Plants, trees and gardens

NOUNS
ash [æʃ] a tree that has smooth grey bark and loses its leaves in winter
bark [baːk] the rough surface of a tree
beech [biːtʃ] a tree with a smooth grey trunk
birch [bɜːtʃ] a tall tree with thin branches
bird feeder [ˈbɜːd ˌfiːdə] a container that you fill with food for birds
blossom [ˈblɒsəm] the flowers that appear on a fruit tree; cherry blossom
border [ˈbɔːdə] a long area of ground along the edge of a garden that is
planted with flowers; border plants
branch [braːntʃ] one of the parts of a tree that have leaves, flowers, and fruit
bud [bʌd] a new growth on a tree or plant that develops into a leaf or flower
bush [bʊʃ] a plant with leaves and branches that is smaller than a tree; a
rose bush
buttercup [ˈbʌtəkʌp] a small wild plant with bright yellow flowers
compost [ˈkɒmpɒst] a mixture of dead plants and vegetables that is used to
improve soil
daffodil [ˈdæfədɪl] a yellow flower with a long stem that appears in spring
daisy [ˈdeɪzi] a small wild flower with a yellow centre and white petals
dandelion [ˈdændɪˌlaɪən] a wild plant with yellow flowers that turn into balls
of soft white seeds
elm [elm] a tree with broad leaves that it loses in autumn
fence [fens] a wooden or metal wall around a piece of land
fern [fɜːn] a plant that has long stems with leaves that look like feathers

Collins Easy Learning English Vocabulary 1

EXAMPLES
We picked apples from the upper branches of a tree.
Small pink buds were beginning to form on the bushes.

fertilizer [ˈfɜːtɪˌlaɪzə] a substance that you put on soil to make plants grow
well
fir tree [ˈfɜː triː] a tall evergreen tree that has thin needlelike leaves
flower [ˈflaʊə] the brightly coloured part of a plant; a bunch of flowers; a
flower bed; a flower pot
forest [ˈfɒrɪst] a large area where trees grow close together; a forest fire
forget-menot [fəˈgetmɪˌnɒt] a small plant with very small blue flowers
garden [ˈgaːdən] 1 the part of the land by your house where you grow
flowers and vegetables
2 places with plants, trees and grass, that people can visit
garden bench [ˌgaːdən ˈbenʃ] a long seat of wood or metal that two or more
people can sit on in a garden
garden centre [ˈgaːdən ˌsentə] a shop, usually with an outdoor area, where
you can buy plants and tools for your garden
gardener [ˈgaːdnə] a person who works in a garden
gardening [ˈgaːdnɪŋ] the activity of working in a garden
grass [graːs] a plant with thin, green leaves that cover the surface of the
ground; cut the grass
greenhouse [ˈgriːnhaʊs] a glass building where you grow plants to protect
them from bad weather
ground [graʊnd] the soil on the Earth’s surface in which you can grow plants
grounds [graʊndz] the garden or area of land around a large or important
building
hedge [hedʒ] a row of small trees growing close together around a garden or
a field

Collins Easy Learning English Vocabulary 2

EXAMPLES
She has a beautiful garden.
The gardens are open from 10.30 a.m. until 5.00 p.m.
Mrs. Daly employs a gardener.
My favourite hobby is gardening.
We walked around the palace grounds.

hoe [həʊ] a tool with a long handle and a small square blade that you use to
break up the surface of the soil
holly [ˈhɒli] a plant that has hard, shiny leaves with sharp points, and red
berries in winter
hose [həʊz] a long rubber or plastic pipe that you use to put water on plants;
a garden hose
ivy [ˈaɪvi] a dark-green plant that grows up walls or along the ground
jasmine [ˈdʒæzmɪn] a climbing plant which has small white or yellow flowers
with a pleasant smell
lawn [lɔːn] an area of short grass around a house or other building
lawnmower [ˈlɔːnməʊə] a machine for cutting grass
leaf (PL) leaves[li:f] [liːvz] the parts of a tree or plant that are flat, thin, and
usually green; an oak leaf
lily [ˈlɪli] a plant with large sweet-smelling flowers
oak [əʊk] a type of large tree
orchard [ˈɔːtʃəd] an area of land where fruit trees grow; a cherry orchard
orchid [ˈɔːkɪd] a plant with brightly coloured, unusually shaped flowers
palm tree [ˈpaːm ˌtriː] a straight tree with a lot of long leaves at the top,
which grows in tropical countries
path [paːθ] a long, narrow piece of ground that people walk along
patio [ˈpætiəʊ] a flat area next to a house, where people can sit and relax or
eat; patio furniture

Collins Easy Learning English Vocabulary 3

petal [ˈpetəl] the thin coloured parts of a plant that form the flower; rose
petals
pine [paɪn] a tall tree with long, thin leaves that it keeps all year

EXAMPLES
We had lunch on the lawn.
We followed the path through the grounds.

plant [plaːnt] a living thing that grows in the earth and has a stem, leaves,
and roots
poppy [ˈpɒpi] a plant with large, delicate, red flowers
primrose [ˈprɪmrəʊz] a wild plant with pale yellow flowers
rainforest [ˈreɪnfɒrɪst] a thick forest of tall trees that grows in tropical areas
where there is a lot of rain
rake [reɪk] a tool with a long handle, used for collecting loose grass or
leaves
root [ruːt] the part of a plant that grows under the ground
rose [rəʊz] a flower with a pleasant smell and sharp points (called thorns)
on its stems
seed [siːd] the small, hard part of a plant from which a new plant grows
shade [ʃeɪd] an area where direct sunlight does not reach; in the shade
shed [ʃed] a small building where you store things
shrub [ʃrʌb] a small bush
soil [sɔɪl] the substance on the surface of the Earth in which plants grow
sprinkler [ˈsprɪŋklə] a machine that spreads drops of water over an area of
grass
stalk [stɔːk] the thin part of a flower, leaf, or fruit that joins it to the plant or
tree
stem [stem] the long, thin part of a plant that the flowers and leaves grow
on

Collins Easy Learning English Vocabulary 4

sunflower [ˈsʌnflaʊə] a very tall plant with large yellow flowers
thorn [θɔːn] a sharp point on some plants and trees

EXAMPLES
Water each plant daily.
Plant the seeds in small plastic pots.
They grow well in sun or partial shade.
This book tells you how to choose shrubs for your garden.
The soil here is good for growing vegetables.
A single flower grows on each long stalk.
He cut the stem and gave her the flower.
He removed a thorn from his foot.

tree [triː] a tall plant that lives for a long time. It has a trunk, branches, and
leaves; apple trees
trunk [trʌŋk] the large main stem of a tree from which the branches grow
tulip [ˈtjuːlɪp] a flower that grows in the spring and is shaped like a cup
vase [vaːz] a container that is used for holding flowers
violet [ˈvaɪəlɪt] a small plant that has purple or white flowers in the spring
watering can [ˈwɔtərɪŋˌkæn] a container with a handle that is used to water
plants
weed [wiːd] a plant that grows where you do not want it
weedkiller [ˈwiːdkɪlə] a substance that you put on your garden to kill weeds
weeping willow [ˌwiːpɪŋ ˈwɪləʊ] a type of tree with long thin branches that
hang down to the ground
wheelbarrow [ˈwiːlbærəʊ] an open container with one wheel and two
handles, that is used for moving things such as earth or plants
window box [ˈwɪndəʊ ˌbɒks] a long narrow container on a shelf at the
bottom of a window that is used for growing plants
wood [wʊd] a large area of trees growing near each other

Collins Easy Learning English Vocabulary 5

yew [juː] an evergreen tree with sharp leaves that are broad and flat, and
red berries

EXAMPLES
There was a small vase of flowers on the table.
The garden was full of weeds.
Rain begins to fall and peach trees blossom.
These plants will flower soon.

VERBS
blossom [ˈblɒsəm] to produce flowers
cultivate [ˈkʌltɪˌveɪt] to grow plants on a piece of land
flower [ˈflaʊə] to produce flowers
grow [grəʊ] 1 to gradually become bigger
2 used for saying that a plant or a tree lives in a particular place
3 to put seeds or young plants in the ground and take care of
them
mow [məʊ] to cut an area of grass using a machine (called a mower); mow
the lawn
pick [pɪk] to take flowers, fruit, or leaves from a plant or tree
plant [plaːnt] to put something into the ground so that it will grow
prune [pruːn] to cut out parts of a bush or tree in order to make it grow
thicker and better
tend [tend] to look after your garden and the plants in it
water [ˈwɔːtə] to pour water over plants in order to help them to grow
weed [wiːd] to remove the weeds from an area

ADJECTIVES
deciduous [dɪˈsɪdʒʊəs] a deciduous tree loses its leaves in autumn every
year

Collins Easy Learning English Vocabulary 6

evergreen [ˈevəgriːn] an evergreen tree has green leaves all year
indoor [ˈɪndɔː] done or used inside a building; indoor plants
leafy [ˈliːfi] 1 having a lot of leaves; leafy trees
2 you say that a place is leafy when there are a lot of trees and
plants there
mature [məˈtjʊə] fully grown; mature fruit trees
outdoor [ˌaʊtˈdɔː] happening outside and not in a building
overgrown [ˌəʊ vəˈgrəʊn] thickly covered with plants that have not been
looked after
shady [ˈʃeɪdi] not in direct sunlight

EXAMPLES
There were roses growing by the side of the door.
He plans to plant fruit trees.
Try not to walk on the flower beds while you are weeding.

PHRASE
Keep off the grass used on signs to tell people not to walk on the grass

IDIOMS
have a green thumb (American English) see have green fingers
have green fingers to be good at making plants grow
(In American English, use have a green thumb)

Collins Easy Learning English Vocabulary 7