Product Description

North America is home to approximately four dozen bulbous genera, encompassing hundreds of species. Among these are such popular rock garden plants as Calochortus (mariposa lilies) and Erythronium (trout lilies), which have not been exhaustively covered by any previous book. Others, including Calydorea, Hypoxis, and Muilla, are not well known outside specialist collections.

The characteristics that make bulbs desirable in gardens include their great diversity of flowering time, color, size, and form; their versatility in the landscape as naturalized plantings, in borders and containers, under shrubs, in bog gardens, alpine houses, grasslands, and woodlands; and their capacity to multiply and spread. Lilies, alliums, or jack-in-the-pulpits, along with goldenstars, spider lilies, and hellebores, add much to the enjoyment of gardening.

Written by a diverse group of authors who are all avid gardeners with extensive experience observing the plants in the wild, this volume strikes a pleasing balance between field botany and practical horticulture. Special attention has been paid to identifying the distinguishing features of the species so that those growing them from seed or viewing them in the wild can identify what they have before them. Geographical ranges and descriptions of the soils, moisture regimes, and exposures preferred by each species are provided to guide the gardener as well as the hiker seeking to photograph flowers in the wild.

Amateur botanists and horticulturists, particularly those with an interest in alpine and rock gardens, and travelers planning a field trip to choice plant-viewing sites all over the continent will be inspired by this first-hand account of native North American bulbs. More than 100 impressive color photos illustrate the eleven original chapters.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1364826 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 308 pages

From Booklist
A tendency to naturalize is one of many outstanding attributes of bulbous plants. Whether tucked beneath shrubs, integrated into mixed borders, or planted in a swath of lawn, flowering bulbs can reward gardeners with showy displays throughout the seasons. Focusing on North American natives, this timely resource backed by the North American Rock Garden Society brings together a fine gathering of writers whose expertise conveys a stimulating breadth of knowledge. With an eye toward (but not exclusive to) low-water situations and rock gardens, the book offers a comprehensive look at newly discovered plants as well as familiar types of alliums and lilies found across the country. An elegant charmer, the trout lily and other erythroniums with nodding blooms and spotted or mottled leaves number among the bevy of desirable selections for gardens. Wise gardeners will do well to heed the informed descriptions and cultivation advice contained here, making note of a plant's natural habitat before envisioning where it might grow at home. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
This is a book that will fill a large gap on the American gardener's reference shelf. -- John E. Bryan, The American Gardener, Jan/Feb 2002

This is a treasure-trove of information on these superb plants. -- Patricia A. Taylor, Trenton Times

This is the first comprehensive work on North American bulbs, with special attention given to species identification. -- Hort Ideas, November 2001

About the Author
The North American Rock Garden Society, with members throughout the world, is devoted to all aspects of the plant species grown in rock gardens: what they are, how to grow them, where to obtain them, and where to observe them in the wild. The Society publishes the Rock Garden Quarterly and holds national meetings; more than 30 local chapters in the United States and Canada convene regularly.

Customer Reviews

Descriptive information identifying the various species
The North American Rock Garden Society is an organization of amateur botanists and gardeners drawn from around the world who are devoted to all aspects of the plant species grown in rock gardens. This unique horticultural society commissioned Jane McGary to compile a wealth of contributions from expert contributors to present a comprehensive reference on North American bulbous plants that would be suited to the geographical ranges, soil varieties, and moisture regimes found throughout North America. In addition to descriptive information identifying the various species, practical information is provided for growing these plants from seed, as well as tips for viewing them in the wild. Superbly enhanced with more than one hundred full color photographs, Bulbs Of North America is a core addition to any personal, professional, academic, or community library horticultural and gardening reference collection.