LANDSCAPE PLANTS II
HORTICULTURE 212, Spring 2008
Lectures: Monday 11:30 - 12:20 in A149 PSS (Plant and Soil Sciences Building)
Wednesday 11:30 - 12:20 in A149 PSS
Lab Sections: Sec 1 Wednesday 12:40-3:30 in A148 PSS; Sec 2 Thursday 3:00-5:50 in A158 PSS;
Sec 3 Friday 9:10-12:00 in A148 PSS; Sec 4 Friday 12:40-3:30 in A158 PSS.
Instructor: Jesse L. Saylor; A45 PSS Building; Cell (749-6180). Use cell, not my office no.
Office Hours by Appointment: See me before or after lecture or lab for appointment.
Course web Site: www.msuplants.com. Cd set has same content as web site.
Teaching Assistants: To be announced.
Course Objectives:
1. To be able to identify over 250 plants: flowering trees and shrubs, broad-leaved evergreens,
herbaceous vines, ground covers, bulbs, wildflowers, ferns, and aquatic plants. This includes
knowing the scientific name(s), selected cultivars, common name(s), and the plant family.
Identification involves seeing parts of or the whole plant.
2. To develop an appreciation for the great diversity and beauty of ornamental landscape plants.
3. To be able to select plants for specific purposes and site conditions. This includes knowing the
environmental requirements of specific plants, their desirable and undesirable characteristics, their
landscape uses, and major insect and disease problems.
4. To be familiar with selected reference books, source guides, and other resources.
5. To be familiar with the use of keys for identification of plant material.
Required Textbooks: (Except for the lab manual, the same books are used in Hrt 211 and 212)
1. Armitage, Allen M. 1997 (2nd ed.). Herbaceous Perennial Plants: A Treatise on Their Identification,
Culture, and Garden Attributes. Stipes Publishing, 204 West University Ave., Champaign, IL 61820. A
standard reference that is essential for your personal library. Armitage has interesting personal comments.
1141 pages, $64.35 SB/434/.A76/1997
2. Armitage, Allen M. 2001. Armitage’s Manual Of Annuals, Biennials, and Half-Hardy Perennials. Timber
Press Inc., The Haseltine Building, 133 S.W. Second Ave., Suite 450, Portland OR 97204. The first
comprehensive reference covering these plants. A good companion to Herbaceous Perennial Plants. Add
Specialty Cut Flowers (see Recommended books, reference no. 1) to complete the set. 539 pages, $39.95
SB/422/.A66/2001
3. Dirr, Michael A. l998 (5th ed.). Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental
Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses. Stipes Publishing Co., 10-12 Chester St., Champaign, IL
61820. A standard reference that is essential for your personal library. Includes detailed descriptive lists of
cultivars. Dirr’s personal opinions make it interesting. 1187 pages + 38 introductory pages.
(paperbound), $56.80 folio SB/435/.D56/1998
4. Saylor, Jesse L. 2007 (32th Ed.). Landscape Plants II. Available only at Student Book Store(SBS), 417
East Grand River, in East Lansing. Phone (517)351-4210. This manual is essential for lectures and lab
walks. $20.00.
5. Stearn, William T. 1996 (2002 reprinting). Stearn’s Dictionary of Plant Names for Gardeners: A
Handbook on the Origin and Meaning of the Botanical Names of Some Cultivated Plants. Timber Press Inc.,
The Haseltine Building, 133 S.W. Second Ave., Suite 450, Portland OR 97204. Best book for meanings of
latin names and terms. Dr. Stearn also has written the standard reference book on Botanical Latin if you
want to find more on Greek and Latin terms, prefixes, suffixes, descriptive terms, geographical words, etc.
363 pages. (paperbound), $19.95 QK/11/.S6/1996 Has several reprints since 1996.
Recommended CD-ROM Set used in lecture:
1. Saylor, Jesse, and MSU Board of Trustees. . 2007 (Version 3.2). SaylorPlants: Landscape Plant
Encyclopedia. Contains 8 Cd’s with over 26,000 photos (in 3 sizes, thumbnail to full screen) of both
Woody (trees, shrubs, vines, ground covers) and Herbaceous Plants (annuals, biennials, perennials),
including Weeds and House Plants. Includes pronunciation of all the Latin names. Includes an extensive
plant selection screen that allows selection by hardiness, flower and fruit colors, and many use categories.
Has a Quiz Form and a Slide Show feature which can be limited to flowers only, fruit only, form only etc.
Used in class lectures. Program runs on IBM compatible computers with Windows 2000, XP, or Vista.
Available only from the Student Book Store(SBS) www.sbsmsu.com, 421 East Grand River, in East
Lansing. Phone (517)351-4210. $55.00 per set. Includes free updates.
1. Recommended References stocked at Student Book Store(SBS) www.sbsmsu.com, 417 E. Grand
River, East Lansing
Annuals and Herbaceous Perennials:
1. Armitage, Allen M. and Judy M. Laushman. 2003 (2nd. ed.). Specialty Cut Flowers: The Production of
Annuals, Perennials, Bulbs, and Woody Plants for Fresh and Dried Cut Flowers. Timber Press Inc., The
Haseltine Building, 133 S.W. Second Ave., Suite 450, Portland OR 97204. Includes grower comments. Has
descriptions of many plants that are in flower shops and floral arrangements, but not in his Annual or
Perennial books. 586 pages. $39.95 SB/405/.A68/2003
2. Ellis, Barbara W. 1999. Taylor's Guide to Annuals. Houghton Mifflin Co., 2 Park Street, Boston, MA
02108. 441 pages. $23.00
3. Ellis, Barbara W. 2000. Taylor's Guide to Perennials. Houghton Mifflin Co., 2 Park Street, Boston, MA
02108. 490 pages. $23.00
4. Sinton, Nan, and David C. Michener. 2001. Taylor's Guide to Ground Covers. Houghton Mifflin Co.
2 Park Street, Boston, MA 02108. 495 pages. $23.00
5. Stites, Jerry S. and Robert G. Mower. 1979. Rock Gardens. Information Bulletin 159. Distribution
Center, 7 Research Park, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850. 29 pages. Great guide with small color
photos of each plant. For a more comprehensive photo reference, see Baldassare Mineo’s Rock Garden
Plants: A Color Encyclopedia (1999, Timber Press, SB/421/.M55). $2.95. SB/459/.S75/1979
Bulbs: (Usually includes plants with bulbs, corms, tubers, and rhizomes.)
1. Ellis, Barbara W. 2001. Taylor's Guide to Bulbs. Houghton Mifflin Co., 2 Park Street, Boston, MA
02108. 439 pages. $23.00
2. Schneider, Alfred F. 1981. Park's Success with Bulbs. Geo. W. Park Seed Co., Inc., S.C. Hwy. 254 N.,
Greenwood, S.C. 29647. 171 pages. $13.00
Herbs: (Herb books include annuals, perennials, and some woody plants)
1. Buchanan, Rita, editor. 1995. Taylor's Guide to Herbs. Houghton Mifflin Co., 2 Park Street, Boston,
MA 02108. 453 pages. $21.00
2. Foster, Gertrude B. and Rosemary F. Louden. 1980. Park's Success with Herbs. Geo. W. Park Seed Co.
Inc., S.C. Hwy. 254 N., Greenwood, SC 29647. 192 pages. $11.00 SB/351/.H5/F625
Trees and Shrubs:
1. Barnes, Burton V. and Warren H. Wagner, Jr. 2004 (Rev. and Updated). Michigan Trees: A Guide to the
Trees of the Great Lakes Region. Revised and enlarged edition of Charles Herbert Otis's Michigan Trees.
The University of Michigan Press, P.O. Box ll04, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Excellent line drawings of
Michigan trees, with detailed descriptions, habitat, and ecology info. 448 pages (paperbound). $19.95.
QK/167/.B27
2. Dirr, Michael A. l978. Photographic Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Form and Function in the
Landscape. Stipes Publishing Co., 10-12 Chester St., Champaign, IL 61820. 378 pages (paperbound).
$30.40. folio SB/435/.D57/1978
3. Farrar, John Laird. 1995 (2000 printing). Trees of the Northern U.S. and Canada. Fitzhenry and
Whiteside Limited, 195 Allstate Parkway, Markham, Ontario L34 4T8, and the Canadian Forest Service.
Also available from Iowa State Press, Ames, Iowa 50014 One of the best tree books available. It has
detailed descriptions and great color photos. It also covers trees across Canada, which includes western
trees, many of which are cultivated. It has notes on how to identify many cultivated species that don’t have
full treatment. 502 pages. $56.99. QK/485/.F37/1995
4. Fisher, Kathleen 2000. Taylor's Guide to Shrubs. Houghton Mifflin Co., 2 Park Street, Boston, MA
02108. 441 pages. $23.00
5. Phillips, Roger, and Martyn Rix. 1989. The Random House Book of Shrubs. Random House Inc., 201
E. 50th St., New York, NY 10022. 288 pages. $29.95 QK/477.2/.I4/P45/1978
6. Phillips, Roger. l978. Trees of North America and Europe. Random House Inc., 201 E. 50th St., New
York, NY 10022. 224 pages (paperbound). $29.95 QK/477.2/.I4/P45/1978
7. Roth, Susan A.. 2001. Taylor's Guide to Trees. Houghton Mifflin Co., 2 Park Street, Boston, MA 02108.
408 pages. $23.00
8. Symonds, George W.D. 1958. The Tree Identification Book. William Morrow & Co., Inc., 105
Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016. 273 pages (paperbound). Covers native and some cultivated plants,
with comparison pages of similar plants (by leaves, stems, flowers), and then Master pages for each plant.
Out of Print. folio QK/482/.S9/1958
9. Symonds, George W.D. 1963. The Shrub Identification Book, William Morrow & Co., Inc., 105
Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016. 379 pages (paperbound). Covers native and some cultivated plants,
with comparison pages of similar plants (by leaves, stems, flowers), and then Master pages for each plant.
$22.00 QK/482/.S89/1963
10. Viertel, Arthur T. 1970. Trees, Shrubs and Vines: A Pictorial Guide to the Ornamental Woody Plants of
the Northern United States Exclusive of Conifers. Syracuse University Press, 1011 E.Water St., Syracuse,
NY 13210. About 266 pages (paperbound). Good guide to identify plants by leaves. $19.95 QK/481/.V5/1970
Other Study Materials:
Laboratories:
1. You must attend the lab section you are assigned to. You may not skip between lab sections or attend
multiple lab sections.
2. Lab sessions meet and are conducted outdoors regardless of weather conditions. Please dress
appropriately for the sometimes unpredictable Michigan weather.
3. Recommended Supplies: A 10x or 15x hand lens.
Grading Procedures
840 points 150 per exam
4.0 = 756 (90%) 135
3.5 = 714 (85%) 128
3.0 = 672 (80%) 120
2.5 = 630 (75%) 113
2.0 = 588 (70%) 105
1.5 = 546 (65%) 98
1.0 = 504 (60%) 90
1. Lecture Exam # 1 = 150
2. Lecture Exam # 2 = 150
3. Lecture Exam # 3 = 150
4. Lecture Quizzes = 50
(optional)
5. Library Tour + Bot. Grnhse. = 40
(20 pts. each)
6. Lab Exam # 1 = 150
7. Lab Exam # 2 = 150
Total Points = 840
1. The lecture exams will cumulative. The questions will usually be matching and true and false. Sample
exams from previous years are on the web site.
2. The laboratory identification exams will also be cumulative..
3. Questions on any exam must be answered by using only those plants discussed in this class.
4. Information given during lecture or laboratory sessions has preference over that obtained from
any book, bulletin, or catalog. This includes plant names.
5. Complete credit will not be given for misspelled plant names, either common or scientific names.
All scientific names must be underlined.
6. You will be responsible for any information about or identification of plants not on the plant list if they
were discussed in any lecture or laboratory.
7. No Make-Up Laboratory Exams will be given.
8. Make-Up Lecture Exams are only given with the instructor's approval prior to the time of the regularly
scheduled exam. The questions will usually be short answer and essay.
Spring 212 Course Schedule Lectures and Laboratories
1st Week (Jan. 7-11; classes begin Mon. Jan 7)
Mon. Jan. 7 = Unit 65 (Spring Flowering Bulbs, corms, and tubers) Iridaceae, Liliaceae, Ranunculaceae
Wed. Jan 9 = Unit 66 (Spring Flowering Bulbs) Liliaceae
Lab 1 = Plant Names, Classification, Library Sign Up
2nd Week (Jan. 14-18)
Mon. Jan. 14 = Unit 66 (Spring Flowering Bulbs) Liliaceae
Wed. Jan. 17 = Unit 67 (Spring Flowering Bulbs) Begoniaceae, Iridaceae, Liliaceae
Unit 68 (Summer and Fall Flowering Bulbs) Cannaceae, Compositae, Iridaceae, Liliaceae
Lab 2 = Plant Walk No. 2 Main Library, Group 1
3rd Week (Jan. 21-25)
Mon. Jan. 21 = Martin Luther King Day (classes cancelled)
Wed. Jan. 23 = Unit 69 (Wildflowers) Boraginaceae, Liliaceae, Orchidaceae, Papaveraceae, Portulaceaeae,
Ranunculaceae
Unit 70 (Ferns) Osmundaceae, Polypodiaceae(sensu latu)
Lab 3 = Plant Walk No. 3 Main Library, Group 2
4th Week (Jan. 28-Feb. 1)
Mon. Jan. 28 = Unit 71 (Aquatic, Bog, and Carnivorous Plants) Araceae, Droseraceae, Nelumbonaceae,
Nymphaeaceae, Pontederiaceae, Sarraceniaceae
Wed. Jan. 30 = Unit 72 (Herbaceous Vines) Acanthaceae, Cannabaceae, Convolvulacee, Leguminosae,
Polygonaceae
Lab 4 = Plant Walk No. 4 Botany Greenhouse Group 1
5th Week (Feb. 4-8)
Mon. Feb. 4 = Unit 73 (Herbaceous Ground Covers) Aristolochiaceae, Berberidaceae, Caryophyllaceae,
Labiatae, Primulaceae, Rosaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Umbelliferae
Wed. Feb. 6 = Unit 74 (Perennials) Leguminosae, Paeoniaceae, Primulaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rutaceae,
Scrophulariaceae
Lab 5 = Plant Walk No. 4 Botany Greenhouse Group 2
6th Week (Feb. 11-15)
Mon. Feb. 11 = Woody Twig Id, Plant Keys
Wed. Feb. 13 = Woody Twig Id, Plant Keys
Lab 6 = Winter Woody Twigs, Plant Keys
7th Week (Feb. 18-22)
Mon. Feb. 18 = Woody Twig Id, Plant Keys
Wed. Feb. 20 = Lecture Exam # 1 (Units 65-74; Twig Id)
Lab 7 = Winter Woody Twigs, Plant Keys
8th Week (Feb. 25-29)
Mon. Feb. 25 = Unit 15 Aquifoliaceae
Wed. Feb. 27 = Unit 16 Empetraceae, Ericaceae, Pyrolaceae
Lab 8 = Plant Walk No. 6 (Units 15-16)
9th Week (Mar. 3-7)
(March 3-7 = Spring Break)
10th Week (Mar. 10-14)
Mon. Mar. 10 = Unit 17 Agavaceae, Apocynaceae, Berberidaceae, Buxaceae
Wed. Mar. 12 = Unit 18 Cruciferae, Hamamelidaceae, Labiatae, Liliaceae
Mon. Lab 9 = Plant Walk No. 7 (Units 17-18)
11th Week (Mar. 17-21)
Mon. Mar. 17 = Unit 19 Cornaceae, Magnoliaceae
Wed. Mar. 19 = Unit 20 Oleaceae
Lab 10 = Plant Walk No. 8 (Units 19-20)
12th Week (Mar. 24- 28)
Mon. Mar. 24 = Review for Lecture Exam # 2
Wed. Mar. 26 = Lecture Exam # 2 (Units 15-20)
Lab 11 = Lab Exam # 1 (Units 15-20; Twig Id)
13th Week (Mar. 31-Apr. 4)
Mon. Mar. 31 = Unit 21 Caprifoliaceae
Wed. Apr. 2 = Unit 22 Caprifoliaceae
Lab 12 = Plant Walk No. 9 (Units 21-22)
14th Week (Apr. 7-11)
Mon. Apr. 7 = Unit 23 Rosaceae
Unit 24 Rosaceae
Wed. Apr. 9 = Unit 25 Rosaceae
Unit 26 Myricaceae, Paeoniaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae
Lab 13 = Plant Walk 10-11 (Units 23-26)
15th Week (Apr. 14-18)
Mon. Apr. 14 = Unit 27 Calycanthaceae, Guttiferae, Hippocastanaceae, Malvaceae
Wed. Apr. 16 = Unit 28 Grossulariaceae, Hydrangeaceae, Styracaceae
Lab 14 = Plant Walk No. 12 (Units 27-28)
16th Week (Apr. 21-25)
Mon. Apr. 21 = Review
Wed. Apr. 23 = Lecture Exam # 3 (Units 15-28; Twig Id)
Lab 15 = Lab Exam # 2 (Units 15-28: Twig Id)
Finals Week (Apr. 28 - May 2)
No Final Exam