The AHS Great Plant Guide

Rating:
Summary: Terrific Book!
Review: I am so glad I found this -- many of the plant books I have looked at recently were published in the early 1990's -- this edition of the Great Plant Guide has been revised and updated for 2000. The book begins with the fundamentals, how to shop for and choose healthy plants that are appropriate for your garden, how to prepare the soil for them and then how to plant them. Next are descriptions and growing requirements for 3000 plants, each with a color photograph and a special "cultivation" section. I was especially impressed with the last section of the book which lists plants by 57 different categories: flowers for hanging baskets, plants for autumn color, container plants, variegated trees and shrubs, flowers for drying, plants for acidic soil, plants to attract bees and butterflies, plants for coastal gardens, plants with scented foliage, trees for small gardens, etc. I found this section extremely interesting and useful.

There are many houseplants listed here, in particular plants that are grown outdoors in the warmer zones and in containers in the cooler zones, eg, Norfolk Island Pine, but the primary focus of the book is on outdoor plants. A number of plant "families" receive several pages of discussion such as dahlias, scented geraniums and fuchsias, etc, the largest of which covers roses (ie, floribundas, climbing, hybrid tea, rambling and miniature).

I should point out that this is not an expensive coffee table book with large, lavish pictures of beautiful plants. It is, however, chockfull of information -- a very informative book at a very affordable price. Amazon says this is a paperback book which isn't quite accurate; the cover is actually composed of two pieces of thin cardboard, the outside of which is glossy -- my point being that it is sturdier than the average 670 page paperback.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific Book!
Review: I am so glad I found this -- many of the plant books I have looked at recently were published in the early 1990's -- this edition of the Great Plant Guide has been revised and updated for 2000. The book begins with the fundamentals, how to shop for and choose healthy plants that are appropriate for your garden, how to prepare the soil for them and then how to plant them. Next are descriptions and growing requirements for 3000 plants, each with a color photograph and a special "cultivation" section. I was especially impressed with the last section of the book which lists plants by 57 different categories: flowers for hanging baskets, plants for autumn color, container plants, variegated trees and shrubs, flowers for drying, plants for acidic soil, plants to attract bees and butterflies, plants for coastal gardens, plants with scented foliage, trees for small gardens, etc. I found this section extremely interesting and useful.

There are many houseplants listed here, in particular plants that are grown outdoors in the warmer zones and in containers in the cooler zones, eg, Norfolk Island Pine, but the primary focus of the book is on outdoor plants. A number of plant "families" receive several pages of discussion such as dahlias, scented geraniums and fuchsias, etc, the largest of which covers roses (ie, floribundas, climbing, hybrid tea, rambling and miniature).

I should point out that this is not an expensive coffee table book with large, lavish pictures of beautiful plants. It is, however, chockfull of information -- a very informative book at a very affordable price. Amazon says this is a paperback book which isn't quite accurate; the cover is actually composed of two pieces of thin cardboard, the outside of which is glossy -- my point being that it is sturdier than the average 670 page paperback.

Rating:
Summary: Great plant guide!!!
Review: My mum put this book in my easter basket this year. I wanted a smaller plant guide to take with me when I buy plants. I got so much use out of it, keeping it in my bag usually. It's the perfect book for that purpose, bringing along to nurseries and the like. It is very convenient and gives just the basic facts you need to know about a plant, whether it is suitable for your climate zone, or what size it can grow to. It even included flowering shrubs and trees. Also showed many different cultivars of particular plants. There are some plants that I did not find in this book, but most plants that are not in the book, you won't find at a nursery anyway. You should have a bigger plant encyclopedia if you're really interested in this, but even owning a fullsize one (like I do), you will still get tons of use out of this bringing it along when buying plants or going to plant shows. Unfortunately I lost my book... left it at the nursery, but I am certainly going to buy another one. I highly recommend, just hang on to yours... also I would like to thank my mum for her thoughtfulness, and apologise for my carelessness.

Rating:
Summary: Great plant guide!!!
Review: My mum put this book in my easter basket this year. I wanted a smaller plant guide to take with me when I buy plants. I got so much use out of it, keeping it in my bag usually. It's the perfect book for that purpose, bringing along to nurseries and the like. It is very convenient and gives just the basic facts you need to know about a plant, whether it is suitable for your climate zone, or what size it can grow to. It even included flowering shrubs and trees. Also showed many different cultivars of particular plants. There are some plants that I did not find in this book, but most plants that are not in the book, you won't find at a nursery anyway. You should have a bigger plant encyclopedia if you're really interested in this, but even owning a fullsize one (like I do), you will still get tons of use out of this bringing it along when buying plants or going to plant shows. Unfortunately I lost my book... left it at the nursery, but I am certainly going to buy another one. I highly recommend, just hang on to yours... also I would like to thank my mum for her thoughtfulness, and apologise for my carelessness.

Rating:
Summary: Colorful Guide
Review: Whether you are trying to identify a plant or are considering new plants for the next year, this guide has 3000 plants that are recommended by the American Horticultural Society.

The fun and unassuming format is easy to read and you can learn quite a bit by just reading a few pages now and then to see plants you might be interested in for the future. The Planting Guide is pretty amazing. First you have over 50 situation to consider.

If you are looking for spring color, you can turn to pg. 578 or if your soil is more sandy, turn to pg. 627. You then find a list of plants and a page number to read more information on your selection.

Two maps of the United states produced by the Department of Agriculture shows on average the annual minimum temperatures and the average number of days per year above 86 degrees.

Nice Index, colorful pictures and a book you can take outside and read in the sun.

Compact!