Foliage: Astonishing Color and Texture Beyond Flowers [Paperback]

Nancy J. Ondra (Author), Rob Cardillo (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 28, 2007

Velvety or rough, silver or chartreuse, saw-toothed or scalloped -- foliage can be the star of your garden. This comprehensive guide describes the features and requirements of dozens of leafy plants, each one perfect for mixing and matching with flowers and ornamental grasses in vivid home landscapes. Handsomely illustrated with hundreds of full-color photographs, Foliage will inspire you to look at leaves with fresh eyes. Winner of the 2008 American Horticultural Society Book Award.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Ondra posits that gardens based only on blooms leave something to be desired, but foliage adds visual interest no matter what the season or the weather. The qualities that make foliage attractive are essentially the same as those that apply to flowers: shape, size, texture, and color. Ondra explains how to create attractive combinations, how to plant and grow them, and how to control diseases and pests. Organized by color and texture, each chapter illustrates the features and requirements of dozens of plants, all selected for the unique appeal of their leaves. The author describes their heights, leaf size, and whether they require sun or shade. This informative guide is filled with sumptuous color photographs by Cardillo. George Cohen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“Nancy J. Ondra's new book … is a great marriage of plant expertise, easy-to-understand prose and heart-stopping, gorgeous photographs by Rob Cardillo. As I flipped through the pages of my copy -- which I had waited for anxiously -- I realized that I would never look at foliage in the same way. “

Chicago Sun-Times

“Ondra [has] armed me with a wealth of information and stunning visuals, making it easy to step out of my comfort zone and take the garden to another dimension.”

– Chicago Sun-Times

“Chock-full of color photographs, "Foliage" shows the palette of possibilities available.”

Las Vegas Review-Journal

“Foliage is a must-have book for anyone who wants to expand their horticultural horizons!”

Fran Sorin, CBS Radio

"...loaded with great images of some of the latest, greatest varieties, it's the garden book you're most likely to drool over."

Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot News

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; 1 edition (March 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580176488
• ISBN-13: 978-1580176484
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 9.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #638,520 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful!!!!, January 23, 2008

By 

Gardener in VA (VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Foliage (Hardcover)

This is wonderful! Lots of nice photos and actual names of cultivars of plants pictured (can't say that about a lot of books) Organized by foliage texture type, color, etc. Latest and greatest cultivars mentioned. A keeper for sure...my boss and co-workers are all rushing out to get a copy

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every Gardener Should Own This Book, April 25, 2010

By 

D. C. Duggan (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Foliage: Astonishing Color and Texture Beyond Flowers (Paperback)

This book has been like a Bible to me when choosing plants for my garden. I am always searching for plants with a variety of colors and textures of foliage to create interest in the garden throughout the season. The book is organized by color of foliage and plant requirements. You can, for example, look up chartreuse plants that would grow well in shady conditions. There are also photos to illustrate most of the plants mentioned. The book is as beautiful to look at as it is a useful reference.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book, October 3, 2011

By 

M. Lane "M.Lane" (Atlanta) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Foliage: Astonishing Color and Texture Beyond Flowers (Paperback)

At first I was slightly disappointed with this book because I thought it would have more examples of foliage gardens and landscape plans. However, I love this book for its large pages and bright color photographs of the leaves. It's garden porn. It's an encyclopedia of foliage plants. It describes the plant and hybrid name. One wish is that it would have keys to describe the plant requirements, zones, and to which continent it's native. I loved it once I got used to the idea of what it was and could peruse it for hours.