How many questions are on the CNLP exam and what is the passing score?

Because each state association administers its own version, the exact count varies, but the written exam commonly has roughly 100-120 multiple-choice questions plus a separate plant identification section. Most associations require about 70% to pass each section.

Is there a plant identification section on the CNLP exam?

Yes. In addition to the written multiple-choice test, the CNLP includes a separate plant identification component in which candidates identify plants by common and botanical name. Both the written and plant ID portions must be passed to earn certification.

How should I study for the CNLP exam?

Study from the current CNLP Manual and consider a review course offered by your state association or extension. Focus heaviest on plant identification and woody ornamentals, then soils, IPM, and installation. Use these 100 free practice questions and the AI tutor to find and fix knowledge gaps.

Is this free CNLP practice as good as paid prep?

Our 100 practice questions span every CNLP content domain with a teaching explanation for every answer plus free daily AI tutor interactions. All content is free forever and updated for 2026, complementing the official CNLP Manual.

All Practice Exams

100+ Free CNLP Practice Questions

Certified Nursery & Landscape Professional (CNLP) practice questions are available now; exam metadata is being verified.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately

100+ Questions

100% Free

Loading practice questions...

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CNLP Exam

100

Practice Questions

OpenExamPrep

~100-120

Written Exam Questions

State associations

Plant ID

Separate Section Required

PlantNYS

~70%

Typical Passing Score

State associations

2 Parts

Written + Plant ID

PlantNYS

Horticulture

Professional Credential

State associations

The Certified Nursery & Landscape Professional (CNLP) is a professional horticulture certification administered by state nursery and landscape associations (such as PlantNYS and the Louisiana Nursery & Landscape Association). It has two parts: a written multiple-choice exam (commonly around 100-120 questions) and a separate plant identification section, with most associations requiring about 70% to pass each. Candidates study from the official CNLP Manual and review courses. Content spans woody-ornamental and plant identification by botanical name, soils and plant nutrition, plant health and integrated pest management, installation and maintenance practices, landscape design fundamentals, pesticide safety, and business and professionalism. This free prep includes 100 research-based practice questions with explanations and an AI tutor.

Sample CNLP Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CNLP exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A CNLP candidate is asked to identify a deciduous tree by its botanical name. The tree has opposite, palmately lobed leaves and produces winged samaras in pairs. To which genus does it belong?

A.Quercus

B.Acer

C.Fraxinus

D.Betula

Explanation: Maples belong to the genus Acer. They are distinguished by opposite leaf arrangement, palmately lobed leaves, and paired winged seeds (samaras), often called 'helicopters'. Recognizing opposite arrangement plus samaras is a classic CNLP plant-ID cue.

2On the CNLP plant identification list, the botanical name Cornus florida refers to which plant?

A.Red maple

B.Flowering dogwood

C.American holly

D.Eastern redbud

Explanation: Cornus florida is the flowering dogwood, a small understory tree prized for its spring bracts. Knowing genus-species pairings for the standard list is essential; Cornus is the dogwood genus and florida designates the flowering species.

3A plant has needles bundled in groups (fascicles) of two to five held together by a papery sheath at the base. This needle arrangement identifies which genus?

A.Picea (spruce)

B.Pinus (pine)

C.Tsuga (hemlock)

D.Abies (fir)

Explanation: Pines (Pinus) bear needles in bundles called fascicles, typically of 2, 3, or 5, wrapped by a basal sheath. Spruce, fir, and hemlock attach needles singly to the twig, so the fascicle is the key Pinus identifier.

4Which botanical term describes a leaf arrangement in which two leaves arise from the same node on opposite sides of the stem?

A.Alternate

B.Opposite

C.Whorled

D.Basal

Explanation: Opposite arrangement means two leaves emerge directly across from each other at the same node. Maples, ashes, dogwoods, and viburnums share this trait, making it a fast diagnostic split (remember the mnemonic MAD-Cap-Horse).

5The botanical name Ilex opaca describes American holly. The species epithet 'opaca' and the genus 'Ilex' are written using which convention?

A.Both words capitalized and italicized

B.Genus capitalized, species lowercase, both italicized

C.Both words lowercase and italicized

D.Genus lowercase, species capitalized, both underlined

Explanation: Binomial nomenclature capitalizes the genus, keeps the species epithet lowercase, and italicizes (or underlines) both words. Ilex opaca follows this Linnaean convention used throughout the CNLP plant list.

6A shrub on the ID list has compound leaves, fragrant white flower clusters in late spring, and is commonly grown for its heart-shaped foliage. Syringa vulgaris is the botanical name for which plant?

A.Common lilac

B.Forsythia

C.Mock orange

D.Privet

Explanation: Syringa vulgaris is the common lilac, valued for fragrant purple-to-white panicles in spring. Genus Syringa is the lilac group; vulgaris denotes the common species widely planted in landscapes.

7Which plant is correctly matched with its botanical name?

A.Eastern white pine - Pinus strobus

B.Norway spruce - Pinus nigra

C.Colorado blue spruce - Abies concolor

D.Douglas fir - Picea abies

Explanation: Eastern white pine is Pinus strobus, a five-needle pine. Matching common to botanical names accurately is core CNLP content, so memorize signature pairings like Pinus strobus for white pine.

8A landscaper must distinguish a true bud from a leaf scar when identifying a dormant deciduous twig in winter. The small mark left where a leaf detached, often showing bundle scars, is called the:

A.Lenticel

B.Leaf scar

C.Terminal bud

D.Node ridge

Explanation: A leaf scar is the mark left on the twig where the petiole abscised, frequently displaying vascular bundle scars whose number and pattern aid winter ID. Lenticels, in contrast, are corky pores for gas exchange.

9On the ID list, Thuja occidentalis is commonly known as:

A.Eastern red cedar

B.Arborvitae (Eastern white cedar)

C.Leyland cypress

D.Bald cypress

Explanation: Thuja occidentalis is arborvitae, also called Eastern white cedar, an evergreen with flat scale-like foliage in fan-shaped sprays. Eastern red cedar is a different genus (Juniperus virginiana).

10A perennial groundcover has glossy evergreen leaves and blue flowers and spreads by trailing stems. Vinca minor is the botanical name for which plant?

A.Pachysandra

B.Periwinkle (myrtle)

C.English ivy

D.Wintercreeper

Explanation: Vinca minor is periwinkle (common myrtle), a trailing evergreen groundcover with blue-violet flowers. Genus Vinca is distinct from Pachysandra, Hedera (ivy), and Euonymus (wintercreeper).

About the CNLP Practice Questions

Verified exam format metadata for Certified Nursery & Landscape Professional (CNLP) is pending. The practice questions above remain available while official exam length, timing, passing score, fee, and administrator details are reviewed.