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PHG213 Landscape Plants - Characteristics and use

Credits (ECTS):15

Course responsible:Sally O'Halloran

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk

Limits of class size:70

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:375 hours

Teaching and exam period:The course starts in the August block. The course has teaching/assessment in the August block, the autumn parallel and the June block.

About this course

This module introduces you to plants used by landscape professionals in urban and rural landscapes and how these can be used to develop effective planting designs. You will become familiar with; a basic palette of plants used in Norwegian green spaces; their botanical names; visual and use characteristics; familiar with key aesthetic, functional and ecological principles underpinning planting design. Over the course of the academic year, you will learn how it identify and evaluate planting in three layers starting with the herbaceous layer, moving to the shrub and large grasses and finally the tree canopy.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

  • Demonstrate knowledge of plant systematics and nomenclature
  • Demonstrate familiarity with a basic palette of plants for use in design, including their botanical names, visual and use characteristics
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the value of plants in defining landscape space

Skills and general competence

  • Identify the key plants used in Norwegian green spaces
  • Apply understanding of plant selection for specific site and environmental conditions to real planting designs
  • Develop a planting design journal to show research and critical evaluation of plant use across multiple seasons
  • The module is taught primarily through a lecture series, NMBU park guided and independent plant walks, workshops, and a site visit. The lecture series provides the theoretical framework for understanding the principles of planting design focusing on plant characteristics and use. The lectures will also give background information and suggestions for further reading. Workshops encourage a more student led approach and encourage active participation. NMBU park plant walks aim to develop identification skills, to illustrate plant selection in specific site conditions and to critically evaluate plant use across multiple seasons. Development of the planting design journal is supported through workshops, directed reading and group tutorials (academic supervision). You will be expected to work both independently and collaboratively, to consolidate knowledge and skills developed in the lectures, workshops and plant walks through guided independent study.
  • Student learning will be supported through a combination of direct contact with teaching staff and online resources on Canvas. Formative feedback will be given in group tutorials (academic supervision) throughout the year to ensure you are progressing with the assessment. There will be access to the course co-ordinator during office hours. Communication between timetabled teaching will be via Canvas.
  • PHG113, BOT100 or equivalent.

  • Portfolio evaluation

    The evaluation consists of 3 tests that are assessed with Pass-Fail grades and 2 assignements that are assessed with grades A - F

    • Individual plant identification test on plants for late summer interest. On Canvas. Multiple choice. 30 mins. In the autumn parallel.
    • Individual plant identification test on plants for autumn and winter interest. On Canvas. Multiple choice. 1 hour. In the autumn parallel.
    • Individual plant identification test on plants for spring and early summer interest. On Canvas. Multiple choice. 30 mins. In the June block.
    • Group assignment titled The Planting Design Journal composed of 3 evaluations of different plantings. All 3 handed in as one portfolio. On Canvas. In January.
    • Individual presentation titled A Planting Through the Seasons composed of an evaluation of 1 planting across multiple seasons. PowerPoint Presentation. In the June block.


  • An internal examiner will approve the assessment arrangements for the course. An external examiner will take part in the evaluation of the group assignments.
  • Winter dendrology workshop
  • Bachelor's degree students in Plant Science, Bachelor's degree students in Landscape Construction and Management, Master's degree students in Landscape Architecture and Master's degree students in Plant Science.
  • Minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway (general study competence)