The Unkillables: 40 Resilient House Plants for New Plant Parents

by Jo Lambell

Houseplants not only make your space look stylish, they are good for both your physical and mental health. That is… until you kill one (or three). There is nothing more heartbreaking and soul-destroying than watching your beautiful green friend die a slow death in front of your very eyes, despite all of your love and attention. Was it too much water? Not enough? Some sort of insect infestation? The reasons for planticide can seem endless!

In The Unkillables, Jo Lambell shares her houseplant knowledge so that even the biggest plant serial killers can have an abundant indoor garden. According to Jo, the biggest mistake many people make is buying the plant they like, not buying the plant for the space that they have, and not accepting the sort of plant parent they are able to be - someone with a warm flat who is rarely home cannot offer the same as the person in a big house who is always in. With this in mind, Jo starts the book with a comprehensive Plant Parent Quiz, which will help you to decide the plants that are best for you and your home. She then details 40 low-maintenance plants and how to keep them healthy and happy.

Featuring a First-Aid section that covers common plant ailments, as well as information on potting, watering, fertilizing and more, The Unkillables is the perfect book for anyone who owns a houseplant and want it to thrive.

Genres: Nonfiction

128 pages, Hardcover

Published June 21, 2022

Reviews

[Nell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice pics, very aesthetic.
Doesn't really account for different climates honestly, especially those places that have inherently higher humidity where some of the unkillables aren't so unkillable.
But a good enough book to start with. It does mention pet and child friendly, so yay for that :)

[Ashley Fierro Vega · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore this book. Coming from a tropical island, ever since I was a child I grew under the love for plants and flowers as I watched both of my grandmas love for them. I found this book on a Urban Outfitters store with another book called: The Little Book of Chanel together, and I just went and bought them only for the aesthetic of my living room’s coffee table, not gonna lie. Then something awesome happened, I actually read them.



Short, Simple & Tiny. I think although is missing a bit of more details, it's quite informative and has beautiful pictures. I highly recommend for everyone, especially a starter. Perfect table book or decorative piece.

[Am Y · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't really agree with quite a few of the plants featured in this book as being "resilient". You know some of them are already fussy when the author herself says they need high humidity, don't like this/that, can't tolerate blah blah and so on. I also speak from personal experience, because many of the plants she lists as "unkillable" are actually not. A few I would say can even be classified as "difficult" to keep alive/healthy. But I liked the book's conciseness and simplicity - the author doesn't tell you more than you need to know, and every plant comes with a handy list of features.

(As an aside, I noticed that none of the cacti featured had "air-purifying" qualities. Does this mean they don't clean your air?! The green leafies all did, except for some of the palms!)

[Margie Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick reference for beginners

I read this primarily to get ideas of what plants tolerate low light. This book is short and to the point and so would especially appeal to anyone looking for quick answers. It's organized well, and gives helpful advice on common mistakes. It is written in a cheerful, friendly voice that beginners will not find intimidating.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very simple, easy to follow guide to houseplants. A great reference to have on hand for those that are interested in learning more about plants!