Gardening With Indigenous Trees and Shrubs

This book aims to dispel the myth that indigenous plants are difficult to grow, or that the range of indigenous garden plants is rather limited.;The first part of the book looks at the function the gardener wants trees and shrubs to fulfil in their garden and identifies which species will meet those needs. Do they want a small, evergreen shade tree or a tree that displays fantastic autumn colours? Perhaps they need a tree with red flowers for a small garden? Or a range of plants that will draw birds to their garden? Or do they need to consider plants that will be frost-hardy to drought-resistant? Plants are listed according to the role they play in the garden.;The second part of the book is a species-by-species account of over 400 indigenous trees and shrubs. For each species there is a description of the plant as it grows in the wild - its natural range and habitat, its appearance, and anything else that will appeal to the gardener. This is followed by an account of its peformance in cultivation - its shortcomings as well as its virtues.