Succulents and rock garden plants have become popular for their ease of cultivation, diversity of form, and striking colors. Their natural drought tolerance makes them especially useful for gardens in arid climates and water-conserving gardens. "The Garden Succulents Primer" is a user-friendly identification guide. It includes detailed descriptions of more than 400 well-known succulents and their close relatives that will allow readers to quickly determine the family to which a succulent belongs. Descriptions are supported with 450 color photographs that showcase each plant's distinctive shape and color. It also includes chapters on use, conservation, cultivation, and propagation.

About the Author

Gideon Smith is a well-known authority on succulent plants and author of several books. He is a professor of botany at the University of Pretoria. Ben-Erik van Wyk is a professor of botany at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. His scientific field of interest is in plant classification, ethnobotany, and useful plants.

Reviews

Help[s] to make sense of what sometimes seems an indigestible and - certainly to northern temperate gardeners - alien group of plants. -- Nick Macer Gardens Illustrated 20090428