INDIGENOUS PLANT PALETTES
By Marijke Honig, Quivertree, R495
Landscape designer Marijke Honig studied botany at the University of Cape Town, honed her craft at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and has been designing and planting indigenous landscapes for the past 15 years.
In this book, she shares advice on creating your own indigenous garden.
Divided into three parts, the first covers how to select the best plants for your garden, with advice on maintenance and care.
The next part shows 25 different palettes of plants for specific situations, complete with practical information.
The final section is a directory of plants, with a description of each species, key information on its cultivation and care, and the wildlife it may attract. It is an inspirational celebration of South Africa's unique flora.THE LITTLE GUIDE TO LEAVES
By Tom Frost, Quadrille, R180
A pocket guide with a difference, printmaker Tom Frost offers a fresh perspective on identifying the trees and plants around you.
The beautifully illustrated book features 40 of the most spectacular leaves from around the world, including everything from exotic palms, to ferns and house plants.
Frost has captured the individual characteristics of each leaf in his illustrations, which are not only stylish but more importantly, accurate. Each image is accompanied by information about the tree or plant to which it belongs and where it can be found, plus associated facts and fables.
There is also a spotter's guide at the back, where you can tick off each leaf you find.FIFTY PLANTS THAT CHANGED THE COURSE OF HISTORY
By Bill Laws, Firefly Books, R310
A fascinating look at the plants that changed civilisations, it features well-known stories about rice, tea, cotton and tobacco.
But its charm lies in the lesser-known stories such as agave, which has over the centuries been used to make sisal, poison arrows, bullets, tequila and surgical thread; sweet pea, which Mendel used in his research on genetics; and white willow, used in the manufacture of aspirin, cricket bats, hot-air balloon baskets and coffins.
Each entry includes a description of the plant, its botanical name, native range and primary functions. Elegant botanical drawings, paintings, photographs and insightful quotes add to an innovative perspective on both botanical and human history.PRICK: CACTI AND SUCCULENTS: CHOOSING, STYLING, CARING
By Gynelle Leon, Octopus Books, R315
With large parts of South Africa stricken by drought, cacti and succulents are most certainly the plant de jour. Beautiful, affordable, easy to care for and, most importantly, light on water, they're a sure-fire and responsible way to bring green into your home and office.
This practical guide was created by Gynelle Leon, an award-winning plant photographer and founder of London's only shop dedicated to cacti and succulents.
A nifty little guide, it features a plant gallery, a chapter on styling ideas to showcase your plants, and a care guide to help your cacti and succulents flourish...