Certificate Programs Ornaental Plant Material

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate Program

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate Program

In the Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate (OPC) program, students develop knowledge of native plants and the ever-expanding variety of ornamental well-suited for northeastern Illinois. The program covers more than 500 plants, focusing on identification, cultural requirements, and use in gardens and the broader landscape. Gain a deeper knowledge of horticulture with experiential learning in the gardens.

Who should participate? Aspiring professional gardeners, landscape technicians, landscape maintenance professionals, and other green-industry individuals seeking professional development. There are no prerequisites to start the program, and no prior horticulture experience is needed. Sign up for an Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate class today.

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Student Resources

Course Overview
Program Policies
FAQ Brochure
Graduation
Questions?

Contact Stana, student advisor:   
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Program Requirements

The program requirements include nine required core courses and 24 instructional hours of elective courses. The Botany 1 course is offered at least twice year. After completing Botany 1, the remaining eight required courses may be taken in any order. These eight courses are offered on a rotating basis over a two-year period. If you are able to take all the courses when offered, you can complete the certificate in just two years. All requirements for the certificate must be completed within five years of the start date of your first core course.

The nine required courses are graded and you will apply the course content through projects, quizzes, exams, or garden walks. For the certificate, a grade of at least 70 percent must be achieved for each required course.

A wide variety of elective course topics are offered so you can customize your coursework based on your interests and goals. Elective course topics range from successful plant combinations to sustainable practices to plant recommendations from horticulture experts. The elective courses are not graded so credit is recorded by attendance. Most elective courses do not incorporate quizzes or exams.

Ready to get started? Begin your journey with Botany 1 or an OPC elective course.

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate Program
 

OPC Required Courses

Botany 1 
Annuals and Biennials*
Conifers and Broad-leaved Evergreens*
Deciduous Flowering Shrubs*
Deciduous Trees*
Ground Covers and Vines*
Hardy Bulbs*
Herbaceous Perennials*
Small Flowering Trees*

* Classes that require Botany 1 as a prerequisite

OPC Elective Courses

24 instructional hours of elective credit is required

Credits are recorded by attendance, no testing is involved.

Each elective course is typically worth two to three instructional hours.

Classes are formatted with CEUs.              
Example: 0.3 CEUs = 3 elective hours.

 

Hardy Bulbs

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate, 
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate,
& Garden Design Certificate

7 Tuesdays: 
March 26 – May 7 
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. 
6 Saturdays: 
March 30 – May 4 
8 – 10 a.m.

Certificate Classes

Botany 1

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,     
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,     
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate,     
& Garden Design Certificate

6 Tuesdays & 4 Thursdays: 
June 4 – July 9 
6:30 – 9 p.m.  
(no class July 4)

Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate

Sunday, April 7
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Meet the Cultivars: Conifers

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate

Sunday, April 14
9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Tree Measurements and Terminology

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate

Saturday, May 11
10 a.m. – noon

Native Ground Covers

Native Ground Covers: Online

Saturday, May 18
9 – 11 a.m.

Small Flowering Trees

Small Flowering Trees

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,   
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,   
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate,   
& Garden Design Certificate

7 Tuesdays: 
May 21 – July 2  
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.  
Also includes Garden Walks 
6 Saturdays:  
May 25 – June 29  
8 – 10 a.m.

More Conifers

4 Thursdays:
June 6 – 27
6 – 8 p.m.

Also includes Garden Walks 
3 Sundays:
June 9 - 23
9 – 11 a.m.

Meadow Style Gardening: Online

Saturday, June 8
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. 

Sun-Loving Native Perennials: Online

Wednesday, June 12
6 – 8 p.m.

Pairing Native Plants with Nonnatives

Saturday, June 15
10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Vines

Ground Covers and Vines

7 Tuesdays:
July 16 – August 27
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Also includes Garden Walks
6 Saturdays:
July 20 – August 24
8 – 10 a.m.