Native Ferns, Moss & Grasses is a beautiful hardbound book written by William Cullina of the New England Wildflower Society. Here is my review of Native Ferns, Moss and Grasses – From Emerald Carpet to Amber Wave: serene and sensuous plants for the garden.
I recently checked this book out of my local library. The photos are marvelous and it contains a wealth of inspiration. If you tend to think only of flowers, trees and shrubs for your nature, wildlife, or green garden, I urge you to think again. Ferns, mosses, grasses, sedges and rushes have something wonderful to offer and this book is an inspiration on why and how to use them.
Why Plant Ferns, Mosses, Grasses, Sedges and Rushes?
My favorite part of this book is the introduction. That’s not something I’m prone to say, but in this case its true. The beautiful photographs and eloquent words made me want to start planning a space for verdant ferns and mosses in my nature garden right away.
It’s too bad that Kansas really isn’t great for anything which loves moist, acidic soil. Still, Kansas is a great place for flowing waves of grasses and William Cullina taught me some things I didn’t already know about grasses and suggested some great plants for me to consider.
What You’ll Find in Native Ferns, Moss and Grasses
Information you’ll find in this book includes:
- What are Native and Invasive Plants?
- Plant Hardiness and Global Warming.
- Cultivation – light, soil fertility, soil pH, diseases.
- Ferns – introduction, fern habitat, encyclopedia of ferns, fern hybridization and polyploidy
- Mosses – introduction, anatomy, gardening with mosses, site preparation, transplanting, wild collecting, maintenance, encyclopedia of mosses.
- Grasses, Sedges and Rushes – introduction, gardening with grasses, warm versus cool season grasses, encyclopedia of grasses, sedges and rushes.
- Propagation – 28 pages.
- Uses and conditions section – ferns, sedges, grasses and rushes listed by uses and conditions.
- Sources of native plants, native plant societies listings, gardens and arboreta specializing in native plant displays.
Who Should Buy This Book
I recommend this book for native plant society members, nature and ecosystem gardening professionals, experienced amateur gardeners, and nature lovers who are serious about learning more on native plants, including ferns, mosses, sedges, rushes and grasses.
I do not recommend this book for casual or beginning gardeners. Who knows though, it might just be the inspiration you’d need to become a more serious enthusiast. By all means check it out of your local library or get yourself a copy. It’s a beautiful book.
What do you think? Do you have an interest in adding native ferns, mosses, grasses, sedges or rushes to your nature garden?
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This is a great wrap-up to Cullina’s trilogy, including Native Wildflowers, and Native Trees. I really enjoyed this book, first, because the photography is stunning and also because grasses and ferns are very underutilized in most gardens. Great review, Alison!
Thanks Carole. I’ll have to check out Cullina’s other offerings. Mosses and ferns are much more at home in the Scottish climate than here in Kansas. I miss them. But when it comes to grasses, Kansas is the place to be!
Alison – so glad you have reviewed this book. I just love each and every Cullina book. He writes so well and you can’t help but be drawn into the interest and enthuasiasm he has for our indigenous plants. This book is a must-read for anybody looking to garden in a more natural style.
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Yachika Verma´s last blog ..Don’t Saddle U.S. with Global Warming