Native Plants of the Southeast: A Comprehensive Guide to the Best 460 Species for the Garden Hardcover – Illustrated, January 28, 2014

and so, my review is long overdue... Larry Mellichamp's 'Native plants of the Southeast is a most useful tool for experienced gardeners and newbies. Mellichamp’s star system from one star (a useful plant) to four stars (an outstanding plant) works well for a quick assessment. The book is logically organized and handsomely photographed. It helps the reader choose among our many stunning and useful native plants – from vines to trees. Most appealing, to me, is Mellichamp’s knowing, witty commentary that helps one understand the unique personality of each species.The Introduction and How to Use This Book sections are not to be ignored. Firstly, they include the critical role of native plants in our environment. The map of physiographic regions includes the mid-Atlantic, where many of the species ranges extend, encouraged by climate change. The plant communities within these physiographic regions are covered as well. Mellichamp’s notes on culture and maintenance are useful, too.The author knows his subject exceedingly well. Mellichamp has decades of experience as a botany professor and Director of the Botanical Gardens at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is a highly regarded champion of native plant material.I recommend ‘Native Plants of the Southeast’ as a valuable design tool and an enjoyable read.Ginger Woolridgeco-author, with Tony Dove, ‘Essential Native Trees and Shrubs for the Eastern United States’

Just as described, fast shipping too.

This is an informative resource on the best species for establishing a native garden. Since it's "best species," it's not necessarily a guide to identifying every plant you find in the wild, but it provides good information geared toward creating an attractive, wildlife friendly, climate resilient garden around your home.

It's important to me to include more native plants for wildlife and pollinators in our home landscape. This book has more plants than I've seen at our local nurseries. The number of little Post-It notes I've tagged on pages for plants that I like makes it really impossible to turn the pages. But, I'll have to keep looking and looking at it before buying plants. There are so many that I wish we could put into our garden beds. Very helpful photos - full images, close-ups - with specific growth requirements and planting zone IDs for each. The hardback cover makes it a little heavier to hold in one's lap, but it will preserve it on my shelf for long-term reference. I'm so glad that I bought it!

This is the best book I've found so far on SE native plants. Lots of species are covered, includes a nice write-up on each, and good photos, though too many of the pictures are extreme closeups so I can't see the form of the plant. My biggest complaint is that the common plant criteria aren't presented as clearly as I'd like. I'd prefer to find basic info--e.g., sun/shade, height-wildlife uses, watering needs, etc--at a glance, ideally with symbols. Tho' it does provide ratings from 1 to five stars for each plant variety, which is my favorite feature of the book. My other complaint is that I sometimes have to hunt to find the photo that matches the text. They should be aligned better. Still, it's the best book on SE natives I have. The only one I regularly reference. Highly recommended.

Great reference book for exploring choices of plants and where to grow them in the landscape and in your growing zones. Thorough description of plants, great pics.

A very nice book (with good pictures) for someone trying to incorporate native plants into garden plan. The indexing system is frustrating though, for example “spotted joe pye weed” rather than “joe pye weed, spotted”. So it can make things hard to locate.

this is a handy book for gardeners. It is not quite a coffee table book but it has the wonderful pictures of one and the information about various native plants in North Carolina is readable and excellent.