Customer Reviews

The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers (American Horticultural Society Practical Guides)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This 720 page reference is well worth the money and is an indispensable tool for plant identification or plant selection. A short article on plant names and origins is followed by a beautiful section on "Creating a Garden" which covers style, structure, planning, seasons, using color and providing texture. The color photographs that accompany the article are outstanding!

"The Plant Selector" provides lists of plants that cover seemingly any situation you can think of. Examples - plants for specific soils, deer-resistant plants, hedge and windbreak plants, groundcovers for both sun and shade, dry shade, moist shade, and the list goes on.

The bulk of the book focuses on individual plants (Trees, Shrubs, Roses, Perennials, Annuals, Climbers, Bulbs, Rock Plants, Water Plants). Each section of plants is categorized by size (Large, medium and small) and then by color of the bloom. A color photo of each plant is provided as well as a brief description, size, exposure needs, zone, etc. A page number reference refers to a more in depth description of the plant in the back of the book.

Beautiful and plentiful photos, thick glossy pages and a wealth of information make this a reference that you can browse for hours. Happy reading!

This weighty, full-color reference to North American plants and flowers has been revised and completely revamped for this edition, profiling over 8,000 plants and holding over four thousand photos. The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia Of Plants And Flowers is a gardener's dream reference, and deserves a place not only in the home reference library of the avid gardener, but in any suitable public or school library with strong collections in gardening and plants.

Some other reviewers that own this book are right when giving this book high marks. I am a landscape contractor and can attest to the rich information and pictures inside. Although, I wouldn't recomend this bk for the beginning gardener. It has a 'common names' index by which to cross ref backwards with but, if common names are all you are familiar with, this bk may be a bit much to find what you want. However, this bk will tell you if thie plant is evergreen,semievergreen, deciduous, its habit, bloom time, hardiness zones,Hight & Spread, Light & some moisture requirements, etc. The bk is alphabetized with the genus/ Latin names for a reason. These Latin names are how all plants are traced from their origin and habit, regardless of hybridizing or crossing. A Plant may have several common names regionally or for marketing purposes, but will always have the Latin name to trace its' origin. This is why you will see alot of bks with Latin names intead of common names. This bk is a must for landscapers and horticulturists. This is one of the best reference sources I've seen.

If you are like me, you have probably looked at the American Horticultural Society's two huge encylopedias (The Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers - this book, and the A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants) wondering why they would produce two seemingly similar books and which you should buy.

My advice for people looking for a comprehensive GARDENING guide is to purchase THIS book. This one - the Plants and Flowers book - should be viewed as a very comprehensive plant type, size, zone, and technique book - all of which provide the book's context mentioned below - while the A-Z guide really is more like a traditional encyclopedia and is heavily focused on individual plant entries. Much of the same material on plants can be found in both books, but this one structures the entire volume into a gardening context, while the A-Z guide provides more detail on individual plants (as well as coverage of more plants and varieties).

Even a relatively advanced gardener is unlikely to need the additional plants coverage in the A-Z guide, as many cannot be easily found. The reason a number of people end up buying both is that the additional depth of material in the A-Z guide for plants found in both books can be helpful in special circumstances. Naturally, some avid gardeners simply enjoy the additional botanical detail also.

This is a superb book for extended study and planning. Is is less helpful as an in-season guide and problem solver, due to its size and complexity.

I bought this book primarily because of the review by: W. Oliver "scudder" which mentions the "Plant Selector" feature. It would be a great help if it were accurate. I was particularly interested in being able to cross-reference plants by acid-loving and deer-resistant features. I know that deer will eat anything if hungry; however, many sources from garden centers to university bulletins (and my own experience) note that hostas and tulips are deer candy. Both of these plants are listed deer resistant. Additionally, hollies are also listed as deer resistant. This fall, deer turned my new 8' holly into a topiary! Other than the "Plant Selector" feature, I'm not sure why I need this book along with the A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. To anyone else considering buying the package, I would recommend you don't do it.

If you just want to indulge yourself in fabulous photos of every flowering plant imaginable, this book is for you. If you have problem garden spots, this book has special sections to take the guesswork out of planting. If your creativity needs a little nudge in designing a particular type of garden, again, this book contains marvelous options and suggestions, all zone-specific. It's an absolute must for gardeners and beauty-lovers alike!

This book has great pictures and covers any type of flower you can dream up in it's 700 or so pages. The book is broken up into sections (i.e. Shrubs, tulips, etc.). A great value here too, it costs $60 in any other book store. The book also tells you what seasons each type of flower grows in.

This is a killer book. You can look up characteristics of a specific plant or research what to plant for a particular area. I use this book constantly, and also just sit down to look through it for fun. Everything has a picture, which I think really sets this book apart. It's big and heavy, but actually makes a great "coffee table book."

Pair this book with The American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants and you will have the most comprehensive gardening guides you will ever need! The reviews suggested buying the books together and I'm glad I took the advice.
The books are HUGE! I wasn't prepared for the sheer weight of them but they are beautiful as well as informative.

VERY thorough but the vast majority listed do not include the common name, not even in a crossref table/index, which makes it too tough to discuss with family, friends, neighbors. I had to return the book.