Flora: A Gardener's Encyclopedia

Rating:
Summary: Disconnect from the American Garden
Review: Flora, A Gardener's Encyclopedia, had exciting possibilities. It has a well respected publishing house, fabulous photography, and 20,000 plants listed. Unfortunately, I am not generally looking for tropical African trees.

Missing in this text is any reference to the genus Cimicifuga, the genus Wulfenia, and many other plants popular in current horticulture. If a genus is reclassified, some indexing should be included. When a genus is included in Flora, some of the most popular species are omitted, such as Convolvulus compactus. The Z8 species of Convolvulus are listed, but if one looks for the hardy species--not there.

In fact, I pick up my references when I want to find information or photography on a given plant. As a rock garden enthusiast and hardy plant enthusiast, I find a "hit" only about 15% of the time. Time after time the plant I look for is unlisted. I still go to the Index of Garden Plants by Mark Griffiths to find a description. Flora has included so few relevant plants that it will soon go on the rarely used shelf.

I have experience with the genus Hosta (chaired a National Convention). This section must have been compiled quite some time prior to publication. Hosta fluctuans 'Variegated' was changed to Hosta 'Sagae' over 10 years ago, and anyone knowledgeable about hosta would know that change, since 'Sagae' has been distinguished as a Hosta of the Year. Hosta is the number one selling perennial in the USA.

Shrubs are no more impressive. Berberis 'Helmond's Pillar' or 'Velvet Cloak'--missing.

I am still waiting for anyone to publish a text that includes the majority of plants seen at major public gardens (Denver Botanic, Missouri Botanic, New York Botanic, etc.) and the plants listed in major seed exchanges (North American Rock Garden Society, etc.), and major nurseries (Wayside, Heronswood, Plant Delights, Arrowhead, etc.) Such a text would be invaluable. Even with only 10,000 hardy plants from these sources, the text would be unequaled.

Flora is beautiful. It is well crafted. It is extensive. It reads well. Too bad it isn't more useful for the USA gardener.
Let's hope for Flora 2: The Hardy Plant Encyclopedia.

Rating:
Summary: You can find almost anything here but sometimes not easily.
Review: I love this book and anyone who is serious about plants would love it too. It gets only 4 stars because this isn't the book I keep on my nightstand. And, yes, I'm an avid gardener apt to plant the new and unusual. However, if I really need to know something and find a picture of it, it is almost always here. It's a great browsing book too.
I would keep it closer if it didn't take up my whole night stand and weigh a lot.
Also, if you don't know the botanical name for the plant you have to use the "Flora" translater, but that only translates from the common name to the botanical name and not both ways. Very bothersome.

The book I do keep on my nightstand is "The American Horticultural Society of Plants and Flowers" which is primarily organized by plant uses.
I use them both for very different reasons and I'm glad I have them both.

Rating:
Summary: how could they leave out Bells of Ireland?
Review: Makes me wonder what other heirloom plants they may have completely left out. A kind of showy book, lots of nice photos.

Is there substance to this book if they leave out something like Bells of Ireland?

This book weighs at least 12 lbs. Why wouldn't they break it up into 4 books? Don't give this to an older relative, they will get a hernia trying to lift it.

Rating:
Summary: A benchmark work - a serious gardener's treasure trove
Review: Since receiving "Flora: A Gardener's Encyclopedia" for Christmas, my wife has spent many many hours researching plants which would be ideal for our particular location. The various entries are arranged alphabetically by their scientific genus and species names, but the index is very comprehensive, containing both scientific and common name cross-references. The color photography is magnificent, entry data is concise and packed with information needed to successfully grow the species, and the breadth of coverage of this volume is breathtaking. This magnificent work is not your average "garden variety" (pardon the pun) encyclopedia --- it is an authoritative reference for professional and experienced gardeners, as well as a thorough text and research tool for the novice gardener. It is bound to become the benchmark by which future works of this genre are judged.

Rating:
Summary: A benchmark work - a serious gardener's treasure trove
Review: Since receiving "Flora: A Gardener's Encyclopedia" for Christmas, my wife has spent many many hours researching plants which would be ideal for our particular location. The various entries are arranged alphabetically by their scientific genus and species names, but the index is very comprehensive, containing both scientific and common name cross-references. The color photography is magnificent, entry data is concise and packed with information needed to successfully grow the species, and the breadth of coverage of this volume is breathtaking. This magnificent work is not your average "garden variety" (pardon the pun) encyclopedia --- it is an authoritative reference for professional and experienced gardeners, as well as a thorough text and research tool for the novice gardener. It is bound to become the benchmark by which future works of this genre are judged.

Rating:
Summary: A benchmark work - a serious gardener's treasure trove
Review: Since receiving "Flora: A Gardener's Encyclopedia" for Christmas, my wife has spent many many hours researching plants which would be ideal for our particular location. The various entries are arranged alphabetically by their scientific genus and species names, but the index is very comprehensive, containing both scientific and common name cross-references. The color photography is magnificent, entry data is concise and packed with information needed to successfully grow the species, and the breadth of coverage of this volume is breathtaking. This magnificent work is not your average "garden variety" (pardon the pun) encyclopedia --- it is an authoritative reference for professional and experienced gardeners, as well as a thorough text and research tool for the novice gardener. It is bound to become the benchmark by which future works of this genre are judged.

Rating:
Summary: A 2-volume set nearly five years in the making
Review: The plant 'bible' Flora is a 2-volume set nearly five years in the making, with contributions from over sixty writers lending to glossy photos and a reference which covers everything from weeds to the best plants for a garden. This isn't just a listing of plants alone - it covers the largest, best plants and offers color photos taking in pristine national parks around the world. A CD-ROM provides links to gardening web sites; but the meat of this reference lies in its extensive coverage of over 20,000 plants. A top pick.