American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Garden Plants (Hardcover)

by Christopher Brickell (Editor), John Elsley (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
If they can afford it, libraries should have both editions of this invaluable one-volume reference. For gardeners seeking the right plant for the right place but with no knowledge of the specific name, the 1989 title arranges its catalog of 8000 plants not alphabetically by name but by season and color. It starts with color photos and descriptions of large trees, separating them by seasonal interest and by color within each season. It does the same for smaller trees, then for shrubs, climbers, perennials, annuals, rock plants, bulbs, and succulents. Expanding its coverage to over 15,000 plants, the 1997 encyclopedia is organized alphabetically, making it an ideal reference for patrons who want to know what a particular plant looks like, how it grows, and its hardiness zones. Its descriptions of popular plant species, like Narcissus, Primula, and Rhododendron, are a real strength.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
An essential source for all gardeners and plant lovers. Its 400-page plant catalog describes and illustrates in full color 4,000 species and varieties of plants.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 608 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (November 16, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0025579207
• ISBN-13: 978-0025579200
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 9.4 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #720,827 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fabulous research book, February 4, 2000

By	cleo pirtle "cleo pirtle, organic grower" (Bellingham,Wa. USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

as a l;andscape designer, this book shows not only when plants flower, their silouhette and height, but the width, which no other resource book gives. I use it for all my design classes and my students love how clear and precise everything is. Wonderful garden book.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 8000 plant descriptions! 4000 photos! A bargain at $50., August 7, 1996

By A Customer

In one volume, the AHS Encyclopedia manages to cover 8000 plant varieties, 4000 of them with color photos. This is by far the best way of getting a comprehensive directory of garden plants at a reasonable price. For each plant, it gives basic information such as size, color, season of bloom, cold tolerance, etc. and often considerably more information about cultural conditions, propagation, and the like.

It is not perfect. For instance, its information on shade, water, and pH requirements is sketchy and sometimes conflicts with other sources I've consulted. But it is very good.

In all, this is a far better deal than getting multiple volumes of the Taylor's Guides, although for those who want more information the RHS Dictionary ($800) is more complete and those who want more photos of each plant the Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix series (Random House) is richer.

Perhaps someday soon the RHS Dictionary and the AHS Encyclopedia (which is based on the RHS Encyclopedia) will be available in CD-ROM. Until then, this paper volume has far broader coverage than any CD-ROM collection I've seen so far.

5.0 out of 5 stars Later editions aren't the same, June 21, 2008

By	Paul Kerr - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What makes the first edition the best book of its kind is that it organizes plants by how they are used in landscaping (e.g., hedges and shrubs), then by color. So you determine what you want to do with the plants and how you want them to look, and it lists all of your choices with great color photos as well as height and width info.

You'll have to buy a used copy to get the original organization model. Later editions list plants alphabetically, which is pretty much useless.