Bulbs of North America [Hardcover]

Jane McGary (Author), North American Rock Garden Society (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2001

North America is home to approximately four dozen bulbous genera. Among these are some very popular rock garden plants, such as Calochortus, Erythronium, and Fritillaria, which have never had anything substantial written about them in book form. Others, including Calydorea, Hypoxis, and Muilla, are not as well known outside specialist collections. The characteristics that make bulbs so desirable in gardens include their great diversity of flowering time, color, size, and form; their ability to adapt to a wide range of environments; and their capacity to multiply and spread without a gardener's intervention. Amateur botanists and horticulturists, particularly those with an interest in alpine and rock gardens, and travelers planning a field trip to choice plant-viewing sites all over the continent, will be inspired by this firsthand account of native North American bulbs. More than 100 impressive color photos illustrate the 11 original chapters.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

A tendency to naturalize is one of many outstanding attributes of bulbous plants. Whether tucked beneath shrubs, integrated into mixed borders, or planted in a swath of lawn, flowering bulbs can reward gardeners with showy displays throughout the seasons. Focusing on North American natives, this timely resource backed by the North American Rock Garden Society brings together a fine gathering of writers whose expertise conveys a stimulating breadth of knowledge. With an eye toward (but not exclusive to) low-water situations and rock gardens, the book offers a comprehensive look at newly discovered plants as well as familiar types of alliums and lilies found across the country. An elegant charmer, the trout lily and other erythroniums with nodding blooms and spotted or mottled leaves number among the bevy of desirable selections for gardens. Wise gardeners will do well to heed the informed descriptions and cultivation advice contained here, making note of a plant's natural habitat before envisioning where it might grow at home. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

This is a book that will fill a large gap on the American gardener's reference shelf. -- John E. Bryan, The American Gardener, Jan/Feb 2002

This is a treasure-trove of information on these superb plants. -- Patricia A. Taylor, Trenton Times

This is the first comprehensive work on North American bulbs, with special attention given to species identification. -- Hort Ideas, November 2001

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 308 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press, Incorporated (September 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088192511X
• ISBN-13: 978-0881925111
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #289,158 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #85 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Plants > Flowers

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Descriptive information identifying the various species, July 11, 2002

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bulbs of North America (Hardcover)

The North American Rock Garden Society is an organization of amateur botanists and gardeners drawn from around the world who are devoted to all aspects of the plant species grown in rock gardens. This unique horticultural society commissioned Jane McGary to compile a wealth of contributions from expert contributors to present a comprehensive reference on North American bulbous plants that would be suited to the geographical ranges, soil varieties, and moisture regimes found throughout North America. In addition to descriptive information identifying the various species, practical information is provided for growing these plants from seed, as well as tips for viewing them in the wild. Superbly enhanced with more than one hundred full color photographs, Bulbs Of North America is a core addition to any personal, professional, academic, or community library horticultural and gardening reference collection.