Identification, origin, use, and cultural requirement of trees, shrubs, vines, and groundcovers used in Hawaiian landscapes. Pre: TPSS 200 or consent.

Course Description: At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to recognize, on sight, approximately 250 plants commonly used in tropical landscapes, and be able to describe their uses, environmental tolerances, and problem areas as well as their common and botanical names.

Class meetings will be a combination of lecture, demonstration, and site visits.  Students are expected to attend each class period (Wednesdays 1:30 to 5:20 pm).  Although the class schedule shows a start time of 12:30 pm, we will begin at 1:30 pm; the official end of the class is 5:20 pm.  A list of plants to be covered each period will be distributed via e-mail and at the beginning of class.  Plant identification quizzes will often take place during the initial half-hour of a site visit.  There will be no opportunity to make up missed plant quizzes or site visits (although you may visit sites on your own).

Field Trips:
Pearl City Urban Garden Facility, Lyon Arboretum, Halawa Xeriscape Garden, Liliuokalani Botanical Garden, Kapiolani Botanical Garden, Hale Koa, and Hilton Hawaiian Village, Restaurant Row Hawaii, Convention Center Cactus, and Succulent collection at Kapiolani Community College.

Text(s):  Rauch, F.D. and P. R. Weissich. 2000. Plants for Tropical Landscapes. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 232 pp.

Text Abstract: Carefully selected plants add color, character, and charm to a wide variety of outdoor settings, providing much enjoyment and increasing the value of your home. Plants for Tropical Landscapes will help you select and group plants to create a successful tropical garden tailored to your needs and tastes. Gardeners and landscapers will find this treasury of more than 500 common plants easy to use and one of the most comprehensive guides available today.

Plants are organized by size (ground covers, low shrubs, medium shrubs, small trees) and are fully illustrated with more than 700 color photographs to aid in their identification. The book presents guidelines on plant characteristics, soil and water requirements, and suggested landscape use for each species. In addition, appendices list plants suitable for special uses (xeriscapes, windbreaks, night gardens) and sites (beach gardens, lanai, and houseplants).