Today, native plants and water conservation are subjects of vital interest to cities, offices, homeowners, and agriculture alike, as all are affected by the growing shortage of water in the Intermountain region. This comprehensive volume provides specific information about shrubs, trees, grasses, forbs, and cacti that are native to most states in the Intermountain West, and that can be used in landscaping to conserve water, reflect and preserve the region’s landscape character, and help protect its ecological integrity. The book is an invaluable guide for the professional landscaper, horticulturist, and others in the Intermountain nursery industry, as well as for the student, general reader, gardener, and homeowner. Water Wise is both convenient and comprehensive. The heart of the book presents hundreds of species, devoting a full page to each, with a description of appearance, habitat, landscape use, and other comments. Color photographs illustrate each plant described. A reader-friendly introduction provides important background on the ecology of the Intermountain West, along with full descriptions of native plant habitats and associations. An accessible resource of accurate native plant information for all readers, Water Wise will be indispensable to professional landscapers and amateurs alike.
Author(s): Wendy Mee
Edition: 1
Publisher: Utah State University Press
Year: 2003
Language: English
Pages: 253
CONTENTS......Page 6
PREFACE......Page 8
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 11
Adaptations of Intermountain Plants......Page 13
Plant Selection Considerations......Page 17
Maintenance of Native Landscapes......Page 19
Intermountain West Plant Communities......Page 21
Subalpine......Page 22
Montane......Page 23
Foothills......Page 24
Lowland Desert......Page 27
Riparian Communities......Page 29
Interpretation of Data Sheets......Page 30
Sources......Page 32
Woody Plants......Page 34
Forbs......Page 104
Grasses......Page 210
Cacti......Page 234
APPENDIX: TABLE OF SPECIES AND COMMUNITIES......Page 244
INDEX......Page 249