LANDSCAPE PLANTS II
HORTICULTURE 212, FALL 2010
Lectures: Tuesday 1:50 - 2:40 P.M. in A158 PSS
Thursday 1:50 - 2:40 in A158 PSS
Lab Sections: Sec 1 Monday 3:00 - 5:50 in A182 PSS
Instructor: Jesse L. Saylor; A45 Plant and Soil Sci. Bldg; Please use my Cell (749-6180).
Office Hours by Appointment: See me before or after lecture or lab for appointment.
Course web Site: www.msuplants.com
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. 2008 (3rd 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.
1109 pages, $67.42
SB/434/.A76/1997 This second edition is also ok.
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, $39.15
SB/422/.A66/2001
3. Dirr, Michael A. 2009 (6th ed.). Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental
Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses. Stipes Publishing Co., 204 West University Ave.,
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. 1325 pages + 39 introductory
pages. 1187 pages + 39 introductory pages. (paperbound), $75.26 folio SB/435/.D56/1998
The 1998 (5th ed.) is ok, just missing some newer cultivars and some revisions; 1187 pages + 38 introductory pages.
4. Saylor, Jesse L. 2009 (34th Ed.). Landscape Plants II. Available only at Student Book Store(SBS), 421
East Grand River, in East Lansing. Phone (517)351-4210. This manual is essential for lectures and lab
walks. $14.95
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, geographical words, etc. 363 pages
(paperbound), $19.95 QK/11/.S6/1996 Has several reprints since 1996.
Highly Recommended CD-ROM Set used in lecture:
1. Saylor, Jesse, and MSU Board of Trustees. 2010 (Version 6.2). MSU Landscape Plant Encyclopedia.
Contains 9 Cd’s with over 30,000 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. Lists of selected plants can
be copied to the windows clipboard and into other programs. 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. Now allows you to add
personal notes to each plant. Program runs on IBM compatible computers with Windows 2000, XP, Vista, or
Windows7. Available only from the Student Book Store(SBS) www.sbsmsu.com, 421 East Grand River,
in East Lansing. Phone (517)351-4210. $65.00 per set. Includes free updates.
Recommended References stocked at (SBS) www.sbsmsu.com, 417 E. Grand River,
EastLansing
Annuals and 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. $39.15 SB/405/.A68/2003
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).
$22.80. 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. $68.59. QK/485/.F37/1995
4. Phillips, Roger. l978. Trees of North America and Europe. Random House Inc., 201 E. 50th St., New
York, NY 10022. 224 pages (paperbound). $29.35 QK/477.2/.I4/P45/1978
5. 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
6. 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.
$22.53 QK/482/.S89/1963
7. 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. $19.55 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 is helpful for looking at flowers, etc.
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 (50 questions; 3 points per question)
2. Lecture Exam # 2 = 150 (50 questions; 3 points per question)
3. Lecture Exam # 3 = 150 (50 questions; 3 points per question)
4. Lecture Quizzes = 50 (may or may not be given)
5. Library Tour + Bot. Grnhse. = 40
(20 pts. each)
6. Lab Exam # 1 = 150 (16 plants; 10 points per plant)
7. Lab Exam # 2 = 150 (16 plants; 10 points per plant)
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.
9. There will be a lecture exam review before each lecture exam. For lab exams, since plants may vary in
their availability and condition, there will be a separate Lab Exam list handed out before each lab exam.
The woody plant lab exams will be outdoors on campus and East Lansing.
The second woody outdoor lab exam is cumulative for the woody plants.
There will be no lab exam for the Herbaceous plants at the end of the semester, only a lecture exam.
10. Class emails will be sent to you about the lecture and lab exam times and locations.
If you use a different email address than the msu.edu one assigned to you, you are expected to have that
email forwarded to your preferred address.
Fall 212 Course Schedule Lectures and Laboratories
1st Week (Aug 30-Sep. 3; (Classes begin Wed. Sep. 1)
Thurs. Sep. 2= Unit 73 (Herbaceous Ground Covers) Aristolochiaceae, Berberidaceae, Caryophyllaceae,
Labiatae, Primulaceae, Rosaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Umbelliferae
Wed. Sep. 1 Lab 1 = Plant Walk No. 8 (Units 19-20)
2nd Week (Sept. 6-10; Mon. Sept. 6 is Labor Day Holiday)
Tues. Sept. 7 = Unit 19 Cornaceae, Magnoliaceae
Thurs. Sept. 9 = Unit 20 Oleaceae
Mon. Sept. 6 Lab 2 = No Lab Walk (Labor Day)
3rd Week (Sept. 13-17)
Tues. Sept. 14 = Unit 21 Caprifoliaceae
Thurs. Sept. 16= Unit 22 Caprifoliaceae
Mon. Sept. 13 Lab 3 = Plant Walk No. 9 (Units 21-22)
4th Week (Sept. 20-24)
Tues. Sept. 21 = Unit 27 Calycanthaceae, Guttiferae, Hippocastanaceae, Malvaceae
Thurs. Sept. 23 = Unit 28 Grossulariaceae, Hydrangeaceae, Styracaceae
Mon. Sept. 20 Lab 4 = Plant Walk No. 12 (Units 27-28)
5th Week (Sept. 27-Oct. 1)
Tues. Sept. 28 = Unit 23 Rosaceae
Thurs. Sept. 30 = Lecture exam # 1 (Units 19-22, 27-28, 73)
Mon. Sept. 27 Lab 5 = Lab Exam # 1 (Units 19-22, 27-28)
6th Week (Oct. 4-8)
Tues. Oct. 5 = Unit 24 Rosaceae, Unit 25 Rosaceae
Thurs. Oct. 7 = Unit 26 Myricaceae, Paeoniaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae
Mon. Oct. 4 Lab 6 = Plant Walk No. 10-11 (Units 23-26)
7th Week (Oct. 11-15)
Tues. Oct. 12 = Unit 17 Agavaceae, Apocynaceae, Berberidaceae, Buxaceae
Thurs. Oct. 14 = Unit 18 Cruciferae, Hamamelidaceae, Labiatae, Liliaceae
Mon. Oct. 11 Lab 7 = Plant Walk No. 7 (Units 17-18)
8th Week (Oct. 18-22)
Tues. Oct. 19 = Unit 15 Aquifoliaceae
Thurs. Oct. 21 = Unit 16 Empetraceae, Ericaceae, Pyrolaceae
Mon. Oct. 18 Lab 8 = Plant Walk No. 6 (Units 15-16)
9th Week (Oct. 25-29)
Tues. Oct. 26 = Unit 65 (Spring Flowering Bulbs, corms, and tubers) Iridaceae, Liliaceae, Ranunculaceae
Unit 66 (Spring Flowering Bulbs) Liliaceae
Thurs. Oct. 28 = Lecture exam # 2 (Units 15-28)
Mon. Oct. 25 Lab 9 = Lab Exam # 2 (Units 15-28)
10th Week (Nov. 1-5)
Tues. Nov. 2 = Unit 67 (Spring Flowering Bulbs) Begoniaceae, Iridaceae, Liliaceae
Thurs. Nov. 4 = Unit 68 (Summer and Fall Flowering Bulbs) Cannaceae, Compositae, Iridaceae, Liliaceae
Mon. Nov. 1 Lab 10 = Plant Walk No. 3 Main Library Group1
11th Week (Nov. 8-12)
Tues. Nov. 9 = Unit 69 (Wildflowers) Boraginaceae, Liliaceae, Orchidaceae, Papaveraceae, Portulaceaeae,
Ranunculaceae
Thurs. Nov. 11 = Unit 70 (Ferns) Osmundaceae, Polypodiaceae(sensu latu)
Mon. Nov. 8 Lab 11 = Plant Walk No. 3 Main Library Group2
12th Week (Nov. 15-19)
Tues. Nov. 16 = Unit 71 (Aquatic, Bog, and Carnivorous Plants) Araceae, Droseraceae, Nelumbonaceae,
Nymphaeaceae, Pontederiaceae, Sarraceniaceae
Thurs. Nov. 18 = Unit 72 (Herbaceous Vines) Acanthaceae, Cannabaceae, Convolvulacee, Leguminosae,
Polygonaceae
Mon. Nov. 15 Lab 12 = Plant Walk No. 4 Botany Greenhouse
13th Week (Nov. 22-26) (Thurs.-Fri., Nov. 25-26 is Thanksgiving Holiday)
Tues. Nov. 23 Unit 73 (Herbaceous Ground Covers) Aristolochiaceae, Berberidaceae, Caryophyllaceae,
Labiatae, Primulaceae, Rosaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Umbelliferae
= Unit 74 (Perennials) Leguminosae, Paeoniaceae, Primulaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rutaceae,
Scrophulariaceae
Thurs. Nov. 25 = Thanksgiving Holiday
14th Week (Nov. 29-Dec. 3)
Tues. Nov. 30 = Woody Twig Id, Plant Keys
Thurs. Dec. 2 = Woody Twig Id, Plant Keys
Mon. Nov. 29 Lab 14 = Winter Woody Twigs, Keys
15th Week (Dec. 6-10)
Tues. Dec. 7 = Woody Twig Id, Review
Thurs. Dec. 9 = Lecture exam # 3 (Units 65-74; Twig Id)
Mon. Dec. 6 Lab 15 = Lab Exam # 3 (Units 65-74; Twig Id)
16th Week (Dec. 13-17) (Finals Week) There is no Final Exam in Hrt 212