California Native Plants for the Garden is a comprehensive resource that features more than 500 of the best California native plants for gardening in Mediterranean-climate areas of the world. Authored by three of the state's leading native-plant horticulturists and illustrated with 450 color photos, this reference book also includes chapters on landscape design, installation, and maintenance. Detailed lists of recommended native plants for a variety of situations and appendices with information on places to see native plants and where to buy them are also provided.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"California Native Plants for the Garden"... is a stunner and comes at just the right time . . . a marvelous new resource. -- San Jose Mercury News, December 10, 2005
An authoritative reference on California gardening, with detailed advice on landscape design, installation, watering, pruning, and pest control. -- Los Angeles Times, January 26, 2006
Go out and buy "California Native Plants for the Garden"... [this] new book is a must-have. -- San Francisco Chronicle, February 15, 2006
This guidebook . . . is both practical and inspirational. Lovingly detailed plant profiles . . . make you covet each species. -- Sunset Magazine, April 2006
[It] provides a dazzling array of native plant possibilities for every garden situation, combined with a wealth of practical information. -- Pacific Horticulture, January 2006
[The authors] have combined their deep knowledge of and extensive experience with California plants into a thorough and charismatic guide. -- Sue Rosenthal, Bay Nature Magazine, Fall, 2005
An authoritative reference on California gardening, with detailed advice on landscape design, installation, watering, pruning, and pest control. -- Los Angeles Times, January 26, 2006
Go out and buy "California Native Plants for the Garden"... [this] new book is a must-have. -- San Francisco Chronicle, February 15, 2006
This guidebook . . . is both practical and inspirational. Lovingly detailed plant profiles . . . make you covet each species. -- Sunset Magazine, April 2006
[It] provides a dazzling array of native plant possibilities for every garden situation, combined with a wealth of practical information. -- Pacific Horticulture, January 2006
[The authors] have combined their deep knowledge of and extensive experience with California plants into a thorough and charismatic guide. -- Sue Rosenthal, Bay Nature Magazine, Fall, 2005
From the Publisher
"California Native Plants for the Garden" is a recipient of the 2006 Book Award from the American Horticultural Society
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
122 of 122 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I love this book! I bought it a few weeks ago and I've kept it close to me ever since.
*Fantastic color pictures, easily averaging two per page. (If nothing else, the photography alone would make it a great coffee table book. It transcends that limitation however by being so research intensive.)
*Crisp, informative writing with attention paid to color (flower, foliage, bark, etc), shape and habit, site analysis, and seasonal interest for every entry.
*Three-to-five chunky paragraphs for each plant with key families like manzanita and pine getting several pages.
*Clear, straightforward endorsements and appraisals. "Desert willow is simply the best summer-blooming large shrub or small tree that California has to offer." "Though justly and thoroughly praised through the years as the queen of California's wildflowers, Matilija poppy is both finicky and aggressive in the garden." "This first-rate sage [Salvia spathacea] satisfies on all counts and truly lives up to its name by attracting hummingbirds to your garden." "It would be difficult to come up with another California native to top giant coreopsis in the weird-looking plant category."
*Appendices include several pages listing native plant nurseries and public gardens throughout CA, and a five page bibliography.
I could go on praising this book. (I only found one plant missing from this book I'd have expected to see: Vaccinium ovatum.)
*Fantastic color pictures, easily averaging two per page. (If nothing else, the photography alone would make it a great coffee table book. It transcends that limitation however by being so research intensive.)
*Crisp, informative writing with attention paid to color (flower, foliage, bark, etc), shape and habit, site analysis, and seasonal interest for every entry.
*Three-to-five chunky paragraphs for each plant with key families like manzanita and pine getting several pages.
*Clear, straightforward endorsements and appraisals. "Desert willow is simply the best summer-blooming large shrub or small tree that California has to offer." "Though justly and thoroughly praised through the years as the queen of California's wildflowers, Matilija poppy is both finicky and aggressive in the garden." "This first-rate sage [Salvia spathacea] satisfies on all counts and truly lives up to its name by attracting hummingbirds to your garden." "It would be difficult to come up with another California native to top giant coreopsis in the weird-looking plant category."
*Appendices include several pages listing native plant nurseries and public gardens throughout CA, and a five page bibliography.
I could go on praising this book. (I only found one plant missing from this book I'd have expected to see: Vaccinium ovatum.)
53 of 54 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book distinguishes itself by offering wonderful color photgraphs of most of the plants it discusses. This is a significant advantage for neophyte native plant gardeners. Other valuable and well-respected books on the same topic, such as Growing California Native Plants by Marjorie G. Schmidt, don't offer even close to the same pictorial experience.
Don't think that it's all about the photgraphs, however. The rest of the book is put together well and stands side by side with any other California native plant guides for completeness of information.
Don't think that it's all about the photgraphs, however. The rest of the book is put together well and stands side by side with any other California native plant guides for completeness of information.
40 of 41 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A review of plants best suitable for California gardens, covering cultivation, landscape design usage, water needs, and more
May 21, 2006
Format:Paperback
If you're a California gardener you can't be without CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS FOR THE GARDEN, which is deserving of ongoing recommendation as one of the most comprehensive guides on the subject we've seen. Color photos pack a comprehensive review of plants best suitable for California gardens, covering cultivation, landscape design usage, water needs, and more. From pruning requirements to common diseases and insect problems, plants in CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS FOR THE GARDEN are all thoroughly detailed.
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
California Bookwatch
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
California Bookwatch
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By greengirl
Format:Paperback
This is one of two must have books if you are interested in gardening with native California plants. This book is definitely the 'guidebook' half of that collection (the other being Designing California Native Gardens). It does an excellent job of getting you acquainted with all the different plants you may be wanting to bring into your garden, and in giving you actual photographs of the plants! One giant peeve of mine in gardening books and guidebooks is the use of hand done illustrations- in other contexts they are charming but you really can't get a feel for a plant unless you are looking at its' actual picture. It just gives you a much better feeling for the plant- the texture of it's leaves, the weediness of its' growth habit, that kind of thing. This is a book you will find yourself using as a reference again and again. Five stars are given enthusiastically.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am in my third season of growing natives and without "CA Native Plants for the Garden" my plant knowledge would be called spotty at best. It is literally the best `general' books for native plant reference, identification and garden selection. I take mine to Theodore Payne Nursery/hiking all the time. Hint, most nursery available natives are sold in 1 or 5 gal containers; the book is chock-full of photos of MATURE flowers, sub shrubs, shrubs, and trees in full bloom. Therefore you are able to see what your plant selection will look like in X years and how to choose. Moreover it provides great recommendations for planting by 'plant community', soil types, sun, and garden topography.
The bottom line? If you are looking to buy a reference guide and/or a beginners guide on CA native plants, this is it. The book is made of fine quality paper and has excellent plant descriptions and crisp glossy photos throughout. Before this book, I couldn't count how many times I was overwhelmed with what to choose and where to plant. This book provided the hand holding I needed.
The bottom line? If you are looking to buy a reference guide and/or a beginners guide on CA native plants, this is it. The book is made of fine quality paper and has excellent plant descriptions and crisp glossy photos throughout. Before this book, I couldn't count how many times I was overwhelmed with what to choose and where to plant. This book provided the hand holding I needed.
29 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
My husband and I are gardeners, and we tend to gravitate towards California natives . . . and this book offers us everything we need. It's a must for every gardener, whether a professional or just your everyday backyard enthusiast. Kudos to the staff at Cachuma Press and the authors for bringing us this spectacular, yet down-to-earth (like get in the dirt, dig, plant, and enjoy!) book.
19 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By Tiny Bean
Format:Paperback
As I've finally come to terms with the fact that an English garden just won't flourish in Los Angeles, this book has replaced my sadness with optimism. I don't know a lot about plants, and I've found this book an invaluable resource as I set about my plans to completely revamp my garden.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is the book that I use.
I have been interested in California native plants nearly 40 years, for attracting birds, planting them in my garden, as a volunteer and as an employee of the Theodore Payne... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Bill Entz
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent reference for native plant gardeners
The authors have been prominent in the California native plant field for decades and have created and introduced many cultivars into the retail trade. Read more
Published 2 months ago by thamnosma
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love my flowers.
I have had so many problems growing plants until I got this book. It helps me find what will work in what area.
Published 6 months ago by chris viescas
5.0 out of 5 stars
Comprehensive, well photographed resource!
This is a great tool to plan a CA native garden. Natives are usually reliable for a garden here because these plants all evolved to meet with CA summer drought, insects, etc. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Thomas O. Hagan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Only book you'll need!
This must be the gold standard for people interested in Native California gardens- it was recommended by just about everyone we knew! Read more
Published 12 months ago by Helen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Comprehensive
I checked out 5 books from the library: this one, Landscaping with Native Plants of Southern CA, Reimagining the CA Lawn, The CA Landscape Garden, and Designer Plant Combinations... Read more
Published 17 months ago by N. Everest
5.0 out of 5 stars
My new Sunset Garden Book
Ever since becoming interested in gardening with California Natives, I have been using this book. I used to have my nose in the Sunset Garden Book all the time when I first... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Michelle S.
5.0 out of 5 stars
My most-beloved native plant book
This classic is the book I refer to most often out of all my books on natives. It's indispensable because it covers just about every native plant one could conceivably want to use... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Gen of North Coast Gardening
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Source
Part of what is so valuable about this book is that it not only talks about native plants, it gives you quality color images all the way through, not just the cover. Read more
Published on May 3, 2011 by CalPolyStudent
5.0 out of 5 stars
My dad loves it.
I bought this book for my dad for Christmas because he loves gardening. He loves it! He doesn't usually like presents very much because he just buys the stuff he wants himself, but... Read more
Published on January 11, 2011 by MWilson
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