Product Description

With their heady perfume and stunning visual appeal, lavenders have been prized by gardeners since ancient times. Lavender is a truly comprehensive study that enables the reader to research and identify more than 200 lavender species and varieties. With chapters on cultivation, propagation, pests and diseases, and botanical history, this book is as practical as it is authoritative. More than 200 photos document recent advances in color variation that have resulted from intense breeding; plants now available range from deep purple and lilac to white, cream, pink, and red-violet. With so many hardy and dependable plants to choose from, no lavender enthusiast will want to be without this indispensable book.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #65901 in Books
• Published on: 2000-05-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 192 pages

Review
"A book that leaves current lavender literature trailing in its wake . . . A veritable feast for lavender lovers." -- Simon Charlesworth, Gardens Illustrated

"Instructions for the gardener and detailed information for the professional grower on the care and propagation of lavender. " -- Book News , June 13, 2000

"This detailed celebration of lavender is aided by beautiful photography." -- The American Herb Association, 16:2 2000

"With this book, you'll learn everything you need to know . . . An all-encompassing volume." -- American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta

"For lavender enthusiasts, this book serves as an authoritative botanical reference ... a handsome, worthwhile, well–researched book."
—Lynn Hunt, Fine Gardening, July/August 2001 (Fine Gardening )

"Serious gardeners are certain to value this comprehensive reference."
—Country Living Gardener, January/February 2001 (Country Living Gardener )

"The definitive text on this easy–to–grow plant."
—Joel M. Lerner, Washington Post, April 28, 2001 (The Washington Post )

For lavender enthusiasts, this book serves as an authoritative botanical reference ... a handsome, worthwhile, wellresearched book. Lynn Hunt, Fine Gardening, July/August 2001 (Fine Gardening )

McNaughton's [book] is by far the most substantial, with over 200 species and cultivars described in detail. -- Bookseller, February 18, 2000

Serious gardeners are certain to value this comprehensive reference. Country Living Gardener, January/February 2001 (Country Living Gardener )

The definitive text on this easytogrow plant. Joel M. Lerner, Washington Post, April 28, 2001 (The Washington Post )

From the Publisher
With information on a wealth of lavender cutivars that are adaptable, hardy and dependable, and featuring original photographs and line drawings, this book will provide inspiration to all gardeners, as well as an important reference to lavender enthusiasts.

About the Author
Virginia McNaughton formerly worked as Botanical Officer at Christchurch Botanical Gardens, New Zealand. She has written articles and lectured widely, and her book The Essential Lavender has served as the leading horticultural text on lavender. Together with her husband, she manages a specialist lavender business, and she is also responsible for the national reference collection of lavender for the Herb Foundation of New Zealand.

Customer Reviews

not the book I hoped for
The author, Virginia McNaughton, is a botanist, and this book is lavender from a botanist's point of view. Her descriptions of each variety are long on botanical terminology and measurements, and short on information that would help gardeners choose and grow lavender.

Here is an example of an entry, this one for Lavendula angustifolia 'Maillette': A medium plant (60-70cm) of bushy habit with semi-open, mid-green foliage. Penduncles are long (18-25cm), mid-green and upright. There are usually medium-stemmed laterals terminated with one to three flowers. Spikes are long(12-18cm), cylindric and mostly evenly interrupted, with the base whorl 1-7cm below the main spike. Fertile bracts are large and quite long. Bracteoles are thin (1-2 mm). Corollas are violet-blue (93C), calyces are finely pubescent and green, with the upper half dark violet (86A). A very attractive cultivar raised in France and introduced by Pierre Grosso, 'Maillette' is suitable for ornamental, fragrant and oil purposes.

The first section of the book is useful, with information on propagation, pruning, and diseases. But that is only the first 20 pages. The rest of the book consists of descriptions like the above.

Also the author lives in New Zealand, and there is no information on growing lavender in the various climates of the United States.

LAVENDERS GALORE
AT LAST SOME HAS WRITTEN A DEFINITIVE BOOK ABOUT LAVENDERS AND THEIR GROWTH. YES, THIS IS A TECHNICAL BOOK BUT EVEN THE NON BOTANY LOVERS WILL FIND IT EASY TO USE. VARIETIES ARE NAMED, ALONG WITH ALL THEIR OTHER NAMES, PICTURED AND EXPLAINED. AFTER READING THIS YOU KNOW WHY GROSSO AND DILLY DILLY LOOK ALIKE. THIS IS A GREAT REFERENCE BOOK AND THE COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS MAKE IT AN IDEAL COFFEE TABLE BOOK. IF LAVENDER HANDICRAFTS ARE YOUR THING, THIS IS NOT THE BOOK FOR YOU

Lavender: the grower's guide
From the cover photo to the bibliography many of the questions I had about lavender were answered. Ms. McNaughton explained the different parts of the lavender plant with very clear language and photographs. I found the diversity of color and size captivating and inspiring. The author covered the many sections and cultivars of lavender clearly and in a logical order that was easy to follow. This is a book for the person who wants to have more in-depth knowledge of lavender's identification and diversity. You will be inspired to expand your garden from the more common purples to pinks and whites in various hues. I have several books written about lavender, but this book has become a most welcome and valuable addition.