Product Description

The popularity of native North American plants has soared in recent years, for many good reasons. Whatever draws you to native plants, you’ll find no better or more authoritative guide than Allan Armitage. Widely acknowledged as one of the world’s foremost horticulturists, Armitage describes more than 630 species and cultivars of perennials, biennials, and annuals that are native to the United States, bringing to each plant a wealth of practical knowledge and the full weight of his experience and expertise. Each entry includes a general description of the plant plus essential data you need to grow it successfully, including habitat, hardiness, correct garden site, maintenance, and propagation—all in a clear, easy-to-use format. Whether you are a native plant enthusiast or simply wish to use plants that work in the landscape, you’ll find everything you are looking for in this readable, information-packed volume.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #90585 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 452 pages

From Booklist
Horticulturist Armitage provides gardeners with a useful sourcebook listing hundreds of native plants available in the retail marketplace. Armitage acknowledges that he and like-minded avid green thumbs are keen on planting a mix of exotics and natives, not simply one group or the other. To that end, the book's informative plant entries reach beyond comprehensive descriptions of native species to recommended choice cultivars. Armitage's frankly opinionated, consistently lively writing is illuminating, from notes on etymology clarifying botanical and common names to guidance aimed at helping gardeners understand that while black snakeroot needs a colder climate to thrive, switchgrass and sneezeweed will grow in a wide range of USDA zones. The in-depth listings cover a plant's natural habitat and hardiness, advise on sitting and propagating, and point out required maintenance, while a sources section provides a valuable compilation of nurseries, plant societies, books, and Internet sites. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"An essential reference book for nursery people and horticulturalists, home gardeners, and all libraries." -- Library Journal, January 2006

"An essential reference book for nursery people and horticulturalists, home gardeners, and all libraries." Nancy Myers, Library Journal January 2006 (Library Journal )

"An essential reference book for nursery people and horticulturalists, home gardeners, and all libraries." Nancy Myers, Library Journal January 2006 (Library Journal )

"Avoiding all the debates, politics, and preaching that often comes with a discussion of native plants, Armitage speaks to gardeners in a way we can understand and offers us more than 400 pages of plants filled with the information we need to grow them successfully." Steve Aitken, Horticulture Jan/Feb 2007 (Horticulture )

"Avoiding all the debates, politics, and preaching that often comes with a discussion of native plants, Armitage speaks to gardeners in a way we can understand and offers us more than 400 pages of plants filled with the information we need to grow them successfully." Steve Aitken, Horticulture Jan/Feb 2007 (Horticulture )

"In encyclopedic fashion, Armitage critiques each species and its hybrids, embellishing the information with personal accounts of his experiences with these plants. Within the listings of this very complete volume, Armitage offers plant-care practices, flowering characteristics, site selection and preparation, hardiness, ornamental characteristics, regions where plants perform best, and much more." Joel M. Lerner, Washington Post May 20, 2006 (The Washington Post )

"In encyclopedic fashion, Armitage critiques each species and its hybrids, embellishing the information with personal accounts of his experiences with these plants. Within the listings of this very complete volume, Armitage offers plant-care practices, flowering characteristics, site selection and preparation, hardiness, ornamental characteristics, regions where plants perform best, and much more." Joel M. Lerner, Washington Post May 20, 2006 (The Washington Post )

"[This] book is typical Armitage—full of chatty, strongly opinionated, and deeply knowledgeable discussions of both straight species and cultivars." Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune March 12, 2006 (Chicago Tribune )

"[This] book is typical Armitage--full of chatty, strongly opinionated, and deeply knowledgeable discussions of both straight species and cultivars." -- Chicago Tribune, March 12, 2006

"[This] book is typical Armitagefull of chatty, strongly opinionated, and deeply knowledgeable discussions of both straight species and cultivars." Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune March 12, 2006 (Chicago Tribune )

We've previously reviewed several books by Dr. Allan Armitage, professor of horticulture at the University of Georgia, Athens, and this one, like the others, is energized by a breezy, anecdotal, tell-all style, vastly informed by his extensive observations. ... In a word, what his descriptions and recommendations reflect is a tremendous storehouse of personal, first-hand experience that you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. ... You might very well find yourself reading this book for sheer enjoyment. HortIdeas 20060101 This book is a delight to read. I have never heard the author speak in person, but he must be very entertaining for his writing is so. His material is intelligent, knowledgeable and yet humourous also. ... The text is modern and fresh, with references to current issues, researching via the Web, and upcoming programs for marketing native plants nationwide. -- Ellen Honeycutt Georgia Native Plant Society Reading List 20060301 What Armitage's book offers is food for thought when deciding on a plant. -- Jean Starr Munster (IN) Times 20060202 [This] book is typical Armitage - full of chatty, strongly opinionated, and deeply knowledgeble discussions of both straight species and cultivars. -- Beth Botts Chicago Tribune 20060312 Horticulturist Armitage provides gardeners with a useful sourcebook listing hundreds of native plants available in the retail marketplace. ... the book's informative plant entries reach beyond comprehensive descriptions of native species to recommended choice cultivars. Armitage's frankly opinionated, consistently lively writing is illuminating. -- Alice Joyce Booklist 20060301 Discusse[s] several issues that I see rarely in books of this kind, such as the issues of native plant cultivars, 'good' or 'bad' native plants, and marketing issues. I welcome the author's inclusion of these subjects. -- Alan Yen Douglasia 20060401 There is no question that Allan Armitage, professor of horticulture at the University of Georgia, is the reigning expert on herbaceous plants. ... Along with Armitage's other books, this is an essential source for the gardener. -- John Van de Water Newark Star-Ledger 20060507 As with Allan's other books, his conversational style of writing is so accessible and easy to read that you absorb knowledge without effort. I also appreciate his honesty about the ease or difficulty of cultivating specific plants. -- Mary Tucker Georgia Native Plant Society Reading List 20060425 A reference par excellence. -- Judy Lowe Christian Science Monitor 20060425 Armitage has produced a handsome and engaging book. ... A good guide to plants that are both garden-worthy and available through the legitimate nursery trade - a nice distinction, since many books on native plants leave you lusting for plants you cannot have. -- Pat Thompson Friends School of Minnesota 20060101 This book is great. Thank you Allan. ... The book covers some of the 'best of the best' natives currently available for landscape use. A 'worthy' book in my assessment. HortMemo 20060131 An excellent resource for the actual species you may want to choose from in creating your native or mixed garden. -- Dan Kunkel Wildlife Activist 20060401 A plant geek's dream, thorough and complete with facts, folklore, and little known tidbits. -- Natalie Walsh Schenectady Daily Gazette 20060428 In encyclopedic fashion, Armitage critiques each species and its hybrids, embellishing the information with personal accounts of his experiences with these plants. Within the listings of this very complete volume, Armitage offers plant-care practices, flowering characteristics, site selection and preparation, hardiness, ornamental characteristics, regions where plants perform best and much more. -- Joel M. Lerner Washington Post 20060520 An essential reference book for nursery people and horticulturalists, home gardeners, and all libraries. -- Nancy Myers Library Journal 20060101 If you love the beauty of North American plants, and wish to learn more about how to grow them, this book is sure to please. -- C. Colston Burrell American Gardener 20060701 Consider this book a celebration of native herbaceous plants that may serve to bridge the gap between native plant nerds and the general gardening public. -- Jim Borland Native Plants 20060701 About the same size as your high school American history text, this natural history lists plants that have grown in North America since before American history began ... a well-balanced combination of cultivation information, propogation, habitat preferences, color photographs and etymology is presented. -- Susan Smith-Durisek Lexington Herald-Leader 20061014 A beautifully produced book with exquisite photographs which bring out the stunning beauty of a great number of plants native to North America. Mr. Armitage includes a great deal of useful information, starting with lively and, at times, quirkily opinionated descriptions of the straight species of each plant. This is truly an excellent reference book. -- Doree Huneven Washington Gardener 20061101 In [this book], the world's foremost horticulturist Allan Armitage describes more then 600 species and cultivars of perennials, biennials and annuals that are native to North America. ... The best news is it's a fun and easy read. This book also belongs on the coffee table so guests, non-gardeners and gardeners alike can take a fascinating tour of North America's contribution to the gardens of the world. -- Nancy Szerlag Detroit News 20061209 Allan Armitage has written primarily for gardeners 'who would love to try some native plants but don't know where to start.' He should consider that goal reached with flying colors. -- Chris Martine Plant Science Bulletin 20061001 Armitage ... knows his plants and focuses on plants from a gardener's point of view. This is an important resource for gardeners who want to cultivate native plants. -- Jack Kerrigan Cleveland Plain Dealer 20061228 Splendid is the word for this book. -- Diane M. Calabrese American Reference Books Annual 20070101 Packed full of useful information, while remaining enjoyable and easy-to-read. -- Marissa Oppel Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 20071001 A must-have reference guide for any novice gardener interested in using plants that are beautiful and adaptable in our climate. -- Linda Cobb Herald-Journal 20091218

Review

"A must-have reference guide for any novice gardener interested in using plants that are beautiful and adaptable in our climate."

Customer Reviews

An excellent reference on native perennials
This A-Z encyclopedia features over 600 species of native plants for the American gardener. All of the plants included here are perennials which are available to purchase in nurseries and mail-order catalogs. This was the author's major criteria for inclusion and some popular plants were omitted because they are not easily obtainable in the trade.

Plants are arranged by their botanical names (beginning with "aconitum" - monkshood and ending with "zizia aurea" - golden alexanders). Each plant profile includes a general description covering several paragraphs followed by comments on habitat, hardiness, garden site, garden maintenance, popular species for the garden, recommendations for propagation and etymology. Most, but not all, are accompanied by excellent color photographs.

The author's conversational, laid-back tone and occasional humor make this book a pleasure to read and includes more than enough information for the reader to determine whether or not the plant would perform well in their own garden. An extensive "Sources" directory includes the addresses, phone number and websites of 87 nurseries throughout the U.S. Separate listings for plant societies and internet sites are also provided. A "Useful List" directory lists plants in categories such as "drought tolerant," "rabbit resistant," "plants that attract butterflies," etc.

Printed on heavy, glossy paper, the weight of the book is surprising and should hold up to frequent use. This is a useful reference for home gardeners interested in learning more about native plants.

Armitage's Native Plants
Good presentation of native plants, but could have more photos of some of the more obscure species. The book is slanted more toward the southeast and east U.S. Representation of western species is not as strong as it could be, but overall a very interesting book.

Armitage's Native Plants for North American Gardens
Very enjoyable and informative book. The enjoyment comes from the author's inclusion of personal perspectives of the native plants and the informative comes from the basic and beyond scientific information. Included is identification of the plant, habitat and propagation. Also mentioned are the cultivars of various plants. Good information for the beginning native plant gardener.