Cover Image: The Southeast Native Plant Primer

The Southeast Native Plant Primer

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Member Reviews

This is a fantastic regional guide for gardeners and homeowners in the Southeast U.S. It gives descriptions and information on over 200 vines, shrubs, ferns, woodland flowers, full sun flowers and other native plants with beautiful full-color photos for each. They are divided by sections and include icons to easily let you know if they are good for beneficial insects, butterflies, hummingbirds, etc. There are also many helpful lists of native plants that are good for special situations like "hell strips" (the section by roads with bad dirt, low water, etc.), deer-prone areas, and much more.

The book goes into great detail about why native plants matter on all different counts. It also is a great resource for bird lovers who are finally realizing that if we want to keep birds from going extinct we must start planting food for their primary food source -- caterpillars -- that they especially need to feed their young. The tone is also helpful and friendly.

Beautiful photos also show how native plants enhance a wide variety of homes and gardens. My one complaint is that they rarely mention edibility or other uses even when they profile plants that I know are very helpful for food and/or medicine. I know this is a case of teaching only what you know well and also beyond the scope of the book, but another aspect of sustainability as homeowners and gardeners is that we can meet so many of our own needs with native plants too. I often felt when reading this book the way I feel when I see someone talked about publicly when I know their secrets. I understand the reasons, but I would love to see a book that told all of the ways plants help wildlife and people.

Garden zones are also not given, but that's because this book is for a specific region and all plants mentioned should work well in the appropriate areas of that region as long as you pay attention to their advice regarding sun, water, etc.

All that said, this is a fantastic resource. Highly recommended.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

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