Variegated Trees and Shrubs: The Illustrated Encyclopedia [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Ronald Houtman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2004

Once the subject of snobbery and derision, variegated plants are now among the more sought-after and collected treasures of garden connoisseurs. Whether marbled, dotted, splashed, or veined, variegated foliage never fails to catch the eye and to add excitement whatever the flowering season. Variegated Trees and Shrubs (which includes woody ground covers and vines as well) fills an important gap in the literature and provides valuable information on selections that provide long-lasting specimen and accent plantings for years of garden pleasure. Written under the sponsorship of the Netherlands' prestigious Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society, this book describes in detail nearly 800 variegated trees, shrubs, and vines available internationally from nurseries. Painstaking in the accuracy of its nomenclature — variegated plants are notorious for being misnamed in commerce — this volume also includes a scientific discussion of the reasons for variegation as well as an essay on how to design with variegated plants in any garden. More than 760 garden photographs have been assembled from the author's collection and from contributors around the world.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Not so long ago, variegated leaves were disliked, but no more. Today the passionate attachment gardeners have for yellow spots, colorful stripes, and creamy splashes seems boundless. A plant breeder in the Netherlands and all-around expert in the field of horticulture, Houtman brings a trained eye and keen understanding of variegation to this beautifully illustrated compendium of woody plants. By devoting an entire encyclopedia exclusively to a trove of variegated cultivars and species, Houtman provides professionals and avid gardeners with a stimulating selection of garden specimens to choose from, whether it's a shrub to lighten up a shady area or a stunning tree as one element in an interesting composition with denser green foliage plants. Bevies of plants just starting to show up in nursery catalogs or beginning to appear at garden centers are included here, making Houtman's effort invaluable to anyone needing to stay current. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Sure to tempt even the most diehard of gardeners."
—Valerie Easton, Seattle Times, September 8, 2004 (Seattle Times )

"I practically guarantee that you'll be blissfully overwhelmed by the striking beauty and number of varigated plants — from deciduous to evergreen and groundcovers to towering conifers. Up it goes onto my reference shelf."
—Susan Crittenden, Dig: The Magazine for Northwest Gardeners, May 2005 (Dig: The Magazine for Northwest Gardeners )

"This is a well-written book worthy of placement in any lbrary."
—James H. Flynn Jr., American Reference Books Annual, 2005 (American Reference Books Annual )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 340 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press; First Edition edition (September 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881926493
• ISBN-13: 978-0881926491
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,379,402 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not perfect, but a welcome addition to the literature., September 11, 2004

By 

Jonathan M. Lehrer (NY/CT, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Variegated Trees and Shrubs: The Illustrated Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

The legion of plant enthusiasts that prizes showy foliage -- especially that which is striped, splattered, spotted or stippled -- has swelled greatly in recent years. Collectors of such mutants are frequently frustrated, however, by the lack of consistency concerning nomenclature and the sparse literature that addresses these special plants. For this reason it is clear this book would be embraced by hobbyists and professionals even if it was rife with errors and omissions. Thankfully, the situation is not so dire. High quality pictures supplement the alphabetical cultivar descriptions. The author should be applauded for the research time invested in determining the origin and true identity of many of the plants he covers. The supplemental essays on topics such as the origin of variegation are also useful. Despite these positive attributes, the book nonetheless suffers from a sharp focus on European (and especially Dutch) cultivars to the exclusion of many American introductions. Even when U.S. plants are discussed, the information is sometimes incomplete. While such bias is perhaps understandable given the author's nationality and position, these gaps detract from the book's quality. The content is so unique, however, that these faults should not prevent potential buyers from adding this tome to their library.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not only definitive, but attractive with its large size, November 10, 2004

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Variegated Trees and Shrubs: The Illustrated Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

Ronald Houtman is secretary of the Trials Committee of the Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society in the Netherlands. This encyclopedic work has more than 760 sharp color photos enabling the reader to distinguish the numerous kinds of variegated trees and shrubs, many of which have gained popularity with modern gardeners. More than 800 varieties are catalogued with special attention given to their correct names, which are often confused by greenhouses and other places selling types of them. Short sections on the hundreds of trees and shrubs also describe them to go along with the photographs and note favorable areas of growth and problems arising from planting in an improper place. An introductory chapter by W. M. van Nicrop, another member of Houtman's Dutch horticultural group, discusses "Using Variegated Plants in a Garden." Variegated Trees And Shrubs: The Illustrated Encyclopedia is not only definitive, but attractive with its large size, glossy pages, and hundreds of fine, useful color photographs. For many gardeners, landscape architects, botanists, and the like, this will be the only text they want or need in this area of plants.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book remains on top of my shelf!, February 23, 2010

By 

christie colla (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Variegated Trees and Shrubs: The Illustrated Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

This book is full of the most beautiful plants; half of them "must haves"!
I have had it for years, but it has not left my top shelf!

If you are looking for special plants, not the ones *all* of your neighbours have, this is the book for you.

Some of the trees ( for example a variegated Hawthorn) are impossible to find here, but it is good to know such a tree is out there :-)

It keeps me dreaming about these plants, in a garden of the future, when I have enough room for several more trees!

Whole heartedly recommend!