Native Perennials for The Southeast

by Peter Loewer

Many of the most beloved garden plants are actually native to the U.S., and the Southeast has a rich diversity of species perfectly adaptable to a variety of garden settings. The trend towards using native plants in the garden has been consistently growing for a number of years and shows no signs of slowing down. Once limited to small specialty nurseries, native perennials are now readily available and can be found in garden centers throughout the Southeast. Not only are they beautiful, they are tough. Because they are naturally compatible with the climate and soil conditions of the region, they are low maintenance, pest resistant, and drought tolerant. This means they will perform well without time-consuming maintenance requirements and do not need pesticides and other chemicals to thrive. Today gardeners are finding the many wonderful qualities of native perennials make them perfect for use in the home landscape.

Genres: Nonfiction, Gardening

192 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2005

About the author

H. Peter Loewer is a writer, graphic artist, photographer, and botanical illustrator who deals with books on natural history, gardening, great gardeners, and science for children.

He graduated from the Albright Art School of the University of Buffalo with a degree in graphics and a minor in art history. Upon graduation he was awarded the Max Beckmann Fellowship to the Brooklyn Museum Art.

In 1973 he wrote the first book on ornamental grasses, Growing and Decorating with Ornamental Grasses, then in 1994 he published the first book on nocturnal flowers for bloom and fragrance, called The Evening Garden. His book, The Wild Gardener, was named one of the best 75 garden books of the 20th Century by the American Horticultural Society. Dealing with a few of the nation's horticultural greats, he also wrote and illustrated Thoreau's Garden and Jefferson's Garden. He has a monthly call-in garden show on public radio in Asheville, and is on-air with morning host Ken Adams the first and third Thursday of the month, talking about unusual plants and horticulture lore. He is also the contributing editor for Carolina Gardener magazine and a popular speaker.

Today, Mr. Loewer teaches art at the North Carolina Arboretum, Montreat Elderhostel, AB-Tech, and every three years at Penland School in Spruce Pine. He also practices printmaking, and works on pen and colored-pencil renderings of native plants and their pollinating insects.

Reviews

[Denise]

Some entries have photos but not all. Uses usda hardiness zones and provides brief descriptions of best growing conditions.

[Regina Doherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

great info! natives bt zones, full color photos, etc