Texas FFA Nursery Landscape Practice Exam

Which group contains only deciduous plants?

1. River Birch, Southern Magnolia, Ilex vomitoria

2. Live Oak, Chinese Tallow, Sophora secundiflora

3. Cedar Elm, Carya illinoinensis, Red Oak

4. Taxus cuspidata, Sycamore, Bradford pear

The correct answer is: Cedar Elm, Carya illinoinensis, Red Oak

The group containing only deciduous plants is identified correctly. Deciduous plants are those that shed their leaves annually, typically in the fall. Cedar Elm, Carya illinoinensis (Pecan), and Red Oak are all deciduous species, meaning they experience seasonal leaf drop. Cedar Elm is known for its ability to adapt to various soil conditions and is recognized for its beautiful yellow fall foliage. Carya illinoinensis, commonly the Pecan tree, also exhibits a fall color change and drops its leaves during winter. Red Oak is significant for its vibrant red hues in the fall and also loses its leaves seasonally. In contrast, other options include plants that are evergreen or do not belong to the deciduous category. For example, River Birch and Southern Magnolia are generally semi-evergreen or evergreen in some climates, and Ilex vomitoria can also retain leaves seasonally, depending on conditions. Live Oak and Chinese Tallow are evergreen and can retain leaves throughout the year. Taxus cuspidata is an evergreen yew, and while Sycamore and Bradford pear are deciduous, the presence of an evergreen species in that group disqualifies it from being entirely deciduous. Choosing the group with exclusively deciduous plants is