The American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants

Just over 1100 pages that covers every plant you could want to know about including full color pictures! Flowers, succulents, trees, grasses, aquatic plants, etc. It also has a great introduction section with 40+ pages of essential information about gardening. Books by the American Horticultural Society are amazing, informative, and reliable sources of gardening knowledge. (This bad boy weighs a full 10lbs and 2oz.) By far one of the best additions to my library! (2008 Revised American Edition)

This book is the BEST REFERENCE FOR PLANTS A-Z. I had this book before but somehow lost it. When I got a reminder that you got it in. I had to buy it. Best info out there. Thank You so Very Much!

Many people have praised this book already. I will not be redundant but will describe what are to me the book's most valuable features: its design, comprehension and convenience. This book is designed with sophistication. Its layout is fun to the eye and is easy-to-read due to its simple and consistent organization and clear uses of typography. Its photography is first-rate, descriptive and true-to-life with none of the false saturated colors of some plant catalogues. "A-Z" is that-comprehensive. The plant listings are preceded by brief but helpful sections, totaling 45 pages, on botany, cultivation [under glass or in the garden with useful information on pruning, plant hardiness, propagation, etc] and ornamental plant groups [cacti, ferns, aquatic and rock plants, etc.] This book is truly encyclopedic and as thorough as it can be in 1095 pages- there are 26 pages and 310 photos of roses alone-with no hype or unusable information. This book is convenient, despite its weight. After purchasing this and its companion volume, the "AHS Encyclopedia of Gardening," I gave away about four linear feet of other gardening and horticultural books. This volume, though, is the one that stays by the door to the garden all summer and by my bed all winter. "A-Z"'s high standards authenticate the authority of the American Horticultural Society, reflect its editors' concern for quality and gives voice to its contributors' erudition and expertise. You can virtually garden with this book without leaving your armchair.

This is the new garden plant reference book for the home or professional gardener. Although it is set up by Family/Genus/Species/Variety, there is a handy common name index in the back of the book. Extensive varietal color photos make this book a must for the flower enthusiast. There is also an excellent reference on plant terminology in the front of the book. Since I live in the western US, my plant reference book of choice has always been the Sunset Western Garden Book. This book has since taken it's place as my preferred, but the Western Garden Book does have some plants that are not listed in this book. However, there are many times more plants not listed in the Western Garden Book that are found in this book. Highly Recommended!

This is the book that makes my gardening dreams possible, it is never far from my side. I guess I would call it a reference book because it is packed with information, but don't let that scare you away. There are a staggering 15,000 plants described with 6,000 photographs. Each plant's cultural needs, botanical name, hardiness and method of cultivation are mentioned however briefly. The book is well organized and easy to use. It isn't hard to find a 4-5 ft shrub that blooms pink in summer, or whatever your garden needs are. This book is also beautiful; I look at it for fun all winter long...sweet dreams til summer's sunbeams find you.

Of all the gardening books on the market, this is THE one to have. It lists all (I can't find any that were not listed) plants available to American Gardeners. It even has plants that are not available from nurseries (such as native or endangered plants). Plants are listed alphabetically by genus but there is a common name cross-index in the back.This book contains none of the hype found in catalogs or information from nurseries. Details about hardiness zones (USDA and heat), growth habits, origin, planting and propogating instructions, care, pests and diseases are all listed. Wonderful color pictures for most plants.Well worth the price!

I own nearly 100 garden plant books, if my home caught fire and I could only save one book - this would be it. I buy nursery plants through mail order and I look for new and unusual plants to add to my garden. Everytime I look up a plant in this encyclopedia I find it, along with growing details, comments about species or varieties, and a color photograph. Very comprehensive, very complete, and great information.The only downside is that this 1100 page book is so heavy it takes two hands to lift it out from the bookshelf (I guess that's a small price to pay for completeness). If you can measure information by weight, than this book is a bargin!Every serious gardener must have this book. The next time you come across a plant name that you don't know, you will be very pleased that you own this encyclopedia.