatensis (CUPRESSACEAE) Alaskan cedar Alaska to Oregon Leaves Cones Other

Scale-like Closely appressed Laterals & facials similar length (lats barely longer) Foliage not as sweet smelling as Thuja plicata No markings on back (C.lawsoniana has a white Y or X) (C. lawsoniana laterals larger than facials)

Cones subglobose ”soccer ball” Male cone yellow (red for C. lawsoniana)

Tree to 130 ft Evergreen Branches ascending or spreading, forming narrow pyramid Branchlets ~ pendulous formerly Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, also Xanthocyparis nootkatensis

Pieris japonica (ERICACEAE) E. China, Taiwan, Japan Leaves Flowers Fruit Other

Alternate (looks whorled but is simply compressed) Simple Oblanceolate to lanceolate Serrulate Glabrous Above- shiny green Lower – duller green

Pendulous infl. (panicles/ branched racemes) 2 ½ to 5 inches long Fls urn shaped, white 5 sepals & petals, fused 10 stamens

Dry capsules Shrub to 8-9 ft Evergreen Flowers early in spring New growth orange to red (some cultivars are selected for this) Many cultivars:‘Forest Flame’ new leaves brilliant red ‘Variegata’ leaves w/white variegated margins

Hamamelis (HAMAMELIDACEAE) witch-hazel E. Asia, E. North America Leaves Flowers Fruit Other

Alternate, Simple Short petiole Base oblique Margin deeply undulate or serrate Palmate and pinnate veins on same leaf Parallel veins asymmetric at base (all the way up on many). Secondary veins go all the way to the margins. Deciduous stipules ~ 5-6” across

Clusters on short shoots in leaf axils Perfect Sepals 4, small and persistent Petals 4, long and linear, colored yellow, orange or red, most like crinkled tissue paper Stamens 4 Stamenoids w/nectar, 4 Styles 2

4-lobed capsule Fuzzy Splits open to eject 2 seeds

Shrubs or small trees to 35 ft Spreading form Deciduous Buds brown and fuzzy Bark gray Nice fall color Flowers before leaves, usually in late winter/early spring Some species – dead leaves persist


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Azara microphylla (SALICACEAE) S. America


Alternate Entire Obovate or round Lvs of two different sizes paired at nodes.

Stalked clusters in leaf axils Tiny non-showy flowers Yellow (due to stamens) Vanilla or chocolate scented Sepals 5, No petals Numerous stamens Style 1

Round fleshy red to orange berry w/ persistent style.

Small tree to 30 ft, upright Can be good for narrow areas but form is often a bit untidy Can be coppiced to control growth Slender twigs Evergreen (formerly in the family Flacourtiaceae) microphylla means little leaves

Erica (ERICACEAE) heath (also heather) Europe, Africa, W. and C. Asia


Alternate or in whorls of 3 to 6 Small, linear, green Margins revolute Very short petioles Often lined with stalked glands.

Infl. located in axils or terminally (spikes or panicles) Perfect Small, tubular or urn shaped White to deep pink Sepals 4, fused at base Petals 5, fused, but w/4 lobes. Stamens 8. Style 1, long

Capsules with 4 valves Sepals persistent

Primarily low shrubs, some trees to 20 ft Densely branched Often flowers in early to mid spring 500 species, center of diversity is in South Africa


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Calluna vulgaris (ERICACEAE) heather N. and W. Europe to Siberia, Turkey, Morocco and the Azores

Leaves, various colors Flowers Fruit Other

Opposite and decussate Scale-like leaves (very tiny) Sessile (no petiole) Colors may vary on branchlets

Infl. (one-sided spikes) Calyx 4-parted, colored Corolla bell-shaped, 4 lobed Stamens 8 Style 1 Flower color usually in the pink range

Capsule – 4 valved Sepals persistent, covering fruit.

Low-growing shrub to 3 ft. (looks like Erica, but scale-like leaves) Numerous cultivars with colored foliage ranging from plain greens to vibrant reds and oranges Mostly summer flowering

Magnolia (MAGNOLIACEAE) magnolia Asia, eastern N.A., Central America Leaves Flowers Fruit Other Alternate, Simple

Pinnately veined Leaf shape ovate to obovate Can be large (up to 25”) Large deciduous scales protect buds, leaving a ring around stem.

Solitary on ends of branches Perfect, Large and showy Radially symmetric Tepals 6 to 9 (or up to 33”) whorls of 3. Stamens many, often with red filaments Stamens spirally arranged around the many pistils White, pink, purple, green, rarely yellow, Often scented

Aggregate of follicles Seeds embedded in an elongate receptacle The hard, brown seeds are enclosed in a fleshy colored (red, orange, or pink) seed cover Seeds suspended by threads

Trees to 60 ft, or shrubs Evergreen or deciduous One of the most primitive genera of flowering plants Large buds with fuzzy scales often noticeable in winter Flowers appear before leaves in many species

Magnolia stellata (MAGNOLIACEAE) star flower magnolia Japan Leaves Flowers Fruit Other

Alternate Simple Entire Large stipules Obovate To 5” long

Solitary & terminal Radial Perfect Lots of tepals (8-25) that are 3”-5” long Tepals reflexed back Many stamens spirally arranged

Follicles (Reminiscent of a pine cone)

Shrub or small tree Deciduous Flowers appear before leaves Flowers early in spring Stellata=star Also known as: Magnolia kobus var. stellata


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Epimedium (BERBERIDACEAE) Mediterranean to temperate E. Asia Leaves Flowers Fruit Other

Ternately compound Cordate Serrulate or with sharp points Palmately veined Petiole is long thin and wiry-looking.

Small, nodding in inflorescences Radial, Perfect Yellow, purple, pink or white Sepals, 2 whorls of 4 each, outer ones fall early, inner ones petal-like Petals 4, flat or spur-like Stamens 4, Anthers open from flaps at the base.

Capsule w/several seeds Seeds have fleshy aril Not commonly seen

Perennials 0.5-1.5 ft Evergreen or deciduous groundcover Has creeping rhizomes. Good in dry shade Cut back in early spring for nice looking growth

Camellia (THEACEAE) camellia E. Himalayas, Japan, Malaysia Leaves Flowers Fruit Other

Alternate Simple Usually serrate Leathery No stipules

Solitary or few clustered in leaf axils Usually sessile (no pedicel) Perfect, Radial, Large and showy, white, pink, red Bracts and sepals fall away as flower opens Sepals 5 Petals 5merous (or multiples), Many stamens, fused at base and to petals

Capsule Trees to 45 ft or shrubs Evergreen C. sinensis is the source of tea C. sasanqua is an early bloomer, C. japonica has blossom rot in this climate, C. Xwilliamsii better (cross of C. saluenensis x C. japonica produced by JC Williams in the early 1930s)

landscape plant recognition plant descriptions – field day...

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