HORT*3010 Annual, Perennial and Indoor Plants; Identification and Use

course node page

The following description is for the course offering in Fall 2021 and is subject to change. It is provided for information only. The course outline distributed to the class at the beginning of the semester describes the course content and delivery, and defines the methods and criteria to be used in establishing the final grades for the course.

This course focuses on the identification and adaptation of annual, biennial, herbaceous perennial and indoor plants. Lectures will be integrated with outdoor laboratory activities to emphasize use of plant groups in park, perennial border, general landscape, botanic garden and interior scape settings. 

 

Instructors:

Teaching Assistant:

Credit Weight:

0.50

Course Level:

  • Undergraduate

Academic Department (or campus):

Department of Plant Agriculture

Campus:

Guelph

Semester Offering:

  • Fall

Class Schedule and Location:

Please refer to Web Advisor for class schedule and location.

Learning outcomes:

Specific Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
  1. Recognize and identify many commonly used annual, perennial and indoor plant species.
  2. Identify the plant families that are economically important to herbaceous ornamental horticulture in Ontario.
  3. Have a basic understanding of the growth requirements, plant maintenance and landscape applications of the plants studied in the course.
  4. Evaluate a planting site and identify suitable plants for the site.
  5. Critically evaluate ornamental plantings in the context of the greater physical environment (i.e. pollinator friendliness, potential for invasiveness).

Lecture Content:

(Note: Dates may have to be modified from the following to accommodate guest lecturer availability and allow for severe weather delays in outdoor activities.)

Week Number and Lecture/Lab Topic:

  • Week 1: Course Introduction /Trial Garden Tour
  • Week 2:  Annuals
  • Week 3:  Annuals /Field Trip
  • Week 4:  Quiz 1 (Annuals)/RBG tour
  • Week 5:  CGC/Case Study/Perennials
  • Week 6:  Case Study/Perennials
  • Week 7:  Quiz 2 (Perennials) Ornamental Grassess
  • Week 8:  Ornamental Grasses/Indoor Plants
  • Week 9:  Quiz 3 (Ornamental Grasses)/Indoor Plants
  • Week 10:  Indoor Plants/Geophytes/Written Assignments due
  • Week 11:  Quiz 4 (Indoor Plants and Geophytes)/Classroom Presentation of Assignments begins
  • Week 12:  Classroom Presentation of Assignments continues/last class day and review for exam
Labs & Seminars:
Labs:

The labs will be used to introduce the students to specific plant species found in the gardens on campus and elsewhere and to learn how to quickly identify these plants.  On certain Fridays, the combined lecture/lab time slots may be used to accommodate touring campus, municipal gardens and the RBG tour.

Seminars:

n/a

Course Assignments and Tests:

Assignment or Test
Contribution to final mark
Learning Outcomes Assessed

Quiz 1 (Annuals)

10%

1, 2

Quiz 2 (Perennials)

10%

1, 2

Quiz 3 (Grasses)

10%

1, 2

Term Assignment (Written presentation due) 

25%

3, 4, 5

Quiz 4 (Indoor plants & Geophytes)

10%

1, 2

Term Assignment (Class presentations)

10%

3, 4, 5

Final Exam

25%

1 to 6

Final examination:

Please refer to Web Advisor for exam schedule and location.

Course Resources:

Required Resources
American Takii Catalogues (Website)
https://www.takii.com/brochures/
Ball Seed Catalogues (Website)
https://www.ballseed.com/catalogsbrochures/
Please visit the Ball Seed catalogue site to view their catalogues of the latest plant introductions
Dummen Orange Catalogues (Website)
https://na.dummenorange.com/site/en/catalogs
Please visit the Dummen Orange catalogue site to view this company's plant introductions.
 
Syngenta Flowers catalogues (Website)
https://www.syngentaflowers-us.com/catalogs
Please visit the Syngenta Flowers catalogue site to see this company's selection of plant material.
Jelitto Seed Catalogue (Website)
https://www.jelitto.com/Other/Catalogue/
Hoffman Nursery (Website)
https://hoffmannursery.com/resources
This is a very informative web site about ornamental grasses.
William Dam Seeds Catalogue (Website)
https://www.damseeds.com/

Course Policies:

Grading Polices
NOTE: Late assignments will be assessed a 20% per day penalty. https://www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/calendars/undergraduate/current/c08/c08-grds-proc.shtml
 
Course Policy regarding use of electronic devices and recording of lectures:
 
Electronic recording of classes is expressly forbidden without consent of the instructor. When recordings are permitted they are solely for the use of the authorized student and may not be reproduced, or transmitted to others, without the express written consent of the instructor. 

Other Course Information:

Covid-19 Safety Protocols
For information on current safety protocols, follow these links:
 
Please note, these guidelines may be updated as required in response to evolving University, Public Health or government directives.

University Policies

Academic Consideration

When you find yourself unable to meet an in-course requirement because of illness or compassionate reasons, please advise the course instructor in writing, with your name, id#, and e-mail contact. See the academic calendar for information on regulations and procedures for Academic Consideration:

Academic Misconduct

The University of Guelph is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and it is the responsibility of all members of the University community, faculty, staff, and students  to be aware of what constitutes academic misconduct and to do as much as possible to prevent academic offences from occurring.

University of Guelph students have the responsibility of abiding by the University's policy on academic misconduct regardless of their location of study; faculty, staff and students have the responsibility of supporting an environment that discourages misconduct. Students need to remain aware that instructors have access to and the right to use electronic and other means of detection. Please note: Whether or not a student intended to commit academic misconduct is not relevant for a finding of guilt. Hurried or careless submission of assignments does not excuse students from responsibility for verifying the academic integrity of their work before submitting it. Students who are in any doubt as to whether an action on their part could be construed as an academic offence should consult with a faculty member or faculty advisor.

The Academic Misconduct Policy is detailed in the University Calenders:

Accessibility

The University of Guelph is committed to creating a barrier-free environment. Providing services for students is a shared responsibility among students, faculty and administrators. This relationship is based on respect of individual rights, the dignity of the individual and the University community's shared commitment to an open and supportive learning environment. Students requiring service or accommodation, whether due to an identified, ongoing disability or a short-term disability should contact the Student Accessibility Services (SAS), formerly Centre for Students with Disabilities (CSD), as soon as possible.

For more information, contact CSD at 519-824-4120 ext. 56208 or email sas@uoguelph.ca or visit the Student Accessibility Services website: http://www.uoguelph.ca/csd/.

Course Evaluation Information

Your ratings and comments are important.  Course evaluation data are used to assess and enhance the quality of teaching and student learning at the University of Guelph.  Student course ratings and comments are used as an important component in the Faculty Tenure & Promotion process, and as valuable feedback to help instructors improve their teaching effectiveness and to improve the delivery of the course.

Your responses will not affect your grade.  Course evaluation data are distributed to individual instructors after final grades have been submitted to the Registrar, following the completion of each academic semester.

Please be honest, respectful, constructive and thorough.  Instructors and review committees place great value on student course ratings and read all comments provided in course evaluations. It is helpful to provide comments on the strengths of the course, in addition to the areas for improvement.  Please refrain from personal comments unless they relate to teaching and learning.

Click here for the University of Guelph Course Evaluation System