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Plantiful: Start Small, Grow Big With 150 Plants That Spread, Self-Sow, And Overwinter
“Thrifty gardeners take the bucks saved on plant purchases will pay back the purchase price of Plantiful with dividends.” —Tovah Martin, author of The Unexpected Houseplant
Whoever coined the phrase “money doesn’t grow on trees” must not have been a resourceful gardener. Plantiful shows you how to have an easy, gorgeous garden packed with plants by simply making the right choices. Kristen Green highlights plants that help a garden quickly grow by self-sowing and spreading and teaches you how to expand the garden and extend the life of a plant by overwintering. The book features plant profiles for 50 self-sowers (including columbine, milkweed, and foxglove), 50 spreaders (such as clematis, snow poppy, and spearmint), and 50 plants that overwinter (including lemon verbena, begonia, and Chinese hibiscus). Additional gardening tips, design ideas, and inspirational photos will motivate and inspire gardeners of all levels.
Whoever coined the phrase “money doesn’t grow on trees” must not have been a resourceful gardener. Plantiful shows you how to have an easy, gorgeous garden packed with plants by simply making the right choices. Kristen Green highlights plants that help a garden quickly grow by self-sowing and spreading and teaches you how to expand the garden and extend the life of a plant by overwintering. The book features plant profiles for 50 self-sowers (including columbine, milkweed, and foxglove), 50 spreaders (such as clematis, snow poppy, and spearmint), and 50 plants that overwinter (including lemon verbena, begonia, and Chinese hibiscus). Additional gardening tips, design ideas, and inspirational photos will motivate and inspire gardeners of all levels.
222 pages, Paperback
First published January 9, 2014
15 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Kristin Green
13 books5 followersKristin Green first unearthed a passion for gardening while on the West Coast earning degrees in art and painting from the University of Washington. Now back on native soil, she is a full-time, year-round gardener serving as interpretive horticulturist, garden blogger, and photographer at Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum, a 33-acre non-profit public garden in Bristol, Rhode Island. She is also head gardener and curator of plants for her own .17-acre estate, where she writes a regular column called Down to Earth for local newspapers, and blogs, irregularly, at trenchmanicure.wordpress.com. Her writing and photographs have been published in Fine Gardening and other magazines.
Kristin also loves chocolate (the darker the better) and has a chair collection.
Kristin also loves chocolate (the darker the better) and has a chair collection.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 5, 2021
I’m kind of a frugal, low-maintenance, cage match gardener. This book is the closest fit to that I’ve seen. It contains a section on plants that readily reseed themselves and gives tips based on how they do that. A section on plants that will spread (and spread) with tips on putting them and keeping them where you want them. And sections on plants that are not cold hardy but can be overwintered (not a big issue for me in zone 10). It also includes tips on when and how to propagate each of these types to expand your own garden and share with friends - something I’ve recently become interested in. I’m really happy to have discovered this book!
August 25, 2017
Plantiful by Kristen Green explains how gardeners get lots of extra plants through growth of planted selections especially if the selections are self-sowers, spreaders ("reuse, replant, reuse"), and keepers. Also with this knowledge, the gardener, once she/he knows and understands her/his garden
completely, realizes that the extras can be used to start a compost pile or if the gardener chooses an enclosed composter, the extra plant material goes inside various shaped and sized composters to eventually produce "black gold", the divine compost made of nutrient rich plant material that one puts back into the garden. One point the author continues to make is how to save money. Doing one's own compost is one way to save money. Dividing perennials and replanting the pieces in another area of the garden saves money because one does not have to buy new plants. The author does mention time, and a gardener can spend a massive amount of time doing all the regular duties such as deadheading, watering, feeding, and, for example, spraying to combat the critters (insects) that like to eat one's plants as well as spraying to fight black spot, a fungus that loves roses, that finding the extra time to do all that the author suggests such as collecting seeds, propagating plants, be aware of plant toxicity, and take cuttings of tender perennials (those plants that will not make it through the winter in one's zone) and more makes this book somewhat impractical to me. Ms. Green has many great ideas, the photography is very good, and if a gardener has the time or an army, there are many terrific suggestions that will help the gardener in the garden.
Merged review:
This book is a true aid to anyone who works in their own garden or anyone else's either. Packed with beautiful as well as instructive photography, the author touches on topics such as 'how plants grow', 'self-sowers', 'start a seed collection', and many other areas. She also identifies 50 plants that will replant themselves as nature intended them to do, both annuals and perennials. With the plants that are included , the author has each plant's gardening zone listed, how a plant will spread, and a list of 50 'fillers'. This is quite a good gardening book for one who is just starting to garden to a master gardener. Well done!!
completely, realizes that the extras can be used to start a compost pile or if the gardener chooses an enclosed composter, the extra plant material goes inside various shaped and sized composters to eventually produce "black gold", the divine compost made of nutrient rich plant material that one puts back into the garden. One point the author continues to make is how to save money. Doing one's own compost is one way to save money. Dividing perennials and replanting the pieces in another area of the garden saves money because one does not have to buy new plants. The author does mention time, and a gardener can spend a massive amount of time doing all the regular duties such as deadheading, watering, feeding, and, for example, spraying to combat the critters (insects) that like to eat one's plants as well as spraying to fight black spot, a fungus that loves roses, that finding the extra time to do all that the author suggests such as collecting seeds, propagating plants, be aware of plant toxicity, and take cuttings of tender perennials (those plants that will not make it through the winter in one's zone) and more makes this book somewhat impractical to me. Ms. Green has many great ideas, the photography is very good, and if a gardener has the time or an army, there are many terrific suggestions that will help the gardener in the garden.
Merged review:
This book is a true aid to anyone who works in their own garden or anyone else's either. Packed with beautiful as well as instructive photography, the author touches on topics such as 'how plants grow', 'self-sowers', 'start a seed collection', and many other areas. She also identifies 50 plants that will replant themselves as nature intended them to do, both annuals and perennials. With the plants that are included , the author has each plant's gardening zone listed, how a plant will spread, and a list of 50 'fillers'. This is quite a good gardening book for one who is just starting to garden to a master gardener. Well done!!
June 1, 2018
This is a great book for the beginner gardener. Green manages to cover everything from propagation techiques to invasive plant species in a conversational and approachable manner, unlike the verbose style of many in the same genre. The beautiful pictures of mixed plantings and the plant-by-plant breakdown for each category (Faithful Volunteers, Thrilling Fillers, and Come-back Keepers) make this an informatove and easily digestible read. The style of the gardens included is cottage-y and informal (as one might expect from an author who is a proponent of self-sowing and spreading plants) much like Green's writing.
All you need to know, I suppose, is that I'm considering finding a used copy of this book to have on hand as reference after I return my library copy!
All you need to know, I suppose, is that I'm considering finding a used copy of this book to have on hand as reference after I return my library copy!
March 14, 2019
From my decades of gardening, I have learned to embrace the plants that love the climate where I live and to avoid those that don't. Kristin Green agrees and shows us how to garden less expensively and to let plants create unexpected beauty. I also find it much easier to weed out what I don't want than traipse to the garden store, spend a lot of money, and labor trying to get reluctant plants to grow. This is a book to read as it has lots of unexpected hints throughout.
July 3, 2017
A great, informative gardening book. I always wonder about which types of plants can be easily propagated, and this book shares that info and much more. Great pics, good ideas - a solid resource for your gardening book shelf.
I appreciated that the author is a person who obviously loves plants and gardening (and yes, there are some books out there that seem to skip that part!) - her interest and joy in the process shine through.
I appreciated that the author is a person who obviously loves plants and gardening (and yes, there are some books out there that seem to skip that part!) - her interest and joy in the process shine through.
June 18, 2018
Recommended for: busy or part-time gardeners that dream of a potent garden with minimal input.
Remarks: everything you would expect from an in-depth gardening how-to book except with a focus on self-sown plants. Includes wonderful advice about helping them succeed as well as keeping them controlled. I'll come back to this book for sure!
Remarks: everything you would expect from an in-depth gardening how-to book except with a focus on self-sown plants. Includes wonderful advice about helping them succeed as well as keeping them controlled. I'll come back to this book for sure!
August 13, 2014
Great book on using spreading and self-sowing plants to full advantage in the garden.
August 7, 2014
very informative for a novice like me. A book I will refer to again and again
July 10, 2017
Great reference book.
May 8, 2019
This book has great ideas for plants that spread themselves for all gardens.
April 24, 2020
Great resource for how to propagate
February 17, 2020
A good resource for learning how to make the plants you have turn into more and more plants, via propagation, division, or seed. Worth the price to keep it on hand as a reference on starting shrubs from suckers and cuttings. Great photos of lush, unrestrained gardens, and good info about some less-often grown plants.
One caveat: the author herself states that her line in the sand for the difference between a problem plant and a vigorous spreader is whether you need a blowtorch or a backhoe to get rid of it. I'm not sure that's where the average home gardener would want that line to be drawn. If you have to spend time every week of the gardening season removing seedlings from places you don't want them--for years--well, it may not be truly 'invasive', but it's certainly annoying. Morning glories are lovely growing on a fence, but not so charming when they are constricting around your cutting garden flowers and you have to fight them manually for years and years after once planting them.
If you're new to a plant or to gardening in your specific area, I'd use this book as a resource for generating a list of plants to consider but wouldn't plant any spreaders until I'd asked others who garden in the same place about their experiences with the plants you've chosen.
One caveat: the author herself states that her line in the sand for the difference between a problem plant and a vigorous spreader is whether you need a blowtorch or a backhoe to get rid of it. I'm not sure that's where the average home gardener would want that line to be drawn. If you have to spend time every week of the gardening season removing seedlings from places you don't want them--for years--well, it may not be truly 'invasive', but it's certainly annoying. Morning glories are lovely growing on a fence, but not so charming when they are constricting around your cutting garden flowers and you have to fight them manually for years and years after once planting them.
If you're new to a plant or to gardening in your specific area, I'd use this book as a resource for generating a list of plants to consider but wouldn't plant any spreaders until I'd asked others who garden in the same place about their experiences with the plants you've chosen.
July 6, 2021
This is a fun gardening book!
Covering the basics and more advanced gardening techniques this book is thorough!
There are beautiful pictures of plants and helpful lists for choosing plants and having a garden. There isn't as much focus on edible plants as I would've liked, but there's like of unique plants and ideas that any gardener can incorporate!
There's information on how to start plants, basic gardening vocabulary, and information on harvesting and keeping seeds. It's a thorough guide to maintaining a garden of your choosing.
Covering the basics and more advanced gardening techniques this book is thorough!
There are beautiful pictures of plants and helpful lists for choosing plants and having a garden. There isn't as much focus on edible plants as I would've liked, but there's like of unique plants and ideas that any gardener can incorporate!
There's information on how to start plants, basic gardening vocabulary, and information on harvesting and keeping seeds. It's a thorough guide to maintaining a garden of your choosing.
April 16, 2018
Some ideas for interesting plants but not much detail about specific plants. Nice resource for future gardening. Good explanation on the difference between invasive and opportunistic. Plants labeled as invasive in some geographical locations and not others.
Some ideas for now: borage, chives, roman chamomile.
Some ideas for now: borage, chives, roman chamomile.
May 9, 2021
This book contained information that I haven't seen anywhere else. I try to grow native as much as I can, excluding the occasional zone 10 annual for a taste of the tropics. Kristen Green gives suggestions for pairing plants, informs the reader of possible invasive species, talks about dividing plants and propagating more, and peaks my interest with stunning photographs. A must read.
September 22, 2021
This book explained key gardening facts I have never before fully grasped. It had light bulb moments for me. Also, her plantings are brilliant and soft and full of life and exactly what I want my garden to look like (please). Simple, friendly, inviting, encouraging help for novice gardeners. Highly recommended.
November 28, 2018
This book encourages to focus on plants that actually grow, not trying for something exotic and time-consuming, which is an excellent advice! But what do I do, if nothing grows in my garden?! Even though I genuinely try. I managed to kill off peppermint!
June 28, 2023
I like pictures in cookbooks and gardening books. If I don’t like the look of it, I don’t want to cook it or grow it. This was filled with great pictures and tips on seeding, thinning and propagating. I really liked the numerous options for fillers and volunteers.
July 26, 2017
great book, lots of pictures!
May 3, 2018
Good ideas.
March 16, 2019
I liked this book and the ideas it presented, but the plant selection was mostly not appropiate for my zone 4 garden.
November 21, 2024
Nothing revolutionary in this book, but helpful and very pretty nonetheless.
February 23, 2014
A gardening book for gardening the way I like it, letting the plants do the work for you. I appreciate this book and all of it's tips since I have a garden just like this. Plantiful shows you a way to flower garden in a way that will "let self-sowers, also known as volunteers, work for you..." just plant and let grow!
You can tell author Kristen Green is passionate about sharing her knowledge as she states "I would share every plant in my garden with you if I could. Instead, I wrote this." In her books she gives you a run down of basic plant biology that every gardener should know and then begins to share the advantages of self-sowers, plants that plant themselves.
In Plantiful you will find three helpful lists of 150 self-sowing plants characterized by 'Faithful Volunteers,' 'Thrilling Fillers' and 'Come Back Keepers.' The list includes a picture of the plant, what zones they like to grow in, when they like to grow, what they look like, what they attract and care instructions. Also included is the very important information on where these plants are considered invasive.However, any gardener should double check the plants that they buy to make sure that they are not invasive since some of the suggestions in the list can be misleading.
The section on frost-tender plants that are mostly exotic and will need to be overwintered inside are not my cup of tea, but other gardeners might want to try it.
Helpful instructions on propagating (which will need to be done eventually in any garden) are also included along with handy pictorials.
A great book for any gardener or someone looking into low maintenance gardening.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
You can tell author Kristen Green is passionate about sharing her knowledge as she states "I would share every plant in my garden with you if I could. Instead, I wrote this." In her books she gives you a run down of basic plant biology that every gardener should know and then begins to share the advantages of self-sowers, plants that plant themselves.
In Plantiful you will find three helpful lists of 150 self-sowing plants characterized by 'Faithful Volunteers,' 'Thrilling Fillers' and 'Come Back Keepers.' The list includes a picture of the plant, what zones they like to grow in, when they like to grow, what they look like, what they attract and care instructions. Also included is the very important information on where these plants are considered invasive.However, any gardener should double check the plants that they buy to make sure that they are not invasive since some of the suggestions in the list can be misleading.
The section on frost-tender plants that are mostly exotic and will need to be overwintered inside are not my cup of tea, but other gardeners might want to try it.
Helpful instructions on propagating (which will need to be done eventually in any garden) are also included along with handy pictorials.
A great book for any gardener or someone looking into low maintenance gardening.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
January 28, 2015
At first I was worried that this would be a book about weeds. And I was alarmed as I flipped through it to see 3 pictures with Mexican feather grass, a horribly invasive plant in California. I was happy to see that Ms Green does devote two pages to the problem in a chapter titled "Opportunistic or Invasive".
This book has lots of very good pictures of the plants as well as helpful tips on propagation. The 150 plants that "spread, self-sow, and overwinter" are divided into 3 sections:
50 Faithful Volunteers
50 Thrilling Fillers
50 Come-Back Keepers
What I really liked is that when a plant was invasive, it was noted in BOLD CAPITALIZED type and noted the regions where it was invasive.
Most of the plants are geared to areas which get rain and have winters, so not particularly useful to my drought-stricken area in southern California although there were some hardy succulents listed.
This book has lots of very good pictures of the plants as well as helpful tips on propagation. The 150 plants that "spread, self-sow, and overwinter" are divided into 3 sections:
50 Faithful Volunteers
50 Thrilling Fillers
50 Come-Back Keepers
What I really liked is that when a plant was invasive, it was noted in BOLD CAPITALIZED type and noted the regions where it was invasive.
Most of the plants are geared to areas which get rain and have winters, so not particularly useful to my drought-stricken area in southern California although there were some hardy succulents listed.
January 20, 2015
This is a good book to read on a winter afternoon, which is what I did.
This volume includes pictures, descriptions (with Zone info)with necessary conditions for growing.
Some narrative in each section; instructions on plants that self sow, plants to propagate, those that will over-winter. I am, however, a skeptical gardener as part of my property is a Zone 5 and another a Zone 4 so little overwinters here.
Recommended.
This volume includes pictures, descriptions (with Zone info)with necessary conditions for growing.
Some narrative in each section; instructions on plants that self sow, plants to propagate, those that will over-winter. I am, however, a skeptical gardener as part of my property is a Zone 5 and another a Zone 4 so little overwinters here.
Recommended.
March 14, 2016
This was basically a list of plants, many I don't have in my garden with a brief description of where to place them and their zones, soil types, etc.
Some good ideas and plants I'll have on my radar. There is also a good section on propagation and seed saving. Just what I needed on this 65 degree March day. Spring is coming.
Some good ideas and plants I'll have on my radar. There is also a good section on propagation and seed saving. Just what I needed on this 65 degree March day. Spring is coming.
August 30, 2016
This is mostly about flowers. When edibles are discussed their edibility is rarely mentioned.
Growing conditions are discussed, but not in great detail. There are good sections on propagation.
I gave this a four for the minimal plant detail. I would have reduced my rating even more if I had seen better books regarding self-sustained plants.
Growing conditions are discussed, but not in great detail. There are good sections on propagation.
I gave this a four for the minimal plant detail. I would have reduced my rating even more if I had seen better books regarding self-sustained plants.
April 26, 2015
I really enjoyed Kristin Green's philosophy of 'letting it grow' while at the same time reserving "full editorial control" of the plants in your garden. I also found a few annuals I want to try in my garden per her suggestion.
June 10, 2015
a nice, colorful book that has lots of great ideas for money-saving gardeners as well as those looking for plants that plant themselves. we have a couple of "blank" dirt patches in our yard that we were seeking some inspiration for, and this gives some good food for thought!
August 2, 2014
Wish I had read this sooner. Lots of ideas for perennials - selection, placement, and propagation.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews