Lavender: The Grower's Guide [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Virginia McNaughton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2000

With their heady perfume and stunning visual appeal, lavenders have been prized by gardeners since ancient times. Lavender is a truly comprehensive study that enables the reader to research and identify more than 200 lavender species and varieties. With chapters on cultivation, propagation, pests and diseases, and botanical history, this book is as practical as it is authoritative. More than 200 photos document recent advances in color variation that have resulted from intense breeding; plants now available range from deep purple and lilac to white, cream, pink, and red-violet. With so many hardy and dependable plants to choose from, no lavender enthusiast will want to be without this indispensable book.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"For lavender enthusiasts, this book serves as an authoritative botanical reference ... a handsome, worthwhile, well–researched book."
—Lynn Hunt, Fine Gardening, July/August 2001 (Fine Gardening )

"The definitive text on this easy–to–grow plant."
—Joel M. Lerner, Washington Post, April 28, 2001 (The Washington Post )

"Serious gardeners are certain to value this comprehensive reference."
—Country Living Gardener, January/February 2001 (Country Living Gardener )

Book Description

More than 200 lavender species & cultivars are described in detail, enabling gardeners to decipher the intricacies of lavender identification.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press (May 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881924784
• ISBN-13: 978-0881924787
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #819,786 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

102 of 105 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars not the book I hoped for, March 9, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lavender: The Grower's Guide (Hardcover)

The author, Virginia McNaughton, is a botanist, and this book is lavender from a botanist's point of view. Her descriptions of each variety are long on botanical terminology and measurements, and short on information that would help gardeners choose and grow lavender.

Here is an example of an entry, this one for Lavendula angustifolia 'Maillette': A medium plant (60-70cm) of bushy habit with semi-open, mid-green foliage. Penduncles are long (18-25cm), mid-green and upright. There are usually medium-stemmed laterals terminated with one to three flowers. Spikes are long(12-18cm), cylindric and mostly evenly interrupted, with the base whorl 1-7cm below the main spike. Fertile bracts are large and quite long. Bracteoles are thin (1-2 mm). Corollas are violet-blue (93C), calyces are finely pubescent and green, with the upper half dark violet (86A). A very attractive cultivar raised in France and introduced by Pierre Grosso, 'Maillette' is suitable for ornamental, fragrant and oil purposes.

The first section of the book is useful, with information on propagation, pruning, and diseases. But that is only the first 20 pages. The rest of the book consists of descriptions like the above.

Also the author lives in New Zealand, and there is no information on growing lavender in the various climates of the United States.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LAVENDERS GALORE, July 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Lavender: The Grower's Guide (Hardcover)

AT LAST SOME HAS WRITTEN A DEFINITIVE BOOK ABOUT LAVENDERS AND THEIR GROWTH. YES, THIS IS A TECHNICAL BOOK BUT EVEN THE NON BOTANY LOVERS WILL FIND IT EASY TO USE. VARIETIES ARE NAMED, ALONG WITH ALL THEIR OTHER NAMES, PICTURED AND EXPLAINED. AFTER READING THIS YOU KNOW WHY GROSSO AND DILLY DILLY LOOK ALIKE. THIS IS A GREAT REFERENCE BOOK AND THE COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS MAKE IT AN IDEAL COFFEE TABLE BOOK. IF LAVENDER HANDICRAFTS ARE YOUR THING, THIS IS NOT THE BOOK FOR YOU

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lavender: the grower's guide, May 23, 2000

By 

Lucinda dePaulis (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lavender: The Grower's Guide (Hardcover)

From the cover photo to the bibliography many of the questions I had about lavender were answered. Ms. McNaughton explained the different parts of the lavender plant with very clear language and photographs. I found the diversity of color and size captivating and inspiring. The author covered the many sections and cultivars of lavender clearly and in a logical order that was easy to follow. This is a book for the person who wants to have more in-depth knowledge of lavender's identification and diversity. You will be inspired to expand your garden from the more common purples to pinks and whites in various hues. I have several books written about lavender, but this book has become a most welcome and valuable addition.