Prunus lusitanica (ROSACEAE) Portugese laurel S. W. Europe Alternate, Lvs oblong-ovate 2½-5 long, 1¼-2 wide Acuminate tip, Rounded base Shallowly serrate all the way down leaf (serrate on upper portion in P. laurocerasus). Dark shiny green above Petioles ¾-1 long Slender branched infl. (raceme) 6-10 long, 1-1¼ wide Fls white, ~ 1/21 in across Calyx tube cup-shaped Page 1 of 7 Dark purple drupe Acer rubrum (SAPINDACEAE) red maple E. United States Aucuba japonica (GARRYACEAE) Opposite, simple Palmately lobed Sinuses open to ~90 serrate margin Acuminate apex 3-5 lobes (2 lobes at base are smaller) Flowers unisexual male and female flowers in separate sessile clusters Flowers before leaves emerge Very red 5 petals 5 parted calyx staminated flowers 4-12 stamens Wind pollinated Double samara on long slender stems, 60 degree angle, up to 1 across Japan Opposite, paired Entire on margin at base ~ serrate above middle Leathery Elliptic, ovate or oblong Tip acute to acuminate Dioecious Compound upright dense infl. (panicle) purple color Male fls, numerous, in upright clusters at tips of branches. 4 sepals, 4 petals, 4 stamens Female fls have fewer fls/cluster w/ 4 petals + 1 style Berries - Oblong - Scarlet - up to an inch long Evergreen shrub to small tree (45 ft) Petioles and young stems red Grows to 100 feet Very good fall color extremely red Very popular street tree Several cultivars Shrub to 10 ft. Evergreen Stems very green Does well in shade Cultivar Variegata has lvs spotted w/yellow marks planted often Formerly Cornaceae
Cotinus coggygria (ANACARDIACEAE) smoke bush S. Europe to C. China Alternate,, Entire Oval to orbicular 1 ½ 3 ½ long Apex rounded, slight point, or sometimes emarginate Well-marked with parallel veins Infl large, loose, terminal multi branched (panicles) often with purplish hairs, flowers small appears like smoke 5 petals, yellowish 5 sepals, 5 stamens 2 styles Fls 1/3 across Small kidney shaped drupe Shrub to 15 ft & as wide Cultivars many purple leaved cultivars, some green, red stays most colorful in sunny locations, has good red fall color Multi-stemmed ~ wider than tall Coggygria is from the Greek word for the species, kokkugia Ficus carica (MORACEAE) Fig Mediterranean Alternate, Orbicular 3-5 lobed 4-8 long Margin scalloped ~Cordate base petiole 1-4 Leaves feel rough due to hairs on both sides Tiny, unisexual, and enclosed within a fleshy receptacle (synconium) Enclosed within the receptacle, which softens when the seeds are ripe Evergreen shrub, deciduous in this climate To 15 ft Rounded shrub Invasive in California Brown Turkey one of the few cvs that will ripen here Quercus garryana (FAGACEAE) Oregon white oak/ Garry oak West Coast of USA (but not native in Seattle) Alternate, Pinnately lobed with 5 to 9 irregular rounded lobes, lobes often touch or overlap More rough and tough than Q. robur Greenish-yellow above Brown, hairy below Monoecious, Male flowers borne in hanging catkins Female flowers borne in small clusters, appearing with the leaves. Solitary or paired acorns on current year's growth Cups with rough surface and cover 1/3 the nut Deciduous tree to 75 ft Bark light gray with thick furrows Branches somewhat twisted and gnarled Quercus garryana leather, biker-momma refers to the rough, leathery appearance of the leaves, especially compared to Q. robur. Page 2 of 7
Rhaphiolepis indica (ROSACEAE) Indian hawthorn Eastern Asia Alternate, obovate to orbicular 1-3 in long Acute tip Serrate Leathery, glossy dark green Short stalked Perfect White to pinkish 1/2 across In loose clusters 5 sepals, fused at base 5 petals, obovate Many stamens Inferior ovary Bluish-black pome ~ ½ diameter Evergreen shrub to 4 ft tall and wide Dense Tough and drought-resistant Subject to leaf spot in the PNW - better in drier climates lepis means scale refers to pattern on underside of leaf? Eriobotrya japonica (ROSACEAE) loquat or Japanese medlar Southeastern China Alternate, simple Elliptical-lanceolate 9-12 long/ 3-4 wide Dark green and glossy on the upper surface Whitish or rusty-hairy beneath, thick and stiff conspicuous parallel and oblique veins Wrinkled Coarsely serrate Multi branched infl. (panicles), 3-6 long, stiff Small, white perfect flowers 5 petals, sepals 20 stamens Blooms fall/winter Fragrant Rusty wool texture on inflorescence before flowers In clusters Round-pear shaped peachy brown fruit Sweet/acidic flavor 2-5 large brown seeds Evergreen 15-25 tall & wide Well-established trees can tolerate a low temperature of 12 F. Where the climate is too cool/warm and moist, the tree is grown as an ornamental & will not bear fruit that ripens "erion" = wool, botyria = a cluster of grapes - refers to the pubescence on inflorescence Page 3 of 7
Viburnum opulus (ADOXACEAE) European Cranberrybush Viburnum Europe, northern Africa and northern Asia Opposite, 3-5 palmately lobed 2-4 long Serrate Petioles ½ - ¾ long, w/narrow groove 2-3 glands near blade at top of petiole Base truncate Infl flat-topped cluster (cymes) with sterile flowers on margin and fertile flowers in center White- may change to slightly pink as flowers senesce Red drupes Edible, but very tart Deciduous shrub to 12 ft. Branches & branchlets smooth Arching branches Red fall color Garden origin cultivars with spheres of showy sterile flowers Fremontodendron californicum (MALVACEAE) Flannelbush Arizona & Californica Palmately pinnately lobed Soft to leathery On a small stipule Pubescent hairs can be irritating to skin Evergreen Waxy yellow calyx, 5 lobed, with gland pitted nectaries at the base Berry w/ 1-4 seeds Black or dark blue Erect or branched near the ground Found on rocky ridges Flower over a long period in spring/summer Named after John Fremont who first collected it in 1846 Fast-growing Relatively short-lived Cistus (CISTACEAE) rock rose Canary Islands, N. Africa, Turkey, Europe Opposite Entire ~ bluish-green ~ hairy Leaf axils often contain short shoots w/ small leaves Infl- Racemes Thin fragile petals (flws open singly in am and ~ fall by afternoon) Looks like crinkled tissue paper Sepals 3-5, petals 5 Stamens many, Styles 1 Pink, purple, white ~ purple spot at base of petal 5-10 valved capsule Evergreen shrub to 10 ft but most species much lower (3-4 ft) Stems often sticky with aromatic resin Likes sunny, very well-drained locations, once established requires very little water Page 4 of 7
Landscape Plant Recognition Plant Descriptions Field Day #15 Viburnum rhytidophyllum (ADOXACEAE) leather leaf viburnum Asia Leaves Flowers Fruit Other Opposite, simple Lanceolate 3 to 8 long Rounded leaf base, acute apex Rough texture with obvious venation Very pubescent underneath Small yellowish- white flowers 4-8 rounded flat toped cluster (cymes) Fragrant Red maturing to black oval drupes Evergreen Large viburnum good for a tropical foliage look Largest leaf in the genus Viburnum Rhytidophyllum means wrinkled leaf Fast growing, may need frequent pruning Lagerstroemia indica (LYTHRACEAE) crepe myrtle China and Korea Leaves Flowers Fruit Other Alternate, Opposite or Whorled. Elliptical Entire Margins 1.5-3 long Long 8 branched infl. (panicles/spikes) 1 crinkly paper like petals varying in color; white, pink, and shades of red. Dry, 6-parted, brown capsule that persists over winter Deciduous Long bloom period over the summer Large shrubs or trees Fabulous exfoliating bark in shades of gray, red, brown Red branchlets Needs very warm locations to flower here Ligustrum (OLEACEAE) privet primarily Asia, few in Europe, Australia Leaves Flowers Fruit Other Opposite Usually entire Glabrous, ovate to elliptic Infl. is dense terminal cluster Fls small, white 4 sepals, fused at base 4 petals, fused at base into tube 2 stamens Berry w/ 1-4 seeds Black or dark blue Evergreen or deciduous trees and shrubs Strongly scented flowers Some species are invasive in the southeast and Midwest L. lucidum with glossy evergreen leaves, L. ovalifolium deciduous in our climate Good hedge plant Page 5 of 7
Populus tremuloides (SALICACEAE) quaking aspen W. North America Alternate, simple Cordate to orbicular 1-3 long Finely serrate Dark green above Pale green below Long, laterally-flattened petiole Dioecious, male and female catkins 1-3 long Capsules Pinus ponderosa (PINACEAE) Ponderosa pine British Columbia to California Leaves Cones Other Needles in fascicles 3 per fascicle (~2) Long (4-6 in) Yellowish-green Clustered at ends of branches Male cones yellow-purple & strongly clustered Female cone 5-8 long, near tips of branches Scales have strong prickle Reddish purple when young Slender trunk White/grey bark with obvious branch scars Densely suckering in thickets Leaves flutter in the slightest wind Yellow autumn color Considered to be a western mountain tree, but some also in lowlands Evergreen tree to 200 ft Bark of younger trees deeply furrowed, orange Bark of older trees like jigsaw puzzle pieces Smells like vanilla or butterscotch Dry forest tree - important for timber, ponderosa means heavy Page 6 of 7
A Helpful Table Hydrangea Viburnum Cornus Usually deciduous Deciduous or evergreen Deciduous Leaf arrangement Opposite Opposite Opposite Leaf margin Entire or serrate Entire, may be dentate or serrate Entire Leaf veins Pinnate Pinnate Arcuate Inflorescence Terminal (or axillary) clusters Terminal panicles or cymes Terminal panicles or cymes Sepals 4 or 5 4 5 Petals 4 or 5 4 5 Style 2-5 1 1 Ovary position Inferior Inferior Inferior Sterile flowers Sometimes, marginal or may be whole inflorescence Sometimes, marginal or may be all Origin of sterile flowers Enlarged sepals Enlarged corolla lobes Fruit Capsule Drupe (1 seeded) Drupe (2-seeded) No, but may be subtended by bracts Page 7 of 7