Bizarre Botanicals

Both at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, Mellichamp (botany & horticulture) and Gross (assistant director, Botanical Gardens) have created an informative and visually arresting book devoted to a dizzying array of plants not frequently found in typical American gardens. After addressing questions that beginning gardeners may have, the authors turn their focus to the plants themselves, which are organized into ten sections, each with an overall introduction. Plants range from uncommon carnivores to more familiar (but still unusual) orchids and succulents. Each plant is described in a one- to three-page summary, accompanied by a color photograph and a short paragraph of growing tips. Both common and Latin names are provided, with plants in alphabetical order by Latin name. The plants vary in hardiness and ease of growing, so gardeners of all climates and skills will find something to suit their situation. There is no resource list of nurseries and stores where the bizarre botanicals can be purchased; readers will be required to search for retailers on their own.