Gardening Terms

A small, dry one-seeded indehiscent fruit that does not open at maturity to release the seed. Learn more.

Needle-shaped, e.g. a leaf form. Learn more.

Soil with a pH below 7, often requiring lime to raise its pH for most crops. Learn more.

For a flower having radial symmetry, divisible into identical halves along two or more planes. Learn more.

The upper surface of a leaf. Learn more.

a family of aphid-like insects that feed exclusively on conifers and typically are covered with white waxy material. Learn more.

A root that develops from non-root tissue, such as stems or leaves. Learn more.

Loosening soil or compost to improve oxygen availability for roots and microbes. Learn more.

A method of growing plants in air or mist environments without the use of soil. Learn more.

has to do with appearance or beauty. Learn more.

The ability of soil aggregates to resist disintegration from water or mechanical disturbance, influencing erosion and infiltration. Learn more.

The study and application of ecological principles to agricultural systems to promote sustainability and biodiversity. Learn more.

An ecosystem managed by humans for agricultural production while maintaining ecological processes and biodiversity. Learn more.

A land management system combining trees or shrubs with crops or livestock to enhance productivity and biodiversity. Learn more.

A propagation method where roots are induced to form on a stem while still attached to the parent plant. Learn more.

having a basic reaction containing hydroxide ions (OH−) and turning red litmus blue when in solution. Learn more.

Soil with a pH above 7, often found in arid regions with low rainfall. Learn more.

One of two or more alternative forms of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome. Learn more.

Differences in the DNA sequence of alleles at the same gene locus, contributing to genetic diversity. Learn more.

Chemical inhibition of one plant by another through compounds released into the environment. Learn more.

Species occurring in separate, non-overlapping geographical regions. Learn more.

A fungal disease caused by Alternaria species, leading to circular dark lesions with concentric rings on leaves. Learn more.

an arrangement of leaves or other parts not opposite or whorled; parts situated one at a node, as leaves on a stem. Learn more.

one of two kinds of plants on which a parasitic insect or fungus (such as rust) must develop to complete its life cycle. Learn more.

Any material added to soil to improve its physical or chemical properties. Learn more.

Also known as “flowering plants,” they are the largest and most diverse group of plants on Earth and are distinguished by their flowers and the production of seeds protected by a fruit Learn more.

The total amount of negatively charged ions a soil can adsorb, important for nutrient retention and availability. Learn more.

A plant that completes its life cycle—from germination to seed production—within one growing season. Learn more.

A garden bed replanted each year with new annuals for continuous seasonal color. Learn more.

The study of the relationships between flowers and pollinators. Learn more.

The pollen-producing part of a stamen. Learn more.

the pollen-bearing part of a stamen, borne at the top of a filament or sessile. Learn more.

A class of pigments responsible for red, purple, and blue colors in plants. Learn more.

A group of fungal diseases causing dark, sunken lesions on leaves, stems, or fruit. Learn more.

Originating in human activity, often used regarding environmental effects. Learn more.

Flowers having no petals. Learn more.

Acronym for the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, an organization that establishes modern plant classification systems. Learn more.

Small, soft-bodied insects that suck sap from plants, often causing curling leaves and transmitting viruses. Learn more.

A region of actively dividing cells at the tips of roots and shoots responsible for primary growth. Learn more.

subordinate or derivative body parts such as leaves, petals, or stems. Learn more.

A fungal disease of apples and pears that causes dark, scabby lesions on leaves and fruit. Learn more.

A system combining aquaculture with hydroponics where fish waste provides nutrients for plants. Learn more.

A garden structure that supports climbing plants and often provides shade or a passageway. Learn more.

A professional specializing in the care and management of trees. Learn more.

Gardening practices adapted to dry climates emphasizing water conservation. Learn more.

Caterpillars that feed in large groups on grasses and crops, capable of rapid defoliation. Learn more.

caterpillar species closely related to cutworms that often move in masses through crop stands while stripping foliage. Learn more.

A phytoplasma disease causing chlorosis and deformed flowers in many ornamentals and vegetables. Learn more.

ear-shaped lobes, usually describing the base of leaves or petals. Learn more.

The person credited with publishing the first valid description and name for a plant. Learn more.

An automatically generated infraspecific or infrageneric name. Learn more.

A stiff bristle appendage. Learn more.

The angle between a leaf or branch and the stem from which it grows. Learn more.

A bud that forms in the axil of a leaf and may develop into a branch or flower. Learn more.

the angle between a leaf or branch and the stem from which it grows. Learn more.

A line of symmetry or the principal column of a plant or inflorescence. Learn more.