Plant Diversity

Alpines and dwarf species

In the wild:

Long-lived herbaceous or frequently woody perennials reduced in size and with other adaptations to withstand the often short growing season, strong winds, free-draining soils, and periods of exposure to extremes of heat, cold, and desiccation that typify mountainous habitats and northern climates.

In the garden:

Valuable in rock and alpine gardens and containers

Aquatic and bog plants

In the wild:

Usually herbaceous perennials adapted to grow in bogs and at the margins of lakes or streams or as rooted plants with floating leaves in still water or moving water or as free-floating plants in still water. Adaptations include stomata on the upper surface of the floating leaves only, air conducting cells in submerged plants and mechanisms to trap insects

In the garden:

May be used to provide form, flowers, and oxygen in garden swith still and moving water. May occur as weeds in some water gardens

Aromatic plants

In the wild:

Herbaceous and shrubby forms, sometimes trees, especially from relatively dry climates, that produce aromatic oils and other chemicals which may deter herbivores, parasites, and pathogens

In the garden:

Culinary herbs and spices. May also be used to provide scent as well as form and flowers in non-culinary plantings

Climbers, vines, and scramblers (lianas)

In the wild:

Plants adapted to gain height, thereby reaching sunlight, in shrublands, woodlands, forests, and rocky grounds by growing in, on, or over other usually woody species or rocks. Mechanisms for attaching plants to other species include twining stems, leaf tendrils, branch tendrils, twisting petioles, hooked thorns, and adventitous roots arising from the stem

In the garden:

Used in a diversity of situations such as in and through trees and hedges, against walls and fences, and on trellises and pergolas to provide height, cover, form, flowers, and fruit. May occur as weeds in permanent plantings.

Epiphytes

In the wild:

Usually herbaceous perennial plants adapted to gain height and thereby access to sunlight by growing on other species, usually on the branches of trees and large shrubs. Sometimes occurs in temperate regions, but most frequent in tropical and subtropical rain and mist forests, where modified roots, por the whole plant surface absorb water from the atmosphere, or modified rosettes of leaves may collect rainwater in the “tank” created by the leaf bases. Minerals are in short supply, and in the absence of soil of are absorebed directly from rainwater or from decomposing plant and animal remains trapped by plants.

In the garden:

Main value in cultivation is as glasshouse plants or as house plants

Geophytes

In the wild:

Usually herbaceous, sometimes woody species with a perennial, underground structure that remains dormant during unfavorable conditions such as shade from decidious trees, extreme drought or cold

In the garden:

Used in permanent plantings to provide flowers in winter and autumn or for summer plantings or as vegetables or herbs. May occur as weeds

Hairy plants

In the wild:

Mainly herbaceous perennials in which the epidermal cells of the leaf are modified to form hairs arising from the surface. Hairs may be sparse or dense. Depending on the density, the hairs may create turbulence around the leaf, facilitating the uptake of CO2 or extend the width of the still air layer, thereby reducing transpiration, or may provide protection from excessive sunlight

In the garden:

Plants with densely hairy leaves often appear silver or white and have value in mixed borders, especially in hot, dry conditions

Halophytes

In the wild:

Usually herbaceous or shrubby plants adapted to grow in soils or atmospheres with high salt content, arounds coasts, and in salt marshes. High salt levels restrict water uptake, so adaptations include mechanisms to reduce water loss including succulence, fleshy leaves, hairy or waxy leaves, and sunken stomata. May also possess physiological mechanisms for excreting or excluding salt

In the garden:

Coastal gardens. Often have strong architectural shades or appear white or silver and may be valuable in creating speacial planting effects such as in “white gardens”

Insectivorous plants

In the wild:

Plants adapted to grow in positions low in nitrogenous minerals, such as peat bogs, or as epiphytes on the branches of trees or shrubs, by trapping insects, which are then digested by enzymes. Methods of trapping include: sticky leaves that roll, glandular leaf hairs that secrete mucilage, underwater bladders, and water-filled pitchers

In the garden:

Usually only grown as specialized glasshouse plants or occasionally in bog gardens

Parasitic plants

In the wild:

Adapated to obtaina supply of carbohydrates from another species. May be completely dependent on the host and lack chlorophyll or partly dependent on the host and have some chlorophyll. May grow beneath soil, producing only flowers above ground, or among other plants in meadows or as epiphytes

In the garden:

May have decorative flowers, or may have decorative value in trees, or may be used in meadow plantings to add diversity. Sometimes occur as weeds, especially in hot climates.

Resurecction plants

Plants adapted to grow in arid regions. May dry out and remain dormant for log periods, being induced to grow again by the onset of rain

In the garden:

Of little value but may sometimes be sold as curiosities for use as house plants

Rosette plants

In the wild:

Plants in which the stem is reduced in length so that the leaves form a tight rosette, which may be resistant to grazing, desiccation, or cold winds. Stems often elongate to form flowers.

In the garden:

A great diversity of garden plants form rosettes, but they are especially valuabel in rock and alpine gardens. Also common as lawn weeds, where mowing is the equivalent of grazing.

Spiny plants

In the wild:

Plants, especially shrubs and trees, adapted to resist damage from grazing mammals by virtue of particular organs being adapted as or reduced to spines, notably leaves and stem branches. Often grow in arid or semi-arid environments. Where leaves are reduced to spines, as in the Cactaceae, photosynthesis usually occurs in the stem.

In the garden:

May be used in a variety of garden situations or as specialist glasshouse and house plants.

Sclerophylls

In the wild:

Evergreen perennial plants, shrubs, and trees with “hard” leaves; thick cuticle and epidermis, with considerable internal support tissues, especially modified and lignified cells. Adapted to grow in arid regions and in Mediterranean-type climates.

In the garden:

Of great value as garden plants in a diversity of situations, especially in densely populated or arid regions, where lack of water makes it necessary to grow plants that are adapted to dry conditions.

Succulents

In the wild:

Plants from arid regions adapted to store water in modified cells in thickened fleshy leaves and stems

In the garden:

Valuable in rock gardens and on roofs, as house plants, or as specialized house and glasshouse plants

Switch plants

In the wild:

Shrubs and small trees adapted to dry regions, especially with a Mediterranean-type climate, by having reduced leaves, often lost during very dry periods, and photosynthetic, often winged stems with considerable internal support tissue comprising heavily thickened or lignified cells

In the garden:

As with sclerophylls, they’re of great value in gardens where water is in short supply

Xerophytes

In the wild:

Herbaceous plants, shrubs, and trees, adapted to grow in dry conditions

In the garden:

They’re of great value in gardens and situations where water is in short supply