“I Wish I Could Grow That!”
If you’re a gardener, chances are you’ve said it before, and you’ll say it again. Why? Because the grass really is always greener on the other side, and we’re are always trying to grow some plant that’s too fussy, too tender, too weedy or too worn out.
Tired of pining to for lilacs when your site lacks full sun? Try the fragrant pink and white flowers of Korean spice viburnum. Love the drama of canna but need something hardier? How about bold-leaved variegated fleece flower. Why Grow That When You Can Grow This? offers hundreds of all-star alternatives that replace — and often outshine — popular problem plants.
Plant Problem-Solving Made Easy
Designer and writer Andrew Keys makes it easier than ever to skip over the fussy plant prima donnas and move toward the equally gorgeous understudies. Each profile shows the problem plant and offers three alternatives that include three or more of the original plant’s characteristics — hardiness, shape, color, texture, light, and size.
With this fun and accessible guide, you can discover the secret to choosing the plants destined to be the new stars of your garden.
The Word on Why Grow That?
“Landscape designer Keys lends helpful guidance for shaking up the standard fare in a garden with exciting alternatives. Laid out visually to assist the amateur horticulturist and garden designer, standard problem-children plants are listed in the left column, followed by two or three alternate choices, their growth habits, and reasons why they work as a good alternative… The book includes 350 color photographs and strong graphics for quick referral to standard horticultural information: hardiness, shape, color, texture, light requirements, and size. This is a lively, helpful guide offering needed redress for the tired garden—and gardener.”
— Publishers Weekly
“Tired of the same-old gardening same-old? Feel like screaming at the sight of one more boring bed of begonias? Frustrated by failures of seemingly fool-proof flowers? In the garden as in life, there is more than one way to pick a pepper. All it takes is a little confidence and a lot of knowledge about the numerous under-used and overlooked trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses, and ground covers that stand ready and willing to transform a dull garden into a dramatic showcase. Following seasoned advice on cultural maintenance and design selection, Keys offers pithy profiles of creative alternatives to plants that have become all-too-common elements of landscape design. The yard next door may be dominated by an out-of-place birch; counter its predictability with a London plane tree. Replace that dull privet with showy mountain mahogany. Pull up that pachysandra, and put down some European ginger. Gardeners looking for vibrant inspiration will revel in Keys’ innovative recommendations.”
— Booklist
