Review: The Gardener’s Guide To Succulents

Title: The Gardener’s Guide to Succulents, A Handbook of Over 125 Exquisite Varieties of Succulents and Cacti
Author: Misa Matsuyama
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing

[su_highlight background=”#fffd8c” color=”#000003″]Buy on Amazon: The Gardener’s Guide to Succulents: A Handbook of Over 125 Exquisite Varieties of Succulents and Cacti[/su_highlight]

Author Misa Matsuyama is a horticulturist, teacher, and author who specializes in succulents. She is also the creative director of sol x sol, a Japanese company selling succulent plants and supplies for home gardeners.

Succulents (like Aloe Vera) are drought-resistant plants native to areas with extremely low rainfall (arid regions and hot climates). Their leaves, stems, or roots contain water-storing tissue, giving those parts of the plant a swollen appearance. Cacti are succulent plants with a thick, fleshy stem that usually has spines, no leaves, but brightly colored flowers. Nearly all cacti are succulents but not all succulents are cacti. Those of us who live in temperate areas have to grow most succulents indoors, as few survive the freezing temps of winter.

[su_quote cite=”The Gardener’s Guide To Succulents”]Did you know there are plants that can naturally grow a new generation from just one leaf? Succulents fall into this category. Propagating from leaves is possible because the leaves are thick and firm. If a leaf is dislodged from handling or from contact with an animal, it will grow a new plant in the spot where it lands. It’s a distinctive breeding method, and very easy.[/su_quote]

The Gardener’s Guide to Succulents is organized in a totally unexpected way – succulents by leaf type, rosettes, variations, and spines. Cacti are organized by charm, skin, flowers, areole, and rainforest cacti. Each page is loaded with images, a description of each, how much light and air the plant needs, and its rate of growth. Succulents also offers a final section on how to grow succulents, how to create arrangements, recommended tools and materials for planting, tips on growing succulents and cacti, and a glossary.

Written for the Asian market and translated for North America, The Gardener’s Guide to Succulents is a great introduction to these sometimes breathtaking plants and covers an extraordinary number of species. I also have to give high praise for the photography in Succulents – it is ridiculously good with tight closeups and macro shots of each plant’s most attractive characteristics.