Plant Types

Plant Types ( Source The Garden Expert by Dr.D.G.Hessayon)

A. Woody Plants:
Perennial plants with woody stems which survive the winter,
-A Shrub bears several woody stems at ground level.
- A Tree bears only one woody stem at ground level
- A Climber has the ability when establisted to attach itself to or twine around an upright structure. Some weak-stemmed plants which require tying to stakes (e.g, Climbing Roses) are included here.
- A Hedge is a continous line of Shrub or Trees in which the individuality of each plant is partly of wholly lost.

1. Evergreen Shrub & Trees
Woody Plans which retain their leaves during winter.
- Conifers, bear cones and nearly all are Evergreens
- Semi-evergreens (e.g, Privet) retain most of their leaves in mild winter.

2. Deciduous Shrubs & Trees
Woody plants which shed their leaves in winter.
- Top fruit are Trees which produce edible fruit 9e.g, Apples, Pear, Peach Plum)
- Soft Fruit are Shrubs and Climbers which produce edible fruit (e.g. Black currant, Gooseberry) A few are Herbaceous Plants (e.g.Strawberry).

3. Roses
Desidous Shrubs and Trees of the genus Rosa, usually listed separately in the catalogues because of their importance and great popularity.
- A Half Standard is a Rose Tree with a 2 1/2 ft stem
- A Full Standard is a Rose Tree with a 3 1/2 ft stem.

B. Turf Plants:
Low-growing carpeting plants, nearly always members of the Grass Family, which can be regularly sheared and walked upon.
A ground Cover is a low-growing and spreading plant which forms a dense leafy mat.

C. Herbaceous Plants:
Plants with non-woody stems which generally die down in winter.
1. Vegetables
Plants which are grown for their edible roots, stems or leaves. A few are grown for their fruits (e.g. Tomatok Cucumber, Marrow, Capsicum).
2. Herbs
Plants which are grown for their medicinal value, their culinary value as garnishes or flavourings, or their cosmetic value as sweet-smelling flowers or leaves.
3. Bulbs
Bulbs (more correctly Bulbous Plants) produce underground fleshy organs which are offered for sale for planting indoors or outdoors included here are the True Bulbs, Corms, Rhizomes and Tubers.
4. Annuals
Plants which complete their life span, from seed to death, in a single season.
- A Hardy Annual (HA) is sown outdoors in spring.
- A Half-hardy Annual (HHA) cannot withstand frost, and so they are raised under glass and planted outdoors when the danger of frost is past.
- A Greenhouse (or Tender) Annual (GA) is too susceptible to cols weather for outdoor cultivation, but may be planted out for a short time in summer
5. Biennials
Plants which complete their life span, from seed to death, in two seasons.
- A Hardy Biennial (HB) is sown outdoors in summer, producing stems and leaves in the first season and flowering in the next.
- Some Perennials are treated an Biennials (e.g. Wallflower, Daisy).

A Bedding Plant is an Annual or Biennial set out in quantity in autumn or spring to provide a temporary display.

6. Perennials
Plants which complete their life span, form seed to death, in three or more seasons.
- A Hardy Perennial (HP) will live for years in the garden - the basic plant of the herbaceous border.
- A Half-hardy Perennial (HHP) is not fully hardy and needs to spend its winter in a frost-free place (e.g Fuchsia, Geranium)
- A Greenhouse Perennial (GP) is not suitable for outdoor cultivation.
- A Rockery Perennial (RP) is a dward Hardy Perennial suitable for growing in a rockery. Alpine is an alternative name, although some originated on the shore rather than on mountains, and some delicate True Alpines need to be grown indoors
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