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Comprehensive Guide to Ornamental Crops and Landscape Uses in Nepal

Explore types, classification, production, and landscape applications of ornamental plants in Nepal, including trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals for aesthetic and environmental benefits.

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Introduction to important ornamental crops in Nepal: ornamental plants, types of ornamental plants, classification of ornamental plants based on life cycle, growth habit and use; types of trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, annuals and their basic production and use in ornamental horticulture, use of ornamental plants as avenue plantation, hedges, edges, cluster planting or standard in the landscape Prepared by Umesh Timilsina Assistant Professor AFU
Ornamental plants • Ornamental plants are plants grown for beauty, decoration, and shape rather than for food or practical use. Key Types of Ornamental Plants • Flowering plants: Grown for bright and colorful blooms (such as roses, marigolds, and tulips). • Foliage plants: Valued for unique, pretty leaf shapes and patterns (such as ferns). • Trees and shrubs: Used to shape yards, provide shade, or create fences (such as hibiscus and bougainvillea). • Houseplants: Kept inside homes in small pots (such as Snake plants and pothos) Common Uses • Gardens and parks: To make public and private outdoor spaces look nice. • Indoor decor: To bring color and life into rooms and offices. • Environmental help: To clean the air, give shade, and cool down hot city areas
Fern Pothos
Types of Ornamental Plants • Ornamental plants can be broadly grouped into the following categories: Trees Shrubs Herbaceous perennials Annual flowers Biennials Climbers and creepers Ground covers Palms Ferns Ornamental grasses Cacti and succulents Aquatic plants Indoor plants
Classification of Ornamental Plants A. Classification Based on Life Cycle 1. Annuals • Annual plants complete their life cycle within one growing season. Characteristics: • Grow from seed • Flower once • Produce seed • Die after seed formation Examples: • Marigold (Tagetes erecta) • China aster (Callistephus chinensis) • Zinnia (Zinnia elegans) • Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) • Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Uses: Flower beds Borders Pot culture Bedding plants
Zinnia Cosmos
2. Biennials • Biennial plants complete their life cycle in two season. First year: • Vegetative growth Second year: • Flowering • Seed production Examples: • Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) • Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) • Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)
Sweet William
Foxglove
Hollyhock
3. Perennials • Perennial plants live for more than two years. Characteristics: • Flower repeatedly • Long-lived • Require less frequent replanting Examples: • Rose (Rosa spp.) • Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) • Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) • Canna (Canna indica) • Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa)
B. Classification Based on Growth Habit 1. Trees • Trees are woody perennial plants with a single main stem (trunk) and a well-developed crown. Characteristics: • Height generally exceeds 6 meters. • Long lifespan. • Provide shade and structural elements in landscapes. Propagation • Seed • Grafting • Budding • Air layering • Cuttings (species dependent) Uses:  Avenue planting  Parks  Public gardens  Institutional compounds  Shade  Landscape focal points
Common Name Scientific Name Family Royal Poinciana (Gulmohar) Delonix regia Fabaceae Jacaranda Jacaranda mimosifolia Bignoniaceae Golden Shower Cassia fistula Fabaceae Bottle Brush Callistemon citrinus Myrtaceae Ashoka Polyalthia longifolia Annonaceae Champa Plumeria rubra Apocynaceae Common ornamental trees in Nepal
Ashoka True Ashoka False Ashoka
Champa
2. Shrubs • Shrubs are woody perennial plants with several stems arising from the base. Characteristics: • Medium height • Dense branching • Easily pruned Uses: • Hedges • Borders • Foundation planting • Group planting Propagation: • Stem cuttings • Air layering • Seed (selected species)
Examples: Common Name Scientific Name Family Hibiscus Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Malvaceae Ixora Ixora coccinea Rubiaceae Duranta Duranta erecta Verbenaceae Croton Codiaeum variegatum Euphorbiaceae Acalypha Acalypha wilkesiana Euphorbiaceae Mussaenda Mussaenda philippica Rubiaceae
Acalypha Mussaenda
3. Herbaceous Perennials • Herbaceous perennials possess soft, non-woody stems and survive for many years. Examples: Common Name Scientific Name Canna Canna indica Day Lily Hemerocallis fulva Iris Iris germanica Gerbera Gerbera jamesonii Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum morifolium Propagation: Division Rhizomes Tubers Suckers Uses: Flower beds Borders Landscape planting
Canna
Day Lily
Iris
4. Annual Flowers • Annual flowers are widely used because they produce abundant flowers over a short period. • Popular annuals in Nepal include: Common Name Scientific Name Marigold Tagetes erecta China Aster Callistephus chinensis Petunia Petunia hybrida Salvia Salvia splendens Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus Zinnia Zinnia elegans Phlox Phlox drummondii Propagation:  Seeds Uses  Bedding  Borders  Pot culture  Mass planting
Petunia
Salvia
Classification of Ornamental plants on the basis of Use Basis of Use Examples Main Use Flowering trees Gulmohar, Jacaranda Avenue and landscape Flowering shrubs Hibiscus, Ixora Hedges, borders Annuals Marigold, Petunia Seasonal beds Biennials Sweet William, Foxglove Bedding Perennials Rose, Chrysanthemum Long-term gardens Climbers Bougainvillea, Allamanda Pergolas, walls Ground covers Wedelia, Alternanthera Soil cover Lawn grasses Bermuda, Zoysia Lawns Indoor plants Snake Plant, Peace Lily Interior decoration Palms Areca, Royal Palm Landscaping Cacti & succulents Aloe, Jade Plant Rock gardens Aquatic plants Lotus, Water Lily Water gardens Cut flowers Rose, Gerbera Floral industry Hedge plants Duranta, Murraya Living fences Fragrant plants Jasmine, Tuberose Fragrance and decoration
Wedelia Alternenthera
Jade Plant
Basic Production Technology of Ornamental Crops 1. Site Selection • Well-drained fertile soil • Adequate sunlight • Reliable irrigation • Good accessibility 2. Soil • Sandy loam to loam • Rich in organic matter • pH 6.0–7.0 (most ornamentals)
3. Land Preparation • Deep ploughing • Addition of farmyard manure (FYM) • Fine tilth • Raised beds for annual flowers 4. Propagation Methods • Seed • Stem cuttings • Air layering • Grafting • Budding • Division • Bulbs • Rhizomes • Tissue culture (for orchids, anthurium, gerbera, etc.)
5. Nutrient Management • Apply well-decomposed FYM before planting. • Balanced NPK fertilizers according to crop requirements. • Micronutrient application where deficiencies occur. 6. Irrigation • Regular irrigation after planting. • Avoid waterlogging. • Drip irrigation is recommended for commercial production. 7. Weed Management • Hand weeding • Mulching • Herbicides (where appropriate) 8. Pest and Disease Management • Regular monitoring. • Sanitation and removal of infected plant parts. • Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
Landscape Uses of Ornamental Plants A. Avenue Plantation • Avenue planting refers to planting trees in rows along roads, highways, streets, and walkways. Objectives • Provide shade • Improve aesthetics • Reduce dust and noise • Beautify roadsides Characteristics of Avenue Trees • Straight trunk • Deep root system • Non-invasive roots • Attractive flowers or foliage • Wind resistance • Low maintenance Suitable Species Gulmohar (Delonix regia) Ashoka (Polyalthia longifolia) Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) Bottle Brush (Callistemon citrinus) Golden Shower (Cassia fistula)
B. Hedge • A hedge is a row of closely planted shrubs or small trees maintained by regular pruning to form a living fence. Functions • Boundary demarcation • Privacy • Windbreak • Noise reduction • Security Common Hedge Plants • Duranta (Duranta erecta) • Murraya (Murraya paniculata) • Clerodendrum (Clerodendrum inerme) • Acalypha (Acalypha wilkesiana) • Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.)
Duranta (Golden dewdrops)
Murraya कामिनी फू ल or बजरदन्ते
Clerodendrum (Clerodendrum inerme)
C. Edge • An edge is a low-growing plant used to define the margins of flower beds, paths, or lawns. Characteristics • Compact growth • Uniform height • Easy to maintain Common Edge Plants • Alternanthera (Alternanthera ficoidea) • Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) • Dwarf Marigold (Tagetes patula) • Iresine (Iresine herbstii)
Alternanthera
Alyssum
Iresine
Dwarf Marigold
D. Cluster Planting • Cluster planting involves planting groups of the same or compatible species together to create a natural, visually attractive effect. Advantages • Strong visual impact • Natural appearance • Improved color harmony • Increased landscape interest Suitable plants include: • Canna • Bougainvillea • Ixora • Hibiscus • Chrysanthemum
E. Specimen (Standard) Planting • A specimen or standard plant is grown individually to serve as a focal point in the landscape due to its outstanding form, foliage, flowers, or canopy. Characteristics • Distinctive appearance • Well-balanced crown • High ornamental value Examples: • Royal Palm (Roystonea regia) • Bottle Brush (Callistemon citrinus) • Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) • Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica)
Magnolia
Weeping Willow
Summary • Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for aesthetic, environmental, social, and economic purposes. • They are classified based on life cycle, growth habit, and landscape use. • Trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals are the major groups used in ornamental horticulture. • Proper propagation, nutrition, irrigation, and pest management are essential for successful production. • Landscape applications such as avenue planting, hedges, edges, cluster planting, and specimen planting enhance the functionality and beauty of gardens and public spaces.
References • Bose, T. K., Maiti, R. G., Dhua, R. S., & Das, P. (2003). Floriculture and Landscaping. Naya Udyog. • Chadha, K. L. (Ed.). (2001). Handbook of Horticulture. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). • Randhawa, G. S., & Mukhopadhyay, A. (2000). Floriculture in India. Allied Publishers. • Bhattacharjee, S. K. (2012). Advances in Ornamental Horticulture (Vols. 1–6). Pointer Publishers. • Government of Nepal, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. Statistical Information on Nepalese Agriculture (latest edition). • Floriculture Association Nepal (FAN). Publications and technical bulletins.
Short Questions • Define ornamental plants. • Classify ornamental plants based on their life cycle. • Differentiate between annuals and perennials. • What is a hedge? Mention two suitable hedge plants. • Define avenue plantation. • What is specimen planting? Long Questions • Discuss the classification of ornamental plants based on life cycle and growth habit with suitable examples. • Describe the characteristics, propagation, and landscape uses of ornamental trees and shrubs. • Explain the basic production technology of ornamental crops. • Discuss the different landscape uses of ornamental plants with examples from Nepal.