Book Recommendation: Native Plants of the Midwest

Native Plants of the Midwest is a comprehensive guide to the best 500 species for the garden by Alan Branhagen, our keynote speaker at Let’s Get Growing. Mr. Branhagen is director of horticulture at Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s botanical garden. He is a naturalist specializing in natural and prairie plants.

Those of us native to the Midwest, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Dakotas, Kansas, Missouri, and Minnesota already know the importance of the tall grass prairies and native plants.  Beginning with the introduction you will recognize what Branhagen writes about: Boreal forests, Burr Oak Savannas, Paintbrush Prairie, Tall Grass Prairies, Prairie Potholes, and classic trees and shrubs of the Midwest.

Native Plants of the Midwest is a comprehensive book that gathers many best practices together and would be great for any gardener who wishes to incorporate more native plants into their landscape.