Hostas are consistently voted the gardener's favorite perennial — their clean lines, sumptuous leaves, and elegant flowers offer great potential for striking specimen plantings and also make them the most accommodating of companion plants. The core of this encyclopedia is a fully illustrated collection of the world's finest hostas. This valuable resource provides a full description and color photograph for more than 750 plants. Informative sections on hosta classification and botany, gardening ideas, advice on pests and diseases, and a quick-reference list of the best hostas for different purposes add depth to this comprehensive review of the present-day hosta.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
This illustrated collection features 750 varieties of hostas: those "exotic, luxuriant-leafed perennials," as HRH The Prince of Wales describes in his preface, that have spread their way into gardens and greenhouses everywhere. Originally cultivated in Japan, the hardy plants form a protruding lily-like bloom among clumps of heart-shaped leaves in a rainbow of hues—from the "Blue Clown" to the "Gold Regal" to the slightly variegated sage and white "Abba Irresistible." In entries organized by color, hosta specialist Grenfell reviews the special needs and features of each, also offering advice on designing beds and containers and combating pests and diseases. Appendices include hardiness zone maps for Europe and North America, suggestions for how to use and where to see hostas, and a glossary. Shadrack’s sumptuous photographs form a bright centerpiece for this comprehensive guide.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"Grenfell ... has produced a worthy reference for readers on both continents."—Carol Bishop Miller, Horticulture, December 2005 (Carol Bishop Miller Horticulture )
"They [the authors] have produced an authoritative guide to the hardy, sturdy plant that nearly everybody seems to have at least a few of (some have hundreds)."—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, December 19, 2004 (Beth Botts Chicago Tribune )
"This well-illustrated encyclopedia contains color photographs of over 750 of the finest hosta varieties. Grenfell's hostas knowledge and Shadrack's striking photographs combine to make this the definitive volume."—M.S. Muskiewicz, Choice, September 2004 (M.S. Muskiewicz Choice )
"They [the authors] have produced an authoritative guide to the hardy, sturdy plant that nearly everybody seems to have at least a few of (some have hundreds)."—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, December 19, 2004 (Beth Botts Chicago Tribune )
"This well-illustrated encyclopedia contains color photographs of over 750 of the finest hosta varieties. Grenfell's hostas knowledge and Shadrack's striking photographs combine to make this the definitive volume."—M.S. Muskiewicz, Choice, September 2004 (M.S. Muskiewicz Choice )
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a great book for Hosta lovers. I like the way it is organized by color. It also has great info on their growth habit (ie, whether they get to their ultimate size quickly or slowly) and how to site the yellows for maximum color by telling how they form the yellow pigmentation, which is how much chlorophyll they inhibit. I also like how they tell you what hostas are similar. As any hosta afficionado knows,there are many hostas that are similar, so if you can't get the one you want you can try to find a similar one. The pictures are good, but as with any hosta photos it is hard to tell size from a photo alone, so you will have to read the narrative. If there is one hosta book you need, I think this is the best.
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is really an amazing book--the best of the hosta books I've seen. The copyright date is more recent than some other books, so it includes newer cultivars. The photos are wonderful, too--they capture the beauty, variety and, most importantly, the colors of the plants very well; photos are even provided for some of the more distinctive blooms.
The text at the beginning of the book is also a super resource. In-depth explanations of how hostas are classified/grouped, and defintions of the parts of a hosta plant are provided. For each photo, there is a nice write-up giving all the specifics about the plant.
I would highly recommend this book--well worth the money!
The text at the beginning of the book is also a super resource. In-depth explanations of how hostas are classified/grouped, and defintions of the parts of a hosta plant are provided. For each photo, there is a nice write-up giving all the specifics about the plant.
I would highly recommend this book--well worth the money!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Wow what a book, lots of information on every hosta! Very current names of what is available. Describes growth habit, size of mound, size, shape, color of each adult leaf, size and color of each flower. And lots more. Includes hosta care, planting, dividing, disease and prevention. This will be a valuable guide for years to come. If you are planing on planting hosta's get this encyclopedia first and make the righ choice for your planting site!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Color Encyclopedia of Hostas
The book is excellent for any Hosta lover. The illustrations were great and the information written was very educational for all readers, whether they were Master Gardeners or... Read more
Published on October 17, 2008 by Jam
Hostas, a bargain
This book is a valuable asset for every Hosta collector. Moreover, it is much cheaper than if I had bought it in Europe, where the price is 50 !
Thank you Amazon.com
Thank you Amazon.com
Published on August 18, 2008 by Robert De Bock
Hosta Lover
Beautiful photos, lots of info. Wish there was an updated version of this book with info on all the newer hosta varieties.
Published on December 1, 2007 by Cheryl C. Nazzaro
Wonderful Reference
I am thrilled with this book. I am highlighting the ones in my garden and several of my family and friends are using their own colors to highlight their hostas. Read more
Published on August 26, 2007 by Mrs. Shelia K. Thompson
Now I know.
A wonderfull reference book. I was finally able to identify some of my hosta's correctly. More important I now have a list of the ones I want.
Published on August 23, 2007 by James R. Kotche
an informative work but not an encyclopedia
The author makes a concerted effort to bring to you the vast numbers of hostas available today in a concise way. Read more
Published on July 22, 2007 by R. Beasley
Great Pictorial Reference
My husband and I love to collect hostas and although we have numerous varities, over the years we have failed to keep a record of the name and genus of the individual hosta. Read more
Published on July 9, 2007 by Alice
Great book!
Very informative, wonderful pictures, very useful when planning for the purchase or layout of a hosta garden! Read more
Published on July 3, 2007 by D
Terri Altherr
The Color Encyclopedia of Hostas is wonderful. A must for every Hosta lover.
GREAT photos and full of information!
I Love it!
GREAT photos and full of information!
I Love it!
Published on June 5, 2007 by Terri Altherr
The Color encyclopedia of Hostas
This is a wonderful book on hostas. I value the book so much that I talked our Garden Club into purchasing one for Presiden's Christmas gift.
Published on January 22, 2007 by Dina J. Braniff
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
HOSTAS ARE NATIVES OF THE FAR EAST, with their center of distribution being Japan. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Special Needs, Distinguishing Features, Tardiana Group, United States, Summers Distinguished Merit Hosta Award, Eric Smith, Walters Gardens, American Hosta Growers Association, Marginally Variegated Leaves, Named Hosta of the Year, Tiara Series, Kuk's Forest, Deep South, Clump Height, Hosta Blue, Pacific Northwest, Van Eijk-Bos, Van Erven New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
HOSTAS ARE NATIVES OF THE FAR EAST, with their center of distribution being Japan. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Special Needs, Distinguishing Features, Tardiana Group, United States, Summers Distinguished Merit Hosta Award, Eric Smith, Walters Gardens, American Hosta Growers Association, Marginally Variegated Leaves, Named Hosta of the Year, Tiara Series, Kuk's Forest, Deep South, Clump Height, Hosta Blue, Pacific Northwest, Van Eijk-Bos, Van Erven New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 18
books:
See all 18 books this book cites
1
book
cites this book:
- United Kingdom (Countries of the World) by Rob Bowden in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Don Quixote by Marcia Williams on page 342
- Robin Hood (New Method Supplementary Reader. Stage 1) in Back Matter
- Full Moon by Michael Light on page 162
- Risky Business (Zebra Bouquet) by Kensington on page 308
See all 18 books this book cites
- Timber Press Pocket Guide to Shade Perennials (Timber Press Pocket Guides) by W. George Schmid in Back Matter
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