Native and naturalized plants
Native & naturalized plants of the Carolinas











 

 

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A Guide to the Wildflowers of South Carolina
Richard D. Porcher & Douglas A. Rayner
More than 680 species are described in this unique guide, which groups plants according to habitat. And if, say, Chestnut Oak is the indicator species of a particular plant community, it is useful to know what a Chestnut Oak looks like — therefore many trees and shrubs are included as well.
To further this concept and acquaint the reader with specific habitats, 23 wildflower communities are described, as well as over 50 wildflower expeditions: where to go, when to go, and what to look for.
University of South Carolina Press.
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Gardening with Native Plants of the South
Sally Wasowski with Andy Wasowski
This landmark book is a primer on using native plants in the landscape. "When we talk about native plants, we're talking about common-sense gardening. Doing it Mother Nature's way. Working with her, not against her. Native plant gardening means using the plants that are best adapted to the conditions where you live, and not relying on those non-native plants that have such a hold on the nursery trade."
The book includes site requirements, native range, propagation tips, companion plants, and the wildlife that will appreciate your choice. To facilitate selecting a plant for the landscape, plants are grouped by size and type. Over 250 color photos.
Taylor Publishing Company.

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Growing & Propagating Wild Flowers
Harry R. Phillips

Practical, easy-to-follow methods for raising native plants from seeds, cuttings, and divisions. Descriptions of growth habits, flowers, fruits and seeds, and more than 250 illustrations of nearly 100 genera of wildflowers and ferns.
The University of North Carolina Press.

Life at the Water's Edge: A shoreline resident's guide to natural lakeshore and streamside buffers for water quality protection in South Carolina
Lin Roth, editor
The landscaping practices of shoreline residents can play a decisive role in increasing — or reducing — the amount and kinds of pollutants entering a water body. Native buffer vegetation can serve as a critical protective shield against water quality degradation, and is inexpensive to maintain compared to traditional lawns. This award-winning book provides the why and the how, including chapters on designing, establishing, and maintaining vegetative water-course buffers, lists of recommended plants, as well as discussion of the importance of what’s at stake: the health of our watersheds.
Clemson University Public Service Publishing.
Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants
C. Colston Burrell
Many exotic plants were invited into our gardens as guests, but they have turned on us by invading our natural areas and crowding out our native species —
This book should be in the hands of every conscientious landscaper and home gardener: It does matter what we plant in our own backyard!
The book answers questions such as What is an invasive species? What is a native plant? What is local provenance, and why is it important?
Colston Burrell tells us some of the commonly used trees, shrubs, vines, herbaceous plants and grasses that have become invasive. Best of all, he offers a wealth of native species to use as alternatives, providing such information as ornamental attributes, landscape uses, growing tips, hardiness range, and native habitat and range.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

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Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests: A Field Guide for Identification and Control
James H. Miller
This book can be your first step toward identifying, controlling, and mitigating the economic and ecological damage that invasive plants are causing in our forests, farmlands, and waterways. It provides traits for positive identification of the most serious invasive plants in southern forests, as well as prescriptions for treatment.
USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, PO Box 2680, Asheville, NC 28802 (828-257-4830).
Invasive Plants, Weeds of the Global Garden
John M. Randall & Janet Marinelli, editors
Description coming.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
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Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas
Albert E. Radford, Harry E. Ahles, C. Ritchie Bell
Originally published in 1964, this is still the bible for many of us. If a plant was known to exist in the Carolinas, it's in this book, along with a detailed description, a map of its range, and perhaps a line drawing. (An invaluable reference — plan on keeping a bookmark tucked in the glossary of
botanical terms.)
The University of North Carolina Press.

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Guide to the Vascular Plants of the Blue Ridge
B. Eugene Wofford
Description coming.
The University of Georgia Press.

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Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, & Georgia
Alan S. Weakley
Over the last forty years, new species have been described and many alien species have become naturalized. Nomenclature accepted only a few years ago has been found to be invalid; more reliable keys have been developed; molecular research is uncovering previously unknown relationships. Weakley's Flora assembles this rapidly changing body of knowledge into a comprehensive and up-to-date resource. Not yet published, draft version available free online: www.herbarium.unc.edu/flora.htm

The University of North Carolina Herbarium.

Plant Identification Terminology
James G. Harris & Melinda Woolf Harris
Deciphering complex botanical language can be a daunting obstacle to the amateur: The glossary definitions seem so hard to comprehend and remember. A picture can make the meaning clear, and this book provides over 1900 illustrations — arranged first alphabetically, then thematically.
Spring Lake Publishing.
Botany for Gardeners
Brian Capon
Description coming.
Timber Press.

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