Why Grow That When You Can Grow This?
255 Extraordinary Alternatives to Everyday Problem Plants
Book - 2012
"It's a tired turn of phrase, but the grass is always greener on the other side. And for gardeners, it's not just the grass - it's the flowers, the shrubs, and the trees. No longer! Pining to grow lilac but lack the full sun? Try the fragrant pink and white flowers of Korean spice viburnum. Love the drama of canna but need something hardier? Try the bold foliage of variegated fleece flower. Why Grow That When You Can Grow This? offers hundreds of all-star alternatives that replace - and often outshine - popular problem plants. Garden designer Andrew Keys makes it easier than ever to skip over the fussy plant prima donnas and move toward the equally gorgeous understudies. Each profile shows the problem plant and offers three alternatives that include three or more of the original plant's characteristics - hardiness, shape, color, texture, light, and size."--Publisher's description.
Publisher:
Portland, Or. : Timber Press, 2012
Edition:
1st ed
Description:
336 p. : col. ill. ; 23 cm
ISBN:
9781604692860
1604692863
1604692863
Branch Call Number:
635 Key



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Add a CommentThis was definitely a book for the east coast, south, and Great Lakes regions. Many of the "problem plants" do beautifully here in the Pacific NW, and some of the "solution" plants were dangerously invasive here! All in all, this would have been much better as a regional book or series of books.
I found the format kind of hard to follow (which were the problem plants, which were the good ones), but when I figured that out, I realized it was a great resource. This has definitely influenced some ideas I have for my landscaping in my backyard. This is written by a southerner, and there is no zone map, so make sure you know what garden zone you live in, so you can pick out plants that work in your climate. Enjoy!