Gardening Terms R

Some of the common terms you will hear or read about when dealing with gardening.

This list is by no means a complete collection of horticultural techniques and terms.

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R Garden Terms

radicle: The main root of a seed; it is the direct continuation of the embryonic stem.

rebloom: A second bloom phase that usually produces smaller flowers in less number that the initial bloom period. Deadheading helps induce reblooming in some plants.

red tide: A bloom of algae in which the cells become so numerous that they give the water a reddish tint.

recurved: Curved downward or backwards.

reflexed: Sharply curved downward or backwards.

reforestation: Tree planting or seeding to replace a forest that has been destroyed.

reseed: To drop fertile seeds that will produce seedlings.

resistant: Tolerant of adverse conditions, ***this doesn't mean totally immune, just that a plant is less likely to get a disease or insect infestation.

reticulate venation: A netlike pattern of veins in a leaf.

reversion: When a plant returns to what is thought to be its' original and natural characteristics.

rhizome: Underground rootlike system that sends up leafy shoots from the top and sends roots down from the bottom. Examples are bamboo and iris.

rhythm: Repetition of elements in a landscape.

rib: The prominent vein of a leaf.

rock garden: A garden that emphasises the use of stones as a main element.

root: the Parts of a plant that extract water, gases and nutrients from the soil.

root ball: The round mass of soil which surrounds the roots of a plant.

root bound: When the plants roots have filled an area where they are contained, and can no longer function to their capacity.

root gall: Abnormal swelling on the roots of a plant, often caused by a disease or insect.

root hardy: Plants that can survive the winter although the parts above the ground die back for winter.

root spread: The horizontal spread of the roots of a plant, typically goes out as far as the top spreads out and sometimes further!

rooting hormone: A powder applied to cuttings to encourage root growth.

rosette: A crown of leaves radiating from from approximately the same point at or very near ground level.

runner: A long stem that creeps along the ground putting out little roots every so often and creating new plants at those points.

rust: A reddish brown discoloration on plants and lawns.