Week 3 Module 3

Botanical Name: Buxus microphylla

Common Name: Japanese box, Asian boxwood, littleleaf box   

Family: Buxaceae

Distribution/Origin: Japan, Taiwan

Leaf: simple, leathery surfaces, obovate, entire margins

Bud: small terminal buds, opposite alternate

Flower: clusters, white to green, monoecious

Fruit/Seed: brown to green capsule

Stem/Bark: rough, brown to tan, lightly fissured

Size: 4-7’ height, 5-7’ spread

Habit: bushy, dense

Form: rounded

Soil conditions: average/adaptable, well drained, dislikes acidic soils  

Moisture: even moisture

Sun: sun to semi shade

Exposure: more drought tolerant once established, can be sun scorched or harmed by high winds  

Landscape use: woodland garden, hedges, edging/borders, containers

Notes:

Botanical Name: Buxus sempervirens

Common Name: common boxwood

Family: Buxaceae

Distribution/Origin: Europe

Leaf: notched tip, waxy surfaces, simple, elliptic to ovate, entire margins

Bud: opposite

Flower: perfect, raceme, green to yellow, not showy, bee pollinated

Fruit/Seed: brown capsules, black seeds

Stem/Bark: lightly fissured, multi stemmed trunk, olive to brown in color

Size: 7-10’ height, 7-10’ spread  

Habit: dense, upright

Form: rounded

Soil conditions: alkaline, well drained

Moisture: even moisture

Sun: full sun to partial shade

Exposure: can only handle full sun if water levels are consistent

Landscape use: winter interest, hedge, floristry, group or mass planting, hedge row, rock garden, topiary

Notes: leaves turn bronze in cold weather

Botanical Name: Cotoneaster dammeri

Common Name: bearberry cotoneaster

Family: Rosaceae

Distribution/Origin: central southern China, naturalized in Europe

Leaf: simple, leathery texture, glabrous surfaces, entire margins, elliptic to obovate, ovate

Bud: alternate

Flower: solitary, perfect, blooms May-June, white with pink undersides, pretty  

Fruit/Seed: red, subglobose pome

Stem/Bark: smooth, lightly fissured, red to brown

Size: up to 1’ height, 5-6’ spread

Habit: spreading, creeping

Form: mat like, irregular, finely branched

Soil conditions: rocky, gravelly

Moisture: moderate

Sun: full sun, partial shade

Exposure:

Landscape use: attracts beneficial insects, erosion control, espalier, fall interest, ground cover, rock garden, winter interest

Notes: susceptible to mites, root rot, scales, roots from branch nodes 

Botanical Name: Cotoneaster franchetii

Common Name: franchetii cotoneaster

Family: Rosaceae

Distribution/Origin: south western China, Tibet and Burma

Leaf: simple, glabrous & pubescent surfaces, elliptic to ovate, entire margin

Bud: alternate

Flower: perfect, cymes of white to pink blooms, July to August

Fruit/Seed: orange, red to dark red pomes

Stem/Bark: smooth olive to brown

Size: 7-10’ height, 4-8’ spread

Habit: upright, arching

Form: oval, horizontal, round

Soil conditions: well drained, moderately fertile

Moisture: dry to moist

Sun: full sun, partial shade

Exposure: tolerant of drought, can withstand poor soils, including rocky  

Landscape use: hedge, naturalized areas, attracts birds, group or mass planting, mixed borders, shrub garden, wildlife food, winter interest

Notes: plants have escaped cultivation and have naturalized in areas such as California, Oregon and Washington as a result of birds, mammals, water currents and human activity

Botanical Name: Cotoneaster microphyllus

Common Name: grey cotoneaster, little leaf cotoneaster  

Family: Rosaceae

Distribution/Origin: South Asia, India

Leaf: small leaves, simple,

Bud: opposite alternate

Flower: perfect, clustered, pollinated by flies/midges

Fruit/Seed: red pome, not considered edible

Stem/Bark: smooth, brown

Size: 3-5’ height, 3-5’ spread

Habit: dense, spreading

Form: oval, horizontal

Soil conditions: well drained, average, adaptable  

Moisture: dry to moist

Sun: full sun to partial shade

Exposure: drought tolerant

Landscape use: container planting, fall interest, group or mass planting, rock garden, winter interest

Notes:

Botanical Name: Cotoneaster salicifolius

Common Name: willow leaves cotoneaster

Family: Rosaceae

Distribution/Origin:

Leaf: pinnate venation, wrinkled appearance, underside pubescent, simple, lanceolate, entire margins

Bud: alternate

Flower: compound corymbs, glabrous surfaces, 5 petalled, entire margins  

Fruit/Seed: red pomes

Stem/Bark: smooth grey, thin stems  

Size: 7-10’ height, 10-13’ spread

Habit: arching, upright

Form: vase

Soil conditions: well drained, average

Moisture: dry to moist

Sun: full sun to partial shade

Exposure: shelter from cold harsh winds if soil is dry

Landscape use: fall interest, filler, group or mass planting, screening, winter interest, groundcover  

Notes: name translates to “leaves like willows”

Botanical Name: Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem'

Common Name: southern magnolia

Family: Magnoliaceae

Distribution/Origin: North America

Leaf: simple, entire margins, elliptic to ovate, green, bronze-brown undersides

Bud: alternate

Flower: fragrant, thick petalled, perfect, solitary, 5 petalled

Fruit/Seed: seed pods, fleshy red seeds, aggregate  

Stem/Bark: thin, smooth grey

Size: 15-30’ height, 8-12’ spread

Habit: upright, dense  

Form: pyramidal

Soil conditions: sandy loams, peaty, well drained

Moisture: moist

Sun: part shade to part sun

Exposure: poor drought and air pollution tolerance, keep sheltered from wind  

Landscape use: container, above ground planter, espalier, wide tree lawns, meridians, parking lots, near decks/patios, screen, street tree, residential

Notes:

Botanical Name: Osmanthus x burkwoodii

Common Name: hybrid sweet olive

Family: Oleaceae

Distribution/Origin: garden origin

Leaf: glossy dark green, leathery, slightly serrated, ovate

Bud: opposite

Flower: tubular clusters, white yellow to orange, 4 lobed

Fruit/Seed: drupe, aborted/absent, blue to black

Stem/Bark: lightly fissured, multi stemmed trunk, grey to tan

Size: 7-10’ height, 7-10’ spread

Habit: twiggy

Form: round

Soil conditions: acidic, well drained, average  

Moisture: moist to dry

Sun: full sun to partial shade

Exposure: drought tolerant

Landscape use: group or mass planting, mixed shrub border, woodland margin

Notes:

Botanical Name: Osmanthus delavayi

Common Name: delavayi osmanthus, tea olive  

Family: Oleaceae

Distribution/Origin: western China  

Leaf: small, thick, curved, finely toothed margins, ovate with pinnate venation

Bud: opposite

Flower: tubular clusters, white, fragrant

Fruit/Seed: blue to black drupe

Stem/Bark: multi stemmed trunk, dark grey

Size: 6-10’ height, 6-10’ spread

Habit: arching, dense

Form: round

Soil conditions: alkaline, gravelly, rocky, well drained

Moisture: dry to moist

Sun: full sun

Exposure:

Landscape use: fragrance, rock garden, hedging, screens, banks, slopes, low maintenance

Notes:

Botanical Name: Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Variegatus'

Common Name: variegated holly olive

Family: Oleaceae

Distribution/Origin: eastern Asia, southern Japan

Leaf: variegated, simple, leathery/prickly texture, glabrous, dark/light green with yellow creamy edges, elliptic to ovate

Bud: opposite

Flower: clustered tubular blooms, not showy, fragrant

Fruit/Seed: blue to black drupes

Stem/Bark: tan to brown, spines present

Size: 10-16’ height, 13-16’ spread

Habit: bushy, dense, upright

Form: round

Soil conditions: acidic, well drained, rich  

Moisture: low to moderate

Sun: full sun to partial shade

Exposure: drought tolerant once established, can handle heavy clays

Landscape use: container planting, hedge row, mixed shrub border, topiary

Notes: Genus name comes from Greek osme meaning fragrant and anthos meaning flower

Botanical Name: Pachysandra terminalis

Common Name: Japanese spurge

Family: Buxaceae

Distribution/Origin: SE Asia, Japan, China

Leaf: simple, leathery, pinnate venation, obovate with dentate margins

Bud: alternate

Flower: floriferous spike, white, blooms March to April

Fruit/Seed: insignificant

Stem/Bark: green stems

Size: up to 1’ height, 1-2’ spread

Habit: spreading, upright, creeping  

Form: mat like

Soil conditions: acidic, well drained

Moisture: moderate moisture

Sun: deep shade, filtered shade, part sun

Exposure: tolerant of rabbit, deer, drought, heavy shade, erosion, clay soils, drought

Landscape use: groundcover, group or mass planting, mixed shrub border, woodland margin

Notes: The specific epithet terminalis means "ending", and refers to the clusters of leaves which appear at the end of the short stems. Foliage may turn yellow in extreme cold.

Botanical Name: Photinia (Stranvaesia) davidiana

Common Name: stranvaesia, Chinese photinia  

Family: Rosaceae

Distribution/Origin: western China

Leaf: simple, oblong to oblanceolate, entire margins, dark dull green  

Bud: alternate

Flower: compound corymbs, clusters, white

Fruit/Seed: red orbicular pomes

Stem/Bark: smooth brown bark, purple twigs

Size: 10-15’ height, 8-10’ spread

Habit: upright, bushy

Form: mounding

Soil conditions: fertile, humus rich, well drained

Moisture: medium

Sun: full sun to partial shade

Exposure: avoid wet soils

Landscape use: specimen, background evergreen, screen, borders, hedge, walls, fences, slopes

Notes: best fruit production occurs in full sun

Botanical Name: Photinia x fraseri

Common Name: fraser's photinia, red tip, red top  

Family: Rosaceae

Distribution/Origin: garden origin

Leaf: leathery, elliptic to oval, dark green, finely serrated margins, new leaves are red

Bud: alternate

Flower: white, small, corymbose panicles, unpleasant aroma

Fruit/Seed: red pome

Stem/Bark: thin, multi stemmed, not showy

Size: 10-15’ height, 10-15’ spread

Habit: upright, bushy, dense  

Form: oval

Soil conditions: average, well drained

Moisture: medium

Sun: full sun to partial shade

Exposure: drought tolerant, tolerant of full shade but less flowering will occur, needs good air circulation   

Landscape use: borders, woodland garden, hedge, specimen, screen

Notes: prune in spring

Botanical Name: Rubus rolfei 'Emerald Carpet'

Common Name: creeping raspberry

Family: Rosaceae

Distribution/Origin: garden origin

Leaf: very rugose (wrinkled), simple, lobed, orbicular-ovate, pinnately lobed, undulated margins

Bud: alternate

Flower: solitary, white, not showy

Fruit/Seed: drupe, aggregate of fruit, orange

Stem/Bark: brown, adventitious roots, runners

Size: up to 1’ height, 10-20’ spread

Habit: spreading, creeping

Form: mounding, mat like

Soil conditions: acidic, well drained, average, adaptable

Moisture: average

Sun: full sun to partial shade

Exposure: can handle some drought

Landscape use: beds, borders, slopes, containers, filler, ground cover, erosion control

Notes: roots from stem, spreads quickly

Botanical Name: Sarcococca confusa

Common Name: sweet box

Family: Buxaceae

Distribution/Origin: western China

Leaf: elliptic, tapered tips, glossy green, slightly twisted margins

Bud: alternate

Flower: small white blooms, vanilla scented, insignificant, apetalous  

Fruit/Seed: small spherical drupe, black

Stem/Bark: green stems, striped bark

Size: 5-8’ height, 3-4’ spread

Habit: bushy, dense

Form: rounded

Soil conditions: moderately fertile, well drained

Moisture: moist

Sun: full sun to partial shade

Exposure: full sun tolerated when planted in damp soils. Tolerant of dry shade, atmospheric pollution and neglect, thrives in the shade  

Landscape use: ground cover, banks, slopes, low maintenance, cottage gardens

Notes:

Botanical Name: Skimmia japonica

Common Name: Japanese skimmia

Family: Rutaceae

Distribution/Origin: SE Asia, China, Japan

Leaf: obovate to elliptic, dark green, leathery, pinnate venation, entire margins

Bud: alternate

Flower: rounded terminal panicles, white to light pink, showy, spicy scent

Fruit/Seed: red drupe

Stem/Bark: smooth brown

Size: 2-5’ height, 3-5’ spread

Habit: spreading, dense

Form: round, mounded  

Soil conditions: acidic, well drained, organically rich, fertile  

Moisture: high

Sun: deep shade, filtered shade, part shade

Exposure: foliage may scorch in full sun

Landscape use: groundcover, group or mass planting, shaded areas, hedge row, mixed borders, screening, small spaces, spring interest

Notes: female plants typically spread more than male plants, male plants more fragrant with bigger blooms 

Botanical Name: Yucca filamentosa

Common Name: common yucca, Adam's needle, golden sword yucca  

Family: Asparagaceae

Distribution/Origin: SE-eastern US  

Leaf: simple, leathery, parallel venation, lanceolate, entire margins, yellow variegation, margins with curly white threads

Bud: basal

Flower: floriferous panicle, perfect, 5 petalled, showy white, scented

Fruit/Seed: brown capsule

Stem/Bark: red to green, usually no above ground stem (flower only)

Size: 1-3’ height, 2-3’ spread

Habit: stiffly upright

Form: round

Soil conditions: rocky, gravelly, sharp drainage

Moisture: dry

Sun: full sun

Exposure: sheltered from winter winds

Landscape use: dry gardens, sunny spots, accent plant, texture, rock gardens

Notes:

Botanical Name: Yucca gloriosa var. recurvifolia

Common Name: curve leaved yucca

Family: Asparagaceae

Distribution/Origin: SE US

Leaf: hard, stiff, narrow, lanceolate, sharp tips (can break skin)

Bud: basal

Flower: floriferous panicle, white creamy blooms

Fruit/Seed: brown capsule

Stem/Bark: thick trunk, multi stemmed,

Size: 6-10’ height, 3-6’ spread

Habit: upright, erect

Form: round

Soil conditions: adaptable, poor/lean to rich, sandy, gritty, dry

Moisture: occasional, low

Sun: full sun

Exposure: heat and drought tolerant, deer resistant

Landscape use: specimen, borders, containers, rock gardens, dry hot areas, accent

Notes: good to trim leaf tips

Botanical Name: Vinca major

Common Name: big leaf periwinkle

Family: Apocynaceae

Distribution/Origin: western Mediterranean

Leaf: orbicular, lanceolate at apex, broad glossy dark green, entire margins, hairy petiole

Bud: opposite

Flower: axillary, solitary, blue to purple, perfect

Fruit/Seed: follicle, aggregate of fruit

Stem/Bark: adventitious roots

Size: up to 10” height, spreading indefinitely

Habit: spreading, creeping

Form: mat like

Soil conditions:

Moisture: moist

Sun: full sun to deep shade

Exposure:

Landscape use: ground cover, slopes, banks, borders, beds, naturalized area, filler

Notes:

Botanical Name: Vinca minor

Common Name: dwarf periwinkle, minor periwinkle

Family: Apocynaceae

Distribution/Origin: Europe, naturalized in North America

Leaf: simple, leathery texture, elliptic to obovate, entire hairy margins

Bud: opposite

Flower: funnel form, perfect, 5 petaled, solitary, purple to blue, blooms Mar-April

Fruit/Seed: follicle, aggregate of fruit

Stem/Bark: adventitious roots, green

Size: less than 1’ height, up to

Habit: spreading, creeping

Form: mat like

Soil conditions: acidic, well drained, adaptable  

Moisture: low

Sun: filtered shade, full sun

Exposure:

Landscape use: groundcover,

Notes: the color periwinkle is derived from the flower