Gardening with Native Plants of the South
- ISBN13: 9781589794238
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
In today’s South, where fine gardening is a tradition, many homeowners and professional gardeners are discovering a vast new palette of plant materials–native plants. They are realizing that these native wildflowers, trees, shrubs, groundcovers, vines, and grasses are far better suited, and therefore easier to grow and maintain, than most of the imported plants that populate traditional landscapes. Discover the Wasowskis’ exciting vision of the many possibilities and advantages of going native…. More >>
Gardening with Native Plants of the South
I am trying to establish a native plant and wildlife habitat on my quarter acre. This book not only gives me the plant data I need, it also describes plant uses by native wildlife from toads to birds to insects, including those used as larval food for butterflies. I no longer have to cross reference from bird book or butterfly book to plant book, etc. The basics are all in one place!
I got this book because all the reviews were so stellar. But I was a little disappointed… I have better books than this on native/ southeastern plants (titles and so forth will follow). The author is well known and I have another book by her (The Landscaping Revolution) which is really good and thought provoking.
Having said that, there are important parts of this book, most notably the chapter on Native Groundcovers. No other volume covers groundcovers at all, and it shows the author’s dedication and hard work. No book is perfect and can please everyone.
The reason I give it 3 stars is mainly due to organization. What if I need a plant that is drought resistant and fall flowering? Much frustration ensues trying to find such a plant. Or if I need a tree that is good to plant next to the street? No info.
Furthermore, the book is rather thin. The author states in the intro that she had problems trying to pare down the list of plants to include and could not produce a 300 page catalog, but I honestly and respectfully question that decision. According to the author, such a volume would never sell. Perhaps, at the initial printing, in 1993, that may have been true. But no longer. I don’t know about you, but I love an all encompassing volume on native plants. Luckily, it’s already available.
And, as a third point of critique, only the USDA Hardiness Zones (how cold a plant can take) are included as planting guidelines. Just as important as the AHS Heat Zones (how hot a plant can take). Heat, just as cold, is important in successful planting.
Now, I personally think that the following titles are fabulous for beginning and intermediate gardeners alike: The American Horticultural Society’s Southeast: SmartGarden Regional Guide and Felder Rushing’s Tough Plants for Southern Gardens. Both are great books.
The first is a real catalog. It has a listing of 3,000 plants with about as many color photographs. There’s also general advice on all the basics: how to plant, diseases, soil conditions, etc. This book is superbly organized. It should be the backbone of your library.
The second is a smaller volume on the really tough, nearly un-killable plants. It should be a secondary volume for those really difficult spots or as an advice volume when deciding between a couple different plants for a spot.
The bottom line is we all want the same thing: nice gardens that we don’t have to worry about. That means native plants. So, go out and look at some books. This book, like the other two I mentioned, is good, but not that good. The AHS book is the ultimate guide. Good luck and happy gardening!
I wasn’t going to plant a native plant garden until I read this book. It’s extremely well-organized and the authors infuse you with their excitement about the plants. The “personal comments” section is the best. Even though the plant might not be high on your list, the comments section may give some information that may make you desire it. They also have landscape designs that you can implement yourself. If you’re interested in creating a butterfly or bird garden, this book lists what types of animals are attracted to the plant. They have the book parsed out into deciduous trees, deciduous shrubs, grasses, bog plants, etc. Each plant has several sections telling the shade, moisture, height, wildlife, fall colors, flower, fruit, and anything else you could possibly want to know about the plant. It’s better than any of the other garden books that I have read, including ones from national gardens, etc.
Useful information, written for the specific species, with personal anecdotes (as opposed to the generic info so often found). Intelligently categorized. Well written and photographed. I’ve found info on native species not covered in other books of mine.
Tired of nursing exotic plants and bushes? This is a wonderful book for those who love a lush look without the extravagant care. You don’t need to be aiming for a woodsy look, as many of the choices presented by the Wasowskis look beautiful in formal or semi-formal settings. Our plantings are now in and we are very pleased by the array of fragrance and texture, and look forward to the spring blooming azaleas and rhododendrons.