Florida 4-H Horticulture Identification and Judging …florida4h.org/projects/plants/HortIDJudging/4HPSJ23.pdfFlorida 4–H Horticulture Identification and Judging Study Manual —

Circular 4HEHL 23

Florida 4-H Horticulture Identification and Judging StudyManual: Ornamentals 1

R. J. Black2

Ornamental plants are used in landscapes to enhancethe beauty of our homes and public buildings. They alsoprovide shade, filter pollutants, exchange oxygen forcarbon dioxide, block cold winter winds and channelcool summer breezes, frame or hide views, reduce noise,prevent erosion, define outdoor spaces, increase thevalue and sales appeal of homes, and provide food andshelter for birds and other wildlife.

The purpose of this section of the study manual is topromote a better understanding of ornamental plants. Itis primarily designed to aid in the identification of themore common landscape trees, shrubs and ground coversgrown in Florida. Plants are arranged alphabetically bycommon names. Common names are used for theconvenience of persons not accustomed to usingscientific names. Scientific names are in parenthesesimmediately following common names. Scientific namesare the same throughout the world with plant scientistsand seldom change. The scientific names is usuallycomposed of two words. The first word is alwayscapitalized and is called the genus. The second word isusually not capitalized and is called the species. Theremay be many species of plants in one genus which differonly slightly in appearance. When reference is made toseveral species in one genus, the abbreviation "spp." isoften written after the genus name.

When a group of plants within a species differ inone or more characteristics from their parent plants, theyare classified into another category. When this occurs

naturally, the new category is called a variety and weadd it to the scientific name, such asJuniperus chinensisvar. chinensis. 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 asIlex cornutacv. Burfordii or Ilex cornuta ‘Burfordii’. Single quotemarks will be used in this publication to designatecultivars.

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 section "Glossaryof Terms" located in the rules and glossary section of theFlorida 4–H Horticulture Identification and JudgingStudy Manual. Space is provided for you to write notesthat help you identify the plant. You may also want tocut out photographs from old nursery magazines andcatalogs to glue or tape in this manual to further helpyou in identification.

1. This document is Circular 4HEHL 23, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida.Publication date: March 1992.

2. Robert J. Black, associate professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, Cooperative Extension 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 — Ornamentals Page 2

Allamanda ( Allamanda cathartica )

An evergreen, erect, vine-like shrub, which sproutsfrom the base. Simple leaves are opposite or in whorlsof 3 to 4, elliptic-oblong in shape, and may be 4-6inches long. They exude a white milky sap. The floweris funnelform with 5 united rounded petals which can beup to 5 inches across. Bright yellow flowers are seenduring warm seasons. See Figure 1.

Figure 1. Allamanda (Allamanda cathartica)

American Holly ( Ilex opaca )

A spreading, short-branched evergreen tree. Simple,elliptic leaves are spirally arranged with entire or spinedmargins. They have a leathery, pliable texture. Flowersare dioecious, white, not showy. The very showy fruitsare shiny red berries borne in large axillary clusters. SeeFigure 2.

Figure 2. American Holly (Ilex opaca)


Anise ( Illicium parviflorum )

Evergreen shrub or small tree which can grow to aheight of 25 feet. Leaves are 4 inches long, simple,spirally-arranged, obovate to elliptic, entire margins.Crushed leaves have a licorice aroma. Flowers areinconspicuous and fruit is a star shaped many-seeded podabout 3/4 inch in diameter. See Figure 3.

Figure 3. Anise (Illicium parviflorum)

Azalea (Rhododendron spp.)

An evergreen, densely foliated, shrub with manybranches in a horizontal pattern. Leaves are simple,entire, and elliptic in shape, and are arranged alternatelyon the stem; they are deep green and very pubescent.During cool weather, they may show a bronze tinge.The new growth on the stem is pubescent. Flowers arefunnelform, borne on umbel like clusters of many colorsand appear in the spring. See Figure 4.

Figure 4. Azalea (Rhododendron spp.)


Black Olive ( Bucida buceras )

An evergreen or partly deciduous tree with an opencanopy. Simple, entire leaves are alternate or spirallyarranged in whorls. They are obovate in shape and upto 3 inches long. Leaves are usually crowded on theswollen ends of branches. They are light green andleathery. During cool weather some plants show red leafcolor. The stem is often spiny. The flowers areinconspicuous, borne on spikes to 4 inches long.Flowering occurs in spring and summer. Fruit is a blackdrupe. See Figure 5.

Figure 5. Black Olive (Bucida buceras)

Bougainvillea ( Bougainvillea spp.)

A sprawling, evergreen woody vine, which can betrained as a shrub. Leaves are alternate, and elliptic toovate in shape. Each leaf axil has a sharp, slender thornup to 2 inches long which is replaced by flowers inflowering branches. Flowers are white andinconspicuous. The showy portion consists of 3 colorfulbracts. These range from purple to white withintermediate shades of red, pink and orange. See Figure6.

Figure 6. Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.)


Burford Holly ( Ilex cornuta ‘Burfordii’)

An evergreen shrub, with shiny glossy leaves,incurved margins and one or more sharp spines along theleaf tip. Flowers are inconspicuous. The fruits areglobe-shaped, red, showy berries. See Figure 7.

Figure 7. Burford Holly (Ilex cornuta ‘Burfordii’)

Cabbage Palm ( Sabal palmetto )

A dense, erect, medium sized, single trunked palmwith a tight globular canopy. The leaves are green orgray green, with unarmed petioles; they are fan-shaped,divided 1/3 of the way to the base, with long pointed,tapering segments which are split at the apex. Threadsmay be present. The trunks are often covered with oldleaf bases. The fruit is a globose, brown-black shinydrupe. See Figure 8.

Figure 8. Cabbage Palm (Sabal palmetto)


Camellia ( Camellia spp.)

A densely foliated evergreen shrub or small tree.Simple leaves have alternate to spiral arrangement withshallowly serrate margins. Terminal flowers are solitaryor clustered, and may be single, semi-double or double,possessing many petals and stamens. Flower colorencompasses shades of red, pink, and white. See Figure9.

Figure 9. Camellia (Camellia spp.)

Canary Island Date Palm(Phoenix canariensis )

This palm has a large, single trunk, and an uprightgrowing habit with a stiff globular canopy. Theevergreen, feather like foliage is pinnate, with spines atthe diamond shaped base of the petioles. Fruits areovoid in shape, about 1 inch in length and are brightyellow-orange in color. See Figure 10.

Figure 10. Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis)


Carissa [Natal Plum] ( Carissa grandiflora )

A dense, broad evergreen shrub. Simple, oppositeleaves are leathery in texture and dark green. Stem hasforked spines to 2 inches long. Leaves exude a milkysap. Flowers are solitary, terminal and star-shaped to 2inches across. Flowers occur in spring and summer.The fruits of the natal plum are edible berries which areplum-shaped, red, and up to 2 inches long. See Figure11.

Figure 11. Carissa, Natal Plum (Carissa grandiflora)

Chinese Elm ( Ulmus parvifolia )

A freely branching, symmetrical deciduous tree witha slightly weeping, spreading, open canopy. The simpleleaves have serrate margins and are alternately arranged,leathery, shiny dark green and elliptic-ovate in shape.The exfoliating bark is very showy and the youngbranches are thinly pubescent. See Figure 12.

Figure 12. Chinese Elm (Ulmus parviflora)


Coontie ( Zamia floridana )

Low growing, evergreen, gymnosperm, usuallylacking trunk and with dense foliage in mound-likeclumps. Palm-like leaves are pinnately compound,usually linear lanceolate to 6 inches long, dark green,leathery with slightly revolute margins, entire to finelytoothed above the middle. See Figure 13.

Figure 13. Coontie (Zamia floridana)

Crape Myrtle ( Lagerstroemia indica )

This freely branching, erect, deciduous shrub orsmall tree has simple, entire leaves, which aresubopposite in arrangement, and oblong-elliptic torounded in shape. The new growth is pubescentunderneath and has square pinkish stems. The flowersare borne in terminal and axillary panicles. They havefringed petals to 1 1/4 inches long. Flower colors arewhite, pink, red or purple. The fruits are brown,globular capsules. See Figure 14.

Figure 14. Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)


Croton ( Codiaeum variegatum )

An evergreen, vigorous shrub. The branchingpattern is free and irregular. Simple leaves are entire todeeply lobed, commonly undulate, spirally arrangedaround the stem and often clustered at end of branches.Leaf color varies widely in combinations of green, red,and yellow. They have a leathery, glabrous texture, andexude a sap which stains and is poisonous. See Figure15.

Figure 15. Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)

Dogwood ( Cornus florida )

A small deciduous tree with simple leaves which areentire, oppositely arranged, and up to 6 inches long. Thesurface is crinkled, light green, and the veins aremarkedly curved. The flowers are small dense headsborne in panicles, which are subtended by four showypetal-like bracts. They are white, obovate and notched.The fruits are red, showy drupes. See Figure 16.

Figure 16. Dogwood (Cornus florida)


Feijoa ( Feijoa sellowiana )

A low branching, densely foliated evergreen shrubor small tree with simple, entire leaves, arrangedoppositely on the stems. They are elliptic to oblong inshape, green and pubescent. Solitary flowers have 4edible petals, with protruding red stamens. The fruits aregreen berries often tinged with red. See Figure 17.

Figure 17. Feijoa (Feijoa sellowiana)

Glossy Abelia ( Abelia x grandiflora )

This evergreen to partly deciduous, sometimes erectshrub has many spreading branches. The simple leavesare arranged oppositely or whorled on the stem. Theyare ovate-shaped, small to 1/2 inch long, glossy, withserrated margins. During cool weather they have areddish tinge. The bark exfoliates on the brown stem.White, pink-tinged flowers are funnelform. Flowering isin the spring and summer. See Figure 18.

Figure 18. Glossy Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora)


Hibiscus ( Hibiscus rosa-sinensis )

This large, upright evergreen shrub has manybranches and is densely foliated. The glossy greenleaves have long reddish petioles, are simple and spirallyarranged. They are ovate in shape and the margins arefinely serrate. The flowers come in many colors. Theyare borne solitary on long hanging peduncles, with bellshaped calyx. They have five petals and a long,conspicuous column of stamens. See Figure 19.

Figure 19. Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)

Indian Hawthorn ( Rhaphiolepis indica )

A dense, rounded, medium textured, evergreenshrub. This shrub is a slow grower and it will takemany years for it to reach a mature height of 5 feet.Leaves are simple, alternate, clustered at twig tips,oblong and leathery. Flowers are white or pinkish, 5/8inch across, and are borne on loose terminal panicles inthe spring. Fruit are purplish-black pome about 3/8 inchlong. See Figure 20.

Figure 20. Indian Hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica)


Ixora ( Ixora coccinea )

This upright, erect, much branched evergreen shrubis densely foliated with simple, entire leaves which areopposite or whorled, oblong to 4 inches long. They areleathery and pliable with short petioles. The stem on thenew growth is reddish and the bark is dark brown.Flowers are borne on dense axillary corymbs, with acorolla tube nearly 2 inches long. They have 4-5 petals,colored red, pink, and yellow. Ixora flowers in thesummer. See Figure 21.

Figure 21. Ixora (Ixora coccinea)

Japanese Privet ( Ligustrum japonicum )

An upright, low branching, evergreen shrub or smalltree. Simple, entire leaves are opposite and ovate toelliptic in shape, they are dark green, leathery andglossy. Branches have raised lenticels. Fragrant flowersare borne on terminal panicles and are white, with fourunited petals. The fruit is a blue-black, drupe-like berry.See Figure 22.

Figure 22. Japanese Privet (Ligustrum japonicum)


Liriope ( Liriope muscari )

A clumping, perennial evergreen herb which formsdense, grass-like mats. Leaves are linear, dark greenwith parallel veins, 8-10 inches long and 3/4 inch wide,and forming tufts. Purple flowers are small and dense,borne in short racemes which are held on stalks longerthan the leaves. Fruits are black, berry-like, small fleshycapsules. See Figure 23.

Figure 23. Liriope (Liriope muscari)

Live Oak ( Quercus virginiana )

This large, symmetrical oak is an evergreen tree witha spread greater than its height. Branches are droopingand low. Simple, entire leaves are spirally arranged, andare elliptic to ovate-shaped with revolute margins. Theunderside is whitish-grey. Fruits are acorns to 1 incheslong, sometimes in pairs, with a shallow cup enclosingthe bottom 1/4. See Figure 24.

Figure 24. Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)


Loblolly Bay ( Gordonia lasianthus )

An evergreen, coarse textured tree with elliptic,alternate leaves which are dark green, leathery and shiny.The apical margins are slightly serrate and some leavesoften turn bright red in the fall. Young twigs are red.Flowers are solitary, borne on axillary stalks on the newgrowth, with 5 large petals and golden stamens. Fruitsare woody, ovoid capsules which ripen and releasewinged seeds. See Figure 25.

Figure 25. Loblolly Bay (Gordonia lasianthus)

Mondo Grass ( Ophiopogon japonicus )

A clumping, perennial, evergreen herb that formsdense, fine-textured grasslike mats. Leaves are linear, to15 inches long and 1/8 inch wide. They occur in tufts,are dark green and curve toward the ground. The fewflowers are hidden in the leaves on short, loose racemes.They are lilac or white. See Figure 26.

Figure 26. Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus)


Nandina ( Nandina domestica )

This evergreen to semi-deciduous shrub formsclumps and is leafless at the base. The leaves are oddbi- and tripinnately compound, and spirally arranged.Leaflets are entire, elliptic to 4 inches long, with shortpetioles. They show red fall color. Small, white flowersare 6 petaled, and borne in panicles. Fruits are ovateberries, red, in pendulous, showy clusters. See Figure27.

Figure 27. Nandina (Nandina domestica)

Pfitzer Juniper ( Juniperus chinensis var.chinensis ‘Pfitzerana’)

An evergreen coniferous shrub with a spreadinghorizontal growth habit. The tips of the branches pointoutwards. Leaves are small, scale-like and are tightlycompressed in whorls; they are colored grey-green. SeeFigure 28.

Figure 28. Pfitzer Juniper (Juniperus chinensis var.chinensis ‘Pfitzerana’)


Pindo Palm ( Butia capitata )

This palm is single trunked, erect with stiff andstrongly recurving canopy. The leaves are pinnate, 8-10′long, and strongly recurved toward the trunk. Theleaflets are stiff, blue-green, with thorns on petioleswhich point towards the leaf tip. The fruits are drupes,oblong to ovoid, in dense yellow to red clusters. SeeFigure 29.

Figure 29. Pindo Palm (Butia capitata)

Pine (Pinus spp.)

Tall, coniferous trees which are evergreen andmonoecious. Leaves produced are of two kinds: scale-like, soon falling off the tree, and needle-shaped, longand borne in clusters of 2-5. The fruit is the typicalwoody pine cone. See Figure 30.

Figure 30. Pine (Pinus spp.)


Photinia ( Photinia glabra )

An evergreen shrub or small tree, upright and freelybranching. Simple alternate leaves are 2-3 inches longand elliptic ovate in shape. They are glossy green,leathery and pliable. The new growth is reddish.Flowers are white, 5-pleated, borne on short terminalpanicles. Fruits are berry-like pomes, globose, redturning to black. See Figure 31.

Figure 31. Photinia (Photinia glabra)

Pittosporum ( Pittosporum tobira )

A freely branching, small evergreen shrub or smalltree. The obovate leaves are spirally arranged, simpleand entire. They are glossy green with revolute marginsand leathery texture, clustering at end of branches. Themany flowered umbels are fragrant with lemon yellowflowers with 5 petals to 1/2 inch long. The fruit is acapsule opening to reveal the seeds which are coveredwith a red fleshy skin. See Figure 32.

Figure 32. Pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira)


Podocarpus ( Podocarpus macrophyllus )

An upright, densely-foliaged evergreen shrub or treewith a narrow columnar canopy. Simple leaves arelinear and spirally arranged, with entire margins. Theyare leathery in texture, glossy dark green above with aprominent midrib. Seeds are covered with a green fleshylayer and are borne on a purple, fleshy, receptacle. SeeFigure 33.

Figure 33. Podocarpus (Podocarpus macrophyllus)

Pyracantha ( Pyracantha coccinea )

An evergreen, thorny shrub or small tree, sprawlingwith pendulous branches. Simple leaves are closelyarranged and alternate, with serrulate margins andoblong-ovate in shape. They are dark green and have aglabrous, leathery texture. The flowers are white,showy, and borne in corymbs to 1 1/2 inches wide.Fruits are pomes, green, ripening to orange in fall andwinter. See Figure 34.

Figure 34. Pyracantha (Pyracantha coccinea)


Red Maple ( Acer rubrum )

A low branching, deciduous tree with an opengrowth habit and oval canopy. Leaves are opposite,palmately shaped with 3-5 lobes. They are unequallycrenate to serrate, and 3-6 inches across. Petioles arepink-red and leaves turn red in fall. Fruits are winged,ripening soon after the red flowers fade in spring. SeeFigure 35.

Figure 35. Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

Royal Poinciana ( Delonix regia )

A large, semi-deciduous tree with compound leaveswhich are medium green in color and fine textured. Theshowy blossoms in tones of red have 5 petals, one ofwhich is striped. Fruits are dark brown pods to 2 feetlong and 2 inches wide, resembling razor straps. SeeFigure 36.

Figure 36. Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia)


Sago Palm ( Cycas revoluta )

Extremely slow growing palm-like plant which willeventually reach a mature height of 10 feet. Leaves areglossy green, pinnately compound and 3-4 feet long inrosettes. This plant is dioecious with a 24-inch,cylindrical cone borne in the center of the male plant.The female plant doesn’t produce a cone, but producesa globose mass consisting of modified scale-like leavescovered with brown felt. Ovate orange-red seeds to 2inches in diameter are produced between these scale-likeleaves. See Figure 37.

Figure 37. Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta)

Sea Grape (Coccoloba uvifera )

An evergreen tree with irregularly-branched trunk.It has an upright growing habit, often drooping at tip.The canopy is rounded and loosely spreading. Thesimple leaves are spirally arranged, entire and orbicular-shaped. The major veins are reddish on the leathery,glossy green leaves. The petiole is pinkish, short andclasping. The globular fruit is a drupe-like achene,which can be up to 3/4 inch in diameter and is borne indense grape-like clusters. See Figure 38.

Figure 38. Sea Grape (Coccoloba uvifera)


Silk Oak ( Grevillea robusta )

Large evergreen tree with fern-like dissected leaveswhich are dark green above, grey green below. Youngbranches are pubescent. Showy orange flowers areborne on short racemes on old growth. See Figure 39.

Figure 39. Silk Oak (Grevillea robusta)

Shumard Oak ( Quercus shumardii )

A tall, vigorous, central leader tree withwidespreading branches. Leaves are simple, alternate,obovate to 6 inches long with 7 to 9 sharp pointed lobes.The leaves turn bright red in the fall. The nut or acornis 1 1/4 inch long, ovoid, with a shallow cup enclosing1/4 of the acorn. See Figure 40.

Figure 40. Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii)


Southern Magnolia ( Magnolia grandiflora )

Upright, large trunked, evergreen tree with large,stiff leaves that are alternate, shiny, dark green above anlight green or brown below. The spring flowers arelarge, white an fragrant. Fruits are cone-like, 4-inchaggregates of many dark red seeds. See Figure 41.

Figure 41. Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

Sweet Gum ( Liquidambar styraciflua )

A deciduous tree with upright growing habit. Whenyoung the canopy is pyramidal in shape, but it becomesrounded with age. Simple leaves are spirally arranged,they are palmately shaped with 5 or 7 lobes and may beup to 7 inches wide. The margins are finely serrate andleaves show some fall color and when crushed, arearomatic. Fruits are woody and rounded to 1/2 inch indiameter, with many spines. See Figure 42.

Figure 42. Sweet Gum (Liquidamber styraciflua)


Sycamore ( Platanus occidentalis )

A large, many branched, deciduous tree, pyramidalwhen young but becoming globular with age. Simple,alternate leaves are shallowly lobed and wider than long.Margins are coarsely toothed and petioles are long withenlarged bases. Flowers are inconspicuous. Fruits areglobular, usually solitary, lacking spines, and manyseeded. See Figure 43.

Figure 43. Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)

Wax Myrtle ( Myrica cerifera )

A large, rounded evergreen shrub, which is denselyfoliated and forms clumps. Leaves are lanceolate,arranged alternately on the stem and aromatic. They arethin, often coarsely serrated along the apical margins andhave tiny glands (dots) on both sides. The trunk iscrooked and covered with grayish-white bark. Flowersare inconspicuous. Fruits are grayish blue, borne indense clusters. They are coated with wax which can beused to make candles. See Figure 44.

Figure 44. Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera)


Wisteria ( Wisteria chinensis )

This deciduous woody vine has alternate, odd-pinnately compound leaves. The leaflets have entiremargins and are pubescent when young. Pea-likeflowers are bluish-white, borne in long, pendant, terminalracemes. The fruits are flattened pods, to 6 inches long,and velvety textured. The large seeds are quitepoisonous. See Figure 45.

Figure 45. Wisteria (Wisteria chinensis)

Documents

Florida 4-H Horticulture Identification and Judging …florida4h.org/projects/plants/HortIDJudging/4HPSJ23.pdfFlorida 4–H Horticulture Identification and Judging Study Manual —