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Program Overview

The Master Gardener courses are online, independent study courses offered by the Faculty of Agriculture, Extended Learning. Students work at their own pace and have up to nine months to complete all assignments and quizzes.

Course Description

The Plant ID and Use - Ontario course assists students in becoming familiar with the rules of plant identification and nomenclature. The course covers plant morphology and provides a guide to botanical nomenclature, the hierarchy of the plant kingdom, and plant morphology. Students learn to use a simple dichotomous key to aid in plant identification.

Course Outline

The course is an introduction to 100 plants grown in Canadian gardens, focusing on their identification and use. Topics include:

• Nomenclature
• Plant Anatomy
• Plant Identification and Use
• Dichotomous Keys

Marking Scheme

The marking scheme consists of:

• Assignment 1 - Invasive Species: 5%
• Term Assignment - Written article or leaflet: 25%
• Plant Anatomy Test: 10%
• Test 1 (After Plant ID Group 3): 15%
• Test 2 (After Plant ID Group 6): 15%
• Test 3 (After Plant ID Group 9): 15%
• Test 4 (includes all 10 groups): 15%
• Total: 100%

Successful completion of the course requires a passing grade of 60% in each of the four sections.

Technical Requirements

• Internet (High Speed preferred)
• Reliable computer/laptop
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word for submitting assignments

Course Dates

All courses open on October 1st and close on July 31st.

Number of Courses

Students are to take ONE course at a time, unless otherwise approved by Extended Learning.

Refunds

Course refunds are eligible up to two weeks after registering for the course. The refund amount will be adjusted to include a non-refundable administrative fee of $50.00. After the two-week period, there are no course refunds.

Prerequisites

It is recommended that the Master Gardener Program Courses be taken in the following order:

1. The Science of Gardening
2. Maintaining the Garden
3. Plant ID and Use
4. The Art of Gardening

Recommended For

The course is recommended for:

• Anyone with a passion or interest in gardening
• Those interested in working towards becoming a Master Gardener within the Master Gardeners of Ontario
• Individuals looking to expand their gardening knowledge

Instructor

The instructor for the course is Kylee Smith.

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

The course applies towards the Master Gardener Training Program - Ontario.

Course Details

• Section Title: Plant ID and Use - Ontario
• Type: Online - Self-Paced
• Dates: October 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026
• Total Learning Hours: 65.0
• Instruction Delivery Method(s): Online Self-Paced
• Course Fee(s): Tuition (non-credit): $488.00

Section Notes

• Registration deadline is January 31st, 2026.
• Tuition is refunded if a course is cancelled by Extended Learning.
• Learners are also eligible for a refund if they formally withdraw within two weeks after registering for a course.
• The refund amount will be adjusted to include a non-refundable administrative fee of $50.00.
• After the two-week period, there are no course refunds.