Garden-pedia

Plant terms can be confusing. If you find yourself a bit perplexed, the glossary below may help. If I have missed any, please let me know.

Happy Planting!

Acidic Soil	Soil with a pH of less than 7
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Alkaline Soil	Soil with a pH of greater than 7

Amendment	Any material, such as compost or lime, that is mixed with existing soil to improve properties

Annual	Plant that completes its lifecycle in one growing season, then dies

Basal Foliage	Leaves found near the base of the stem

Biennial	Plant that completes its lifecylce in two growing seasons, then dies

Border	A garden, usually containing a variety of plants, that is backed by walls, fences, or taller plants, such as, trees or shrubs

Compost	Organic material used as a soil amendment

Crown	Area on a plant where the stem meets the root, generally found at soil level

Cultivar	Refers to a group of plants within a species that has slightly different characteristics, such as, flower color or size

Deadheading	Removal of old, spent/dead flowers, may promote reblooming

Deciduous	Refers to trees and shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, usually in the fall

Division	The process of splitting up plants, commonly performed on perennials

en masse	Planting masses of the same plant to create a bold statement

Evergreen	Plants that retain their foliage for more than one growing season

Fertilizer	Organic or inorganic material added to the soil to encourage plant growth

Groundcover	A plant that spreads to cover the soil surface

Growth Rate	Slow: 3-6" per year, Moderate: 6-12" per year, Fast: 12-24+ per year

Habit	General form or shape of a plant

Hardiness Zone	Zones that provide guidelines to measure a plants ability to tolerate hot and cold temperatures

Herbaceous	Non-woody plant that dies back to the ground every year

Invasive Plant	A plant that spreads rapidly and may take over a garden bed

Loam	Soil that is a mixture of clay, sand and silt

Mass Planting	A planting where large numbers of the same plant are used to provide visual interest

Native Plant	A plant that naturally occurs in a certain area

Node (leaf node)	a joint on a plant stem

Perennial	Plant that survives for 3 or more growing seasons

Pinching	A technique used to promote fuller or shorter plants, often resulting in more flower heads

Rhizome	an underground stem

Semi-evergreen	Plants that fall between evergreen and deciduous in terms of growth and leaf retention. Some examples include: they may shed their foliage for a very short time in late winter or they lose most, but not all, of their foliage for a fraction of the year; sometimes they may lose their leaves due to specific situations, such as, extremes in temperature or drought.

Stamen	pollen producing structure, usually found within the center of the flower

Spathe	Leaf like structure that encloses the flower

Taproot	Main root of a plant, usually growing straight down

Variegated	A plant whose green foliage is marked with another color, usually white or yellow