Book Review: The Northeast Native Plant Primer 235 Plants For An Earth-Friendly Gardener
By Uli Lorimer | Timber Press 2022 (250 Pages)
– This review by Cathy King first appeared in WildfloraRI, Winter 2022
When I heard the title of this book I wondered if I really needed another native plant book when I have many with similar titles in my bookcase. Mark Richardson and Dan Jaffe’s book Native Plants for New England Gardens comes to mind. While their book is useful, with lots of beautiful illustrations, I found Lorimer’s book easier to use if you are looking for plants for your garden. The subtitle, 235 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden, hints at one of the differences between the books, many more plants than Richardson and Jaffe’s which lists 100 plants.
Uli Lorimer, author of Northeast Native Plant Primer, is the director of horticulture at Native Plant Trust, and his book is sponsored by the Trust, familiar to most RIWPS members as the Northeast’s first plant conservation organization and with its headquarters at Garden in the Woods in Framingham, MA — where native plants grow abundantly in its showcase gardens.
A lengthy introduction covers such topics as native alternatives to invasive plants, patterns of light and shade, pruning tips, and several pages of lists including native plant hosts of caterpillars and moths, drought tolerant natives, and evergreen natives. The main part of the book contains sections on native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, grasses, and annuals. Each page contains an attractive picture of the plant and symbols indicating its wildlife value: attracts bees, birds, butterflies, provides cover for wildlife. At the top of the page, easy to pick out, it lists the plant’s native habitat, height at maturity, and light needs—full sun, part sun to part shade, or full shade. A paragraph follows describing the plant, its uses in the garden, and its attractions for wildlife.
Native annuals is a section seldom found in a native plant guide, one that may suggest some additions you might not otherwise have thought of for your garden. Some plants will be familiar, such as black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) and jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), with their bright yellow flowers visible much of the summer. Others, such as herb-Robert (Geranium robertianum) and forked bluecurls (Trichosterma dicotomum), are not often seen in gardens. Lorimer suggests herb-Robert for dry shady conditions. With its bright pink flowers and dissected foliage, it can attractively peek through other foliage in the garden. He says it blooms in Spring, although mine continues to bloom through mid-October. Forked bluecurls, a member of the mint family, grows in sandy soils and sun. It has attractive blue-purple spotted flowers and foliage. Both annuals attract bees and pollinators.
Whether you are looking for more native plants for your garden or advice to have ready for customers at the Native Plant Sales, this is an ideal book to have on hand. Its paperback composition and price of $24.99 make it an affordable addition for either native plant novice or native plant book collector.
