Rhododendrons & Azaleas: A Colour Guide [Hardcover]

Kenneth Cox (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2005

Rhododendrons & Azaleas profiles over 4,000 varieties of this highly popular and striking plant. Illustrated with 1,100 color photographs, each entry includes a description of the plant and flower color; notes on hardiness, height and spread, and flowering time; advice on cultivation and proven performers; and the name of the parent plants, the raiser, and similar varieties. Practical advice is also given on rhododendrons in the landscape, maintenance and husbandry, pests, diseases, problems and disorders, propagation, and buying and collecting rhododendrons, along with a brief history and a guide to their classification.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kenneth Cox is grandson of plant-hunter, writer and nurseryman Euan Cox and son of Peter Cox VMH. The three generations were and are considered the world's leading experts on rhododendrons. Kenneth is author of six books on rhododendrons.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Crowood Press (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1861267843
• ISBN-13: 978-1861267849
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,178,456 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rhododendrons and Azaleas, March 8, 2007

By 

E. Thomas (SNOW HILL, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rhododendrons & Azaleas: A Colour Guide (Hardcover)

Without question, this is one of the best, most complete books detailing the growth and species of the rhododendron family. Every type of azalea and rhododendron you can think of is in this book. It's loaded with color photographs. This book is a must have for rhododendron or azalea growers. It also contains very useful information about cultivation.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Have for Rhodo lovers, April 9, 2008

By 

Carmel Niland (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rhododendrons & Azaleas: A Colour Guide (Hardcover)

If you are a rhododendron lover then buy this book. Kenneth Cox's expertise shines through his detailed and authorative book.The book answers all the frequently asked questions about rhododendron cultivation, propagation and maintenance. Its index is clear and accessible because, unlike most other plant books, it recognises that most gardeners want to find what they are looking for by using the registered or common name of a hybrid not by passing an exam in botanical classification.
It is a truly international book! Cox constantly demonstates a knowledge of new hybrids across world markets and records the idiosyncraticies of their breeders; he details international hardiness ratings, he recognises that the seasons vary from hemisphere to hemisphere and gives proven performances codes for where ever you live in the world. As an Australian, who is used to having to find appropriate information hidden in a foot note, this is very welcome.
Although his writing is technical, it is peppered with asides which give you the impression he is speaking to you frankly lightening the tedium of Latinised botanical terms. Cox also gives you his ten best hybrids and his ten worst together with the ten best of everything else on a great list page.
Pictures from his own garden and nursery at Glendoick in Scotland predominate and as a result you need to supplement his text with the excellent photo indexes available of the Americian Rhododendron Society to see illustrations of flowers not common in his climate.
Most reference books I use I get a few hours worth of help. After over 30 hours worth of use I am still going strong with this book and it will be many years before my expertise is sufficient to put it away on a shelf.

5.0 out of 5 stars Rhododendron Review, December 21, 2009

By 

Ginny Mapes "Pacific Northwest writer & educator" (Hillsboro, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rhododendrons & Azaleas: A Colour Guide (Hardcover)

A book on Rhododendrons and Azaleas describes in detail the plants including many of the newer hybrids. Concise descriptions with color photos enhance the pages. The author also lets the reader know specifically what he thinks. For example, this plant might belong in the "rubbish heap."