Flora's Native Plants: the definitive Guide to Australian Plants.

Flora's Native Plants: The definitive Guide to Australian Plants Introduced by Angus Stewart ABC Books RRP: $75

A large format book of coffee table proportions, a quick flick through the 375 pages confirms a top quality production with excellent colour reproductions. The introduction discusses the benefits of growing our native flora, the joy of attracting and co-habiting with our native wildlife and the broad range of habitat within which our diverse flora have evolved.

There is a chapter outlining garden design principles and another dealing with the management, care and propagation of plants. Further discussion includes control of pests and diseases and coverage of the mechanics and philosophies of gardening.

There is sound advice on selecting plants that will survive in particular situations, which includes limiting factors such as frost, temperature or climatic zones. Emphasis is placed on understanding the natural requirements of the different plants that helps ensure successful growing.

The bulk of book is concerned with imparting information on the each of the 1800 species selected. The dimensions of each plant together with 13 handy symbols assist in giving a clear picture of the requirements and habit of each one.

It was amusing to see some photographs of trees were of mere saplings (C. calophylla, citriodora, gummifera, maculata, tessellaris, torelliana). Not only do they not reflect their true majesty, they could be misleading when there are other species of eucalypt that are suitable for home gardens. Also you wonder who the book is written for when it includes forest giants such as Euc. regnans, delegatensis and marginata--hopefully no one pops one in between the garage and the fence line.

Nonetheless this is a very attractive publication and adds to the list of authoritative works on our native flora for horticultural use.