Product Description

In the tradition of his classic Herbaceous Perennial Plants, Armitage has compiled descriptions and assessments of 245 genera of true annuals as well as plants that behave like annuals in USDA zones 1--7. Focusing on identifying the plants, successful culture, and their primary garden attributes, Armitage discusses 279 species in detail and summarizes the distinguishing features of hundreds of cultivars. Each entry is liberally sprinkled with strong and sometimes amusing opinions, and the book includes useful lists that make it a practical guide for the dedicated home gardener.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #92531 in Books
• Published on: 2000-03-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 324 pages

From Booklist
In the world of horticulture, Armitage stands out as an authoritative voice that gardeners depend on for guidance. The award-winning writer's formidable expertise and opinionated good humor enliven this fully illustrated compilation of 136 genera of garden-worthy perennials. Alphabetical entries feature illuminating descriptions of plant habits and forms, along with essential cultural advice. Armitage recommends countless varieties that can be depended on to perform well or are particularly lovely specimens. Appropriate U.S.D.A. zones and regions where the plants will thrive are noted, too. With its accessible writing style, abundant color photographs, and final section listing plants suggested for specific conditions or purposes, Armitage's latest work should be considered an essential addition to gardening collections. Alice Joyce

Review
"Absolutely brimming with excellent full-color photographs." -- HortIdeas

"An illustrated guide - full of opinion - to garden-worthy perennials from all over the world." -- Verlyn Klinkenborg, New York Times Book Review , June 4, 2000

"Armitage is THE perennial guru, and this...is...the inside word about anything perennial." -- George Weigel, Sunday Patriot News , December 17, 2000

"The book is the next best thing to having your own personal garden consultant standing by 24/7." -- Country Living Gardener , July/August 2000

"The text is garden writing at its best, I think — lively, personal, informative, entertaining, and opinionated." -- Ethel Fried , Garden Notebook

"Armitage loves to spin a story. He tells the truth about perennials from his own rich experiences ... With his humorous asides, you will quickly recognize a kindred spirit who wants to grow every plant yet confesses that he has killed his fair share, just like the rest of us."—Barbara Blossom Ashmun, Fine Gardening, March/April 2001 (Barbara Blossom Ashmun Fine Gardening )

"Has beautiful color photos with descriptions."—Joel M. Lerner, Washington Post, May 3, 2003 (Joel M. Lerner The Washington Post )

"Sleek 'pictorial encyclopedia' ... A delight is the light-hearted humor that bubbles throughout."—Carol Bishop Miller, Horticulture, April 2001 (Carol Bishop Miller Horticulture )

Armitage loves to spin a story. He tells the truth about perennials from his own rich experiences ... With his humorous asides, you will quickly recognize a kindred spirit who wants to grow every plant yet confesses that he has killed his fair share, just like the rest of us.Barbara Blossom Ashmun, Fine Gardening, March/April 2001 (Fine Gardening )

Essential for those designing perennial borders. -- John E. Bryan, Gardening Newsletter, March 2000

Has beautiful color photos with descriptions.Joel M. Lerner, Washington Post, May 3, 2003 (The Washington Post )

Sleek 'pictorial encyclopedia' ... A delight is the light-hearted humor that bubbles throughout.Carol Bishop Miller, Horticulture, April 2001 (Horticulture )

User-friendly and fun to read, yet still vastly knowledgeable. -- Carol Stocker, The Boston Globe, February 22, 2001

With 1,400-plus color photos, horticultural depth and breadth, and delightfully personal prose by a renowned expert in herbaceous perennials, this is my first-round pick. -- Susan McBride, National Gardening, March 2000

From the Publisher
Allan Armitage and Michael Dirr are colleagues on the horticulture faculty at the University of Georgia, Athens, and both are among the most influential figures in the plant world today. Each is the author of a definitive textbook: Armitages Herbaceous Perennial Plants and Dirrs Manual of Woody Landscape Plants have gone through several editions and are used in hundreds of college courses. In 1997 we published Dirrs Hardy Trees and Shrubs, a highly illustrated and very personal encyclopedia intended for gardeners, landscape architects, and the nursery trade rather than for students. Already in its tenth printing, it has been phenomenally successful. Armitages Garden Perennials is an equivalent treatment, the most comprehensive single-volume photographic resource on perennial plants. It describes and illustrates the choice of perennials in 136 genera from Acanthus to Zauschneria. The books greatest strengths are the quality of its more than 1400 photographs, all taken by the author, and the exhaustive information on the most interesting, important, or overlooked perennial plants. Based on his own extensive experiencehe has gardened in climates as dissimilar as Quebec and Georgia and studied plants on three continentsArmitage makes a discerning selection of the best cultivars, from classics to cutting-edge recent introductions. The text is concise and delightful, like a private tutorial with a master teacher. The reader will have no doubt about which plants the author most admires ("What else do you know that is big, bold, and beautiful and wants to be planted in a bog?") and which fall short ("Variegated coral bells like Snowstorm ought to be trashed. I am constantly told how wonderful they are. I dont listen. To each his own".). The encyclopedia is rounded out by more than a dozen extensive lists of plants suitable for particular situations or uses, including plants for wet places, for drought tolerance, and for fragrance or color. It is a noteworthy addition to Timber Presss acclaimed series of pictorial encyclopedias that includes Dirrs Hardy Trees and Shrubs and Rick Darkes Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses.

Customer Reviews

A valuable reference for the perennial gardener
This is an outstanding guide for selecting perennials for your garden, especially the southern gardener because the author understands our conditions here. Over 130 varieties are covered in an encyclopedic format and an entire page is devoted (sometimes two) to each plant. The text is clearly written in an engaging style and everything that you need to know (growing requirements, if the plant is easy or difficult to grow, size of the plants, etc.) is covered. The best thing about the book are the photographs - they provide the reader with a full view of how the plant grows in the garden and numerous photos are provided for each plant. He also includes lists of plants that are good for specific locations and conditions (such as good groundcovers, drought tolerant plants, plants for shade, etc.) This is a big, heavy book so it is one that you might can't carry to bed with you for nighttime reading (although you probably will want to!).

Armitage's Garden Perennials. A Color Encyclopedia
Very disappointed. For the price I thought it would be comprehensive, but too many perennials in common usage are not included. Also, no visual distinction in writeups between description and how-to-grow, so you have to do a lot of reading to zero in on the information you want. What I like about it is that the author provides opinions as well as descriptions, the photos are very good, and the information helps you choose among perennials and among their varieties.

Another Useful Armitage Book
Just received Armitage's Garden Perennials. It has as many pictures as the Annuals, LOTS more text.

I've spent many hours with the Annuals and I can say that had I had this book years ago I would have saved myself money and grief. It's amazing how many plants are not suited for Philly summers and are sold here nonetheless. I have thought for years I must have a genetic flaw, some disturbing lack that prevents me from growing decent dahlias. Armitage has assured me that it is not me, it is dahlias. That alone is worth the price of the book to me.

So many people are discouraged and give up gardening entirely because they think they have black thumbs when really the problem is the sale of plant material unsuited their area.

I work part time at an upscale nursery. Perrenials cost $15 and UP, annuals $5.00 for a 4" pot. A gardener at any level cannot afford to be without these books.

Plus there are so many pretty pictures!