This spectacular guidebook details most of the cultivated members of this intriguing family, from Banksia to Grevillea to Mimetes, not just the single genus Protea. The author's expertise and lifelong passion for proteas is clear in both the text descriptions and photographs accompanying these entries. Essential advice on cultivation, propagation, and garden uses helps readers in the pursuit of growing their own proteas, and a section on commercial cut flower production previews a future of exciting new varieties.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Otherworldly forms, head-turning hues, and amazing textures set apart the blooms of plants commonly known as proteas. Matthews leads readers to an understanding of the sort of tough environments and nutrient-poor conditions in which most proteas (members of the Proteaceae family) grow, being endemic by and large to Australia, Africa, or Central and South America. Gardeners wishing to take on the challenge of growing these unusual plants in their own gardens will profit from Matthews' decades of experience, translated here into savvy counsel on plant culture, and helpful suggestions for using proteas in the landscape. An encyclopedic listing covers a fascinating array of species and cultivated varieties, with each entry indicating critical details such as whether a plant is hardy or frost tender. In perfect partnership with Matthews' learned instruction, a wealth of photographs shows to perfection the beauty of protea flowers, from silken bracts to rarities sporting long spikes or tight cones. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
"Matthews has fulfilled a great need."
—Joanne S. Carpender, National Gardener, March 2003 (National Gardener )
"Offers outstanding color-illustrated descriptions of more than 250 taxa or cultivars that are in cultivation."
—Choice, January 2003 (Choice )
"Matthews has fulfilled a great need to identify these plants with beautiful photographs. The reader will be amazed at the number, beauty, size, and shape of these plants, and floral designers can find inspiration or grow a wider variety of them for distinguished and beautiful, long-lasting arrangements."
—Joanne S. Carpender, National Gardener, November 2002 (National Gardener )
—Joanne S. Carpender, National Gardener, March 2003 (National Gardener )
"Offers outstanding color-illustrated descriptions of more than 250 taxa or cultivars that are in cultivation."
—Choice, January 2003 (Choice )
"Matthews has fulfilled a great need to identify these plants with beautiful photographs. The reader will be amazed at the number, beauty, size, and shape of these plants, and floral designers can find inspiration or grow a wider variety of them for distinguished and beautiful, long-lasting arrangements."
—Joanne S. Carpender, National Gardener, November 2002 (National Gardener )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A book of beautiful flowers,
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This review is from: Protea Book: A Guide to Cultivated Proteaceae (Paperback)
This is the only readily available book on proteas, so my review is somewhat biased because of that. Proteas are a spectacular family of flowers that might be the next big thing in the cut flower industry, and when you see them for the first time, your jaw will drop. With its many colorful photos, this book shows the reader why these flowers deserve more attention. There is a wealth of pictures in "The Protea Book", and it deserves 4 stars just for that reason. Some of the photos are out of focus, but in general, they are of high quality. I wish that this book had offered more cultural guidelines and more details about the morphological structures of a protea flower. Also, some noteworthy species are only mentioned briefly or not covered at all. Instead, the author has chosen to focus on those species that show promise for commercial cultivation. Still, this is a very interesting book for horticultural enthusiasts. If you grow proteas or are looking for some amazing ideas for cut flowers, this is definitely a good book to buy.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Most of the best-known Proteaceae genera and species in both South Africa and Australia have adapted to relatively harsh environments that are often surprisingly arid and low in nutrients. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New Zealand, South Africa, Western Australia, New South Wales, Spring-summer Cut, Year-round Attracts, Autumn-winter Cut, United States, South Australia, West Australian, Spring-summer Attracts, Autumn-spring Attracts, New Caledonia, Summer-winter Attracts New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Most of the best-known Proteaceae genera and species in both South Africa and Australia have adapted to relatively harsh environments that are often surprisingly arid and low in nutrients. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New Zealand, South Africa, Western Australia, New South Wales, Spring-summer Cut, Year-round Attracts, Autumn-winter Cut, United States, South Australia, West Australian, Spring-summer Attracts, Autumn-spring Attracts, New Caledonia, Summer-winter Attracts New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 9
books:
See all 9 books this book cites
- The Proteas of southern Africa by John P Rourke in Back Matter
- Proteas of the World by Lewis Matthews in Back Matter
- Queen Victoria (Profiles) by Lesley Young on page 81
- Protea Growers Handbook by L. Matthews in Back Matter
- Field guide by Terry Collins in Back Matter
See all 9 books this book cites
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