Encyclopedia of Perennials: A Gardener's Guide [Hardcover]

Christopher Woods (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-- Alphabetically arranged by botanical name, the half page devoted to each plant provides the requirements to cultivate and propagate, the landscape use, and a closeup colorful photograph. The writing is clear and easily understood by those who have some background in this area. A good selection for schools in which horticulture is taught.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Now horticulturist at Chanticleer, a garden in Pennsylvania, Woods was born in England, where he trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and managed three major gardens. His knowledge of plants and of growing conditions on both sides of the Atlantic give this work both authority and practicality for American gardeners. The arrangement is alphabetical by genus, from Acaena to Zantedeschia , with 366 entries in all. Each genus is listed by Latin and common name and family and described by physical characteristics, and notes on cultivation, landscape use, and propagation, followed by paragraph-length descriptions of the major species and their forms. The latter range from one species (and one variety), as with Arundo (Giant Reed), to Aster , with 20 species and over 50 subspecies, color forms, and varieties. One or more small color photos are included with most genera, showing representative species or varieties. Hardiness is indicated by reference to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness Map (1960). Written in clear, nontechnical language, this book is a browser's joy, suitable for both the novice and the sophisticated gardener. Although it is expensive, its layout, binding, paper, and photos are all of the highest quality. This book will find an appreciative audience in public libraries, given the continuing popularity of perennials. It is to be favored over Graham Stuart Thomas's authoritative but British-oriented Perennial Garden Plants (Sagapress, 1990).
- Richard Shotwell, Berkshire Botanical Garden, Stockbridge, Mass.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Checkmark Books (March 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816020922
• ISBN-13: 978-0816020928
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,839,925 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book has information on seemingly every perennial, October 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Perennials: A Gardener's Guide (Hardcover)

Each time I need information about a perennial, I find this book has a listing for that plant. I can't say that about any other perennial reference book that I have used.

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite source of information about perennials!, January 25, 2006

By 

J.Z. (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Perennials: A Gardener's Guide (Hardcover)

Anyone who loves perennial plants should own at least one perennial plant encyclopedia. I highly recommend this 'Encyclopedia of Perennials' by Christopher Woods. This book does not concentrate on pictures, although there are enough photographs to give you an idea of what at least one plant species in each genus looks like.

The listing for each plant genus includes information about cultivation, landscape use, and propagation. After each genus listing, the book offers a wealth of information about the many plant species within each genus of plants. Information for each species includes the common name, the plant's origin, height and spread, description, and zone hardiness. Many cultivars (cultivated varieties of a species of plant) are also listed and described.

As an example, after the general information about Penstemon, seven species are listed and described. One of the species entries reads:
"P. digitalis. Eastern United States. Height 3 ft; spread 2 ft (90 x 60 cm). An erect, clump-forming plant native to open meadows, with elliptic to broadly lance-shaped basal leaves becoming narrower and smaller up on the flower stem. Spikes of bell-shaped, white flowers sometimes flushed pink are produced in early summer. This is a variable species. 'Husker Red' has purple-red leaves, red stems, and white-flushed purple flowers and is a highly desirable cultivar. In general, this species and its cultivar are far easier to grow in hot and humid climates than their western relatives. Zones 3 - 9."

I enjoy the author's style. Christopher Woods provides no-nonsense descriptions, such as his warning about the Houttuynia: "An effective but sometimes ugly groundcover for wet sites, where it can become almost impossible to eradicate. Be warned!"

I have found 'Encyclopedia of Perennials' to be an excellent source of information. More than once, it has prevented me from purchasing a plant with which I would not be happy, and it has also encouraged me to seek out plants that otherwise, I would have passed by!