Succulents for the Contemporary Garden [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Yvonne Cave (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 9, 2003

Succulents, with their striking forms, unusual colors, and easy-care reputation, are becoming an increasingly important design element in many contemporary gardens. Whether planted en masse, used as specimens in the garden, or featured in containers, they have much to offer landscapers and home gardeners. Succulents for the Contemporary Garden is a book for beginners, enthusiasts, and connoisseurs alike, presenting old favorites along with an enticing range of less-common, more collectable examples of these intriguing plants. Descriptions and cultivation information for hundreds of species and cultivars in more than 60 genera, from Adenia to Yucca, will help gardeners choose plants that are best suited to their design requirements and garden conditions.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Global warming, drought conditions, water rationing. With the environment in such a precarious state, what's a gardener to do? No need to throw in the trowel. Succulents can provide the perfect solution to some of garden design's most daunting challenges. From that veritable no-plant's land of dry, barren ground between sidewalk and foundation to lofty rooftop patios miles away from a convenient water source, there's sure to be a succulent suitable for nearly any garden environment. In this introductory guide to more than 60 genera and hundreds of species and cultivars, Cave showcases succulents' diverse forms, dramatic colors, and desirable characteristics. Starting with an overview of cultural requirements, propagation basics, and pest and disease controls, Cave goes on to profile the most popular succulents from adenia to yucca. Aimed at both the beginning gardener and the connoisseur, Cave's straightforward text is augmented by more than 350 striking color photographs that vividly depict the versatility of this often overlooked and underutilized plant category. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"This is a convenient and usable book for those that are knowledgeable about all types of succulents or even the beginner."
—National Gardener, September 2003 (National Gardener )

"These sculptural plants are enjoying renewed popularity. You'll see why when you view the striking photographs in Succulents for the Contemporary Garden"
—Sunset, August 2003 (Sunset )

"Lushly photographed, Succulents is a valuable resource for any San Diegan interested in drought-tolerant gardening."
—San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles, August 2003 (San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press (January 9, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088192573X
• ISBN-13: 978-0881925739
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #987,713 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #39 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Plants > Cacti & Succulents

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Pretty but not a good reference book, March 23, 2003

By 

Earl J. Mcgehee "earl49" (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Succulents for the Contemporary Garden (Hardcover)

This book is an extensive collection of nice pictures of over 350 different succulents. They are arranged in scientific name order. However the descriptions for each entry are just text describing the plant. There is not even basic information like the hardiness zone so you will know if the one you like will survive your winter. The text does not directly reference the picture location so you have to find the picture key somewhere on each page ("This page, left to right ..."). The index is really just a table of contents - common names are listed under the scientific name instead of having a separate entry ("Purple Emperor" is indexed as "Sedum, Purple Emperor"). Get this for the pictures then get The American Horticultural Society "A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants" for the reference data.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Visual Feast for the Adventurous Gardener, May 25, 2008

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linda's books "Linda Abbott Trapp, PhD, autho... (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Succulents for the Contemporary Garden (Hardcover)

Noted New Zealand garden photographer Yvonne Cave has done it again, with this extraordinarily beautiful book. There's something here for everyone, from novice to expert, from the familiar Desert Rose and Yucca to the exotic Lithops, which look like stones, or the "Bronze Sculpture" Kalanchoe. The stunning photos are accompanied by identifying text with basic cultivation information for hundreds of species. Those particularly interested in tropical succulents will find additional information in Tropical Ornamentals : A Guide, as well as in Ornamental Plants & Flowers of Tropical Mexico.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SUCCULENTS FOR THE COMTEMPORARY GARDEN, March 6, 2008

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Ruth E. Pierce (San Diego) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Succulents for the Contemporary Garden (Hardcover)

Easy to understand and very easy to apply info to my garden. Learned a lot about succulents.