2. 1. Growth Habits 2. Four Season Appeal 3. Environmental Needs 4. Special Desirable Features 5. Problems

3.  Annual flowers  Perennial Flowers (herbaceous)  Bulbs (spring or summer)  Ornamental grasses  Evergreens (trees and shrubs)  Trees (deciduous)  Shrubs (deciduous)  Groundcovers and Vines

4.  Live only one year  Replant each year  Inexpensive  Continuous mass of color (flowers or foliage)  Special: some everlasting  Problems: heat stall

5.  Live 3 or more years  Parts above ground die in winter  Overwinter as underground structures  More expensive than annuals  Burst of flower color for a few weeks  Special: need to divide after a few years  Problems: frost heaving

6.  Laminate bulbs: ie- tulip, daffodil, garlic, onion ◦ Layers of leaf tissue ◦ Outermost leaf is scaly tissue  Scaly bulbs: ie- lily ◦ No outer covering (more likely to dry out) ◦ Roots are contractile  Can expand and contract to pull the bulb deeper into soil  Helps avoid freezing at the surface  Look wrinkly, like a scrunchie

7.  Corms: ◦ bulk of the tissue is stem ◦ Hard scaly outer covering ◦ Solid, one layered  Rhizomes: ie-mint, ferns ◦ Fleshy stem that often grows underground or at the soil surface  Tubers: ie-white potato ◦ Swollen stem tissue ◦ “eyes” = buds  Tuberous Roots: ie-sweet potato ◦ Swollen root tissue

8.  Plant in fall  Require vernalization  Response to low temperatures and moist conditions to stimulate flowers  Bloom in spring  Not all true bulbs: includes corms, rhizomes, tubers, tuberous roots  Special: May need to divide  Problems: foliage dies after bloom

9.  Plant in spring  Bloom in summer  Not all true bulbs (corms, rhizomes, tubers, tuberous roots)  Special: some are “tender” ◦ Need to be brought inside for winter

10.  Live numerous years  Evergreen or deciduous  Above ground parts survive winter  More expensive than herbaceous perennials  Consider speed of growth and length of life  Special: flowers, fruits, shade, fall, winter bark  Problems: pruning, can be messy

11.  Live numerous years  Evergreen or deciduous  Above ground parts survive winter  Comparable in price to herbaceous perennials  Special: climb and cover ground  Problems: may need support, can be aggressive

12.  Spring  Summer  Fall  Winter

13.  Shade vs. Sun  Wet vs. Dry  Temperature  Soil