12/27/2024 9:24:15 AM	HORT 8 Course Outline as of Fall 2024	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  HORT 8	Title:  LANDSCAPE PLNTS: SU/FALL
Full Title:  Landscape Plants: Summer/Fall
Last Reviewed:12/12/2023

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	2.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	35.00
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	3.00		8 min.	Lab Scheduled	52.50
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	5.00			Contact Total	87.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  70.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  HORT 54

Catalog Description:

Students will learn identification, growth habits, culture, and ornamental use of landscape and indoor plants adapted to climates of California with emphasis on the need for sustainable landscaping and water-wise plants. This course emphasizes plant species that perform well in local regions and are best observed and studied in the summer and fall of the year. Students will use current cloud-based resources to explore and develop plant identification and selection skills.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Students will learn identification, growth habits, culture, and ornamental use of landscape and indoor plants adapted to climates of California with emphasis on the need for sustainable landscaping and water-wise plants. This course emphasizes plant species that perform well in local regions and are best observed and studied in the summer and fall of the year. Students will use current cloud-based resources to explore and develop plant identification and selection skills.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2004	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2006	Inactive:
C-ID:
CID Descriptor: AG - EH 112L	Plant Materials and Usage II	SRJC Equivalent Course(s): HORT12 OR HORT8

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Apply the binomial method of plant nomenclature to the plant studied.

2. Identify and classify landscape plants using physical features.

3. Select and assess plants for landscaping purposes and suitability.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate and explain correct application of botanical nomenclature to species studied

2. Identify botanical terms (plant identification terminology) as related to various plant parts and structures

3. Identify and classify landscape plants using botanical terminology and physical features of leaf, bark, flower, fruit, and growth habit

4. Describe the importance of understanding soil requirements and ecology of different plants

5. Explain the various uses of plants as related to landscape and garden applications, including growth habits and environmental requirements

6. Select plants with requirements that conform to selected landscape use criteria (desired function, growth habit, climate, soil, exposure, and maintenance requirements)

7. Understand and use plant keys to identify specimens

8. Demonstrate the use of computerized plant selection programs

9. Create a plant characteristics list or key for future landscape design work

10. Demonstrate proper plant materials collection and preservation methods

11. Evaluate plants based on their suitability for water-efficient landscapes

12. Summarize the various uses of plants as related to landscapes and garden applications

13. Apply botanical terms in comparing and contrasting physical characteristics of similar plant species

14. Determine environmental qualities of a planting site using climate zones

Topics and Scope

I. Introduction to Plant Taxonomy and Botanical Nomenclature

    A. Categories of taxonomic rank: Family, Genus, and Species

    B. Classification below species level: cultivar & hybrid names

    C. Conventions for capitalization and punctuation of botanical names

    D. Common production of ornamental and edible plants

         1. Budded and grafted plants

          2. Lines

         3. Clones

II. Plant Morphology & Terminology: External Structures Used in Identification of Plants

    A. Leaves

    B. Flowers

    C. Fruit

    D. Stem

    E. Bark

    F. Buds

III. Plant Species Identification

    A. Sight memory of 200 plants best observed in the summer and fall season selected based on landscape performance in the local region, college/university plant lists, and/or from cloud-based plant identification resources: with collection and preservation of physical specimens or photographs

         1. Indoor plants

         2. Annuals

         3. Perennials

         4. Vines

         5. Ground covers

         6. Trees

         7. Shrubs

IV. Plant Physical Characteristics and Environmental Requirements

    A. Origin and climatic range, climate zones, and plant hardiness

    B. Aesthetic and physical characteristics of plants studied:

         1. Form of growth

         2. Rate of growth

         3. Ultimate growth height and spread

         4. Leaf structure with special emphasis on texture and color

         5. Flower color, texture, and season in relation to landscape value

         6. Fruit appearance and botanical type

    C. Environmental, physical, and cultural requirements of plants studied

         1. Exposure

         2. Soil

         3. Water

         4. Maintenance

          5. Propagation

         6. Significant pests and diseases

V. Considerations for Use in Landscape Design

     A. Aesthetic characteristics of plants: form, texture, color

    B. Functional uses of plants such as screening views, stabilizing soil, shading, reducing rainwater runoff, creating outdoor rooms.

    C. Native plants and habitat value

    D. Invasive species

    E. Wildfire resilient landscaping

 

All topics are covered in the lecture and lab portions of the course.

Assignments:

Lecture-Related Assignments:

1. Identify and compare the Sunset Climate Zone(s) and/or USDA Hardiness zone(s) for the specified cities in California.

2. Lecture Quizzes (3-8) and Exams (1-2) covering topics such as: nomenclature, morphology, identification and physical or growth characteristics

3. Plant list project: develop a plant list for a specified landscape project using a computerized plant selection program

4. Class or online discussions (3-12) related to weekly lecture topics

 

Lab-Related Assignments:

1. Plant Journal Assignments (3-8). Topics may include application of botanical terms and plant structures to plant identification, plant considerations relevant in landscape design, comparison(s) between similar plant species.

2. Collect physical specimens or take photographs of plant species covered in the class

3. Plant Identification Quizzes (4-8) using botanical nomenclature

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 0 - 0%
None
This is a degree applicable course but assessment tools based on writing are not included because skill demonstrations are more appropriate for this course.
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 20 - 40%
Sunset climate zones; plant journal assignments
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 20 - 50%
Plant list project; specimen collection; plant ID quizzes
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 20 - 40%
Lecture quizzes and exams
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 10 - 25%
Discussions and participation

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Sunset Western Garden Book. 9th ed. Editors of Sunset Magazine. Oxmoor House, Inc. 2012 (classic).

Landscape Plants for California Gardens. Perry, Robert C. Land Design Publishing. 2010 (classic).

Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses. 5th ed. Dirr, Michael. Stipes Pub. 1998 (classic).

Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (Revised edition). Dirr, Michael A. Stipes Publishing Llc. 1990 (classic).

Ornamental Plants: Their Care, Use, Propagation, and Identification. Revised ed. Wait, D. Dwight. Kendall/Hunt. 1994 (classic).

Print PDF