Flowering Shrubs

Learn to identify and grow a wide variety of shrubs. Horticulture training for gardeners, landscapers, environmentalists, farmers, nurserymen.

Course Code: BHT347
Fee Code: S3
Duration (approx) Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification Statement of Attainment
Get started!

Expand Your Knowledge of Flowering Shrubs

  • See the big picture - there is a system to understanding them
  • Learn about more species than you currently know
  • Explore more and better ways of cultivating shrubs
  • Become a better plantsperson

Flowering shrubs are small to medium sized plants with single or multiple stems arising from the ground. They are perennial plants; that is, they grow for many years. Their wood is usually hard (unlike herbs and succulents). The characteristics that define a shrub are however very general comments on the growth habitat used to distinguish it from other growth habits such as those of trees, climbers, creepers, herbs, annuals, and biennials.

Lesson Structure

There are 9 lessons in this course:

  1. Scope and Nature of Flowering Shrubs
    • Why Grow Shrubs
    • Choosing Appropriate Shrubs
    • Classification and Naming
    • Shrub Nomenclature
    • How the Genus Rosa is Split Up
    • Broad Rules when Writing Plant Names
    • Ranks of Classification
    • Dicotyledons and Monocotyledons
    • Dahgren System for grouping families into orders
    • Cronquist System
    • Continuing Change
    • Rosids
    • Order Rosales
    • Order Malphigiales
    • Order Sapindales
    • Order Malvales
    • Order Saxifragales
    • Asterids (Asteranae)
    • Myrtles (Myrtiflorae)
    • Solanales
    • Cornales
    • Dipsacales
    • Boraginales
    • Rules for Identifying Plants
    • Botanical Key Concept
  2. How to Establish and Care for Shrubs
    • Choosing Shrubs
    • Preparing the Garden
    • Consider the Site
    • Getting Soil Ready
    • Time of Planting
    • Planting Shrubs
    • Staking
    • Shrub Maintenance
    • Good Hygiene
    • Watering
    • Nutrition
    • Mulching
    • Pruning
    • Inspecting for Pest and Disease
    • Common Problems - pests, diseases, environmental issues, weeds
    • Controlling Pest and Disease
    • Working with the Space Available
    • Controlling Roots
    • Controlling plant growth
  3. The Rosids
    • Superorder Rosanae - Fabids, Malvids & others
    • Rosaceae : Chenomeles, Cotoneaster, Kerria, Pyracantha, Rosa, Spiraea
    • Rhamnaceae : Ceonothus
    • Eleagnaceae : Eleagnus
    • Saxifragaceae – Deutzia, Hydrangea
    • Celastraceae – Euonymus
    • Euphorbaceae – Codiaeum
    • Hypericaceae – Hypericum
    • Cistaceae -Cistus
    • Malvaceae – Hibiscus
    • Thymelaceae - Daphne, Pimelea
    • Rutaceae -Boronia, Choisya, Coleonema,Correa, Crowea, Fortunella, Murraya
  4. The Asterids (Superorder Asteranae)
    • Introduction to Asteranae: Lamids & Campanulids
    • Differences between Asterids and Rosids
    • Asterid Shrub Families
    • Acanthaceae - Justicia/Beloperone, Barleria, Pachystachus, Aphelandra, (Order Lamiales)
    • Lamiaceae -Lavendula, Ocimum (Basil), Prostanthera, Salvia, Rosmarinus, Westringia, Leonotis, Prostanthera (Order Lamiales
    • Scrophulariaceae -Hebe, Eremophila, Myoporum, Veronica (Order Lamiales)
    • Verbenaceae -Aloysia, Clerodendrum, Duranta, Lantana, Verbena (Order Lamiales)
    • Oleaceae – Forsythia, Ligustrum, Jasminum, Syringia (Order Lamiales)
    • Rubiaceae – Bouvardia, Coprosma, Gardenia, Luculia, Musseanda, Pentas (Order Gentiales)
  5. Order Ericales
    • Introduction
    • Ericaceae -Andromeda, Rhododendron (includes Azaleas), Calluna, Erica, Kalmia, Pieris, and Vaccinium (Blueberry).
    • Theaceae - Camellia, Gordonia, and Stewartia.
    • Clethraceae - Clethra
    • Syracaceae - Halesia and Styrax
  6. Significant Shrubs in Myrtiflorae
    • Introduction
    • Lythraceae – Cuphea, Pomegranate
    • Myrtaceae - Bauera, Callistemon/Melaleuca, Leptospermum and others
    • Melastomaceae – Tibouchina, Melastoma, Medinilla, Osbeckia
    • Onagraceae – Fuchsia
  7. Corniflorae and Solaniflorae
    • Introduction
    • Caprifoliaceae -Abelia, Kolkwitzia, Lonicera, Viburnum, Weigelia (Order Dipscales, Superorder Cornifloae)
    • Cornaceae - Cornus (Order Cornales, Superorder Corniflorae)
    • Hydrangeaceae - Hydrangea, Deutzia, Philadelphus (Order Cornales, Superorder Corniflorae)
    • Boraginaceae – Heliotropum (Superorder Solaniflorae)
    • Solanaceae - Browallia, Brunfelsia, Cestrum, Solanum (superorder Solaniflorae)
  8. Other Important Shrubs
    • Berberidaceae -Berberis, Mahonia, Nandina
    • Buxaceae – Buxus
    • Fabaceae – Genista, Pultenaea, Acacia
    • Plumbaginaceae – Ceratostigma (Plumbago)
    • Polygalaceae – Polygala
    • Proteaceae – Banksia, Grevillea, Protea
  9. Plant Selection and Design

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

  • Discuss the scientific classification, scope and nature of shrubs, and compare some of the differences in appearance characteristics between important plant orders and families that encompass horticulturally significant shrubs.
  • Describe different techniques used to prepare for planting, plant, nurture and maintain shrubs in different horticultural situations.
  • Identify and describe a variety of different commonly grown flowering shrubs that are related to roses, in that they are on occasion classified into the taxonomic order Rosales or the superorder Rosanae.
  • Identify and describe a variety of different commonly grown flowering shrubs that are related to lavender, in that they are on occasion classified into the taxonomic superorder Asteranae.
  • Identify and describe a variety of different commonly grown flowering shrubs that are related to rhododendrons, in that they are on occasion classified into the taxonomic order Ericales.
  • Identify and describe a variety of different commonly grown flowering shrubs that are related to Leptospermums, in that they are on occasion classified into the taxonomic order Rosales or the superorder Myrtiflorae.
  • Identify and describe a variety of different commonly grown flowering shrubs that are related to Viburnum and Cestrum, in that they are on occasion classified into the taxonomic groups Corniflorae and Solaniflorae.
  • Identify and describe a variety of different commonly grown flowering shrubs that are from significant plant families not studied earlier in this course.
  • Select appropriate shrubs and explain how to use them in different places.

Where Do You find Shrubs? - Where do you Grow them?

In their natural habitat, some shrubs occur as the predominant or tallest plants in the landscape, where they grow above, and provide protection for, lower plants such as herbs and grasses. Such shrubs are often better adapted to dealing with full sun and weather extremes.  Others occur in their natural habitats under the canopy of trees which provide shade and protection for them. To know where a plant grows in nature can be an indication of the conditions that best suit it in a garden.

Don't Worry about Occasional Contradictions

Many of the most grown shrubs in horticulture are related to each other. We know this by genetic and morphological (appearance) similarities.  This is not a perfect system, and you may find contradictions but using it is by far the best way to build a knowledge of identifying and cultivating what amounts to hundreds of thousands of different plants. 

Large numbers of flowering plants are firstly broken into large groups, then sequentially, those groups are subdivided again and again; forming various levels of classification.

The lowest levels of classification thus have the greatest number of shared characteristics - not only in terms of what they look like (and genetics); but also in terms of how they should be cultivated.  By understanding these classifications helps you to do two things much easier:

  1. identify plants and remember their names, and,
  2. become informed about how to grow plants.

Remember:

  • The scientific system of classifying plants is a mans attempt to simplify nature - and different scientists don't always agree - so sometimes there are seemingly contradictory classifications.
  • Classifications do change from time to time - so if you are looking at two different names for the same plant, one might be from the past, and the other current
  • Plants tend to perform similarly to those plants they are related to and classified closely to.
Member Nursery and Garden Industry Association.
Member Nursery and Garden Industry Association.
Since 1999 ACS has been a recognised member of IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre). A non-profit quality management organisation servicing education.
Since 1999 ACS has been a recognised member of IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre). A non-profit quality management organisation servicing education.
ACS is a Member of the Permaculture Association (membership number 14088).
ACS is a Member of the Permaculture Association (membership number 14088).
Long-term member since 1986.
Long-term member since 1986.
ACS is an organisational member of the Future Farmers Network.
ACS is an organisational member of the Future Farmers Network.
Our Principal John Mason, was awarded a fellowship by the Australian Institute of Horticulture in 2010
Our Principal John Mason, was awarded a fellowship by the Australian Institute of Horticulture in 2010

How can I start this course?

You can enrol at anytime and start the course when you are ready. Enrolments are accepted all year - students can commence study at any time. All study is self paced and ACS does not set assignment deadlines.

Please note that if a student is being assisted by someone else (e.g. an employer or government subsidy), the body offering the assistance may set deadlines. Students in such situations are advised to check with their sponsor prior to enrolling. The nominal duration of a course is approximately how long a course takes to complete. A course with a nominal duration of 100 hours is expected to take roughly 100 hours of study time to complete. However, this will vary from student to student. Short courses (eg. 100 hrs duration) should be completed within 12 months of enrolment. Certificates, Advanced Certificates and Awards (eg. over 500 hours duration) would normally be completed within 3 -5 years of enrolment. Additional fees may apply if a student requires an extended period to complete.
If a student cannot submit their assignments for 6 months to ACS, they should advise the school to avoid cancellation of their student
registration. Recommencement fees may apply.

Simply click on the ENROL OPTIONS button at the top of this screen and follow the prompts.

You can see the course price at the top of this page. Click 'enrolment options' to see any payment options available.

You can pay by Credit Card, PayPal, Afterpay or bank transfer.

Yes! We have payment plans for most courses. Click 'enrolment options' to see the available payment plans.
We also have Afterpay that will allow you to pay for your course or payment plans in four instalments (if you are in Australia).


What do I need to know before I enrol?

There are no entry requirements that you need to meet to enrol in our courses, our courses are for everyone.
If you are under 18, we need written permission from your parent/ guardian for your enrolment to continue, we can arrange that after you have enrolled.

You don’t need to purchase any additional resources to complete our courses.

We aim to teach you the essentials without you having to purchase any specific computer program.
We recommend that you have access to a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs, so that you can easily complete and submit your assignments.

You sure can. We are here to help you learn whatever your abilities.

Yes, if you are enrolling in a Certificate or Advanced Certificate, you might be eligible for credits if you have evidence of your previous studies or relevant experience. More information is here.

We recommend that you are able to browse websites, send emails and conduct online research. You will need to be able to type and submit your assignments.
If you have limited computer skills, we can make special arrangements for you.

This is possible, it depends on the institution. We recommend that if you would like to use our courses that you contact the institution first. Our Course Handbook is a good resource for this.

Our courses are written in English and we only have English speaking academic staff. If you can read and complete your assignments in English, our courses are ideal for you.

Our courses are designed to build knowledge, hands on skills and industry connections to help prepare you to work in the area, running your own business, professional development or as a base for further study.

This course has been designed to cover the fundamentals of the topic. It will take around 100 hours to complete, which includes your course reading, assignment work, research, practical tasks, watching videos and anything else that is contained in the course. Our short courses are a great way to do some professional development or to learn a new skill.

It’s up to you. The study hours listed in the course are a rough guide, however if you were to study a short course (100 hours) at 10 hours per week, you could finish the course in 10 weeks (just an example). Our courses are self-paced, so you can work through the courses in your own time. We recommend that you wait for your tutor to mark and return your assignment before your start your next one, so you get the benefits of their feedback.

The course consists of course notes, videos, set tasks for your practical work, online quizzes, an assignment for each lesson (that you receive feedback from your tutor from) and ends in an exam (which is optional, if would like to receive the formal award at the end), using our custom built Learning Management System - Login.Training.

Our courses are designed for adults to gain professional development and skills to further their careers and start businesses.

Our custom online learning portal allows you to conduct your learning online. There may be practical tasks that you can do offline. You have the option of downloading your course notes or print them to read later.

There is also the option to pay an additional fee for printed course notes and or USB (availability limited to location and deliverability).

Yes, if you don’t have access to the internet, you can receive the course as paper notes or on a USB stick for an additional fee. We can also make alternative arrangements for you to send your assignments to us.

We offer printed notes for an additional fee. Also, you can request your course notes on a USB stick for an additional fee.

Yes, your tutor is here to help you. Simply post any questions you have in your login.training portal or contact the office and we can pass on a message to your tutor.

We are more learning focussed, rather than assessment focussed. You have online quizzes to test your learning, written assignments and can complete an exam at the end of the course (if you want to receive your certificate). You will not receive a pass/ fail on your course work. If you need to add more details on your assignment, we will ask you to resubmit and direct you where you need to focus. If you need help, you can ask your tutor for advice in the student room.

Each module (short course) is completed with one exam.

Exams are optional, however you must sit an exam if you would like to receive a formal award. You will need to find someone who can supervise that you are sitting the exams under exams conditions. There is an additional cost of $60 incl. GST for each exam.
More information is here

There are practical components built into the course that have been designed to be achieved by anyone, anywhere. If you are unable to complete a task for any reason, you can ask your tutor for an alternative.

When you complete the course work and the exam and you will be able receive your course certificate- a Statement of Attainment. Otherwise, you can receive a Letter of Completion.

You can bundle the short courses to create your own customised learning bundle, Certificates or Advanced Certificates. More information is on this page.

Yes, our courses are built to be applicable for people living anywhere in any situation. We provide the fundamentals, and each student can apply their own unique flair for their own interests, region and circumstances with the one-on-one guidance of a tutor. There is also a bit of student directed research involved.

Employers value candidates with industry skills, knowledge, practical skills and formal learning. Our courses arm you with all of these things to help prepare you for a job or start your own business. The longer you study the more you will learn.

ACS has an arrangement with OAMPS (formerly AMP) who can arrange Professional Indemnity from Australian and New Zealand graduates across all disciplines. Ph: 1800 222 012 or email acs@oamps.com.au.


Who are ACS Distance Education?

ACS Distance Education have been educating people for over 40 years.

We are established and safe- we have been in education for over 40 years.
We are focused on developing innovative courses that are relevant to you now and what you will need to know in the future.
We are focused on helping you learn and make the most of your experience.
You can enrol at any time, you can work on your course when it suits you and at your own pace.
We are connected to many industry bodies and our staff participate in continuous improvement and learning activities to ensure that we are ahead of what learning is needed for the future.

Our courses are not accredited by the Australian Government. However many of our courses are recognised and held in high regard by many industry bodies.

Our courses are written by our staff, who all have many years experience and have qualifications in their speciality area. We have lots of academic staff who write and update our courses regularly.


How do I enrol my staff/ sponsored students?

Yes, you can do a request for a bulk enrolment and request an invoice on our Invoice Request Form

We can prepare an invoice, quote or proforma invoice. Simply complete your details on our Invoice Request form

We can arrange bulk discounts for your course enrolment, please get in touch with us to discuss your needs.

Yes, we have many students who are in locked facilities, such as prisons or hospitals. We can cater by also offering paper notes at an additional cost.


What if I have any more questions or need more information?

We can assist you to find the right course for your needs. Get in touch with us via email (admin@acs.edu.au) call on +61 7 5562 1088 or complete our course advice form.


What if I change my mind?

Please get in touch with studentservices@acs.edu.au if you would like to be removed from our mail list.

If you would like ACS Distance Education to delete your information at any time (whether you are a customer or a prospective customer), please contact our privacy officer and we will process this ( admin@acs.edu.au ).

If students require a reproduction of their certificate, an electronic copy can be provided at a cost of AUD$35 incl GST. Printed copies are not available.




Course Contributors

The following academics were involved in the development and/or updating of this course.

Need Help?

Take advantage of our personalised, expert course counselling service to ensure you're making the best course choices for your situation.


I agree for ACS Distance Education to contact me and store my information until I revoke my approval. For more info, view our privacy policy.