Perennials: The Definitive Reference With Over 2,500 Photographs [Hardcover]

Roger Phillips (Author), Martyn Rix (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 2008

Indispensible

More than ten years in the making, Perennials is the most comprehensive guide available to these popular plants. It includes descriptions of over 2,500 types of perennials, each variety described in detail and illustrated with a handsome color photograph.

After three decades of collaboration, Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix continue to expand their plant collections and hone their knowledge. Perennials includes expert information on:

• Cultivation and propagation
• Plant origins
• Natural planting associations
• Flowering times for every phase of the growing season
• Combinations for borders, island beds, meadow gardens
• Sedges, grasses, hostas and ferns
• Sources, gardens to visit around the world, and further readings.

With a wide variety of old favorites and an exciting selection of rarities, Perennials is widely recognized as the indispensable and inspiring reference for color and variety for all sites and soil conditions.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Just in time for planting season, two sources arrive from Firefly that include more than 1,000 photographs identifying and cataloguing almost all flowering plants. Annuals are "plants that germinate, flower, set seed and die all within a single year while biennials germinate one year and usually flower the next after spending a dormant winter." Perennials produce seed for future generations and bloom year after year. The nature photographers and horticulturists provide for each plant a brief background and describe the typical combinations to be found in various types of settings, such as north European subalpine meadows, New Zealand tussocked grasslands and Himalayan wet meadows. Typical listings begin with botanical names, original locations, where they are found and complete descriptions. Photos in actual locations and specimens on neutral backgrounds identify the great variety included. Main selection of Garden Book Club. (Apr.)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Although this outstanding horticultural work is just appearing in Canada and the U.S., it was published previously in Great Britain in 1991 as the two-volume set, Early Perennials and Late Perennials.

Perennials includes about 2,500 plants commonly found in temperate zone gardens but hardy enough to withstand winters without shelter. Alpine, rock garden, and desert plants and succulents have been omitted. The are grouped by families within each season or flowering time (spring, early summer, midsummer, late summer and autumn).

The decidedly British tone and references to the Royal Horticultural Society in no way alter the universal scope or content of the title, which features small type and large, clear photographic layouts. That this book is geared for the more sophisticated gardener is evidenced by the practice of listing all plants by their Latin scientific names (genus and habitat) with occasional use of common names. Country of origin, natural habitat, physical characteristics, and leaf and petal measurements (in metrics) are given for every entry. Photographs have scientific labels. Sketchy but adequate propagation information appears. Horticultural associations, specific gardens to visit, hardiness zone charts, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index complete the title.

Though novices seeking detailed planting and care instructions need more basic guides, experienced horticulturalists will welcome this volume. Where the earlier British edition is owned, the new one need not be purchased. Otherwise, it will be an important addition, especially where detailed scientific flora encyclopedias are needed. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Firefly Books (February 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1552096416
• ISBN-13: 978-1552096413
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #318,785 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Encyclopedic reference book, March 20, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Perennials: The Definitive Reference With Over 2,500 Photographs (Hardcover)

This book is an exhaustive encyclopedia of perennial plants grouped into three sections by their blooming time - spring, summer and autumn. It has beautiful pictures of each plant, with a number of varieties of each type included and pictured. I do not think, however, that it is a book for those who are new to gardening or who want to learn more about gardening with perennials. The plants are listed by their Latin names only, with no reference whatsoever to their common names. It therefore makes the book quite useless for someone who wants to look up or identify a plant and is not familiar with the Latin name. Basically, this lovely book is more of a dictionary or encyclopedia of plants, rather than a gardening guide or how-to. And although beautiful to look through, and a good and thorough reference for those well versed in perennials, it is not helpful as a gardening book for someone who is looking for more gardening and plant guidance.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars my copy is falling apart, so I'm reordering new edition, June 8, 2008

By 

Balsamfir (Mountains) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Perennials: The Definitive Reference With Over 2,500 Photographs (Paperback)

This is my all time favorite garden book. It is a reference book for people interested in propagating plants from compatible climates, a photo reference to mature plants and, since there are many photos of gardens within, a visual inspiration. It is not a beginners how to, but contains an enormous amount of useful information if the reader is at all experienced. The writers don't discuss temperature hardiness based on the Zone system, but in minimum temps. centigrade, and since they are British they don't pretend much knowledge of cold climates; the reader needs to think about their own climate in relation to other world climates in order to get the most from this book. The book is packed with excellent photos, and the information on growing preferences, moisture, origins in the wild is invaluable. Based on this, I've tried successfully many plants not supposed to grow here. It is the first book I grab when thinking about a plant, and as I mention above, I've loved it to death. I highly recommend for plant collectors, and experienced or ambitious gardeners.