Designing with Succulents

by Debra Lee Baldwin

Lavishly illustrated with over 300 photographs, Designing with Succulents gives design and cultivation basics for paths, borders, slopes, and containers; hundreds of succulent plant recommendations; and descriptions of 90 easy-care, drought-tolerant companion plants. Beginners and experienced designers, landscapers, and collectors alike will find what they need to visualize, create, and nurture the three-dimensional work of art that is the succulent garden.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Plants, Reference, Horticulture

255 pages, Hardcover

Published April 15, 2007

Reviews

[Hari Hara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good resource for one interested on Succulent plants

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly the right mix of garden planning, garden inspiration, plant identification, propagation and care.

Since I live in Minnesota, the section on cold-climate succulent gardens was a necessity (and is often overlooked or only briefly mentioned in many succulent books.) Baldwin also includes images from succulent gardens around the country which provided me with much needed inspiration for planting in my hardiness zone. As an added bonus I now have a list of gardens around the country I'd like to visit.

"Top Fifty Waterwise Companions for Succulents" was another section I found pertinent to my garden needs.

Baldwin also writes about "Firewise Gardens". I found that section particularly interesting and educational despite not living in an area prone to wildfires. Succulent plantings act as firebreaks - they don't burn or transmit fire and in some instances have protected homes from being destroyed by fires. Baldwin quotes Gary Lyons, a curator of the desert collection in Huntington Botanical Gardens, "I wondered why there was no code requirement that requires developers and residents to use succulents in high fire areas." Sounds like a brilliant idea to me.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I liked about this book is that there is a description or an encyclopedia of every plant. I found this to be exactly what I was looking for. The hardest part is to identify plants that I do not know, and this book answers those questions for me. It also has ideas about planting in pots and around your garden, and even if you are doing a pound what vegetation or plants that would be good. The ones that are good for large amount of water and the ones that don’t need it so much. I also liked how she termed some of the plants cacti before describing them as succulents. Growing up in the desert I always looked at them as cactus even though some could hold water. Now everyone wants to lump them all together, so I was happy about the difference. The photos are very good quality, as are all of the descriptions of the designs and helpful suggestions in landscape. Overall this is an excellent book for any gardener or beginner. I got this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great introduction to the world of succulents. Gorgeous illustrations fill every page, yet it’s also approachable and practical enough for the most amateur gardener like me. Debra’s joy in succulent gardening shines through and has definitely left me inspired to create my own corner of succulent beauty. (I purchased the 2nd edition published in 2017.)

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published in 2007. Encouraging advice, good page on how to plant, and creating proper soil. Succulents don't like all-day full sun. Last half of book good for individual plant descriptions.

[Pat Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both gorgeous and well organized to be very useful. I especially like the multiple index listings -- the sizing one is just what I needed.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate it when plant books have an image and only label the plant they want to feature. If I fall in love with a plant, I want to be able to easily find a name.

[Trish Remley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with a lot of tidbits of info that even a zone 6 gardener like me can apply.

[Lois Lewandowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much from this book. Wonderful descriptions and care information. It is a beautiful book and would be a wonderful gift for a succulent fan or any gardener.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked looking at the pictures and design ideas. The names of some of the succulents were too scientific and I wished the pictures broke down everything mentioned piece by piece. Some of the design qualities felt more interpretive but I liked the advice gleaned from it

[Christina]

This author was recommended at a workshop I took recently on propagating succulents. I live in the Southeast, and a lot of this book focuses on dry/dessert gardening with cactus and other heat-tolerant plants that thrive in California and Arizona. The pictures are gorgeous to look at, but skimming through, there were only a few pages that seemed relevant to me for outdoor gardening. I’ll probably be limited to containers for most succulents, but I did pick up several varieties of sedum at a gardening show this weekend that will tolerate some shade and cold weather. I also got one or two less hardy varieties to try in pots to add spots of height in the garden that I can move indoors in the winter. My yard is on a hill, and I want to create a rock garden section focused on succulents, perhaps sectioning off varieties with small rock walls. I don’t know if the spot I have in mind will get enough sun, but I do like to experiment, and I have one nearby spot of the expectionallybhardy “Blue Spruce” sedum reflexum that is thriving.

[Eve beinguniquebeingme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debra has included a lot of essential care and growth advice in the book as well as planter use within garden landscapes of any size. We also find how they are a great addition to ponds or areas filled with stones as well as incorporating them into use around garden furniture/statues.

We see succulents used in gardens by the sea, in their natural desert setting or just at home they add a touch of something different to any normal garden as they can also produce flowers too in some cases.

There's an encyclopaedia of images with their names and brief description of the type of succulent they are.

The photograph's used are clear and show off the succulents in all their delight within gardens and show the variety of colours they can come in as well as their most common greens.

A very useful guide I'm using to begin with succulents in my home garden I fully recommend!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

[Psusan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not live in an arid climate but Designing with Succulents by Debra Lee Baldwin makes me wish I did. I did not ever read the first edition so I cannot comment on how this second edition has changed. What I can say is that I thoroughly enjoyed Designing with Succulents.

It has beautiful, inspiring illustrations with practical information that made it interesting for anyone who loves plants and gardening. It is very readable which is not always the case for a nonfiction book of this nature. I especially loved the “dry lily pond” which has a fairy garden feel. While I do not live in the zones listed for the succulents in my landscaping, it did give me pause for how to perhaps incorporate some of these varied succulents in containers within the home.

The publisher through Net Galley provided a copy.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Designing With Succulents by Debra Lee Baldwin (Timber Press 2007) (635.9525). Beautiful photos highlight gardens featuring succulent plants as designed by more than fifty different garden designers. My rating: 7/10, finished 2008.

[Nicola Furlong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this to be a good reference for succulents. Great photos and some strong design ideas. My focus at the mo is on sempervivums and sedums suitable for hanging gardens, so didn't really benefit from Baldwin's extensive experience and excellent information.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

The issue I have with this is it's all about outside yard design and nothing for inside. Living in Ohio, this book was not a great read for me and I wish that this had addressed that a large portion of readers were looking for potted/ moveable options for inside the home

[Alex Timberman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best gardening book I’ve ever read. Author is a passionate expert and celebrity in the word of succulents - wonderful, beautiful, and drought tolerant plants. This book was well-written for any book and filled with amazing photos. Highly recommend it.

[J.K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has culled the creative talents and a variety of knowledge from many people who love succulents. Accordingly the 'harvest' of information is one of the most all encompassing out there!

[The Ficus]

My last succulent was a gift.

[joy *the clean-reader extraordinaire* · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice reference guide, but more for if you're doing a whole yard and less for if you're doing a little window garden.

[Caro · Rating 2 out of 5]

http://cspgarden.wordpress.com/wp-adm...

[Jenny Housley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Debra makes me think about areas of garden design I have never considered before. It remains to be seen how many succulents survive my New Zealand frosts!

[Gevera Piedmont · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a very pretty book, beautiful photos, but the aim is toward those who can keep their succulents alive outside year round, planted, not those of us who have pots of single plants inside.

[Ruhm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent info.

[Ambur Taft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome succulent resource...beautiful pictures & very useful information wether you are landscaping a whole yard, a living roof, or just a few containers.

[cat · Rating 1 out of 5]

This wasn't what I thought this book was going to be. I wish it had more...smaller garden options for everyday people. Definitely more geared towards landscapers.

[Kathleen Negrete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for succulent lovers.

[Dawnbg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Total inspriation...makes me wish I could garden in California!

[Betti]

Thumbs Up! Good information on succulents!