Explore the versatility and captivating beauty of Australian native plants beyond the familiar ‘bush garden’ aesthetic.
Winner of the Indie Book Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction 2018 and Shortlisted for ABIA Illustrated Book of the Year 2018
Australia has long been known as home to the towering gum and the gnarly banksia. Australian natives are as emblematic as they are adaptable but Native takes an old subject (Australian natives) and gives it a complete makeover. This book surveys the ways native trees, shrubs, flowers and foliage can be put to surprising and beautiful uses by some of the most creative people working with plants today.
Interviews with celebrated landscape designers, artists and gardeners – including Fiona Brockhoff, Janet Laurence and Tracey Deep – bring to light so many ways to celebrate the sculptural natives that shape our everyday spaces.
This richly illustrated book is the ideal source when seeking the perfect feature plant for a space of any size. With stunning photography of gardens old and new, this book captures the most creatively inspiring Australian plants and the people who work with them.
About the Authors
Kate Herd is an author, artist and designer. She is enthused by all types of gardens but especially those that celebrate a distinct sense of place through imaginative and plant-centred design. She has written for The Planthunter and The Age and is the author of Kitchen Gardens of Australia.
Jela Ivankovic-Waters is a highly regarded horticulturalist and landscape designer.
Industry Reviews
"It's hard to think of another book where Australian plants are celebrated so thoroughly for their beauty, versatility and sculptural form. The photography is extensive and exquisite, and interviews with landscape designers, sculptors and artists provide refreshing perspectives."
Sanctuary
"Native is a beautifully designed and thoughtfully set out guide to design with Australian plants.It is a rare plant book that makes you want to read it all. Often you just dip in and out. Native invites you to go on a journey of discovery, and to view and experiment with our native flora in a different light."
Garden Drum
"A book that highlights the versatility of native species."
Megan Backhouse, Sydney Morning Herald
"A thoughtful guide for those wanting to create a piece of paradise using native plants. The authors incorporate ideas from artists as well as garden designers inspired by the foliage, flowers, sculptural forms and versatility of natives. Profiles of top plants for different purposes are useful, particularly for those in southern parts of Australia."
Helen Young, Weekend Australian Magazine