The Garden Plants of China [Import] [Hardcover]

P. Valder (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press; 1St Edition edition (1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0297825496
• ISBN-13: 978-0297825494
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful photographs, great historical info, February 12, 2000

By 

Angel Lee "Liocorno Amethyst Moonstone" (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Garden Plants of China (Hardcover)

This is a fabulous, beautifully photographed, survey of the decorative plants native to China. The book opens with details of China's rich horticultural heritage and the role of plants in Chinese culture.

Further chapters are broken down by type of plant. These include bamboos, fruit trees, orchids, roses, chrysanthemums, aquatic plants and more. Items both familiar and exotic to the western gardener will be found here.

Many specific varieties are described in each chapter, with Latin, Chinese and common names. History, native habitat, and uses for each plant are described.

The photography is outstanding with several close-up color photos on each page. There is also a nice smattering of old botanical illustrations and Chinese art. I highly recommend this book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Garden Book of the Year, December 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Garden Plants of China (Hardcover)

This is a beautifully produced and immensely readable work of considerable scholarship . Its subject matter is intriguing and the author writes in a style where one finds oneself going quickly from one section to another. The wonderful photography certainly enhances the text. My views would seem to have been borne out by the recent decision of the British Gardens Writers Guild who have just awarded it the Reference Garden Book of the Year. I'm sure this will become the standard reference work for this engrossing subject for many years to come. I highly recommend it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful presentation for horticultural collections., April 5, 2000

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Garden Plants of China (Hardcover)

400 pages and over four hundred color photos pack an in-depth examination of plants used in Chinese gardens for ornamental purposes. Listings appear using both Latin and common names and Chinese names, presenting the history, myths, horticultural information and uses of the plants. A beautiful presentation recommended for horticulture collections.