Designing Gardens with Flora of the American East, Revised and Expanded

By Carolyn Summers and Kate Brittenham

Rutgers University Press

As recent years have seen alarming declines of insect and bird populations in many states, more gardeners have discovered the importance of including native plants in order to nurture these pollinators and sustain local ecosystems. But when so many popular landscaping designs involve exotic cultivars and invasive plant species, how can you create a garden that is both aesthetically pleasing and ecologically responsible?

In this fully revised second edition of the classic guide Designing Gardens with Flora of the American East, gardening expert Carolyn Summers draws on the most recent research on sustainable landscaping. She is joined in this edition by her daughter, landscape designer Kate Brittenham, offering an intergenerational dialogue about the importance of using indigenous plants that preserve insect and bird habitats. The practical information they provide is equally useful for home gardeners and professionals, including detailed descriptions of keystone trees, shrubs, perennials, vines, and grasses that are native to the eastern United States. Accompanied by entirely new illustrations and updated plant lists, they offer chic yet eco-friendly landscape designs fully customized for different settings, from suburban yards to corporate office parks.

The states covered in this book are CT, DE, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, VA, VT, WI, and WV, as well as southern Quebec and Ontario.

Designing Gardens with Flora of the American East is the most complete publication on the practical challenges associated with native plant gardening and fills this need very well for eastern gardeners. What Carolyn Summers tells us about indigenous plants and wildlife is critical to our sustainable future. Douglas Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants

This has been among my go-to books since its first publication for its trustworthy information. Carolyn Summers is an authority on native plants of the east and shares her extensive knowledge to enlighten us about the benefits of these critical species. Now she is joined by her daughter, Kate Brittenham, reaching a new generation with exciting graphics that bring fresh insight into sustainable gardening. Carol Capobianco, Director, The Native Plant Center

This book is a must-have for anyone interested in the natural history of eastern native plants and their use in gardens. The author combines thorough research with a clear, thoughtful viewpoint gleaned from her own personal experience. Very well written, it is an enjoyable read as well as a valuable tool for garden designers.'
Darrin Duling, Former Director, The Native Plant Center

Beautifully illustrated, Designing Gardens with Flora of the American East approaches landscape design from an ecological perspective, encouraging professional designers and backyard enthusiasts alike to intensify their use of indigenous or native plants. Emphasizing the importance of indigenous plant gardening and landscape design, Summers provides guidelines for beginning gardeners as well as experienced designers. New York Flora Association Newsletter

Chock full of interesting facts and figures, Summers approaches design through the lens of ecology making the book unique in its approach and very relevant to anyone creating native gardens for a living. Ecological Landscaping Association Newsletter

CAROLYN SUMMERS is an adjunct professor for continuing education at Westchester Community College in Valhalla, New York, where she provides technical assistance to the Native Plant Center. She created and maintains the nonprofit Flying Trillium Gardens and Preserve and has over thirty years of experience in the environmental and landscape design field.

KATE BRITTENHAM is the founder of Front Stoop Gardens, LLC, an ecological landscape design and gardening company in Troy, New York. A graduate of Skidmore College, she has worked with the Native Plant Trust and the New York Botanical Garden.

Preface xi
Abbreviations xv
Chapter 1 Why Should We Garden with Indigenous Plants? 1
Chapter 2 Wildlife in Field, Forest, and Garden 15
Hosting Butterflies and Moths 16
Feeding Bees 22
Attracting Pollinators 25
Bringing Up Birds 30
Links between Aquatic and Terrestrial Food Webs 37
Maintaining Wildlife in Your Garden 39
Uninvited Guests 42
The Wild Flora Sanctuary 46
Chapter 3 “Safe Sex” in the Garden 51
Understanding Scientific Names 52
Plant Reproduction 53
Science for Educated Plant Consumers 63
Principles of “Safe Sex” in the Garden 69
Chapter 4 Replacing Common Invasive Plants with Keystone Plants 81
Trees 82
Shrubs 97
Vines 112
Ground Covers 118
Perennials and Grasses 122
Invasive, Nonindigenous Plants You Will Not Find in a Nursery 126
Chapter 5 American Horticulture and Indigenous Plants: A Brief History 129
Americans Abroad 129
Americans at Home 132
“Paradise” Lost 139
Chapter 6 Ecological Landscape Design with Keystone Plants 145
Basic Design Principles 146
Foundation Gardens 153
Trees in the Landscape 156
Perennial Borders 158
Screening and Hedges 161
The New (Reduced) Lawn 162
Habitat Elements 167
The Suburban Home 168
The Townhouse 175
The Subdivision 182
The Corporate Campus 182
Chapter 7 Design Ideas Drawn from Indigenous Plant Communities 195
Habitats or Plant Communities 196
Forest Fragments and Woodland Edge 197
Successional Plant Communities 200
Freshwater Streams, Ponds, and Other Wetlands 224
The Seashore 233
Afterword 239
Appendix A: Keystone Plants 241
Appendix B: Circumboreal Plants 249
Appendix C: Perennials for Season-long
Bloom 251
Appendix D: Berries for Birds 253
Appendix E: Dioecious Plants 255
Appendix F: Indigenous Annuals and Biennials 257
Appendix G: Indigenous Heirlooms 261
Appendix H: Street Trees 265
Appendix I: Indigenous Plants Suited for Formal Gardens 267
Appendix J: Indigenous Plants Suited for Asian Designs 269
Appendix K: Fragrant and Aromatic Plants 273
Acknowledgments 277
Bibliography 279
Index 289