Customer Reviews

Wisterias: A Comprehensive Guide

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The author is clearly an authority on the vine (or tree or shrub...), but I found the book overflowing with the history of each variety with little information or advice on how to grow. I reviewed the book again today as I went out to prune my wisteria and couldn't even find the work "prune" or "pruning" in the index! It's a beautiful history book with lovely pictures but far from a "how-to" guide, if that's what you're looking for. Perhaps I didn't look closely enough at the book's description before purchasing!

Peter Valder has done a wonderful service in sorting out the confusion that surrounds wisteria varieties. He has written what appears to be the first book on the genus in a European language. It is a splendid account of both the history and the genus Wisteria the result of much painstaking research. His findings have been have been taken up by the Royal Horticultural Society. The book is beautifully written with superb photographs. I and others regard it as a minor classic. Should be on every gardener's bookshelf along with his more recent magnificent "Garden Plants Of China".

As a lay home gardener I found this book to be a bit on the academic side. It seems to be written with Wisteria connoisseurs in mind. However, I did find the Wisteria history to be interesting. And, the pictures are definitely worth taking a look at. The photos showing Wisterias being used in different growing situations was very helpful.

The list of individual Wisterias was helpful to me in selecting a good cultivar for my particular site. After reading the section on care and training, though, I would have to disagree with the author that Wisteria's aren't that much work. To me they appear to be quite a gardening commitment.

I know of no other book vailable that is as comprehensive a treatment of wisterias. It is a must for any wisteria lover.

i thought the book was great only problem ,, im trying to find some of the wisterias in book to incorporate into my garden and cant find them anywhere ... im looking for Kunichi Beni Royal Purple and Macrobotrys // if anyone knows where to purchase these J. wisterias id appreciate a email . thanks

don't spend money on this book! Spend it on something else.