Plant Partners: Creative Plant Associations for Perennials

by Anna Pavord, Anna Kruger

Magical planting suggestions from today's most compelling garden writer. Herbaceous perennials are the star performers in the garden. But to create maximum impact they need the right partners, and knowing which plant to put with which is an art that often eludes even the most knowledgeable of gardeners. Here, Anna Pavord helps to solve this tantalizing problem by suggesting 60 plants that she feels deserve a place in every garden -- her star plants -- and to accompany them, two ideal partners. She shows, season by season, how to create irresistible planting associations that juxtapose texture, shape, color, and scent. In these small-scale recipes she uses perennials, annuals, and bulbs that either perform simultaneously or dovetail to provide interest for most of the year. To extend the options, she also gives scores of alternatives for each combination. Stunning photographs and Anna's unique ability to awaken us to the delights and idiosyncrasies of these, her favorite plants, work together to provide a marvelous source of planting ideas. These can be visited time and time again, whether we want merely to fill one small gap, transform an awkward corner, or start a whole new border from scratch.

Genres: Gardening, Reference, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Anna Pavord is the gardening correspondent for THE INDEPENDENT and the author of widely praised gardening books including PLANT PARTNERS and THE BORDER BOOK. She wrote for the OBSERVER for twenty years, has contributed to COUNTRY LIFE, ELLE DECORATION and COUNTRY LIVING, and is an associate editor of GARDENS ILLUSTRATED. For the last thirty years she has lived in Dorset, England where she is currently making a new garden. Constantly experimenting with new combinations of flowers and foliage, she finds it a tremendous source of inspiration. -http://www.bloomsbury.com/author/anna...

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book features combinations (and regional substitutions) of focal plants and their most striking companions.

There is not a lot of gardening advice and information in this book so if you are starting your first garden this should be a companion book.

I really like Anna Pavord's writing style and enjoyed this book.

[Ruth Brumby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent illustrations and a well written text by a knowledgeable gardener. The prose is delightful and sometimes very funny. It bears re-reading.

[Kris Kennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on the stars of the garden. Wonderful use of words.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book of ideas for plant combinations.