Agaves, Yuccas, and Related Plants: A Gardener's Guide [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

~ Gary Irish (Author), Mary F. Irish (Author) "Botanists currently assign agaves, yuccas, and their relatives to two families, the Agavaceae and the Nolinaceae..." (more)
Key Phrases: bud imprint, horny border, leaf filaments, United States, New Mexico, North America (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A wealth of information on the cultivation and gardening uses of Agave and Yucca." -- SciTech Book News, September 2000

"The enthusiasm of the two authors shines through and should bring many converts to these formidable plants." -- Gordon Rowley, The Garden, January 2001

"This volume is packed with both information and inspiration." -- The Amateur's Digest, August 2000

"You're in for a treat...Full of interesting tidbits and in-depth growing information." -- Phoenix Home & Garden, , November 2000

"A useful and authoritative new reference."—William May, American Gardener, January/February 2001 (William May American Gardener )

"An excellent introduction to this delightful group ...Mary and Gary Irish have produced a book that will be an invaluable reference for the enthusiast and a source of inspiration for those not yet familiar with these useful and beautiful plants."—Dean Kelch, Pacific Horticulture, Winter 2001 (Dean Kelch Pacific Horticulture )

"This is a must-read for lovers of these spectacular plants ... well-organized, friendly, inviting."—Lauren Springer Ogden, Horticulture, October 2004 (Lauren Springer Ogden Horticulture )

A useful and authoritative new reference.William May, American Gardener, January/February 2001 (American Gardener )

An excellent introduction to this delightful group ...Mary and Gary Irish have produced a book that will be an invaluable reference for the enthusiast and a source of inspiration for those not yet familiar with these useful and beautiful plants.Dean Kelch, Pacific Horticulture, Winter 2001 (Pacific Horticulture )

This is a must-read for lovers of these spectacular plants ... well-organized, friendly, inviting.Lauren Springer Ogden, Horticulture, October 2004 (Horticulture )

Product Description

Writing for gardeners who need specific information on these wonderful plants, Mary and Gary Irish provide detailed guidance on care, cultivation, and gardening uses. In addition, amateur naturalists will be pleased to note that the botanical history of the plants is given a succinct overview; complete keys are provided to help identify agaves and yuccas relying on foliage and growth form. Sixty-five species of agaves and twenty-five species of yuccas are profiled, together with information on natural habitat and garden care. Selected plants from nine other genera also are described. More than 100 color photographs and 18 drawings complement the text.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press, Incorporated (May 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881924423
• ISBN-13: 978-0881924428
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #384,485 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific resource, June 12, 2000

By	Jennifer Orf (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews

I am the librarian at the Desert Botanical Garden and this book has been a tremendous addition to our collection. I have only had it for two weeks and have already used it several times to answer reference questions. The photos are wonderful and the index is extensive. What sets this book apart from all the rest, however, is the clear and succinct format used to describe each plant. Each reference includes the botanical name, synonyms, common names, descriptions of the size, leaves, blooms, distribution, propagation, cultural requirements, similar or related species, and uses. Mary and Gary Irish have created an invaluable resource for anyone interested in agaves, yuccas and related plants.

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Agaves, Yuccas, and Related Plants : A Gardener's Guide, June 12, 2000

By A Customer

This book fills a real gap in information for gardeners interested in agaves, yuccas, and similar plants, such as hesperaloes. I haven't found any other book that lists so many species of these plants AND has photographs of each. The text has extensive information for both identifying and growing these plants, whereas many books on plants will emphasize one aspect or the other. In other words, this book would be useful for botanists as well as gardeners and horticulturalists.

There is also some useful information on the cold hardiness and adaptability of these plants to wetter climates. Some experimental gardeners on the east coast of the U.S. may find the minimum temperature limits listed for some plants to be a little conservative. However, the horticultural information on growing these plants, more than makes up for that.

All around, this is a very good book and would be of interest to anyone interested in growing or identifying agaves, yuccas, and similar plants.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Book, December 17, 2005

By	No one (No where) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This is the book to have if you are interested in growing agaves, and yuccas particularly if you have an interest in growing them as landscape plants and want to know how hardy a particular species is likely to be. It has rapidly become the Bible for growers of these plants.