ENROL NOW

Flowering Shrubs

Course CodeBHT347
Fee CodeS3
Duration (approx)100 hours
QualificationTo obtain formal documentation the optional exam(s) must be completed which will incur an additional fee of £30. Alternatively, a letter of completion may be requested.

Learn all about Woody Flowering Shrubs.

Build your plant knowledge and grow you plant expertise to the next level.

This course provides a sound framework for understanding, identifying and deciding the best way to grow and use shrubs: all based on the taxonomic framework of plant orders and families used by scientists and professional horticulturists..

Shrubs, and trees if present, are the backbone of any garden. They provide the structure or framework that acts as a backdrop for other plants like bulbs, annuals, climbers, and groundcovers. For the most part, shrubs are more permanent plantings than many other plants, therefore it is vital to prepare the soil properly before planting. 

Once established, mature shrubs can provide privacy from neighbours, beauty against a tired fence, and many other advantages that give a space charm and elegance.  

 

Lesson Structure

There are 9 lessons in this course:

  1. Scope and Nature of Flowering Shrubs
    • Why Grow Shrubs
    • Choosing Appropriate Shrubs
    • Classification and Naming
    • Shrub Nomenclature
    • How the Genus Rosa is Split Up
    • Broad Rules when Writing Plant Names
    • Ranks of Classification
    • Dicotyledons and Monocotyledons
    • Dahgren System for grouping families into orders
    • Cronquist System
    • Continuing Change
    • Rosids
    • Order Rosales
    • Order Malphigiales
    • Order Sapindales
    • Order Malvales
    • Order Saxifragales
    • Asterids (Asteranae)
    • Myrtles (Myrtiflorae)
    • Solanales
    • Cornales
    • Dipsacales
    • Boraginales
    • Rules for Identifying Plants
    • Botanical Key Concept
  2. How to Establish and Care for Shrubs
    • Choosing Shrubs
    • Preparing the Garden
    • Consider the Site
    • Getting Soil Ready
    • Time of Planting
    • Planting Shrubs
    • Staking
    • Shrub Maintenance
    • Good Hygeine
    • Watering
    • Nutrition
    • Mulching
    • Pruning
    • Inspecting for Pest and Disease
    • Common Problems - pests, diseases, environmental issues, weeds
    • Controlling Pest and Disease
    • Working with the Space Available
    • Controlling Roots
    • Controlling plant growth
  3. The Rosids
    • Superorder Rosanae - fabids, Malvids & others
    • Rosaceae : Chenomeles, Cotoneaster, Kerria, Pyracantha, Rosa, Spiraea
    • Rhamnaceae : Ceonothus
    • Eleagnaceae : Eleagnus
    • Saxifragaceae – Deutzia, Hydrangea,
    • Celastraceae – Euonymus
    • Euphorbaceae – Codiaeum
    • Hypericaceae – Hypericum
    • Cistaceae -Cistus
    • Malvaceae – Hibiscus
    • Thymelaceae - Daphne, Pimelea
    • Rutaceae -Boronia, Choisya, Coleonema,Correa, Crowea, Fortunella, Murraya
  4. The Asterids (Superorder Asteranae)
    • Introduction to Asteranae: Lamids & Campanulids
    • Differences between Asterids and Rosids
    • Asterid Shrub Families
    • Acanthaceae - Justicia/Beloperone, Barleria, Pachystachus, Aphelandra, (Order Lamiales)
    • Lamiaceae -Lavendula, Ocimum (Basil), Prostanthera, Salvia, Rosmarinus, Westringia, Leonotis, Prostanthera (Order Lamiales
    • Scrophulariaceae -Hebe, Eremophila, Myoporum, Veronica (Order Lamiales)
    • Verbenaceae -Aloysia, Clerodendrum, Duranta, Lantana, Verbena (Order Lamiales)
    • Oleaceae – Forsythia, Ligustrum, Jasminum, Syringia (Order Lamiales)
    • Rubiaceae – Bouvardia, Coprosma, Gardenia, Luculia, Musseanda, Pentas (Order Gentiales)
  5. Order Ericales
    • Introduction
    • Ericaceae -Andromeda, Rhododendron (includes Azaleas), Calluna, Erica, Kalmia, Pieris, and Vaccinium (Blueberry).
    • Theaceae - Camellia, Gordonia, and Stewartia.
    • Clethraceae - Clethra
    • Syracaceae - Halesia and Styrax
  6. Significant Shrubs in Myrtiflorae
    • Introduction
    • Lythraceae – Cuphea, Pomegranate
    • Myrtaceae - Bauera, Callistemon/Melaleuca, Leptospermum and others
    • Melastomaceae – Tibouchina, Melastoma, Medinilla, Osbeckia
    • Onagraceae – Fuchsia
  7. Corniflorae and Solaniflorae
    • Introduction
    • Caprifoliaceae -Abelia, Kolkwitzia, Lonicera, Viburnum, Weigelia (Order Dipscales, Superorder Cornifloae)
    • Cornaceae - Cornus (Order Cornales, Superorder Corniflorae)
    • Hydrangeaceae - Hydrangea (Order Cornales, Superorder Corniflorae)
    • Boraginaceae – Heliotropum (Superorder Solaniflorae)
    • Solanaceae - Browallia, Brunfelsia, Cestrum, Solanum (superorder Solaniflorae)
  8. Other Important Shrubs
    • Berberidaceae -Berberis, Mahonia, Nandina
    • Buxaceae – Buxus
    • Fabaceae – Genista, Pultenaea, Acacia
    • Plumbaginaceae – Ceratostigma (Plumbago)
    • Polygalaceae – Polygala
    • Proteaceae – Banksia, Grevillea, Protea
  9. Plant Selection and Design

Aims

  • Discuss the scientific classification, scope and nature of shrubs, and compare some of the differences in appearance characteristics between important plant orders and families that encompass horticulturally significant shrubs.
  • Describe different techniques used to prepare for planting, plant, nurture and maintain shrubs in different horticultural situations.
  • Identify and describe a variety of different commonly grown flowering shrubs that are related to roses, in that they are on occasion classified into the taxonomic order Rosales or the superorder Rosanae.
  • Identify and describe a variety of different commonly grown flowering shrubs that are related to lavender, in that they are on occasion classified into the taxonomic superorder Asteranae.
  • Identify and describe a variety of different commonly grown flowering shrubs that are related to rhododendrons, in that they are on occasion classified into the taxonomic order Ericales.
  • Identify and describe a variety of different commonly grown flowering shrubs that are related to Leptospermums, in that they are on occasion classified into the taxonomic order Rosales or the superorder Myrtiflorae.
  • Identify and describe a variety of different commonly grown flowering shrubs that are related to Viburnum and Cestrum, in that they are on occasion classified into the taxonomic groups Corniflorae and Solaniflorae.
  • Identify and describe a variety of different commonly grown flowering shrubs that are from significant plant families not studied earlier in this course.
  • Select appropriate shrubs and explain how to use them in different places.

Who might benefit from this course?

  • Plant Enthusiasts
  • Garden Designers & Landscape Architects
  • Nurserymen
  • Garden Consultants
  • Cut Flower Growers
  • Parks staff
  • Environmental consultants
  • Anyone else who deals with plants

 

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