96980 - Characteristics, Requirements and Uses of Ornamental Plants

Learning outcomes

At the end of teaching the student knows the morpho-phenological characteristics and the pedo-climatic requirements of the main herbaceous, shrubby and tree ornamental species. He knows how to evaluate the quality of the nursery products according to the growing techniques and the plant use; knows how to draw up maintenance plans respecting the environment and to make a correct choice of varieties and adequate planting schemes in the design phase, taking into account the ecosystem functionality and the required aesthetic effect of the green area and minimizing management costs.

Course contents

Topic 1 – Introduction to ornamental plant sector (1 CFU)
Production of ornamental plants for cut flower, flowering pots, outdoor plants and nursery propagation. Trends of national demand and supply, import and export. Marketing. European legislation: plant passport.

Topic 2 - Herbaceous species (3 CFU)
Criteria for choosing ornamental species for the production of cut stems, flowering pots, garden plants, indoor plants and for special uses such as green roofs, vertical living walls and water-high efficient gardens.
Annual bedding herbaceous species for spring and autumn flowering pots: pedoclimatic requirements, morpho-phenological and aesthetic characteristics, maintenance needs and starting material choice. Flowering prairie and biodiversity.
Perennial herbaceous garden and flower pot species: pedoclimatic needs, morpho-phenological and aesthetic characteristics, maintenance needs and choice of starting material. Geophytes.
Indoor plants with decorative foliage: pedoclimatic needs, morpho-phenological and aesthetic characteristics, maintenance needs and choice of starting material. Greenwalls.
Cut stem species: flowering species, complementary green and flowering fronds, dried flowers. Tine Availability over year. Basic criteria of floral composition.


Topic 3 - Shrub species (2 CFU)
Deciduous and evergreen shrub species: pedoclimatic requirements, morpho-phenological and aesthetic characteristics, maintenance needs and choice of starting material. Blooming calendar. Climbing and ground cover species.


The 6 cfu include practical activity ( at least 15 hours) consisting of guided visits to centers of ornamental plant marketing and significant examples of the use of ornamental plants (private and / or public gardens). Variety identification and growing of potted plants at the greenhouse center of the University in Imola.

Readings/Bibliography

- ppt presentations, used during lectures and supplied by the professor on iol.unibo.it

For the investigation of specific subjects (available books in library):

Florovivaismo. Principi e tecniche. di V. Scariot, S. De Pascale, A. Ferrante, Ed. Edagricole, 2022.

Royal Horticultural Society. Piante annuali e biennali. 2003

Armitage A. M. Perennial Plants: A Treatise on their Identification, Culture, and Garden Attributes, Stipes Publishing Co.; 4th ed. 2020.

For the species identification: 
Buffin M.W. Winter flowering shrubs. Timber Press, 2005.

Phillips R., Rix M., Bulbs. Pan Books Ltd. London

Phillips R., Rix M., Shrubs. Pan Books Ltd. London

Phillips R., Rix M., Perennials (vol. 1 e 2) Pan Books Ltd. London

Pollock M., Griffiths M., Illustrated dictionary of gardening. RHS, London 2005.

Bibliografic information on specific subjects will be supplied on demand.

Teaching methods

The lectures are supplemented by practical activities at the greenhouses of Imola and Bologna (CAAB) and by guided visits to marketing centers and green areas as example of ornamental plant use at gardenand landscape level, to discuss use methods, management, cultivation and propagation of plants.

Practical activities in the greenhouses of the Department for growing and identification of species.

Considering the activities and teaching methods, the attendance of this course requires that all students join the e-learning Modules 1 and 2 and the Module 3 in presence for the specific training on safety and health in the study places. Information on dates and methods of attendance of Module 3 can be seen in the specific section of the degree program website.

Assessment methods

The exam includes:


- written test about species identification. The student has to botanically identify 20 plants (genus and species) by photos or plant samples in vivo. The plants to be recognized include the herbaceous and woody species represented in the ppt presentations, used during lectures. Test time: 30 min. Minimum number of right identifications is 50% of species. Passing the written test is the limiting requirement for the next oral part of examination. Right identification of all species involves the acquisition of 6 points.
The written exam for species identification is about 30 minutes long.

- oral exam including 3 questions aimed to verify the student's acquisition of the expected knowledge and skills and to verify the personal processing capacity for species choice according to specific uses in garden, landscape, indoor and for floral decoration.

The oral exam is about 60 minutes long.

 
Practical activities are usefull but not essential for the exam passing.

If the face-to-face exams are not allowed they will be online using photos for species identification.

Teaching tools

The lectures are supported by professors's ppt presentations. The practical activities include species cultivation and identification at the greenhouses of the Plesso Scartabelli in Imola and the CAAB in Bologna. A collection of ornamental shrubs in pots is available at the Imola greenhouse center for variety recognition.

Furthermore, 2 guided tours to nurseries, marketing companies, gardens, private and public parks are planned.

 

Office hours

See the website of Maria Eva Giorgioni