Response of three species of woody ornamental plantes under various ecological regimes in Tennessee

A study of the response of three species of woody ornamental plants, Mahonia pinnata, Buxus sempervirens, and Taxus media browni, was initiated in 1967 to determine how these plants would respond to (1) directional exposure; (2) background color; and (3) different climatic regimes of Tennessee. Mahonia pinnata plants placed at the north exposure had longer leaves than those at the south and west exposure and were taller and had less winter burn than those at the west exposure. Leaves were longer at Crossville than at Jackson, Knoxville, and Spring Hill. Mahonia pinnata plants at Knoxville had a greater increase in height and a greater maximum width than did those at any of the other locations. Taxus media browni plants at the north exposure had (1) greater increase in height than those at the east exposure; (2) longer shoots and a greater increase in width than those at the south exposure; (3) a darker green color than those at the east, south, and west exposures. Buxus sempervirens plants were darker green at the north exposure than at the west and south exposures and had a greater increase in height and had longer shoots at Knoxville than at any of the other locations. The south and west exposures had a greater yearly mean of the weekly maximum temperatures than did the east and north exposures. The south, west, and east exposures had a greater summer mean of the weekly maximum temperatures than did the north exposure. Spring Hill had the highest yearly and summer mean of the weekly maximum temperatures.