LARE LARE Plants and Planting Design

Question 1

Which term describes a plant that completes its entire life cycle within one growing season?

Accepted Answer

Annual

Answer

An annual completes germination, growth, flowering, seed set, and death within a single growing season.

Question 2

On a LARE planting plan, what does a plant's 'caliper' measurement refer to?

Accepted Answer

Diameter of the trunk measured 6 inches above ground

Answer

Caliper is the trunk diameter of a tree, typically measured 6 inches above the ground for trees up to 4-inch caliper.

Question 3

Which USDA hardiness zone system do US landscape architects primarily reference when selecting plants for cold tolerance?

Accepted Answer

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Answer

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, based on average annual minimum temperatures, is the standard reference for cold tolerance in plant selection.

Question 4

What is a 'climax community' in the context of landscape succession?

Accepted Answer

The stable, long-term plant community that develops after succession

Answer

A climax community is the stable, self-perpetuating plant community that represents the endpoint of ecological succession in a given region.

Question 5

Which planting zone specification best ensures plant survival when installing trees in urban heat islands?

Accepted Answer

Select plants rated one zone warmer than the site's USDA zone

Answer

Urban heat islands elevate temperatures, so specifying plants rated for one zone warmer provides resilience against the higher ambient heat.

LARE Test Practice Test