Suburban Lawn-Glossary of Plant Care Terms

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Nursery & Landscaping

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Adventitious bud Latent or dormant bud on a stem or root. Alternate Single buds, leaves, or shoots occurring singly at a node. Annual A plant that completes its life cycle (from seed to seed) within a single growing season. Apex The tip of a stem. Apical bud The bud at the tip of a stem. Apical dominance Controlling influence of the apical bud over the growth of a stem, which restricts the development of lateral buds. If the tip is removed apical dominance is broken, and lateral shoots below will grow more vigorously, competing to become the new leader. Bark The surface layer of the trunk and branches of woody plants. Biennial Any plant needing two seasons of growth (with a dormant period between growth stages) to complete its life cycle, from seed to seed. In the first year, plants form vegetative growth and in the second year they flower. Bleeding The oozing of sap through a cut or wound. Bract A modified leaf, usually at the base of a flower which resembles a petal. Branch collar The thickened ring at the base of a branch. Bud A condensed shoot containing an embryonic leaf, leaf cluster, or flower. Callus tissue Protective tissue formed by plants over a wounded surface, particularly in woody plants. Cambium layer The layer of tissue capable of producing new cells to increase the girth of stems and roots. Canker A fungal disease; affected shoots die back often dark sunken areas on trunk or stems. Central leader The central, usually upright, stem of a plant. Clone A group of plants produced by vegetative propagation or asexual reproduction to be genetically identical. Chlorosis A symptom of disease or disorder in plants in which a plant or part of a plant is light green or greenish-yellow because of poor chlorophyll development. Crotch The angle between two branches, or between a branch and a trunk. Crown The branched part of a tree above the trunk. Cultivar A distinct plant variation that has originated in cultivation, not in the wild. Deadheading The removal of spent flowers or flower heads. Deciduous Plants that shed leaves at the end of the growing season. Defoliation Loss of leaves. Dieback The death of tips of shoots caused by damage or disease. Dioecious Bearing male and female organs in flowers on separate plants. Males and females must be grown together for pollination and fruiting. Dormancy The state of temporary cessation of growth in plants during winter. Dual leaders Competing leaders of equal strength. Evergreen Plants that retain foliage throughout the year. Family In plant classification, a grouping of related plant genera. Fireblight A bacterial disease that results in blackened blossoms and stems. Flower bud A bud from which a flower develops. Genus A group of related species linked by common characteristics. Heading back Making the crown of a tree smaller by cutting back the longest branches. Herbaceous A nonwoody plant in which the top-growth dies to the ground at the end of each growing season. Hybrid The offspring of genetically different parents, usually of distinct species. Lateral bud Bud that will form a sideshoot. Leader The main, usually central, stem of a plant. Leaf scar Point on a stem where a leaf was attached. Limb A branch of a tree Monoecious A plant bearing separate male and female reproductive organs on the same plant. Mulch A material applied in a layer to soil surface to suppress weeds, conserve temperature and maintain a cool, even root temperature. Multistemmed Tree or shrub with several main stems arising form the ground. Node The point on a stem from which leaves, shoots or flowers arise. Opposite Buds, leaves and stems occurring in pairs at node. Pathogens Micro-organisms that cause disease. Perennial A plant that normally lives more than two growing seasons and, after an initial period, produces flowers annually Petiole The stalk of a leaf which attaches to the stem. pH The reciprocal of the hydrogen ion concentration of a medium. A value on a scale of 0 to 14 gives a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a medium; pH values of 0 to 6.5 indicate acidic conditions, a pH value of 7.0 is neutral and pH values greater than 7.0 are alkaline. Photosynthesis The production of organic compounds required for growth in plants by complex process involving chlorophyll, light energy, carbon dioxide and water. Pinching back Pinching out soft shoot tip to shape growth. Pinnate Of a leaf, a compound form in which leaflets grow in a row on each side of a midrib. Pruning Removing growth from a plant or tree to maintain its health, regulate its shape and control flowering. Renewal pruning A system in which older wood is regularly removed in favor of younger growth. Root pruning The removal of part of the root system of a tree to restrict growth and in fruit trees induce fruiting. Scaffold branches The main framework branches on a tree. Scion Plant, usually a desirable cultivar, that is grafted onto the rootstock of another plant. Self-fertile A plant that produces viable seed when fertilized with its own pollen. Semievergreen A plant that retains its foliage for part of the winter. Spur A short shoot or branchlet bearing flower buds. Sucker A shoot that arises at or below ground level from a plant's root or underground stem. Taproot Single, downward-growing root. Terminal At the tip of a stem or branch. Thinning The removal of a proportion of shoots to improve the vigor and quality of the remainder. Transpiration Loss of water by evaporation from the leaves and stems of plants. Tree A woody, perennial plant usually with a well-defined trunk. Variegated Marked with various colors. Vegetative growth Nonflowering, usually leafy growth. Water shoots Fast growing epicormic shoots. Woody plant Any plant that creates branches and stems that do not die in the winter. x Sign denoting a hybrid, produced from crossing two genetically distinct plants. Xylem Vascular tissue under bark taking water and nutrients up a stem.
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Cindy McDonnell © 1999	Last updated September 24, 1999