HRT-151 Woody Plant Materials

This course integrates classroom and hands-on learning towards the identification and utilization of trees and shrubs - native and non-indigenous – in commercial and residential ornamental landscapes as well as the horticulture industry at large. This course emphasizes plant anatomy, taxonomic identification, culture requirements, landscape value, proper placement and maintenance, and seasonal interest within gardens and the broader landscape. Students will develop recognition skills of commonly used trees and shrubs in Northeast gardens and planted landscapes according to their scientific classification and, hence, will develop tree and shrub selection skills – assembling best-fit plants for garden/landscape application based on aesthetics, ecology, and sustainability. Classroom learning will be reinforced by practical experiences on the grounds of FLCC, including arboretum, and visits to local cemeteries and botanic gardens.

Credits

3

Department

• Environmental Conservation and Horticulture

Semesters Course Will Be Offered

• Spring

Course Rotation Schedule

• Spring: In Person

For more detailed course information view the Course Outline

HRT 151: Woody Plant Materials

Department

Environmental Conservation and Horticulture

Course Description

This course integrates classroom and hands-on learning towards the identification and utilization of trees and shrubs - native and non-indigenous – in commercial and residential ornamental landscapes as well as the horticulture industry at large. This course emphasizes plant anatomy, taxonomic identification, culture requirements, landscape value, proper placement and maintenance, and seasonal interest within gardens and the broader landscape. Students will develop recognition skills of commonly used trees and shrubs in Northeast gardens and planted landscapes according to their scientific classification and, hence, will develop tree and shrub selection skills – assembling best-fit plants for garden/landscape application based on aesthetics, ecology, and sustainability. Classroom learning will be reinforced by practical experiences on the grounds of FLCC, including arboretum, and visits to local cemeteries and botanic gardens.

Credit Hours

3

Contact Hours

Lecture	2
Lab	2
Other	0

Grading Scheme

Letter

Semester(s) Course Will Be Offered

Spring

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Define and give examples for relevant terms as they relate to woody plants, trees and shrubs.
2. Identify woody plants using classification criteria (e.g. seasonal characteristics, cultural needs, and landscape uses).
3. Apply an identification scheme (e.g. health, leaf arrangement, twig and bark characteristics, growth habit, and flower type and morphology) to differentiate trees and shrubs with similar characteristics.
4. Recommend woody material based on a variety of aesthetic needs and observed cultural conditions.

Topic Outline

1. 1. Introduction to plant classification, morphology, and vocabulary
2.     a. Nomenclature and taxonomy
3.     b. Leaf and twig anatomy
4.     c. Branching arrangement
5.     d. Flower and fruit types and their associated morphological characteristics
6.     e. Common descriptive terms used in botany and plant identification at large to compare and contrast families and specific taxa based on growth habit and leaf, flower, fruit, and twig morphology
7. 2. Introduction to woody plants: ecology and sustainable utilization
8.     a. Angiosperms vs. gymnosperms
9.     b. Deciduous vs. evergreen plants
10.     c. Plant selection criteria
11.         i. Flowering and fruiting times
12.         ii. Site considerations
13.             (1) Light and exposure
14.             (2) Soil (drainage, pH, nutrient availability, and texture)
15.             (3) Hardiness zone
16.         iii. Native vs. non-native
17.         iv. Pests and diseases
18.         v. Utilization strategies
19.             (1) Windbreaks
20.             (2) Wildlife
21.             (3) Foundation plantings
22.             (4) Winterscape (post-defoliation and evergreen color and texture)
23.             (5) Privacy
24.             (6) Native plant landscapes
25.             (7) Aesthetics
26. 3. Identification and culture of woody plants in residential and commercial landscapes
27.     a. Plant lists
28.         i. Deciduous trees and shrubs
29.             (1) Winter identification
30.                 (a) Bark, branch arrangement, buds, growth habit, and twigs
31.             (2) Growing season identification
32.                 (a) Leaf anatomy and arrangement, bark, branch arrangement, buds, flowers, fruits, and twigs
33.         ii. Broadleaf evergreens
34.             (1) Leaf anatomy and arrangement, branch arrangement, buds, flowers, fruits, and twigs
35.         iii. Coniferous trees and shrubs
36.             (1) Needle arrangement and morphology, buds, cones, growth habit, and twigs