AW Kelleys Gardens Inc.

glossary of terms

Common Name: The name (s) most commonly used to refer to the plant.

Deciduous: Refers to plants that drop their leaves and go dormant during the winter.

Drought Tolerance: The plant's relative tolerance of drought conditions in Florida. Recently installed plants will usually be much less tolerant of drought than established plants. Low refers to plants that will die if not irrigated regularly; medium refers to plants that will require some irrigation under drought conditions; high refers to plants that can survive drought conditions without supplemental irrigation.

Family: The taxonomic family to which the plant belongs.

Foliage Plant: Indicates a plant that withstands interiorscape conditions.

Ground Cover: Refers to low growing plants that rapidly cover the ground.

Growth Rate: The relative growth rate of the plant under cultivation. Slow refers to plants that typically grow less than 6 inches per year; medium refers to plants that typically grown 6 inches to 3 feet per year; fast refers to plants that typically grow more than 3 feet per year. Actual growth rate will vary depending on the environment in which the plant is growing.

Hardiness Zone: The range of USDA plant hardiness zones (1-11) in which the plant will normally grow. Consult the plant hardiness zone map to determine the zone for your locality.

Herbaceous: Refers to plants that do not have woody stems.

Invasive: Refers to plants that are weedy or have aggressive root systems.

Leaf Type: Refers to the leaf form. Simple refers to leaves having a single blade; compound refers to leaves divided into several distinct leaflets; pinnately describes compound leaves having leaflets arising from either side of a central rachis or stem (Like a feather); bipinnately describes compound leaves that are twice pinnate; palmately describes leaves that have leaflets attached at a single point; linear refers to leaves that are long and narrow; needle refers to leaves that are extremely narrow; scale-like refers to leaves that resemble scales on a twig.

Light Requirements: The relative light intensities under which the plant will grow. Low refers to deep shade or typical interiorscape conditions (under 500 foot candles); medium refers to light shade (500-5000 foot candles); high refers to light intensities of 5000 foot candles to full sunlight.

Origin: The geographic origin of the plant. Plants of hybrid origin will not have a locality.

Salt Tolerance: The plant's relative tolerance to salt, both from salt spray and brackish irrigation water. Low refers to plants intolerant of any salt on the foliage or roots; medium refers to plants that will tolerate moderate amounts of salt; high refers to plants that will tolerate exposed coastal sites.

Scientific Name: The botanical or scientific name of the plant.
Shrub: Refers to plants with a bushy form; large shrub refers to a shrub that often exceeds 10 feet in height.

Small Tree: Refers to trees usually less than 30 feet tall.
Specimen Plant: Refers to use as a single variety in a garden.

Spiny: Indicates that some part of the plant has sharp spines or thorns.

Soil Requirements: The soil characteristics required by the plant. Acid refers to soils with a pH of less than 7.0; well-drained refers to soils with good aeration; wet or moist refer to soils that never completely dry out; wide refers to wide range of soil types that are suitable for plant growth.

Succulent: Refers to plants that have thick fleshy leaves and are usually very drought tolerant.

Typical Height: The plant's typical maximum height, in feet, under cultivation. Actual heights attained can vary due to differences in environment.

Vine: Refers to trailing or climbing plants that need some support.