Bedding plants: Refers to plants, mainly greenhouse raised, which are grown for ornamental display in outdoor beds or containers. They are often half-hardy, and may be short lived or annual in nature. Displays may be changed frequently, with spring, summer and winter bedding displays using plants of differing hardiness and seasons of interest. Carpet bedding is a specialist art popular in the Victorian era, involving very low growing species, which are densely planted in intricate patterns to create a tapestry-like effect. On raised beds or frames, this technique can be used to create living sculptures of bedding.
Compost: (1) Rotted organic matter (usually plant refuse) that is absorbent, humus-rich, and, where well made, friable; it is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity; low in nutrients; (2) in the UK, the term is also used to describe seed and potting mixtures or media; (3) can also used as a verb, i.e. ‘to compost’, the practice of making compost from suitable plant matter.
Half-hardy: Applies to plants that, in a given climatic zone, may be grown outdoors only after the risk of frost has passed, i.e. they are hardy outside only during the warmer, but not during the colder, half of the year. Used particularly of bedding plants and other annuals, but also applies to woody plants.
Saprophytic: Describes a plant or fungus that derives its nutrition directly from dead or decayed organic matter. Plants of this type usually lack chlorophyll (green pigment).