Armitage's Native Plants for North American Gardens [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Allan M. Armitage (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 10, 2006

The popularity of native North American plants has soared in recent years, for many good reasons. Whatever draws you to native plants, you'll find no better or more authoritative guide than Allan Armitage. Widely acknowledged as one of the world's foremost horticulturists, Armitage describes more than 630 species and cultivars of perennials, biennials, and annuals that are native to the United States, bringing to each plant a wealth of practical knowledge and the full weight of his experience and expertise. Each entry includes a general description of the plant plus essential data you need to grow it successfully, including habitat, hardiness, correct garden site, maintenance, and propagation — all in a clear, easy-to-use format. Whether you are a native plant enthusiast or simply wish to use plants that work in the landscape, you'll find everything you are looking for in this readable, information-packed volume.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Horticulturist Armitage provides gardeners with a useful sourcebook listing hundreds of native plants available in the retail marketplace. Armitage acknowledges that he and like-minded avid green thumbs are keen on planting a mix of exotics and natives, not simply one group or the other. To that end, the book's informative plant entries reach beyond comprehensive descriptions of native species to recommended choice cultivars. Armitage's frankly opinionated, consistently lively writing is illuminating, from notes on etymology clarifying botanical and common names to guidance aimed at helping gardeners understand that while black snakeroot needs a colder climate to thrive, switchgrass and sneezeweed will grow in a wide range of USDA zones. The in-depth listings cover a plant's natural habitat and hardiness, advise on sitting and propagating, and point out required maintenance, while a sources section provides a valuable compilation of nurseries, plant societies, books, and Internet sites. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"An essential reference book for nursery people and horticulturalists, home gardeners, and all libraries." Nancy Myers, Library Journal January 2006 (Library Journal )

"[This] book is typical Armitage—full of chatty, strongly opinionated, and deeply knowledgeable discussions of both straight species and cultivars." Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune March 12, 2006 (Chicago Tribune )

"Avoiding all the debates, politics, and preaching that often comes with a discussion of native plants, Armitage speaks to gardeners in a way we can understand and offers us more than 400 pages of plants filled with the information we need to grow them successfully." Steve Aitken, Horticulture Jan/Feb 2007 (Horticulture )

"In encyclopedic fashion, Armitage critiques each species and its hybrids, embellishing the information with personal accounts of his experiences with these plants. Within the listings of this very complete volume, Armitage offers plant-care practices, flowering characteristics, site selection and preparation, hardiness, ornamental characteristics, regions where plants perform best, and much more." Joel M. Lerner, Washington Post May 20, 2006 (The Washington Post )

"A must-have reference guide for any novice gardener interested in using plants that are beautiful and adaptable in our climate."

(Herald Journal )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 452 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press; 1St Edition edition (January 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881927600
• ISBN-13: 978-0881927603
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,275 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #53 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Botany
  • #80 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Plants

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent reference on native perennials, March 24, 2006

By 

W. Oliver (Alabama) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Armitage's Native Plants for North American Gardens (Hardcover)

This A-Z encyclopedia features over 600 species of native plants for the American gardener. All of the plants included here are perennials which are available to purchase in nurseries and mail-order catalogs. This was the author's major criteria for inclusion and some popular plants were omitted because they are not easily obtainable in the trade.

Plants are arranged by their botanical names (beginning with "aconitum" - monkshood and ending with "zizia aurea" - golden alexanders). Each plant profile includes a general description covering several paragraphs followed by comments on habitat, hardiness, garden site, garden maintenance, popular species for the garden, recommendations for propagation and etymology. Most, but not all, are accompanied by excellent color photographs.

The author's conversational, laid-back tone and occasional humor make this book a pleasure to read and includes more than enough information for the reader to determine whether or not the plant would perform well in their own garden. An extensive "Sources" directory includes the addresses, phone number and websites of 87 nurseries throughout the U.S. Separate listings for plant societies and internet sites are also provided. A "Useful List" directory lists plants in categories such as "drought tolerant," "rabbit resistant," "plants that attract butterflies," etc.

Printed on heavy, glossy paper, the weight of the book is surprising and should hold up to frequent use. This is a useful reference for home gardeners interested in learning more about native plants.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Armitage's Native Plants, January 15, 2007

By 

J. Elkins "cent-or gardener" (Central Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Armitage's Native Plants for North American Gardens (Hardcover)

Good presentation of native plants, but could have more photos of some of the more obscure species. The book is slanted more toward the southeast and east U.S. Representation of western species is not as strong as it could be, but overall a very interesting book.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Armitage's Native Plants for North American Gardens, January 10, 2007

By 

Mary Ann Menck "native plant grower" (Paw Paw, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Armitage's Native Plants for North American Gardens (Hardcover)

Very enjoyable and informative book. The enjoyment comes from the author's inclusion of personal perspectives of the native plants and the informative comes from the basic and beyond scientific information. Included is identification of the plant, habitat and propagation. Also mentioned are the cultivars of various plants. Good information for the beginning native plant gardener.