| Woody Plant ID Lab |
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| Woody Plant ID Lab |
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Plant identification is a useful tool to determine the cultural requirements and desirable attributes of the plants around you. By familiarizing yourself with a small group of plants, it will be easy to increase your knowledge about other plant species, their use, and their culture.
Woody plants are the foundation of the landscape. Woody plants are characterized by form and are either trees, shrubs, or lianas. Unlike herbaceous plants which often die back to the ground or are killed by the freezing temperatures of winter, woody stems attain a long life span, and produce new growth each season. They often over-winter in a dormant state (as with deciduous plants). Biologically, woody plants produce vascular cambium which accounts for growth in diameter of stems and trunks, and cork cambium that produces bark. Woody plants are also composed of lignin which provides rigidity and causes wood to resist decay. Woody plants may be selected for sun protection, height, flowers, fruit, and color and texture of foliage.
Woody plants may be classified as:
A. Deciduous - A plant that loses its leaves annually at the end of its growing season. May refer to trees, shrubs, or lianas.
B. Evergreen - A plant which has foliage throughout the year. An evergreen plant does drop its older leaves each year, though this often occurs over a long period of time and at any season. Foliage may be: needles, scales, or broad leaves.
C. Tree - A plant that usually has a dominant vertical trunk and reaches heights of 15 feet or more.
D. Shrub - A plant that is usually smaller than a tree and generally has multiple branches originating at or near the ground.
E. Liana- A vine-like plant with flexible stems and may be classified by growth habit as either:
- Climbing - lianas that require support (a trellis or wall for example). Tendrils may be produced which aid in attachment to structures.
- Ground cover - lianas that are similar to climbers with the exception of a prostrate growing habit.
Hardiness Zones are categorized by their average annual minimum temperatures. Each zone is a range of 10 F. Plants are limited to successful growth by the lowest temperature at which they can survive.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones Zone 1 -50° F Zone 6b 0 to -5° F Zone 2a -45 to -50° F Zone 7a 5 to 0° F Zone 2b -40 to -45° F Zone 7b 10 to 5° F Zone 3a -35 to -40° F Zone 8a 15 to 10° F Zone 3b -30 to -35° F Zone 8b 20 to 15° F Zone 4a -25 to -30° F Zone 9a 25 to 20° F Zone 4b -20 to -25° F Zone 9b 30 to 25° F Zone 5a -15 to -20° F Zone 10a 35 to 30° F Zone 5b -10 to -15° F Zone 10b 40 to 35° F Zone 6a -5 to -10° F Zone 11 40° + F
You will be responsible for identifying all of the plants in the Woody Plant Material List.
You will observe the plants on the Woody Plant Material List. You will be responsible for knowing the scientific name and the common name of each plant.
