Plant identification is an obligatory part of the basic studies of horticulture. The purpose of this thesis was to create new e-learning material for the students and the teachers of Työtehoseura TTS to help them in plant identification. Digitalization is developing in fast pace in the field of education and the commissioner of this thesis wants to offer the students who are participating in the preliminary education high-quality e-learning material.

The Finnish schooling system for the basic studies of horticulture was studied for the background of this thesis. As the funding system is going to change in coming years to a performance-related system it will put pressure for the schools to change their education. The future funding depends on how many examinations and how many credit units the students have completed so the number of students is no longer the grounds for the funding. The volume of distance-teaching is expected to increase. Digital self-study materials enable also individual study programmes.

The main result of this thesis is the virtual park of the park areas of Rajamäki educational establishment. Detailed pictures of the plants and identification characteristics are linked to 60 plants in four different panoramic pictures. With this e-learning material the students are able to study to identify plants whenever and wherever with any device with internet connection. The teaching given at school combined with quality e-learning material enables good learning results and prepares the students to their examinations.