Gardeners use native plants for many reasons. In addition to providing year-round beauty with relatively little maintenance, landscaping with native plants contributes to the repair of the natural ecosystem and brings us closer to our environment. With such a diverse and spectacular array of native plant material available to gardeners in the costal and desert climates of Southern California, the opportunities for creative and attractive landscapes are seemingly endless. In "Landscaping with Native Plants of Southern California," George Oxford Miller offers the definitive guide to choosing the best of the best among the native plants of the region. Covering wildflowers, shrubs, trees, vines, cacti, and groundcovers, this comprehensive, richly illustrated book selects the species that combine ornamental qualities, growth habits, adaptability, low maintenance, and beauty for the highest landscape value. The illustrations, maps, and charts provide guidelines for species selection and planting, ongoing maintenance, landscape design, and water and energy conservation. In-depth plant profiles describe the habitat requirements for nearly 300 native plant species, subspecies, and varieties, with stunning photographs illustrating how each plant looks and responds to landscape conditions. As the interest in native-plant landscaping and xerscaping continues to expand, this is a book that belongs on the shelf of every gardener and landscaper in Southern California. Environmental photojournalist George Oxford Miller is a writer, photographer, and third-generation nurseryman. He is well known for his photography and his many magazine articles and books on the plants and animals ofTexas and the Southwest. His work has appeared in periodicals "Like Living Bird," "Texas Parks and Wildlife," and "Wildlife Conservation" and in publications of the National Wildlife Federation and the Sierra Club. He is author or co-author of several books, including "Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas," "Landscaping with Native PLants of the Southwest," "A Field Guide to Wildlife of Texas and the Southwest," and "The Ozarks: The People, the Mountains, the Magic," Miller resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico.