Flora: A Gardener's Encyclopedia 2 volume set , vol 1 A-K vol 2 L-Z

Following some introductory material on hardiness zones and plant nomenclature, the pages are filled with descriptions of 20,000 plants accompanied by 10,000 color photographs. There are entries from all plant groups--trees, shrubs, bulbs, herbs, fruits, vegetables, grasses, etc. They are arranged alphabetically by botanic name and include distinguishing features, commercial use, propagation, and cultivation. Individual species follow with common name, growth habit, flower color, hardiness zone, and width and height. The majority of the plants are cultivated (not wild) and grow in temperate climates. Starred species are those recommended by the consultants.

Many of the pages are more than half-filled with color pictures of various sizes from all over the world--Chile, Namibia, Nepal, Puerto Rico. The great number of species that are in existence is illustrated by 17 pages of irises, 24 pages of camellias, 59 pages of rhododendrons, and 68 pages of roses. Since the plants are listed by genus, it is necessary to use the index to find the common name. However, varieties are in the index only as a subheading of the genus; the "Peace" rose, for example, is listed as Rosa "Peace." A small glossary and full-page spreads illustrating leaf, fruit, and flower types complete the work. An accompanying CD-ROM enables a gardener to choose plants by group, hardiness zone, flower, color, and flowering season. For 50 plants, a moving illustration shows the change of seasons on the plant.

Several American Horticulture Society publications are comparable. The American Horticultural Society A to Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants (DK, 1997), with 15,000 entries and 6,000 small colored photos, is not as complete. A 2003 revision of the American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers [RBB My 1 03] contains a "Plant Catalog" and also provides step-by-step suggestions for creating different garden designs. Librarians and gardeners will need to look at their budgets before deciding how many plant reference sources are needed, but Flora certainly is a beautiful and comprehensive encyclopedia for the serious gardener. RBB
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Product Review
"Deserving a good foot of space on any home library's reference shelf." -- Jane Garmey, Town & Country, November 2003

"Talk about a magnum opus. . . . A two-volume work containing exhaustive information on over 20,000 plants with more than 10,000 photos." -- Publisher's Weekly

"The information contained in these 1,584 pages and accompanying CD-ROM is truly admirable." -- Kym Pokorny, The Oregonian, November 13, 2003

"You'll refer to 'Flora' more often than any other gardening book on your shelves." -- Valerie Easton, The Seattle Times Magazine, November 2, 2003

"A candy store for gardeners. Imagine having thousands of the world's gardening gems alphabetically at your fingertips with clear, concise descriptions, and beautiful photographs of flowers, fruit, bark, even pictures of plants in their natural habitats."—Pat Rubin, Sacramento Bee, January 3, 2004

"Although gardening books abound, none matches this work's range of detail."—Brian E. Coutts, Library Journal, April 15, 2004

"This book has become an overnight "must have" in the garden world."—Dulcy Mahar, Oregonian, November 18, 2004