American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants

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Summary: great book
Review: This is one of the best books I have bought for doing Landscape Design. I am still in school studying this, so it is increadibly helpful. It has size, hardiness zone, different cult and var and pest problems. It even shows pictures of almost every species. All 1000+ pages completely worth it.

Rating:
Summary: Make this the very first gardening book you buy!
Review: This is the book that makes my gardening dreams possible, it is never far from my side. I guess I would call it a reference book because it is packed with information, but don't let that scare you away. There are a staggering 15,000 plants described with 6,000 photographs. Each plant's cultural needs, botanical name, hardiness and method of cultivation are mentioned however briefly. The book is well organized and easy to use. It isn't hard to find a 4-5 ft shrub that blooms pink in summer, or whatever your garden needs are. This book is also beautiful; I look at it for fun all winter long...sweet dreams til summer's sunbeams find you.

Rating:
Summary: the last word
Review: This is the last word for me when I am trying to identify a particular plant. When I need to know all the particulars and behaviors of a plant, this is where I go. This book will be an invaluable resource to all gardeners who take their gardening seriously

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Summary: Your coffee table garden plant reference for years to come!
Review: This is the new garden plant reference book for the home or professional gardener. Although it is set up by Family/Genus/Species/Variety, there is a handy common name index in the back of the book. Extensive varietal color photos make this book a must for the flower enthusiast. There is also an excellent reference on plant terminology in the front of the book. Since I live in the western US, my plant reference book of choice has always been the Sunset Western Garden Book. This book has since taken it's place as my preferred, but the Western Garden Book does have some plants that are not listed in this book. However, there are many times more plants not listed in the Western Garden Book that are found in this book. Highly Recommended!

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Summary: Find any plant you want in this one book
Review: This will be the book you keep out to continuously look up any plant. Instead of having to look in two, three or more resources, you will find it in this book. Even the 'not so common' plants that are difficult to research are here. The descriptions are clear, easy to read, thoughtfully laid out and the many illustrations make this one book I would not be without.

Rating:
Summary: As Good As It Gets
Review: With the rapidly changing world of plant hybrids/cultivars few, if any books, could be said to be complete. This is as good as it gets! Tons of pictures, descriptions, culture, propagation etc. etc. Invaluble resource for everything from trees to annuals. Highly recommend it to anyone interested in starting a reference library, or just curious about all the plants available from the tropics to the north country.

Rating:
Summary: So Far the Best
Review: Yeah it's big and shiny but it averages about 70% of what I'm looking for so I give it a "4". I also wish that it had picts or at least full descriptions of every item it DOES list. I have yet to find anything better.