Roadside Use of Native Plants

edited by Bonnie Harper-Lore and Maggie Wilson. Island Press, Washington, DC, 2000. Softcover, 665 pages, $25

Roadside Use of Native Plants may sound somewhat obscure, but it's a gem. Originally published by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration, this book is targeted toward people involved with management of our roadside landscapes--the vegetated medians, shoulders and road allowances along federal, state, and local highways. Part One of the book (about 40 pages) is a collection of 18 clearly written, one- to three-page essays about native plants, their use, and management along highways. These essays are written by experts in the Federal Highway Administration, state agencies, The Nature Conservancy and various academic institutions. Collectively, the essays provide a superb introduction to a wide range of issues about native plants-- starting with clear definitions of what constitutes a native plant. 

Part Two (the bulk of the book--about 500 pages) provides state-by-state listings of appropriate native plants for roadside use, along with lists of endangered species (which can sometimes be reestablished along roadways), noxious species that should be specifically avoided, and key agencies within each state. Maps of each state show the "potential natural vegetation zones," of which there are 106 in the 48 contiguous states, plus another 23 in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

Part Three (Appendices) includes full text of federal regulation dealing with management of roadsides for native plants and control of invasise species, including useful Q&A sections. Also inncluded are listings of each potential natural vegeatation zones with key species, bibliographic references, native plant organizations, and releveant Web sites. the value of this book extends well beyond roadside applications. --AW