Plants You Can't Kill

"I kill everything I plant."

Does this sound like you or someone you know? Give yourself a pat on the back because admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery. And lucky for you, you can easily turn your brown thumb into a green one with the help of Plants You Can’t Kill.

Seriously—it doesn’t matter how many plants you’ve killed in gardens past. It’s time to put those experiences behind you and finally grow something in your empty and bare spots. This is the only gardening book you’ll ever need with more than 100 plant picks for every situation. You want veggies? We have ’em. You need to fill a big space? We have shrub ideas for you. You just want something pretty? We have plenty of that, as well.

The plants in Plants You Can’t Kill have been vetted by an amazing and famous panel of horticulture experts (this is just a fancy way of saying they went to college for gardening), so feel confident you’re not wasting money on yet another gardening book. These plants will actually survive your well-meaning, yet sometimes neglectful ways.

Ready for the most resilient, hardcore, badass list of plants known to gardeners? Find them and grow them with the help of Plants You Can’t Kill.

Stacy Tornio is a journalist, garden writer, and the former editor of the national magazine, Birds & Blooms. She interviewed more than a dozen garden experts, including horticulturalists, plant nursery workers, master gardeners, and a green-thumbed to get the best plant picks for any situation. Stacy is also a master gardener and master naturalist herself and the recipient of the National Outdoor Book Award. She runs the website destinationnature.com and resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

“Stacy helps take the intimidation out of gardening. She uses her years of experience as a gardener and the editor of Birds & Blooms to help black-thumb gardeners discover the joy and satisfaction of successfully growing plants.” —Melinda Myers, horticulture expert and author of Small Space Gardening

"Gardening is a journey, and for the beginner or those who think they are cursed with a 'black thumb,' it can be intimidating. Stacy offers expert advice on foolproof plants that anyone can grow that will start even the least plant-savvy on the path of creating beautiful gardens." —David Mizejewski, spokesman and naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation

“Knowledgeable? Check! Enthusiastic? Check! Practical? Check! Stacy Tornio is a passionate garden coach, teaching both new and experienced gardeners which plants to grow to ensure garden success. With Stacy’s guidance, novice gardeners can no longer plead ‘black thumbs!’ She’ll have you creating beautiful, successful gardens in no time at all!” —Niki Jabbour, author of Groundbreaking Food Gardens and The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener

“This great new book lays out some of the most dependable plants available for our gardens, in an clear, organized way. It takes the guess work out of gardening and will certainly help people be more successful in choosing what to grow!” —Jessi Bloom, author of Free-Range Chicken Gardens and Practical PermaCulture

“No green thumb? No worries! Author and former editor of Birds & Blooms magazine Stacy Tornio guides you through the garden center like a good friend, pointing out the best of the bunch. With more than 100 easy, rewarding flowers, herbs, trees, shrubs, veggies, and even houseplants to choose from, you’ll soon be on your way to filling your yard with beauty, your home with greenery, and your table with homegrown goodness. Stacy’s lively, down-to-earth writing will keep you going back for more as you grow into a confident gardener with Plants You Can’t Kill.” —Sally Roth, author of The Backyard Bird Feeder’s Bible

“Stacy’s many years of gardening experience translates into a book that makes it super easy to learn about great hard-to-kill plants. Each plant entry has beautiful photography, easy-to-follow tips and insider information that progresses from annuals through perennials all the way to herbs and vegetables. It’s like having a knowledgeable garden center employee at your fingertips 24/7. This is a great gardening book for beginners or anyone afraid of failure. Remember, it’s okay to fail, just try again!” —Diane Blazek, executive director, All-America Selections and National Garden Bureau

“In her many years of talking with readers of Birds & Blooms magazine, Stacy learned that fear of failure is one of the biggest obstacles to getting more people to garden. Her book addresses that head on by presenting beautiful, reliable plants in a simple-yet-effective way that anyone can understand, regardless of their experience level. It would make a great gift for any beginner gardener in your life.” —Susan Martin, perennial plant expert