The Color Encyclopedia of Hostas [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Diana Grenfell (Author), Michael Shadrack (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2004

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.

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.

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 )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 408 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press (April 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881926183
• ISBN-13: 978-0881926187
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #931,750 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Color Encyclopedia of Hostas, September 30, 2005

By 

L. Michaelis - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Color Encyclopedia of Hostas (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:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best hosta book around, August 10, 2005

By 

KublaiKhan (Rockford IL, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Color Encyclopedia of Hostas (Hardcover)

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!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hosta's knowing your, July 10, 2006

By 

Brenda Chauvin "Master Gardener" (Maine, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Color Encyclopedia of Hostas (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!