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Agaves, Yuccas, and Related Plants: A Gardener's Guide Hardcover – May 10, 2000
by
Gary Irish
(Author),
Mary F. Irish
(Author)
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These exotic natives of the Americas are among the most striking of drought-tolerant plants, and they make wonderful accents in the landscape, providing excellent contrasts to flowering perennial plantings. They can also be massed effectively, and many of the species are small, ideal for use in containers.
The authors point out that innovative nurseries and gardeners in cool, humid regions of North America and Europe have shown that many of these plants may be suitable for areas with climates very different from their native range. Full information on cultivation and propagation is provided.
The authors point out that innovative nurseries and gardeners in cool, humid regions of North America and Europe have shown that many of these plants may be suitable for areas with climates very different from their native range. Full information on cultivation and propagation is provided.
- Print length384 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherTimber Press
- Publication dateMay 10, 2000
- Dimensions6.38 x 1.19 x 9.31 inches
- ISBN-100881924423
- ISBN-13978-0881924428
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"A wealth of information on the cultivation and gardening uses of Agave and Yucca." -- SciTech Book News, September 2000
"The enthusiasm of the two authors shines through and should bring many converts to these formidable plants." -- Gordon Rowley, The Garden, January 2001
"This volume is packed with both information and inspiration." -- The Amateur's Digest, August 2000
"You're in for a treat...Full of interesting tidbits and in-depth growing information." -- Phoenix Home & Garden, , November 2000
"The enthusiasm of the two authors shines through and should bring many converts to these formidable plants." -- Gordon Rowley, The Garden, January 2001
"This volume is packed with both information and inspiration." -- The Amateur's Digest, August 2000
"You're in for a treat...Full of interesting tidbits and in-depth growing information." -- Phoenix Home & Garden, , November 2000
From the Publisher
In Agaves, Yuccas, and Related Plants, Mary and Gary Irish provide all the information necessary to choose some of these distinctive plants for your garden. They have included crisp photos and plenty of descriptive information. Moreover, the authors detail propagation and cultural requirements; despite the plants natural affinity for arid southern locations, they are frequently cold hardy, and they will often grow just fine in wetter, humid climates. This volume is packed with both information and inspiration.
From the Author
Comments from Author, Mary Irish
TP: At what experience level is this book aimed?
M: We wanted to strike a balance where it would appeal to experienced gardeners and horticulturists who work with these plants, as well as create some interest and appeal in people who may not have thought of these plants as useful and as very different forms.
About the Author
Mary Irish is the former director of public horticulture at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona. She has written extensively on dry-climate gardening, and is the coauthor (with her husband, Gary Irish) of Agaves, Yuccas, and Related Plants. A Texas native residing in Arizona, Mary received her master's degree in geography from Texas A&M University. She is a regular contributor to several magazines, including Sunset, and teaches classes on the care and culture of agaves, cacti, and other desert shrubs and perennials as well as introductory classes for beginning gardeners. She once hosted a weekly Phoenix-based radio show called The Arizona Gardener, and has also helped produce several television programs about gardening.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Most Agave species are monocarpic (blooming once in the life of the plant); only a few species are polycarpic (blooming repeatedly through the life of the plant).
Agaves, in general, have large leaves arranged in a spiral along a small, often visible, stem to form a rosette. Rosettes are a common adaptation to desert or arid conditions. This growth form allows water to be directed down the leaves, like a channel, to the root zone. During times of serious drought, the small stem of an agave will shrink, allowing a tiny fissure in the soil around the plant base, further increasing the utility of the rosetts form in channeling water when it does rain. Rosettes are common in many genera from arid regions including all other members of the families Agavaceae and Nolinaceae, and genera from other families such as Aloe, Haworthia, and Gasteria, to name a few.
The leaves of Agave usually are hard or somewhat rigid and very fibrous inside. Many have prominent sharp marginal teeth, and almost all leaves have a rigid and very sharp terminal spine. A rosette may have fewer than 20 leaves or as many as 200, depending on the species. The leaves are thick and succulent, with specialized cells for water storage. Most leaves are coated with a fine to heavy wax cuticle. This cuticle is an adaptation to prevent excessive water loss through the leaves, retaining as much water within the leaf as possible to endure long periods of drought.
Agaves, in general, have large leaves arranged in a spiral along a small, often visible, stem to form a rosette. Rosettes are a common adaptation to desert or arid conditions. This growth form allows water to be directed down the leaves, like a channel, to the root zone. During times of serious drought, the small stem of an agave will shrink, allowing a tiny fissure in the soil around the plant base, further increasing the utility of the rosetts form in channeling water when it does rain. Rosettes are common in many genera from arid regions including all other members of the families Agavaceae and Nolinaceae, and genera from other families such as Aloe, Haworthia, and Gasteria, to name a few.
The leaves of Agave usually are hard or somewhat rigid and very fibrous inside. Many have prominent sharp marginal teeth, and almost all leaves have a rigid and very sharp terminal spine. A rosette may have fewer than 20 leaves or as many as 200, depending on the species. The leaves are thick and succulent, with specialized cells for water storage. Most leaves are coated with a fine to heavy wax cuticle. This cuticle is an adaptation to prevent excessive water loss through the leaves, retaining as much water within the leaf as possible to endure long periods of drought.
Product details
- Publisher : Timber Press
- Publication date : May 10, 2000
- Edition : First Edition
- Language : English
- Print length : 384 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0881924423
- ISBN-13 : 978-0881924428
- Item Weight : 1.95 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.38 x 1.19 x 9.31 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #562,097 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #172 in Ornamental Plant Gardening (Books)
- #332 in Gardening & Horticulture Reference (Books)
- #417 in Gardening Encyclopedias
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