The Basics of Botany

You may be impressed with the determination of nature when you find that little sprout growing up from the driveway or contemplate how wooden roots crumble concrete. On the one hand it is incredible, but if these things are happening on your property you may not be inclined to agree. Enter monocots and dicots (also known as eudicots). These two subcategories of flowering plants are very common in most landscapes, so there are a few things you should know before you begin to plan your landscape.

Monocots

Monocots are flowering plants that grow tall and wide, up to a certain size. Think of monocots as grass, palms, and orchids. Monocots have one seed leaf and parallel veins in their leaves. The vascular system in monocots (the food and water delivery system) are scattered in bundles throughout the stem of the plant.

Fun Fact: Have you ever noticed how palms have narrow, soft trunks compared to oak trees? That is because they do not have secondary growth, meaning they cannot make wood. So yes, palms are more closely related to grasses!

Dicots

Dicots are flowering plants that have secondary woody growth and continuously grow tall and wide. Roses, cactus, and crepe myrtles are dicots. Dicots have two seed leaves and have a net-like network of veins in their leaves. The vascular system is arranged in a ring around the outermost layer of the stem. Dicots can grow wood, like oak trees.

Smart Landscaping

UF/IFAS has created a program that breaks down how to successfully garden and landscape in Florida. The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program is based on 9 principles that support and promote sustainable gardening practices in Florida. The first principle is ‘Right Plant, Right Place’. Select plants that can survive in the location you want to landscape. Match the plant’s needs to the site’s soil, light, water, and climate conditions. This simple step will lead to a healthy, low maintenance landscape.

To read more about the principles, check out this detailed guide about the 9 Principles. The program also offers several science based publications and webinars for homeowners and professionals.

Summary

This is important information to consider when designing a landscape. Consider the location you’ve selected to landscape. Is it near the house, sidewalk, or driveway? Consider how large the plant you select will get, both height and width. Plants are one of the most important parts of life, so when we understand their biology we can use them to our advantage. With this understanding, you can plan a harmonious landscape!

Have a question?

If you have any questions about gardening in Central Florida, please contact UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County at 352-518-0156. For more information on UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County Community Gardens, and how you can join one, visit http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/pasco/. Supervising Agent: Dr. Whitney Elmore.

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