By the light of a silvery bloom

This book is a gold mine and a cause for celebration: a well-researched guide to silvery plants that thrive in this region. At its core is the acceptance of “smart” gardening concepts and a growing affection for Mediterranean-climate flora.

Most silver plants have downy hairs or waxy coatings that protect them from heat and drought. We learn that all want good drainage, even the variegated ones that grow in moist shade. The authors, who hail from Nova Scotia and the Northeast, also stress an oft-ignored fact to every gardener tempted by “the cult of silver” -- that all plants, no matter their color, thrive in conditions that most resemble their native habitats.

Gardner and Bussolini (also the book’s photographer) share a beautiful language. “Silver at its purest is not a color at all but the very essence of light ... the chameleon of the plant kingdom, changing with light and season.” They laud the “the lilting stems” of the butterfly bush, whose silver-backed leaves flutter in the wind.

This groundbreaking reference ends with lists: plants for specific “tough places,” where to see silvers, mail-order sources, a useful glossary and a fine bibliography.

Lili Singer