GUIDE TO PLANT DESCRIPTIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS

A ~ Annual
A plant that flowers, produces seed and dies during one season. We have used this term to include some plants that are actually perennials in the tropics but that we commonly grow as annuals.

B ~ Biennial
A plant that typically grows a rosette of leaves, survives through a cold period (i.e.winter) and then flowers, produces seed, and dies.

HP ~ Herbaceous Perennial
A plant that lives for more than two years and develops soft, herbaceous growth. We have used this term to include some plants called sub-shrubs that develop semi-woody growth.

HBb ~ Hardy Bulb
A plant that survives temperate-zone winters by developing buds on an enlarged storage organ. We have used the term bulb in a broad sense to include true bulbs, corms, rhizomes and tubers.

TBb ~ Tender Bulb
A plant that develops buds on an enlarged storage organ but that will not survive outdoors in temperate-zone winters. Similar to the hardy bulbs, we have used the term bulb in a broad sense to include true bulbs, corms, rhizomes and tubers. The bulb is dug in autumn and kept frost-free over the winter. Some of these plants are grown as annuals.

G ~ Grass

F ~ Fern

Aq ~ Aquatic plant
Plants that grow mostly submerged or possibly with leaves and flowers emerging from water. Most will survivetemperate zone winters if the water does not freeze all the way to the bottom of the pond or pool.

R ~ Rose

Sh ~ Shrub
A woody plant that typically grows with multiple stems arising from the ground. Some shrubs can be pruned and trained to a single stem like trees.

Tr ~ Tree
A woody plant that typically grows with a single stem or trunk.

Cl ~ Climber
Plants with long stems that employ various strategies to help them climb such as tendrils, modified roots, twining stems or petioles, or prickles. Some rely on a trellis or nearby plant to climb, while others can attach themselves to a surface with no additional help.

Size
The approximate garden size is given first by height followed by spread. Growing conditions can have a large influence on the ultimate plant size so these numbers are a guide.

GROWING CONDITIONS

To offer the most meaningful growing information within a small space we have relied heavily on the terms and definitions used in the book Perennials and Their Garden Habitats by Richard Hansen and Friedrich Stahl. Regrettably the English translation of this book is out of print. We have adapted only slightly, or in some cases simplified, their terms and applied them to all groups of plants here.

SUNLIGHT

Sun: Exposed to both the light and warmth of full sun all day.
Bright Shade: Lightly shaded and cooled by trees with a high, open canopy, but still quite bright. Includes steep north-facing slopes.
Semi-Shade: Shaded and cool in either the morning or the afternoon from buildings or trees, or shaded lightly all day by trees.
Shade: Shaded and cool all day by buildings, or by trees with a dense canopy.

SOIL

Well-drained: Water is able to drain freely through the soil profile. Sand or sandy-loam soils are naturally well-drained. Drainage in clay or clay-loam soils can be improved by incorporating organic matter.
Rocky: This term indicates plants, or plants with wild relatives that grow naturally in close association with rocks. In these settings, the rocks may provide shelter for low-growing plants, or a cool, damp place for roots to grow beneath, or otherwise imply excellent drainage. In a garden these plants do not require rocks, but rather the particular microclimate that the rocks provide. Precast concrete landscape pavers or stone may substitute for natural stone in some garden settings.
Nutrient-rich: Clay or clay-loam soils tend to be naturally nutrient rich while sand or sandy-loam soils tend to be nutrient-poor. Either synthetic fertilizers or compost can be added to enhance the nutrient levels in any soil type.
Humus-rich: This term is used to indicate soils where organic materials occur in various stages of decomposition, well-mixed with the soil, and often with an accumulation of large pieces of raw humus on the surface.
Acidic: The soil pH should be in the range of 5 to 4.
Warm: This term is used to indicate sandy soils, shallow soils over rock, raised beds, or unshaded soils exposed to the sun.
Cool: This term is used to indicate soils that are shaded by plants, or soils that are protected from the sun's warmth by a thick layer of organic mulch, or clay soils.

MOISTURE

Wet: Water does not drain away freely but remains in the soil at the root zone. Water will seep into a hole dug here. These plants will tolerate damp soil.
Damp: This soil is moist to the touch for most of the year. These plants require constant moisture and do not tolerate even short drought periods.
Moist: This soil is normally moist to the touch. These plants tolerate short periods of drought or damp soils.
Dry: This soil is normally dry to the touch in the root zone. These plants tolerate periodic drought.

HARDINESS ZONES

We have used USDA plant hardiness zones. Please use them as guides and not as hard-and-fast limits. Microclimates can play a significant role in plant survival in colder climates. Find your garden’s zone by asking at your nearest garden center or by going to www.usna.usda.gov.