- -  AGRICULTURAL CORE CURRICULUM - -


(CLF6000) Advanced Core Cluster: ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE

 (CLF6650)  Unit Title: FLORICULTURE AND FLORAL DESIGN

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 (CLF6652)  Topic: IDENTIFICATION OF          Time   Taught in Year(s)
                     FOLIAGE & SEASONAL PLANTS  3 hours        3/4       
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        Topic Objectives: Upon completion of this lesson the student will 
        be able to:

        Learning Outcome #:

          (L-2) - Identify five common varieties of foliage used in 
                    arrangements.

          (L-12) - Identify seasonal plants and the holidays they are 
                    identified with.

        Special Materials and Equipment: Slides, photos or samples of each 
                    of the varieties of foliage and types of plants

        References: Anderson, Gary. (1988). FLORAL DESIGN AND MARKETING. 
                      Columbus, Ohio: Ohio State University, Agricultural 
                      Education Curriculum Materials Service (pp. 71-76).
                    Hillier, Malcolm. (1988). THE BOOK OF FRESH FLOWERS: 
                      A COMPLETE GUIDE TO SELECTING AND ARRANGING. New
                      York: Simon & Schuster.
                    Editors of Ortho Books. (1985). ARRANGING CUT 
                      FLOWERS. Available from: Ortho Books, P.O. Box 5047,
                      San Ramon, CA 94583 (pp. 22-37).
                    Society of American Florists. (1976). CARE AND 
                      HANDLING OF FLOWERS AND PLANTS. Kalamazoo, MI:
                      Merchants Publishing Company.

        Evaluation: Identification quiz by instructor

TOPIC PRESENTATION: FOLIAGE AND SEASONAL PLANT IDENTIFICATION

A. Foliages serve several functions in floral arrangements.

   1. They help cover up the mechanics of the arrangement, i.e.,
       floral foam, tape, vase, etc.

   2. They help form the shape and style of the design.

   3. They serve as a contrast to the flowers in the arrangement.

B. Floral designers utilize foliages in various ways.

   1. Some begin their designs with foliage and shape them with greenery.

   2. Some begin with flowers and then fill in the open spaces with
       foliage.

   3. Many use two or more types of foliage in an arrangement. This
       adds more textures, shapes, and colors to the design.

   4. Some floral arrangements are designed solely with different types of 
       foliage varieties. These can be very striking and unusual.

C. Five of the most commonly used and longest lasting foliage varieties
   include the following, all of which are sold by the bunch or case, 
   and are usually available year-round:

   1. Asparagus fern - Several popular varieties including the following:

       a. Asparagus densiflorus - Sprengeri fern

       b. Asparagus macowanii - Ming fern

       c. Asparagus setaceus - plumosus

       d. Asparagus virgatus - tree fern

   2. Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum)

   3. Leather-leaf fern (Rumohra adiantiformis)

   4. Lemon leaf or salal (Gaultheria shallon)

   5. Myrtle (Myrtus communis)

   6. For other possible varieties refer to the CATA curriculur code 
       floriculture list.

D. Many seasonal plants are used in the floral industry, and a number of 
   them are grown for particular seasons or holidays.

   1. The floriculture and floral design industries have done a very good 
       job of marketing seasonal plants. They make good use of colorful
       posters, television, and newspaper and magazine advertisements.

   2. Consumers often associate certain holidays with certain plants, and
       will buy several to decorate their homes, offices, and outdoor 
       living spaces. Examples are poinsettias at Christmas and lilies at 
       Easter.

   3. Some plants are grown and used all during the year, and some are 
       grown for specific holidays. The following are examples of several 
       of the most popular potted plants:
                         POPULAR SEASONAL PLANTS


PLANT NAME                   FLOWER COLORS                SEASON

African violet            White, pinks, lavenders,        Year-round,
                          bright red, blue, and           especially
                          salmon                          in spring
        
Azalea                    White, pink, salmon,            Year-round,
                          red, purple, variegated         especially 
                                                           at Christmas

Chrysanthemum             White, shades of gold,          Year round,
                          yellow, pink, lavender,         especially
                          bronze and red                  Thanksgiving

Cyclamen                  White, pinks, lavenders,        Year-round,
                          reds, purples                   especially
                                                           at Christmas
                                                           and Valentine's
                                                           Day

Easter lily               White                           Easter

Gloxinia                  Vivid red, white, purple        Year-round,
                          shades (Flowers are             especially at
                          often bicolor, with petal       Christmas
                          edges in a contrasting
                          shade.)

Hyacinth                  White, red, violet,             Early spring,
                          shades of pink and blue         Easter

Hydrangea                 Pink, blue, white,              Early spring,
                          lavender                        Easter

Kalanchoe                 Bright scarlet red, pink,       Year-round
                          salmon, oranges & yellows 
                          to creamy-white shades

Poinsettia                Red, pink, white; bi-           Christmas
                          color with red and pink
                          or pink and white bracts
                          (vividly colored leaves)
                          All varieties have small 
                          golden-yellow flowers in 
                          the center.

Tulips                    White, cream, yellow,           January
                          orange, red, pink, lavender,    through
                          purple; bi-color varieties      May


   4. For other possible varieties, refer to the CATA curricular code
       floriculture contest.

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         ACTIVITY: 
                     
         1. Take a field trip to a local florist shop and identify
             the various types of foliages and seasonal plants 
             they have for sale.

         2. Have students look at the photographs in a trade 
             association flower selection book and identify the 
             foliages and seasonal plants shown.

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1/7/91 CH/clh

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