Hortus Third: A Concise Dictionary of Plants Cultivated in the United States and Canada

With all the scholarly info now available on the web and in newer reference books, Hortus Third is still the most convenient authority available. None of the most expensive plant "Encyclopedias" come close. However, while using it, you have to be aware that it (at least my copy) was updated in 1976 at Cornell from the original compilation, "Hortus", done in 1930. (Hortus Second was issued in 1941.) If you're a current information freak, you may consider Hortus Third old-fashioned, and it is. It's old fashioned like Mozart is old fashioned. You may prefer the USDA website for very current, but very dry listings and lots of environmentally-skewed opinion. But remember, basic, authoritative plant information never changes. Hortus Third is beautifully organized, easy to use, and always answers my questions. After running a now-internet plant business for 25 years, where we care about accuracy and complete information, I couldn't live without it.

Hortus Third isn't perfect. I wish it had more drawings and I wish it included more non-cultivated plants. That said, Hortus Third is probably the most important garden/botany reference book I own. I am a professional garden writer & speaker (author of Allergy-Free Gardening) and Hortus is one book I turn to almost daily. I now and then do find some things in it that I don't completely agree with, but by and large it is very accurate. Hortus is an expensive book, and not really one for the casual gardener, but for those whose interest is deep, it is worth the money--and then some. My own copy of Hortus Third is pretty well dog-eared by now from so much use. I have given it only 4 stars as a rating, and that is because I, like many, wish it included more natives, but still, there is no other book quite like it and it is a very useful, important reference that I simply could not do without.

If you're *seriously* interested in plants (i.e., a plant "nerd")and love learning about the technicalities of plant families, similarities, differences, etc., then this book is for you. It's not for wimps! It's fascinating to study, and a great read if plants are your world.