The Gardener's Guide to Succulents

December 2, 2019
This richly illustrated and skillfully executed book from horticulturist Matsuyama, her first to be published in English, explores the “vast, mysterious and fascinating” botanical realm of succulents. Explaining how these plants evolved the ability to retain water, Matsuyama observes that “the shapes born from such strength are beautiful and strange” and that succulents are resistant to both drought and cold temperature. In the book’s first section, she examines various categories of succulents—those with plump leaves, with overlapping leaves, with rosettes, and so on—discussing individual plants’ characteristics and growing needs. For example, the rosette variety known as “Party Dress” is “large and beautiful,” as well as “strong and easy to grow but requires quite a bit of space when grouped with other plants.” In the second section, Matsuyama looks at one of the best-known kinds of succulent, cacti, and in the third and final section, highlights ways to combine and arrange various specimens, particularly cacti, in garden or home displays. Adventurous gardeners will find that Matsuyama’s book, with its precise explanations and copious photos, ushers them into a fascinating world.

March 20, 2020

The ability to retain water and flourish in dry climates makes succulents and cacti a popular choice with home gardeners. In this beautifully illustrated guide, Japanese horticulturalist Matsuyama's first to be published in English, more than 125 varieties of the plants are covered. Succulents are arranged by plant features, such as plump leaves or rosette formation. Another section looks at cacti arranged in categories by nicknames or its appealing "charms" (which might feel too whimsical or even confusing for some readers). A final chapter offers tips on planting and creating arrangements. VERDICT Matsuyama offers gardeners plenty of bang for their buck, including strong visuals and the basics of growing and propagating popular succulents and cacti. Novice horticulturists, however, might gravitate toward Ken Shelf and Rachel Weill's Essential Succulents, which covers fewer plants but offers a bit more hand-holding when it comes to getting started..--John Charles, formerly of Scottsdale P.L., AZ

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2020
While there's almost no substitute for visiting to a garden center or digging around in the soil to discover local landscape truths, Matsuyama's collection of succulents to consider comes close to developing a good diagnostic for folks interested in learning more about these strange and beautiful living things that have become especially popular in the last few years. Three sections define her opus: one on succulents (those plants that survive in areas with very low rainfall), the second on cacti, and the third a compilation of indoor planter examples along with how-tos on planting, growing, and arranging, some with step-by-step photographs. The 125-plus examples are well photographed and described in terms of characteristics, cultivation, and areas of origin, with rankings on ventilation, light shortage, and growth rate (among other factors). She groups them by distinguishing features: flowers, rosettes, skin, strong presence, molting, overlapping leaves, etc. A glossary at the end will satisfy the more scientifically curious.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)