Circular 4HEHL 21

Florida 4-H Horticulture Identification and Judging StudyManual: Flowers and Foliage Plants 1

R. J. Black2

Flower and foliage plants are some of the mostcolorful and attractive horticultural plants. Some areused to decorate the rooms in our homes while others areused to beautify the areas around our homes and publicbuildings. Because winter temperatures seldom reachfreezing in south Florida, cold sensitive foliage plantsnormally grown as house plants in north and centralFlorida can be grown as landscape plants in southFlorida.

The purpose of this section of the study manual is topromote a better understanding of flowers and foliageplants. It is primarily designed to aid in theidentification of the more common flowers and foliageplants grown in Florida. Plants are arrangedalphabetically by common names. Common names areused for the convenience of persons not accustomed tousing scientific names. Scientific names are inparentheses immediately following common names.Scientific names are the same throughout the world withplant scientists and seldom change. The scientific nameis usually composed of two words. The first word isalways capitalized and is called the genus. The secondword is usually not capitalized and is called the species.There may be many species of plants in one genus whichdiffer only slightly in appearance. When reference ismade to several species in one genus, the abbreviation"spp." is often written after the genus name.

When a group of plants within a species differ inone or more characteristics from their parent plants, they

are classified into another category. When this occursnaturally, the new category is called a variety and weadd it to the scientific name, such asDianthus plumariusvar. albiflorus. When new varieties appear while plantsare in cultivation, they are called "cultivars" (cultivatedvarieties). The cultivar name is also a part of thescientific name and may be listed such asDianthuschinensis cv. Splendens or Dianthus chinensis‘Splendens’. Single quote marks will be used in thispublication to designate cultivars.

The plants in this section of the study manual aredescribed using many botanical terms. These terms areused to describe types of leaves, leaf position andarrangement, leaf shapes, leaf margins, flower parts andflower arrangement. It may be helpful, when studyingthese plant descriptions, to refer to the glossary of termslocated in the rules and glossary section of theFlorida4-H Horticulture Identification and Judging StudyManual. Space is provided for you to write notes thathelp you identify the plant. You may also want to cutout photographs from old nursery magazines andcatalogs to glue or tape in this manual to further helpyou in identification.

1. This document, Circular 4HEHL 21, is the 4-H Member’s version of the document published March 11, 1992, Florida Cooperative Extension Service,Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida.

2. Robert J. Black, associate professor; Travis Green, Sr. (layout and design), senior word processor, Environmental Horticulture Department, CooperativeExtension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educationalinformation and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or nationalorigin. For information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension Service office.Florida Cooperative Extension Service / Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences / University of Florida / Christine Taylor Stephens, Dean

Florida 4–H Horticulture Identification and Judging Study Manual — Flowers and Foliage Plants Page 2

African Violet ( Saintpaulia spp.)

A small plant with a rosette form. Leaves and stemsare very pubescent. Leaves can be oval to heart-shapedwith smooth or ruffled edges. Flowers are borne inclusters, can have 5 or more petals and come in differentshades and combinations of white, blue and red. SeeFigure 1.

Figure 1. African Violet (Saintpaulia spp.)

Aglaonema ( Aglaonema commutatum )

An herbaceous perennial with attractive foliagevariously marked depending on the cultivar. Thickstems are sheathed by leaf petioles which are shorterthan the blades. The flowers are small spadices withsmall spathes which form showy, bright red or yellowfruits in clusters. See Figure 2.

Figure 2.

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Aloe Vera ( Aloe barbadensis )

A succulent plant with stiff rosettes composed ofleaves which are usually mottled with purple or white;they have spiked edges or may be smooth. The flowersare showy tubular blossoms borne on spikes in tones ofyellow. The sap is used for soothing skin burns. SeeFigure 3.

Figure 3. Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis)

Amaryllis ( Hippeastrum spp.)

A low growing, stemless herb with tunicate bulb.Simple leaves are basal and entire, linear to strap-shapedto 2′ long. They are glabrous, light green and arise withor after flower stalk emerges. Anywhere from 1-10umbellate flowers may be produced on a hollow leaflessstalk to 2′ tall. Flowers are large and funnel-shaped to10″ across. The prevailing colors are red, pink, whiteand often lined or striped. Flowering occurs in thewinter and spring. See Figure 4.

Figure 4. Amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.)

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Begonia ( Begonia spp.)

An erect or trailing, sometimes climbing herbaceousannual or perennial. Usually succulent in texture.Leaves are simple, alternate, highly variable in size andshape, characteristically asymmetrical, glabrous orpubescent. Male and female flowers are usually bornein axillary cymes, some quite showy. They come in avariety of sizes, shapes and colors. See Figure 5.

Figure 5. Begonia (Begonia spp.)

Caladium ( Caladium x hortulanum )

A tuberous, stemless perennial herb with colorfulleaves, which are simple, basal and entire, ovate tolanceolate shaped; may be up to 14″ long. Petioles arelonger than the leaf blades. Caladiums show a variety ofvariegated colors: red, rose, white, green, and pink. Theflower is an inconspicuous spadix and spathe. SeeFigure 6.

Figure 6. Caladium (Caladium x hortulanum)

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Canna (Canna x generalis )

A tall, perennial, erect herb with thick branchingrhizomes. Simple leaves are alternate to spirallyarranged, with entire margins and sheathing petioles.They are ovate to elliptic-lanceolate in shape, often withprominent veins. Irregularly shaped flowers are borne inspikes, and may or may not be tubular at the base. Thefruit is a rough, three-valved capsule. See Figure 7.

Figure 7. Canna (Canna x generalis)

Celosia ( Celosia spp.)

A showy garden plant grown as an annual. Flowersare tiny and crowded into a feather-shaped spike orflattened crest (cockscomb). Flower color varies fromred to yellow. Leaves are alternate. See Figure 8.

Figure 8. Celosia (Celosia spp.)

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Christmas Cactus ( Schlumbergera brigesii )

No foliage is present in this perennial cactus. Thestems are flat and segmented. The margins of eachsegment are rounded and scalloped. Flowers are borneat ends of stems are very showy, in shades or red, whiteor orange. See Figure 9.

Figure 9. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera brigesii)

Chrysanthemum(Chrysanthemum x morifolium )

A much-branched, erect, herbaceous perennial withsimple leaves which are alternately arranged. The leavesare lobed, entire to coarsely toothed, lanceolate to ovate,often pubescent and thick, with a strong fragrance.Flowers are heads of various sizes and shapes, clusteredwith disk and ray florets. Colors are many shades ofwhite, yellow, pink, bronze, and red purple. See Figure10.

Figure 10. Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium)

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Coleus ( Coleus x hybridus )

A freely-branching, densely-foliated herbaceousperennial. Simple leaves are opposite with marginswhich may be crenate, serrate, undulate, lobed, etc.They are generally ovate and soft textured, They exhibitmany colors and color combinations; patterns of pink,white, yellow, red, green, and maroon are common. Thestem is squared in cross section, green or brown,becoming woody with age. See Figure 11.

Figure 11. Coleus (Coleus x hybridus)

Daylily ( Hemerocallis spp.)

A clumping perennial herb, spreading by fleshyrootstocks which may be evergreen or deciduous.Leaves are more or less linear, wider at the base andtapering gradually to the tip. The flowers are 6-petaled,funnelform to campanulate, and are born in clusters onlong scapes. They come in shades of yellows, orange,red and purple, and bloom in the spring and/or summer.See Figure 12.

Figure 12. Daylily (Hermerocallis spp.)

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Dianthus ( Dianthus chinensis )

There are many species of dianthus. This species,commonly called China pink, grows 6 to 12 inches inheight and produces an enormous quantity of 1- to 2-inch single, semidouble or frilled flowers in shades ofpink, rose, scarlet, crimson and white. The foliage isgray-green in color. See Figure 13.

Figure 13. Dianthus (Dianthus chinensis)

Dieffenbachia ( Dieffenbachia spp.)

A herbaceous evergreen perennial with thick stems.The large leaves are alternate, usually with whitemarkings or patterns which have a very strikingappearance. The petioles are long and cover the stem.The flowers are in spadices with thick spathes. SeeFigure 14.

Figure 14. Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia spp.)

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Dracaena Marginata ( Dracaena marginata )

Evergreen, multiple-stemmed plant with fine texturedappearance. It has sword or strap-shaped leaves whichare crowded into tufts at the ends of branches. Theseleathery leaves have a red stripe along the edges of theentire margins. See Figure 15.

Figure 15. Dracaena Marginata (Dracaena marginata)

Episcia ( Episcia spp.)

A herbaceous, creeping perennial with verypubescent leaves in dark tones of copper, mostlyvariegated with silver and green. The small flowers areshowy red, purplish or white. See Figure 16.

Figure 16. Episcia (Episcia spp.)

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Geranium ( Pelargonium x hortorum )

Leaves are orbicular, undulate and coarsely crenatewith a spicy scent. Flowers are in rounded umbels fourto six inches across. The individual flowers arefive-petaled. They can be red, pink or white. SeeFigure 17.

Figure 17. Geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum)

Gladiolus ( Gladiolus x hortulanus )

This perennial herb grows from a corm and haserect, unbranched flower stalks. Simple leaves arelinear, sword-shaped or cylindrical. They are often rigidwith a somewhat papery texture and have prominentparallel veins. Flowers are borne on one sided spikes;they are irregular with 6 segments united into a curvedfunnelform tube. The upper three segments are largerthat the lower three. Flowers range in color fromyellow, white, orange, red, lavender-purple, to brown.The fruit is a three-valved, large, flattened or wingedcapsule. See Figure 18.

Figure 18. Gladiolus (Gladiolus x hortulanus)

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Gloxinia ( Sinningia speciosa )

These are tuberous plants with oblong-ovate dentateleaves, 6 to 8 inches long. Flowers are solitary or fewclusters. They are bell-shaped to 3 inches long, usuallyviolet or purple, but may be reddish or white spotted.See Figure 19.

Figure 19. Gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa)

Grape Ivy ( Cissus rhombifolia )

This evergreen vine has shiny, sharply toothed,three-lobed leaves, 4 inches long and 3 to 4 inches wide,that unfold bronzy, then turn deep green. New buds andthe undersides of mature leaves are covered with softbrown fuzz. Flowers are rare and inconspicuous. SeeFigure 20.

Figure 20. Grape Ivy (Cissus rhombifolia)

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Heart-leaf Philodendron(Philodendron scandens subsp. oxycardium )

An evergreen herbaceous vine with simple entireleaves climbing by aerial roots. Leaves are glossy-green,cordate (hence the common name "heart-leafphilodendron") and are arranged alternately. Thepetioles are round and do not clasp the stem. The dryleaf sheath remains around the stem. See Figure 21.

Figure 21. Heart-leaf Philodendron (Philodendron scandenssubsp. oxycardium)

Holly Fern ( Cyrtomium falcatum )

This fern has a dense spiral crown with an archinggrowth habit. Fronds may be up to 2½ feet long, arecompound, and are arranged spirally. Leaflets are ovateto elliptic-shaped to 5″ long, and may be entire, weaklywavy or toothed; they are very glossy and waxy on thesurface and lighter colored beneath, with a leatherytexture. Spores on the undersides are very distinct andlook like scale insects. See Figure 22.

Figure 22. Holly Fern (Cyrtomium facatum)

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Impatiens ( Impatiens spp.)

An erect, spreading, succulent annual which is verybrittle. Simple leaves are glabrous, alternate, sometimesopposite with serrate margins. They are green orreddish-green, ovate-lanceolate to elliptic-oblong inshape. Flowers are solitary and borne on axillary orterminal racemes and are in many forms, doubled, semi-doubled, etc. Flowers have a spur which contains nectarand they come in many colors: purple, variegated whites,yellows, reds, and oranges. See Figure 23.

Figure 23. Impatiens (Impatiens spp.)

Jade Plant ( Crassula argentea )

A small shrub with thick, succulent trunk andbranches, resembling a small tree. Leaves are opposite,obovate and lacking petioles, attached directly to thestem. They are very thick, succulent and often have rededges. See Figure 24.

Figure 24. Jade Plant (Crassula argentea)

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Marigold ( Tagetes spp.)

A densely-foliated, freely-branching, erect,herbaceous annual, with odd-pinnately compound leaves,which are opposite with serrate margins, lanceolate.They have glandular dots on the undersides, and arestrongly aromatic. Flowers are dense heads to 5″ across,solitary, borne on long peduncles. They have few tomany ray florets, often two-lipped or quilled, in yellows,oranges, reddish-browns or multi-colored. See Figure25.

Figure 25. Marigold (Tagetes spp.)

Neanthe Bella Palm ( Chamaedorea elegans )

A small, fine-textured, single trunked palm, usually4′ high. Leaves are pinnately compound; leaflets arelanceolate, with short, unarmed petioles. Fruits are blackand globose, maturing throughout the year. See Figure26.

Figure 26. Neanthe Bella Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

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Nephthytis ( Syngonium podophyllum )

A creeping herbaceous perennial attaching itself tosurfaces by means of aerial roots. Leaves have longpetioles, are spear shaped and marbled with white whileyoung, becoming very large and deeply lobed when old.See Figure 27.

Figure 27. Nephthytis (Syngonium podophyllum)

Norfolk Island Pine ( Araucaria heterophylla )

An evergreen coniferous tree with a single, uprighttrunk; the branching habit is tiered and canopy ispyramidal in shape. Leaves are dark green, soft andspirally arranged. The trunk is rough and old branchesfall off, leaving distinct scars. See Figure 28.

Figure 28. Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla)

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Pansy ( Viola x wittrockiana )

This winter flowering perennial is grown as anannual in Florida. Pansies grow to a height of 8 inches.The leaves are dark green, drooping, with wavy edges.They have delicately fragrant 2- to 3-inch flowers of fiveoverlapping petals looking like gigantic violets, exceptthat the colors are purple, white, blue, dark red, rose oryellow combined in almost endless variations of stripesand blotches. See Figure 29.

Figure 29. Pansy (Viola x wittrockiana)

Peperomia ( Peperomia spp.)

An herbaceous perennial with a clumping growthhabit. The succulent leaves are quite variable in size,shape and color. Leaves are frequently shiny and ovate.Flower spikes are small and inconspicuous. See Figure30.

Figure 30. Peperomia (Peperomia spp.)

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Petunia ( Petunia x hybrida )

A densely-foliated, trailing, low-growing herbaceousannual. Simple leaves are alternate with upper leavessometimes opposite; margins are entire, and shapevaries from linear-oblong to spatulate; texture is soft andpubescent. Flowers are axillary and solitary to 5″ across,with funnelform corollas which are often deeply fringedor full double. They come in many colors andcombinations of whites, yellows, reds and blues. SeeFigure 31.

Figure 31. Petunia (Petunia x hybrida)

Poinsettia ( Euphorbia pulcherrima )

Large, upright growing shrub which can reach aheight of 12 feet. Leaves are large, alternate, ovate andlight green in color. The showy portion of the plant,popularly referred to as the flower, consists of modifiedleaves, which are called bracts. Bracts may be red, pink,yellow or white. One cultivar has red bracts with palepink spots and blotches. The true flowers are small,green and yellow nubs clustered in the centers of thebracts. See Figure 32.

Figure 32. Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)

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Pothos ( Epipremnum aureum )

A vigorous, evergreen herbaceous vine with simple,alternate leaves which are ovate to cordate. Juvenileleaves are entire, but mature leaves are perforated andcan reach a lenght of 30 inches. The petiole ischanneled at the base and clasping the stem. They areglossy, bright green or irregularly variegated with lightergreen shades or white. The juvenile form is the mostcommonly seen. See Figure 33.

Figure 33. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Prayer Plant ( Maranta leuconeura )

A low-growing perennial plant with colorful leaves,noted for the beautiful patterns of lines, blotches andspots on leaves. They vary in color from soft, lightgreen to dark green on the upper surface and light greenon the undersides. They are called "Prayer Plants"because of their habit of folding their leaves at night.See Figure 34.

Figure 34. Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)

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Salvia ( Salvia spp.)

Herbaceous annual, usually with square stems.Simple leaves are opposite, oval or lanceolate. Marginsare toothed or segmented. Flowers are borne in clusters,growing from the axils of small bracts which vary incolor from scarlet, purple, blue to white and pale yellow.See Figure 35.

Figure 35. Salvia (Salvia spp.)

Sansevieria ( Sansevieria spp.)

A stiff, erect, herbaceous perennial with short andthick rhizomes. Leaves are elongate, very thick, erect,flat or cylindrical and are usually borne basally. Theyare often mottled or variegated. Flowers though rarelyproduced and then only on older plants, are arranged inracemes and are often fragrant. See Figure 36.

Figure 36. Sansevieria (Sansevieria spp.)

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Schefflera ( Brassaia actinophylla )

An upright evergreen tree, often with multipletrunks. It is low-branching with palmately compoundspirally arranged leaves of 7-15 leaflets which areoblong. The leaflets radiate from the apex of anelongated petiole. Leaves are entire or sparsely dentateon the juvenile plant and are glossy green. See Figure37.

Figure 37. Schefflera (Brassaia actinophylla)

Snapdragon ( Antirrhinum majus )

An erect herbaceous annual or perennial with stiffstems. The leaves are simple and alternate, with entiremargins. They are lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate. Thestems are usually covered with short, sticky hairs.Flowers are borne on terminal recemes, growing fromthe axils of small leafy bracts. The corolla is tubular to2″ long and pouched, forming a mouth. Colors are red,pink, yellow, orange, and purple with all shades andcombinations of these. See Figure 38.

Figure 38. Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)

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Spathiphyllum ( Spathiphyllum spp.)

Clumping herbaceous perennial with large dark-green, plantain-like leaves which are thin, lanceolate inshape. Leaf petioles are as long or longer than theblade. Flowers are long spadices with white or greenishspathes. The fruits are fleshy and berry-like. See Figure39.

Figure 39. Spathiphyllum (Spathiphyllum spp.)

Spider Plant ( Chlorophytum comosum )

An herbaceous perennial with linear leaves whichare bright, smooth, and often lined with white bands.They are arranged in rosettes, and bunches of smallplantlets are produced at the end of long stolons. Theflowers are small, white, to ¾″ across, borne in racemes,and precede the plantlets. See Figure 40.

Figure 40. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

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Swedish Ivy ( Plectranthus australis )

A low-growing herbaceous perennial with broadlyovate, simple, fleshy leaves which are arrangedoppositely on square stems. The margins arepronouncedly crenate. Flowers are arranged in racemes,and are small and pale purple. See Figure 41.

Figure 41. Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus australis)

Verbena ( Verbena x hybrida )

Evergreen herbaceous perennial with a creepinggrowth habit. Leaves are simple, opposite, ovate toovate-oblong and margins are toothed. Its fragrantflowers are borne in flattened umbels on quadrangularstems. Flower colors are pink, red, white, yellow, blueand purple. See Figure 42.

Figure 42. Verbena (Verbena x hybrida)

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Weeping Fig ( Ficus benjamina )

This evergreen tree has drooping, spreading brancheswhich are heavily foliated. The leaves,which exude amilky sap, are simple and entire. They are alternate, andovate-elliptic in shape and leathery-textured with aglossy-green color. The stem is grey, and brown aerialroots eventually appear. See Figure 43.

Figure 43. Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)

Zebra Plant ( Aphelandra squarosa )

Shiny, dark green opposite leaves on one to two footstems with conspicuous white stripping along the veins.White, 2-lipped flowers emerge from yellow bracts inclusters atop the main stem. See Figure 44.

Figure 44. Zebra Plant (Aphelandra squarosa)

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Zinnia ( Zinnia elegans )

An erect, stiff-stemmed herbaceous annual. Simpleleaves are oppositely arranged with entire margins,usually sessile or clasping the stem. They are lanceolate,ovate, or oblong in shape, dark green, pubescent withprominent veins. Flowers are solitary heads, borneterminally. Disc and ray florets are often elongated,twisted and tubular. They come in every color but blue,some are multi-colored. See Figure 45.

Figure 45. Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)