Tough Plants for Southern Gardens [Paperback]

Felder Rushing (Author)

Book Description

Series: Tough Plants | Publication Date: June 19, 2003

Tough Plants for Southern Gardens is for Southern gardeners who want low care, no care, tried and true plants for their gardens. This is the book for gardeners who want plants they can plant and forget!

Tough Plants for Southern Gardens is written for novice and accomplished gardeners alike, for all gardeners who value their leisure time. They also value the appearance of their home and appreciate the benefits of well-placed landscaping…however; they do not want to devote too much time to keeping it beautiful.

Tough Plants for Southern Gardens includes 120 of the toughest plants for Southern gardens, including annuals, bulbs, perennials, shrubs and small trees, ornamental vines, and lawns. Each featured plant is noted for its ability to thrive with minimal care. Many of the selections can withstand drought, poor soils, and minimal (or no) pruning, while providing beauty and charm in the home landscape.

Each selection provides specific information on the plant's use in the landscape, mature size, flowering characteristics (if applicable), varieties, soil preference, and propagation. Each chapter also contains informative essays covering topics such as: companion planting tips, pest avoidance, and handling invasive plants.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

Tough Plants for Southern Gardens is written for novice and accomplished gardener alike, and for all gardeners who value their leisure time. They also value the appearance of their home and appreciate the benefits of well-placed landscaping; however, they do not want to devote too much time to keeping it beautiful.

About the Author

Rushing is a 10th generation Southern gardener. He is a leading Extension Service consumer horticulturist in Mississippi and has two degrees from Mississippi State University and the Louisiana State University Landscape School of the South. He coordinates Master Gardeners in the state's capitol.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (June 19, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591860024
• ISBN-13: 978-1591860020
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #144,270 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for novices and transplant gardeners - and funny!, April 19, 2006

By 

Cynthia Matuszek (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tough Plants for Southern Gardens (Paperback)

I'm not an avid gardener, and don't have a shelf full of garden books - in fact this is nearly the only one. Fortunately, it turns out to be all I needed to make my little bit of space presentable without spending lots of money and effort. Whether you'd rather not water for environmental reasons, can't spend a lot of time coping with your lawn, or just like sturdy Southern plants, this is a great book. It's also surprisingly funny! (The bulbs section starts with a sidebar entitled "Tulips Hate the South" - already found that one out, thanks.)

A short introduction covers horticulture topics at a very general level, but the primary focus is on describing a large number of no-maintenance plants that do well in the Southern climate and soils. The book is divided into sections by type of plant (perennials, shrubs, and so on); for each plant, details are given on how to plant it, how to care for it, where to put it, and what to expect from it over time. Each has a picture, usually detailed enough to allow you to identify it at a nursery. Additionally, sections begin with short lists of plants that are "Great for beginners" (extremely easy to deal with) or "Kinda tricky." Random advice, like how to successfully plant wildflowers in your lawn, is scattered throughout.

CONS (sorta): Probably not terribly informative to an experienced Southern gardener. Not a general book on horticulture. Not restricted to native plants.

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for southern gardeners, March 4, 2004

By 

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

This review is from: Tough Plants for Southern Gardens (Paperback)

We southern gardeners are often the envy of other gardeners in the country because of our long growing seasons and ability to grow a wide range of plants. However, we know that it sometimes not a walk in the park - dealing with heat, humidity, erratic weather, drought and insects is not that much fun.

The plants that thrive in our gardens have to be tough and tried and true. This book profiles plants that have been around a long time and have proven to perform reliably in the south. Annuals, Perennials, Shrubs and Trees, Porch Plants (Houseplants), Bulbs and Vines are covered here. Each section includes 10-20 major plants with detailed information on growing conditions, planting, etc.

The photos are great especially the whimsical "garden art" that is often seen in the rural south. The author also includes anecdotes about his family and people's attitudes towards gardening. This is a fun and useful book!

41 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great resource, even for Florida, April 20, 2004

By 

Mary K. Swanson (Central Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tough Plants for Southern Gardens (Paperback)

I am a beginning gardener, and Felder Rushing's book is helping me figure out how to replant where too much wax myrtle, Virginia creeper and palmetto have taken over my five acres. I am already using (and quoting!) the advice. An experienced gardener might not get as much from the book, but it's a fun read for anyone.
My only caveat is that some of the plants are not as suitable for Florida as for the upper south. For instance, Rushing mentions potato vine without warning deep south gardeners against air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) and winged yam. Pretty and containable in cooler climates, they are invasive in central and south Florida; after two years, my family is still digging up potatoes and cutting down vines that infest our property.