CARE-FREE PLANTS: A Guide to Growing the 200 Hardiest Low-Maintenance, Long-Living Beauties

Plant lovers who don't have the time (or the green thumb) to do much gardening will appreciate this guide to easy-growing flora. The book features encyclopedia-style entries on no-fuss annuals, perennials, vines, bulbs, shrubs and trees. Each entry includes photographs, growing tips and vital statistics like preferred soil type and "critter resistance" level. The contributors recommend plant combinations for sunny or shady sites, for specific seasons, for acidic or alkaline soil, and for those whose gardens are in windy, rocky or hilly locations. There's also a section on lawn-care and ground cover. (Mar.)