Terrain: The Houseplant Book: An Insider's Guide to Cultivating and Collecting the Most Sought-After Specimens

by Melissa Lowrie

Overview

“An informative and inspiring guide to collecting and growing plants at home.”
—Gardenista
 
“This book is a must-have!”
—Hilton Carter, author of Wild at Home, Wild Interiors, and Wild Creations

Secrets of the Houseplant Hunters

Terrain’s plant experts travel the world in search of the most unusual and interesting houseplants. In this inspiring and practical guide, they share their favorite specimens: exotic and eclectic ferns, like the skeleton fork, a primitive (and unfussy) predecessor to the family; new aroids to feed that monstera obsession; and adventurous trailing plants like dischidia, which is found cascading from tree branches in its native Thailand; plus succulents and cacti, indoor trees, the best low-care plants, and “rule breakers” like bamboo muhly grass that can make an unexpected move indoors.

Along the way, Terrain introduces their favorite independent growers—passionate plant lovers who are creating new hybrids and bringing back old-school specimens to the market. And readers learn ​Terrain’s way of styling and overarching philosophy on care: the most important thing we can give our plants is our presence.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781648291999
Publisher:	Artisan
Publication date:	10/25/2022
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	580,394
File size:	63 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Melissa Lowrie is the divisional merchandise manager of plants and garden for Terrain. An industry leader with over twenty-five years of experience in the home and garden space, Lowrie got her start at Waterloo Gardens, a family-owned garden center in Chester County, Pennsylvania. She joined the Terrain team at its launch in 2008, and worked as a buyer, floral designer, and photo stylist for the brand prior to taking on her current role. She lives with her partner, artist and designer Wen Blankenship, and their two spotted pups, Jasper and Ru, in Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood. 

Table of Contents

Contents
 
Introduction
Caring for Houseplants
 
One
A Curious Conservatory: The Evocative & Eclectic World of Ferns
 
Two
Trendsetters: Aroid Mania
 
Three
Ramblers: Vining & Trailing Plants
 
Four
Pop Art: Colorful & Highly Patterned Plants
 
Five
Small Wonders: Petite & Delicate Plants
 
Six
Drama Class: Trees, Tropicals & Other Statement Specimens
 
Seven
Living Sculptures: Sun-Loving Succulents & Cacti
 
Eight
Unfussy Friends: Low-Light & Low-Maintenance Problem Solvers
 
Nine
Rule Breakers: Unexpected Indoor Plants
 
Glossary
Resources
Acknowledgments
Index

Editorial Reviews

Terrain: The Houseplant Book shows us how to smash the expected and break new ground. . . . Gorgeous.”
—Sunset
 
“An informative and inspiring guide to collecting and growing plants at home.”
—Gardenista
 
“[A] comprehensive guide to houseplants. . . . Lowrie covers all the bases, and delivers a survey that’s encyclopedic but not overwhelming.”
—Publishers Weekly

“My journey in greenery began when I first visited Terrain back in 2011. Seeing the beauty they created, curating and designing spaces with plants, inspired me to start down the path I’m on today. Their team is among the absolute best at understanding and caring for plants, and this book is a must-have!”

—Hilton Carter, author of Wild at Home, Wild Interiors, and Wild Creations

“In their comprehensive tome, Lowrie and the Terrain team have expertly captured not only the houseplant zeitgeist but also the heart and soul of the industry by highlighting some of the most iconic growers in the United States. Sumptuous photos—all done in the impeccable Terrain style—will have your tongue wagging and heart fluttering. Two green thumbs up!”

—Summer Rayne Oakes, producer of YouTube’s Plant One on Me and author of How to Make a Plant Love You

From the Publisher

10/01/2022

Lowrie, divisional merchandise manager of plants and garden for Terrain, a garden, home, and lifestyle brand, capitalizes on the resurgent interest in houseplants. She shares facts and cultural information on an assortment of houseplants, from the easy to grow to the rare, expensive, difficult to locate, or challenging to cultivate. Lowrie provides an overview on caring for plants, including propagation, and covers a variety of houseplants, arranged by broad category, such as aroids or ferns. Each entry has a description of the plant, a photo, and detailed care instructions. She also profiles interesting commercial houseplant growers and offers display tips. With 300 color photos, the title concludes with a glossary and lists of favorite botanical gardens, plant societies and clubs, and recommended reading. VERDICT This beautiful book is chock-full of information about many uncommon plants and seems geared to the collector or at least the intermediate houseplant grower because of the rarity, strict growing conditions, or expense of many of her choices. Tovah Martin's The Unexpected Houseplant is another solid choice for those who want to grow unusual houseplants; beginners could start with Barbara Pleasant's The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual or Darryl Cheng's The New Plant Parent.—Sue O'Brien

Library Journal