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Tough Plants for Southern Gardens
Tough Plants for Southern Gardens is written for novice and accomplished gardener alike, and for all gardeners who value their leisure time. They also value the appearance of their home and appreciate the benefits of well-placed landscaping; however, they do not want to devote too much time to keeping it beautiful.
- GenresGardeningNonfiction
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2003
6 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Felder Rushing
47 books11 followersFelder Rushing is a 10th-generation American gardener whose pioneer ancestors settled across the Southeast, bringing many plants with them. Rushing's overstuffed, quirky cottage garden has been featured in many TV programs and magazines (including a cover of Southern Living), and includes a huge variety of weather-hardy plants along with a collection of folk art. There is no turfgrass, just plants, yard art, and "people places."
The author or co-author of 15 gardening books (including several national award winners) and former Extension Service urban horticulture specialist has written thousands of gardening columns in syndicated newspapers, and has had hundreds of articles and photographs published in regional and national garden magazines, including Garden Design, Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, Better Homes and Gardens, Fine Gardening, Organic Gardening, and the National Geographic. He has hosted a television program that was shown across the South, and appeared many times on other TV garden programs. Felder currently cohosts a call-in garden program over public radio with his longtime friend Dr. Dirt called The Gestalt Gardener.
Rushing has served many years as a distinctly non-stuffy board member of the American Horticulture Society, national director of the Garden Writers Association, and member of the National Youth Gardening Committee. Felder gives over a hundred lectures a year, coast to coast at flower shows, horticultural and plant society meetings, and Master Gardener conferences. Believing that too many would-be gardeners are intimidated by a crush of "how-to" experts ("We are daunted, not dumb," he says), Felder uses an offbeat, "down home" approach rife with humorous anecdotes and garden-irreverent metaphors, zany observations, and stunning photography and to help gardeners get past the "stinkin' rules" of horticulture.
The author or co-author of 15 gardening books (including several national award winners) and former Extension Service urban horticulture specialist has written thousands of gardening columns in syndicated newspapers, and has had hundreds of articles and photographs published in regional and national garden magazines, including Garden Design, Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, Better Homes and Gardens, Fine Gardening, Organic Gardening, and the National Geographic. He has hosted a television program that was shown across the South, and appeared many times on other TV garden programs. Felder currently cohosts a call-in garden program over public radio with his longtime friend Dr. Dirt called The Gestalt Gardener.
Rushing has served many years as a distinctly non-stuffy board member of the American Horticulture Society, national director of the Garden Writers Association, and member of the National Youth Gardening Committee. Felder gives over a hundred lectures a year, coast to coast at flower shows, horticultural and plant society meetings, and Master Gardener conferences. Believing that too many would-be gardeners are intimidated by a crush of "how-to" experts ("We are daunted, not dumb," he says), Felder uses an offbeat, "down home" approach rife with humorous anecdotes and garden-irreverent metaphors, zany observations, and stunning photography and to help gardeners get past the "stinkin' rules" of horticulture.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 29, 2023
This is an incredible reference book and I'm going to use several recommendations here to hopefully put an end to the erosion in the backyard.
November 8, 2013
I keep checking this out from the library, so I think I really need to buy it. It is a fantastic resource for Southerners as to determine where when and how to plant things that are hard to kill (my kind of plants!)
February 28, 2009
I got this book from the library. I love it. Now I want my own copy!
October 8, 2019
Weeding my gardening books, Southern gardening book 3 of 4.
I already know a lot of the plants in this book, and the information is largely covered in my other books. But it looks like it has some helpful tips and ideas, like sidebars that list easy plants for beginners, then plants that are “kinda tricky.” The author has a quirky casual style, for example under the heading ferns, in place of the Latin name he writes “All sorts of weird Latin names.” He also makes the suggestion of using Round-up on poison ivy, which most gardeners would be horrified by. But I think he’s aiming for the inexperienced gardener. Incidentally, I tried Round-up,hoping it would tame the rampant weeds in my garden. They came back. Between the health hazards and the fact that, despite my caution, it seemed to have killed nearby desirable plants, I won’t use Round Up anymore. I found hand pulling weeds and then mulching was far more effective. For weeds in sidewalks or driveways, I use vinegar instead—which works just as well and is cheaper and far safer.
Verdict: On the fence with this one, but as I like a low maintenance garden and live in the South, I think this one is worth keeping for now.
I already know a lot of the plants in this book, and the information is largely covered in my other books. But it looks like it has some helpful tips and ideas, like sidebars that list easy plants for beginners, then plants that are “kinda tricky.” The author has a quirky casual style, for example under the heading ferns, in place of the Latin name he writes “All sorts of weird Latin names.” He also makes the suggestion of using Round-up on poison ivy, which most gardeners would be horrified by. But I think he’s aiming for the inexperienced gardener. Incidentally, I tried Round-up,hoping it would tame the rampant weeds in my garden. They came back. Between the health hazards and the fact that, despite my caution, it seemed to have killed nearby desirable plants, I won’t use Round Up anymore. I found hand pulling weeds and then mulching was far more effective. For weeds in sidewalks or driveways, I use vinegar instead—which works just as well and is cheaper and far safer.
Verdict: On the fence with this one, but as I like a low maintenance garden and live in the South, I think this one is worth keeping for now.
July 18, 2025
Practical and well organized: loved it! The book is broken up into categories, i.e. annuals, perennials, bones, trees, etc., and each page within those categories features information about a plant, including a photo (very helpful for identification), size, growth habit, preferred soil, and much more! I appreciated the helpful tips about which plants are ideal for beginners, and which can be a little tricky to grow. I'll be seeking a copy for my reference library.
August 27, 2018
The benign neglect gardener's bible & encyclopedia. Plants that if you have to actually buy, you don't have enough friends. Tips for pests & blight: Take ten paces backward and squint. As entertaining as it is informative. Highly recommended for anybody (like me) who thinks it's too miserably hot and humid to even step outdoors from June to September.
July 16, 2020
I loved this book. He provides information on the best plants to grow in the South with wonderful Southern humor!
September 14, 2024
Good guide to use as a reference to easy plants for the novice or beginner gardener.
July 8, 2016
As someone who only began to take her garden seriously within the past few years, I still have a lot to learn-- but one thing I picked up pretty quickly is that some plants are much easier to keep alive than others, and gardening is much more enjoyable when the bulk of your garden is made up of these "easy plants". I've also learned to value the wisdom and experience of those who garden in my own part of the world, so I try to get my information from as local a source as possible. As the title suggests, the focus of this book is tough plants ("easy plants") for the southern United States-- perfect (for me, a relatively lazy gardener who lives in Alabama)!
This doesn't have to be a cover-to-cover read, though it can be. It's thoroughly readable-- somewhat less chatty and informal than Passalong Plants (also co-authored by Felder Rushing), but more useful for quick reference. It's great for dipping into for a few minutes here and there, and the index makes it simple to find a specific plant right away.
Divided into sections of types of plants, this book covers everything from fool-proof annuals and dependable perennials to easy-care trees and shrubs (and everything in between, as the saying goes).
Each plant was selected on the basis of its "toughness" and suitability for the Southern garden. Most featured plants get one full page including a photo, common name, Latin name, sunlight requirement, description of the flower (if applicable) and plant as a whole, soil/water needs, best propagation method(s), and "interesting kinds", which suggests specific, named varieties or cultivars (helpful for narrowing the field when making a wish list). There's also a small snippet of chit-chat about each plant, as well as one "tip" per entry-- some are about that plant, others are more tangentially related, but all are either informative or entertaining.
At the beginning of each section, there's a list of plants that are "Best for Beginners" and another that can be "Kinda Tricky" (probably self-explanatory). Then at the end of each section, there's a page or three of short blurbs about "Other Good Grasses" or "Other Great Garden Bulbs"-- plants that didn't quite make the "best of" list (for whatever reason), but which are also promising candidates for the Southern garden.
As much as I like this book, I do have one quibble. "The South" is a large area covering several states and USDA hardiness zones. The region is frequently divided into four gardening sub-regions: Upper South, Middle South, Lower South, and Coastal South-- and that's not even including the Tropical South, which is mostly confined to southern Florida.
The Upper South gets more of a real winter than the Coastal South (where I live), which means its gardeners can successfully grow plants (some bulbs and fruits, for instance) that need a little winter chill. Those same plants don't perform well this far south. On the other hand, I can grow delicate, subtropical plants outdoors. They may die back to the ground, but they reliably return with spring. Someone growing them on the northern edge of "the South" will have to dig them up every year or grow them in containers that can be moved into shelter for the winter.
Now, it is just a quibble, but just because a plant is included in this book doesn't mean it will be ideal for your garden. A little further research might be in order before you start your plant wish list, just to be on the safe side. (Besides, isn't researching plants part of the fun?). You may have a Southern garden, and the plant in question may be "tough" in some Southern gardens, but there's still the potential for plant failure and disappointment. Of course, you don't need to compare regions to witness the fickleness of Mother Nature's green children. Your next-door neighbor may rave about a plant that refuses to "do" for you.
To be fair, the author acknowledges all this, right there in the beginning! In gardening, there are no guarantees, even with so-called tough plants, but this book does give you a good shot at success, and I do believe that by far most of these plants will perform well through most of the region. I whole-heartedly recommend it-- particularly to beginning gardeners or anyone who's interested in learning more about plants that really want to grow in the hot and humid South.
This doesn't have to be a cover-to-cover read, though it can be. It's thoroughly readable-- somewhat less chatty and informal than Passalong Plants (also co-authored by Felder Rushing), but more useful for quick reference. It's great for dipping into for a few minutes here and there, and the index makes it simple to find a specific plant right away.
Divided into sections of types of plants, this book covers everything from fool-proof annuals and dependable perennials to easy-care trees and shrubs (and everything in between, as the saying goes).
Each plant was selected on the basis of its "toughness" and suitability for the Southern garden. Most featured plants get one full page including a photo, common name, Latin name, sunlight requirement, description of the flower (if applicable) and plant as a whole, soil/water needs, best propagation method(s), and "interesting kinds", which suggests specific, named varieties or cultivars (helpful for narrowing the field when making a wish list). There's also a small snippet of chit-chat about each plant, as well as one "tip" per entry-- some are about that plant, others are more tangentially related, but all are either informative or entertaining.
At the beginning of each section, there's a list of plants that are "Best for Beginners" and another that can be "Kinda Tricky" (probably self-explanatory). Then at the end of each section, there's a page or three of short blurbs about "Other Good Grasses" or "Other Great Garden Bulbs"-- plants that didn't quite make the "best of" list (for whatever reason), but which are also promising candidates for the Southern garden.
As much as I like this book, I do have one quibble. "The South" is a large area covering several states and USDA hardiness zones. The region is frequently divided into four gardening sub-regions: Upper South, Middle South, Lower South, and Coastal South-- and that's not even including the Tropical South, which is mostly confined to southern Florida.
The Upper South gets more of a real winter than the Coastal South (where I live), which means its gardeners can successfully grow plants (some bulbs and fruits, for instance) that need a little winter chill. Those same plants don't perform well this far south. On the other hand, I can grow delicate, subtropical plants outdoors. They may die back to the ground, but they reliably return with spring. Someone growing them on the northern edge of "the South" will have to dig them up every year or grow them in containers that can be moved into shelter for the winter.
Now, it is just a quibble, but just because a plant is included in this book doesn't mean it will be ideal for your garden. A little further research might be in order before you start your plant wish list, just to be on the safe side. (Besides, isn't researching plants part of the fun?). You may have a Southern garden, and the plant in question may be "tough" in some Southern gardens, but there's still the potential for plant failure and disappointment. Of course, you don't need to compare regions to witness the fickleness of Mother Nature's green children. Your next-door neighbor may rave about a plant that refuses to "do" for you.
To be fair, the author acknowledges all this, right there in the beginning! In gardening, there are no guarantees, even with so-called tough plants, but this book does give you a good shot at success, and I do believe that by far most of these plants will perform well through most of the region. I whole-heartedly recommend it-- particularly to beginning gardeners or anyone who's interested in learning more about plants that really want to grow in the hot and humid South.
August 12, 2021
Noting that PaperMoon liked this review before I'd ever written anything. (lol!) Just happy I was reading gardening books, I guess. :)
I've reread this a number of times. I'm marking the most recent.
I live an hour north of the Mason-Dixon line, so a number of the plants in the book aren't hardy here. I've grown some tender perennials as annuals, those that will bloom within a few months. I probably learned about four o'clocks (Mirabilis jalapa) from the book Passalong Plants.
I've tried a few times to grow different types of crinums, and gotten as far as the bulb sprouting leaves. (Edited to add: as of 8/11/21, the 'Ellen Bosanquet' crinum has a bud. I believe that's one of Dr. Rushing's favorite varieties of crinum.) I'm now trying (again) to grow a ginger lily in a pot, and I have pink rain lilies potted up. I'll try to bring the pink rain lilies and the purple-leaved oxalis in before frost. The pink rain lilies bloomed this summer, and so has the oxalis. The leaves are more the point of that type of oxalis.
I'll try again this year to nurse jasmine plants through the winter, too, near a west-facing window. The 'Maid of Orleans' jasmine (Jasminium sambac 'Maid of Orleans'), despite the name, is native to the Philippines, and thrives and blooms profusely when we have hot, humid summer weather. The poet's jasmine (Jasminium grandiflorum) has also been covered in flowers. Those have the classic jasmine fragrance. Whether we have bright sun all day, or it's cloudy, those plants love 90+ degree F temperatures and very high humidity. So I can see the potential of tender plants -- or plants that are tender in the North, anyway. Some even will flower here in the summer.
I'd like to make a bottle tree for the yard, because I think that will be pretty in its own way, but I don't think that will be happening. (lol!) But this is the kind of book that lets me dream of interesting plants, some beautiful, some highly fragrant, some just very unusual-looking, that can be grown a few hours or many hours south of here.
I've reread this a number of times. I'm marking the most recent.
I live an hour north of the Mason-Dixon line, so a number of the plants in the book aren't hardy here. I've grown some tender perennials as annuals, those that will bloom within a few months. I probably learned about four o'clocks (Mirabilis jalapa) from the book Passalong Plants.
I've tried a few times to grow different types of crinums, and gotten as far as the bulb sprouting leaves. (Edited to add: as of 8/11/21, the 'Ellen Bosanquet' crinum has a bud. I believe that's one of Dr. Rushing's favorite varieties of crinum.) I'm now trying (again) to grow a ginger lily in a pot, and I have pink rain lilies potted up. I'll try to bring the pink rain lilies and the purple-leaved oxalis in before frost. The pink rain lilies bloomed this summer, and so has the oxalis. The leaves are more the point of that type of oxalis.
I'll try again this year to nurse jasmine plants through the winter, too, near a west-facing window. The 'Maid of Orleans' jasmine (Jasminium sambac 'Maid of Orleans'), despite the name, is native to the Philippines, and thrives and blooms profusely when we have hot, humid summer weather. The poet's jasmine (Jasminium grandiflorum) has also been covered in flowers. Those have the classic jasmine fragrance. Whether we have bright sun all day, or it's cloudy, those plants love 90+ degree F temperatures and very high humidity. So I can see the potential of tender plants -- or plants that are tender in the North, anyway. Some even will flower here in the summer.
I'd like to make a bottle tree for the yard, because I think that will be pretty in its own way, but I don't think that will be happening. (lol!) But this is the kind of book that lets me dream of interesting plants, some beautiful, some highly fragrant, some just very unusual-looking, that can be grown a few hours or many hours south of here.
July 17, 2011
Loved this book, will be a constant resource for me as I plan a design for our garden at the new house- makes me excited to learn about all the plants that thrive where I currently live and being able to then combine them in whatever way I want. :)
Highly recommend esp. for beginner gardeners. Gives great suggestions on how to combine things and to plan for the best success- many low maintenance options.
Highly recommend esp. for beginner gardeners. Gives great suggestions on how to combine things and to plan for the best success- many low maintenance options.
February 6, 2009
I love Felder's simple approach to gardening. For example, he has this to say about composting, "Stop throwing that stuff away and pile it up somewhere"! Warning: he does include a few invasive species in his book, but he tells you which ones they are, e.g. honeysuckle. A good resource for the southern gardner.
January 24, 2016
Tough Plants For Southern Gardens: Low Care, No Care, Tried and True Winners by Felder Rushing (Cool Springs Press 2003) is full of good practical advice about "no fail" plants for the South from one of our most engaging Southern garden writers. Great stuff, as usual from Felder. My rating: 7/10, finished 4/5/12.
August 1, 2007
This book has been my plant bible. I take it with me to plant nurseries and have read through it numerous times. When I get info on a plant that conflicts with Fielding's advice, I usually find that Fielding was right. Love this book.
July 3, 2010
I will re-read this book several times all thorugh this summer I suspect. Got it for Mother's day and have read it twice. Great book for new gardeners. It is fun to find all my plants. Good choice for a gift.
Love this book it is on my shelf for easy access.
Love this book it is on my shelf for easy access.
July 23, 2014
Great reference, focused advice for the specific challenges in the south. I also really enjoyed his wit and humor. Very encouraging. I checked this out from the library twice, and now plan to order a copy for myself.
February 22, 2008
Excellent handbook
June 25, 2008
One of my favorite gardening books! I selected many of the plants in my garden after reading this book and constantly recommend it to others. Lots of great advice and the author is very funny.
September 19, 2009
I like to listen to Felder Rushing on MS public radio. Fun book.
August 6, 2014
This is one of my favorite gardening books. Not only is it informative, this is a funny entertaining read.
August 13, 2016
Awesome resource for gardeners living in the South!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews