Horticulture is full of complicated sounding jargon - particularly where plant types are concerned!  The following list explains the meanings of the various terms and more will be added in the future.  If you have any suggestions for additions to this list, please contact us by e-mail!  Please note that the definitions have been kept as simple as possible and so may not in every case be one hundred percent botanically correct!

Horticultural terms explained...

Hardy

Refers to the ability of a plant to withstand the cold.  Hardy plants will survive the typical Winter and frosts experienced in the U.K., non Hardy plants will not.  Half Hardy plants will survive a mild Winter!  The more Hardy a plant is, the colder are the conditions in which it can survive.

Evergreen

Plants that retain their leaves throughout the year.

Deciduous

Plants that loose their leaves in the Winter.

Semi-Evergreen

Plants that retain some of their leaves in the Winter.

Bedding plants

Easy to grow annual (see below) plants that complete their lifecycle from seed germination to maturity in a single growing season and then die.  Most bedding plants quickly produce a mass of colour, primarily in Spring, Summer or early Autumn (depending on the variety!) and are therefore ideally suited for transforming an otherwise dull border in a very short period of time.  Spring or Autumn bedding plants such as Pansies or Polyanthus can withstand frost.  Summer bedding plants such as Lobelia or Marigolds will not survive a frost at all.  

Annuals

Plants that complete their lifecycle from seed germination to a mature flowering plant, followed by fruit set and seed production in a single growing season and then die.

Biennials

Plants that complete their lifecycle in two growing seasons and then die.  Germination takes place in the first growing season followed by flowering, fruit set and seed production in the second growing season.

Perennials

Literally, plants that produce growth for at least three growing seasons - and usually many more.  The term Perennial includes everything from a Heather to an Oak tree, but it is commonly used to describe plants that produce new non woody growth during the Spring and Summer every year which then dies back to ground level during the Winter (Herbaceous Plants).  Herbaceous plants last for many years.

Shrub

Woody plants that live for many years.  Shrubs can be either Evergreen (retain their leaves throughout the year) or Deciduous (lose their leaves in the Winter).

Tree

Woody plants that live for many years.  Trees can be either Evergreen (retain their leaves throughout the year) or Deciduous (lose their leaves in the Winter).

Alpine

Small low growing plants that live for many years.  These plants are generally from upland areas of the world (eg. the Alps) and are adapted to well drained soils.

Heather

Generally low growing plants (though not as low as Alpines) that live for many years.  Heathers like acid (ericaceous) soils.

Herb

Culinary or medicinal plants, which may last for just one year or for many years depending on the variety.  Consult the label before you buy!

Herbaceous Plants

Plants that produce new non woody growth during the Spring and Summer every year which then dies back to ground level during the Winter.  Herbaceous plants last for many years.

Seedlings

Plants raised from seed.  Seedlings are not always absolutely identical in characteristics to the parent plant - although they are very similar.  Think of a seedling like your own children.

Cuttings

Plants raised from cuttings.  A cutting is typically a small piece of stem cut from the parent plant, which is then made to produce its own roots and which grows into a separate plant.  Plants produced from cuttings are identical in characteristics to the parent plant. 

Potting Compost

Medium used in pots, tubs and baskets to plant up plants.  You can use garden soil in your pots and tubs, but it is better to use a potting compost, which is often based on soil but which has been sieved, cleaned, steralised, worms removed and has been enriched with fertilizer.  Compost can also be based on coco fibre or peat instead of soil.

Ericaceous

Ericaceous refers to soil acidity.  Some plants, such as Rhododendrons and Heathers need an acidic soil in order to survive.  These plants are known as Ericaceous plants and they require Ericaceous compost (acidic compost).

Pesticides

Chemicals used to get rid of garden pests.  This term includes Insecticides, Fungicides and animal control.

Insecticides

Chemicals to kill insects.

Fungicides

Chemicals to cure plant diseases.

Fertilizer

Food for plants.

Hazardous Plants

Click HERE to read extracts from the latest Horticultural Trades Association report, including lists of hazardous plants.