The Southern Living Garden Book (ISBN 0848720172)

Amazon.com Review:
According to editor Steve Bender, southern gardeners are conservative, traditional but a bit eccentric in their plant choices (meaning they'll grow whatever Daddy grew, even if it's spotted or carnivorous), and dedicated (as they have to be to continue to weed and mow through the summer). This book celebrates the uniqueness of the southern garden. It's remarkably well organized, with colored page edges demarcating the different sections, the largest of which is the alphabetized plant encyclopedia in the middle. The best part of the book, however, may be the substantial section titled "Plant Selection Guide," which consists of a series of illustrated lists: "Fragrant Plants," "Plants that Attract Butterflies," "Plants Easy to Propagate," "Plants That Tolerate Drought," etc. With its lay-flat binding and excellent index, it's sure to be a favorite garden reference for quite a few gardeners, southern or otherwise.

Landscape Architect loves it:
I have many garden books, but none is as complete for southern gardeners. This book is more than just an overview. It does a great job of giving the different characteristics of the many varieties of each plant listing. Very up to date. Useful for professionals and weekend gardeners.

Too Educational:
I agree with the other reviews, that the author is very competent in his knowledge of plants. I found the format somewhat like a textbook, with the pictures separate from the plant descriptions a somewhat displeasing feature. Statements are too brief and too technical to be really beneficial to a new gardner. Also use of zones was infrequent and almost nonexistent. I find that a must in choosing plant material.

Plants for Southern Gardeners I've seen nowhere else!:
This is a very useful book for finding information on plants available to Southern gardeners that I can't find in any of my other gardening resources.

It's a Winner!!:
First of all, anything by Steve Bender has got to be good. This man knows the art of southern gardening like the back of his hand and is my favorite writer along with Felding. As a long time southern gardener I can tell all new comers to the south to get this book and bypass all the mistakes usually made down here. You won't be sorry and it will become a bible of gardening for you...Deb

Must-have for Landscape Architects (especially students):
This is the most complete resource I have found, covering annuals and perennials, trees and shrubs, grasses and ferns, all in one easy-to-handle volume. Most plant books are huge, heavy hardbacks difficult to carry in a backpack and only address one subject. This is my bible for planting design, as the sections in the front of the book on "Plants for Shade", "Drought-Tolerant Plants", etc. are very helpful in reminding me what plants to use where. However, this book might not be very helpful to amateur gardeners whose knowledge of plants may be limited, as it does not offer suggestions of attractive and successful plant combinations. Also, I wish that Southern Living would publish an updated addition with more recent varieties of plants.