Refers to plants that have the potential to spread quickly through areas in which they are not wanted; (Different from invasive; see definition for invasive)
An arrangement in which leaves or buds are attached singly to the branch in a staggered pattern; (can also apply to the arrangement of branches on a stem)
A plant that completes its life cycle in two years; it grows from seed to form a small plant the first year, and then flowers and sets seed the following year.
The swollen area located where the base of a branch attaches to the trunk of a tree; pruning cuts should be made on the outside of the branch collar so they heal properly.
Coefficient of Conservatism; C values range from 0 - 10, and represent the estimated probability that a native plant is likely to occur in a remnant natural plant community (applies to Chicago area native plants).
A collaborative plant introduction program consisting of partnerships between Chicago Botanic Garden, The Morton Arboretum, and the Ornamental Grower’s Association of Northern Illinois (OGA), designed to develop and promote the use of new plant cultivars that are well-adapted to the growing conditions of the Upper Midwest
The yellowing or loss of green pigment in a leaf; interveinal chlorosis refers to a yellow leaf with green veins often due to iron or manganese deficiency
The US Department of Agriculture has divided the country into regions based on average low winter temperatures. Plants are assigned to hardiness zones based on the lowest temperature the plant can tolerate before cellular damage occurs.
A point of poor bark attachment that occurs when two or more stems grow closely together, causing the bark to roll inward and produce weak, under supported branches
Typically, a non-native plant that competes with native plants for water, nutrients and space, destroying the natural habitat and ecosystem of native species in the process; (Different from aggressive; see definition for aggressive).
A layer of material, such as woodchips or compost, that is applied on the soil surface to retain soil moisture and moderate soil temperature extremes; if organic, it will break down to improve soil structure and fertility
An arrangement in which leaves or buds that are attached to opposite sides of a branch at the same node; (can also apply to the arrangement of branches)
A type of inflorescence in which flowers arise from a central stalk, with each flower having its own stalk (as opposed to a spike, where each flower is connected directly to the central stalk)
A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of soil; pH influences the availability and uptake of nutrients for plant growth, and is measured on a scale ranging from 1 - 14, with 7.0 being neutral.
The arrangement of individual soil particles and pore space into larger units, or aggregates; soil structure affects the amount of air and water held in the soil.
A level of botanical classification below genus that consists of naturally occurring plants that share similar characteristics, and are capable of producing offspring with those characteristics