The Midwest Native Plant Primer by Alan Branhagen

The Midwest Native Plant Primer by Alan Branhagen ISBN-13: 9781604699920 Paperback: 256 pages Publisher: Timber Press Released: July 7th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
More homeowners than ever before are adding native plants to their gardens, because they are drawn to their amazing benefits. These superstar plants attract wildlife, act as pollinators, require less maintenance, and can better withstand climate change and related weather issues. In The Midwest Native Plant Primer, garden expert Alan Branhagen shares the best plant choices for the Midwest and details how gardeners can grow them successfully. Introductory chapters cover plant selection, design suggestions, and the benefits of choosing native plants. The bulk of the book is 225 plant entries that include everything a gardener needs to successfully grow these important garden additions. This beginner-friendly, accessible guide is for home gardeners in northern Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, eastern Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.


My Review:
The Midwest Native Plant Primer is for people who are looking for information about native plants for landscaping purposes. The author talked about the advantages of using native plants, provided tips on how to grow them successfully, and suggested using these plants specifically to attract beneficial insects, butterflies, or birds. He then provided information on specific native trees, shrubs, groundcovers, perennials and vines that are good for landscaping. Each entry gave the common name and Latin name of the plant, what animals it attracted, where it is usually found in the wild (like woodland understory), amount of light that it likes, some background information, why it is desirable in landscaping (interesting bark, colorful leaves, attracts birds, etc.), and a picture or two of the plant. I'd recommend this book to someone looking for native plant ideas for landscaping purposes.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.