The Random House Book of Indoor and Greenhouse Plants, Volume 1

This, and all other Random House Books of this genre, are consumate reference books for the serious or semi-serious gardener. Photos show entire plant from root to bloom and give all information required for cultivation. Wonderful for determining what to order amidst far-blown catalogue jargon. A must if you on well on the path to becoming a serious gardener indoors or out. (We all do both, don't we?)

Random House's guide to Indoor and Greenhouse plants Vol. II (I have not yet read Vol. I) is the first popular exotic plant dictionary I have seen that can approach the quality and comprehensiveness of the much more expensive Exotica or Tropica by Graf. This book provides clear descriptions and very nice photos of a variety of exotic plants from around the globe. Unlike many indoor plant books, this does not limit itself to the plants typically found in an average garden center, but covers many collector plants. The book's coverage of South African, Australian, Asian and South American species is much more comprehensive than any I have seen in other popular plant dictionaries. Entries are limited to physical description of each species, habitat and growth data, and brief information on pot and greenhouse cultivation. There are no separate sections on cultivation in this volume. I have been waiting for a book like this for some time and highly recomend it to both ! ! casual home gardeners and to collectors.