Customer Reviews

Gardening With Native Plants of the South

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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 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 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.

If you live in the Southeast and want to know more about gardening with native plants, this is THE place to start. I've poured over this book time after time, and now I have to buy a second copy because a friend kept my first copy after borrowing it! This book has great info and pictures, AND it's fun to read. What more could you ask for? (Well, how about Volume 2? ;-) )

This is THE book to have on native plants of the Southern U.S. Easy to read and informative, it helps both the novice and experienced gardener alike.

--Theresa Schrum
2005 President, Georgia Native Plant Society

Note: This is a personal endorsement based upon my professional experience and not an endorsement from the Georgia Native Plant Society (although many members have the book (-:)

The real strength of this book is the knowledge of the authors. They write from personal experience, a technique not always employed by garden writers! I appreciated the enthusiasm of the authors, their obvious commitment to the larger issues of gardening with native plants. For someone like me who lives on the fringe of the South, it is nice to find that the authors really do try to cover the South...and not just their neighborhood. I liked this book enough that I wrote a review of it for our local newspaper...to be published later this month

I live in the forgotten land of North Florida (more like South Georgia - but more humid and rainy!) This book has become one of my favorite books because it clearly indicates just how far south native plants will thrive. So many books only indicate the upper limit on climate zones. The pictures are wonderful and the organization makes it an especially useful and handy reference.

For any gardener who has struggled against nature, only to be disappointed again and again, Sally Wasowski offers guided instruction on how to work WITH nature. The results are not only beautiful and rewarding, but we gardeners are invited to gain a sense of place by learning of the rich botanical bounty of our own locale. Ms. Wasowski provides glossy color photos to acquaint us with plants which may be new to us. She describes well the growing habits and needs of the plants, as well as good companion plants and the wildlife likely to be drawn.
This book is a treasure for those who have discovered or would like to dabble in the joy of native plant gardening.