Looking for a perfect gift for the green thumb on your gift list? Or how about a foodie, Garden enthusiast, or nature lover? Check out these book recommendations from the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Horticulture Department, which might be just what you’re looking for.
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Highly recommended by multiple members of our Horticulture staff. Kimmerer, a botanist and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, examines the lessons and gifts we can receive from nature through the lenses of science and indigenous knowledge.
Where to buy it locally:
Left Bank Books
Subterranean Books
The Novel Neighbor
Driven by Nature: A Personal Journey from Shanghai to Botany and Global Sustainability by Peter H. Raven
An autobiography by the Garden’s own president emeritus Dr. Peter Raven, Driven by Nature chronicles his travels both near and far studying plants, biodiversity, and their conservation.
MBG Press
Left Bank Books
Subterranean Books
The Novel Neighbor
The Family Garden Plan: Grow a Year’s Worth of Sustainable and Healthy Food by Melissa K. Norris
Learn how to provide your family with home-grown, wholesome fruits and veggies. This guide includes information on making the most of available space, common pests and diseases, soil health, composting, and much more.
Left Bank Books
Subterranean Books
The Novel Neighbor
In Defense of Plants: An Exploration into the Wonder of Plants by Matt Candeias
A deep-dive into the fantastical world of botany. If you have ever marveled at the most ordinary plant poking through the sidewalk or the most intricate orchid in the Climatron, then this book is for you.
Left Bank Books
Subterranean Books
The Novel Neighbor
The Know Maintenance Garden by Roy Diblik
Made with homeowners in mind, this book is packed with simple but impactful, grid-based garden designs.
Left Bank Books
Subterranean Books
The Novel Neighbor
The Nature of Oaks by Doug Tallamy
A perennial favorite author among our Horticulture staff, Tallamy once again makes the list with his most recent book examining the impact a single oak tree can have on the surrounding ecosystem. It also includes selection, planting, and care tips.
Left Bank Books
Subterranean Books
The Novel Neighbor
Rock Gardening: Reimagining a Classic Style by Joseph Tychonievich
Rock gardens tend to require less space and supplemental water compared to other garden styles and have been gaining in popularity. Learn how to create and maintain your own with modern plant choices and sensibilities.
Left Bank Books
Subterranean Books
The Novel Neighbor
The Savage Garden by Peter D’Amato
The go-to book on everything related to carnivorous plants, including cultivation basics, descriptions of species and hybrids, and propagation tips.
Left Bank Books
Subterranean Books
The Novel Neighbor
Justine Kandra
Horticulturist, William T. Kemper Center for Home Gardening