Customer Reviews

Agaves, Yuccas, and Related Plants: A Gardener's Guide

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am the librarian at the Desert Botanical Garden and this book has been a tremendous addition to our collection. I have only had it for two weeks and have already used it several times to answer reference questions. The photos are wonderful and the index is extensive. What sets this book apart from all the rest, however, is the clear and succinct format used to describe each plant. Each reference includes the botanical name, synonyms, common names, descriptions of the size, leaves, blooms, distribution, propagation, cultural requirements, similar or related species, and uses. Mary and Gary Irish have created an invaluable resource for anyone interested in agaves, yuccas and related plants.

This book fills a real gap in information for gardeners interested in agaves, yuccas, and similar plants, such as hesperaloes. I haven't found any other book that lists so many species of these plants AND has photographs of each. The text has extensive information for both identifying and growing these plants, whereas many books on plants will emphasize one aspect or the other. In other words, this book would be useful for botanists as well as gardeners and horticulturalists.

There is also some useful information on the cold hardiness and adaptability of these plants to wetter climates. Some experimental gardeners on the east coast of the U.S. may find the minimum temperature limits listed for some plants to be a little conservative. However, the horticultural information on growing these plants, more than makes up for that.

All around, this is a very good book and would be of interest to anyone interested in growing or identifying agaves, yuccas, and similar plants.

This is the book to have if you are interested in growing agaves, and yuccas particularly if you have an interest in growing them as landscape plants and want to know how hardy a particular species is likely to be. It has rapidly become the Bible for growers of these plants.

A complete description, history, guide and care to this plant group. Not a coffee table book for sure but very informative for the serious gardener.

Our landscape is filled with yuccas, agave and cactus. This book helps me to expand my knowledge of the varities of these plants and the zones they work in. An excellent book.

I'm very glad I bought this book. It is well organized and the graphics are nice. I am just really getting into the appreciation of agaves in general and found this to be a very useful book. It has enough scientific information to be useful, but is not too technical. Good book.

A very nice referral source for a beginner with these types of plants. Nice pictures which help as well. Enjoyable and well written.

The book is a comprehensive presentation of agaves and yuccas. There are lots of photos and descriptions of the plants. What is unique about this book compared to most books on desert plants is that there is a lot of horticultural information. It tells you how to grow the plants.

I am collecting Agaves and Yuccas for Zone5-6 garden. This Book helped me more than my entire plant book collection. If you like this plant group, this book is for you, Hans

This was also a Mother's Day present, so yet again my review is based on the impressions of another trusted source.
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HUGE amount of information - for the enthusiast of all levels
Excellent pictures
Comprehensive
Great price
Good Binding
Good size
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