Garden Plants for Mediterranean Climates [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Graham Payne (Author), Hugh Johnson (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2002

The Mediterranean climate—with its long, warm summers and cool, wet winters—is ideal for growing a wide range of gorgeous plants. However, these plants can be enjoyed far beyond the Mediterranean—in both small and large gardens with similar climates or, in cooler regions, in conservatories. With sections on both general care and specific plants, Garden Plants for Mediterranean Climates will help you to choose and grow beautiful plants and create a garden suited to your needs. The book includes an introduction to the Mediterranean climate and points to consider when planning a garden; advice on watering and soil care; a look at the features of a Mediterranean garden, including palms, pots, and containers, climbing plants, and pergolas; an A–Z of over 1,000 plants; a cross-reference of English common names with botanical plant names; and 500 color photos.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The Mediterranean climate—with its long, warm summers and cool, wet winters—is ideal for growing a wide range of gorgeous plants. However, these plants can be enjoyed far beyond the Mediterranean—in both small and large gardens with similar climates or, in cooler regions, in conservatories. With sections on both general care and specific plants, Garden Plants for Mediterranean Climates will help you to choose and grow beautiful plants and create a garden suited to your needs. The book includes: an introduction to the Mediterranean climate and points to consider when planning a garden; advice on watering and soil care; a look at the features of a Mediterranean garden, including palms, pots and containers, climbing plants, and pergolas, as well as ideas on which plants to use where; an A–Z of over 1,000 plants; a cross–reference of English common names with botanical plant names; a detailed glossary of terms; and 500 color photos.

About the Author

From his early childhood Graham Payne had a great passion for gardening. After training in horticulture, Graham followed a career as a gardener. He became Head Gardener of Jesus College, Cambridge where he oversaw 27 acres of intensively managed gardens as well as 50 other properties. He has now retired to southern Europe.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Crowood Press; illustrated edition edition (December 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1861265484
• ISBN-13: 978-1861265487
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,483,772 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing and irresponsible, January 30, 2010

By 

Daffodil Jones (northern California boonies) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Garden Plants for Mediterranean Climates (Paperback)

I had high hopes for this book. I enjoyed the introductory narrative, but was horrified to see included in the encyclopedia of recommended plants several terrible weeds, with only a casual mention their possible invasive tendencies. Examples include giant reed (Arundo donax), brooms (Cytisus spp.), tree of heaven (Ailanthus), tamarisk (Tamarix spp.)--just these four plants have caused many millions of dollars' damage to wildlands in California alone. It's unconscionable that a book this recently written would still be recommending planting these.
Putting the weed issue aside, as a home gardener in a Mediterranean climate with winter freezes and very very hot summers, I was looking for plants new to me that might be suitable for my climate. I was again disappointed; the information given in the plant descriptions only occasionally mentioned frost or heat tolerance, and the author does not use a zone ranking (USDA, Sunset, or other) that would impart some of this information.
I have no further use for this book; unfortunately, given its flaws, I don't even want to give it away.

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I wanted, April 19, 2010

By 

Humphrey Taylor - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Garden Plants for Mediterranean Climates (Paperback)

I have a garden in Greece and I was looking for a comprehensive list of bushes shrubs and trees ( and plants) that thrive there , are easy to grow and do not need much water. This book provides just what I need.
Humphrey T.