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The Southwest Native Plant Primer: 235 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden
From Arizona's leading native plant organization, this accessible and colorful guide to planting natives will help gardeners at every level of experience add beneficial pollinators to their home gardens.
The Southwest Native Plant Primer introduces 225 wildflowers, grasses, vines, cacti, and trees recommended for gardeners of any skill level interested in choosing native plants for a garden that makes a positive environmental impact. It covers a broad area including New Mexico, Arizona, and the southern portions of Utah and Colorado. Though there are vast differences between locations within this region there are also surprising commonalities that this book will highlight. As the Southwest grows in population, but water becomes perilously scarce, this book focuses on the role that native plants and water-wise planting can have in fostering sustainability for all life in the region. In doing so The Southwest Native Plant Primer fills an important gap in literature about gardening in the region, serving as a resource to new and old gardeners alike, providing up to date information about current best practices for gardening in the Southwest.
The Southwest Native Plant Primer introduces 225 wildflowers, grasses, vines, cacti, and trees recommended for gardeners of any skill level interested in choosing native plants for a garden that makes a positive environmental impact. It covers a broad area including New Mexico, Arizona, and the southern portions of Utah and Colorado. Though there are vast differences between locations within this region there are also surprising commonalities that this book will highlight. As the Southwest grows in population, but water becomes perilously scarce, this book focuses on the role that native plants and water-wise planting can have in fostering sustainability for all life in the region. In doing so The Southwest Native Plant Primer fills an important gap in literature about gardening in the region, serving as a resource to new and old gardeners alike, providing up to date information about current best practices for gardening in the Southwest.
252 pages, Paperback
Published July 29, 2025
About the author
Jack Dash
9 books8 followersJack started reading grown up books at the age of seven and has averaged four a week ever since. Not surprisingly, he dreamed of becoming a writer himself but life got in the way and he finished up working in the computer industry for thirty years, the last ten years of it running his own company. When they finally started making computers that worked properly, Jack lost interest and sold his business. He became a teacher and taught at schools around the world, including the Lake District, Egypt and Hong Kong, before taking early retirement to follow his childhood dream and become a writer.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 14, 2025
This is a great resource. Each plant has a photo, icons showing what wildlife it helps, growing information and more. The book points out that the region is incredibly diverse in growing conditions and the plants vary in where they are best suited.
I wish the photos showed both a close up (what most of the photos are) and a photo of what the plant looks like in its entirety for garden planning. I would also appreciate the addition of zone information. That said, it’s a thorough and helpful book.
I read a temporary digital loan of this book via netgalley.
I wish the photos showed both a close up (what most of the photos are) and a photo of what the plant looks like in its entirety for garden planning. I would also appreciate the addition of zone information. That said, it’s a thorough and helpful book.
I read a temporary digital loan of this book via netgalley.
April 21, 2025
a huge thank you to netgalley, authors and the publisher, for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of this beautiful book in advance - reviews are my own however.
it’s full of information and as a born southwest native the beautiful photos and descriptions made me want for my childhood home and natural plants. this book was a really neat thing to read and learn about the plants of the southwest united states.
it’s full of information and as a born southwest native the beautiful photos and descriptions made me want for my childhood home and natural plants. this book was a really neat thing to read and learn about the plants of the southwest united states.
December 9, 2025
The getting started section of the book that explains the basics is wonderful. Detailed and informative.
The photos throughout are also wonderful. You can tell there's passion put into the plant photos instead of just basic photos typically done in a plant book.
The descriptions for each plant are also wonderful. They are much better done than a typical gardening book like this. Very well thought out and interesting.
This is a must have book for the Arizona gardener - especially one just getting into native plants. Everyone should be growing natives.
The photos throughout are also wonderful. You can tell there's passion put into the plant photos instead of just basic photos typically done in a plant book.
The descriptions for each plant are also wonderful. They are much better done than a typical gardening book like this. Very well thought out and interesting.
This is a must have book for the Arizona gardener - especially one just getting into native plants. Everyone should be growing natives.
January 18, 2026
Super informative! There's a lot of great information about creating a native garden and I will definitely be saving some plants from this in an effort to create a low-water garden that can survive the Tucson sun.
May 27, 2025
This book is a good resource but it mainly covers New Mexico and Arizona. I live in the Edward’s Plateau in Texas which is hot with rocky soil so most of these plants will grow here as well.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews