different heights in PlantFiles

Could someone explain why there are different heights listed in a particular plant file? Do they correlate with the zone listings? (Does the first height range listed go with the first zone listed? Or what?)

Good question as I have wondered the same thing.

Most times it's because a plant's height can be between two possible PlantFile detail checkmarks.

For instance, if a plant's height is listed in various resources as being 16 to 20 inches, then the two details marked would be 12 to 18 and 18 to 24 inches.

Another possibility is that the plant is listed as being 36 inches. Then the details marked might be 24 to 36 and 36 to 48. The height falls right in the middle of the two.

There isn't a way to be exact with the height when marking details. That information would be a valuable addition in the comment field if you know it.

That is good to know, thanks Joan! I thought it might have something to do with the growing season. I don't even know how to add info to PF yet!

OK, so consider the Chinese fan palm. The heights listed cover everything from 6 feet to 30 feet - I think 6 different ranges listed.

This message was edited Jan 26, 2008 1:01 AM

It also lets you find a plant like that in the Advanced Search, regardless of which of those heights you choose, that tree will come up in your search results if it meets your other criteria.

I still am confused as to how tall a Chinese fan palm will grow, considering the 6 different height ranges given. Will it grow to 6 to 8 feet or will it grow to 25 to 30 feet?

Here's an exerpt from floridata.com on this palm:

http://www.floridata.com/ref/L/livi_chi.cfm

This would probably explain why the person who submitted this information to PlantFiles marked it as it is. It *can* grow to a height of 30 feet, but is most often seen at 15 to 25 feet. They also note that this is a very slow growing tree.

Terry brings up a good point too. If you were trying to ID this tree that you seen, and it was approximately 15 foot tall, but only 30 foot was marked off in PlantFiles, you might miss bringing this tree up in a PlantFile search.

Very helpful! I appreciate the searching aspect and the Floridata link. Regarding searching, I've wondered whether checking winter blooming would bring up plants whose bloom period is listed as blooming all year. I haven't used Advanced Search much at all.

You'd have to do a separate search for blooms all year--searching winter blooming won't pick up ones that are marked only as blooming all year.

Thanks!