Product Description

Boasting diverse leaf shape, size, color, and texture, it is no wonder that hostas continue to reign as the most popular perennial plants in North America. Not only are they the supreme plant for shade, but they also can be used in the landscape either as striking specimen plantings or as accommodating companion plants. Few pests bother them, and little maintenance is required, making hostas even more attractive to busy gardeners.

Each year a staggering number of new hostas are introduced. To assist gardeners and landscapers in selecting the right hosta for a particular situation, veteran plantswoman Diana Grenfell has teamed up with distinguished photographer Mike Shadrack in selecting 280 of the best hostas. Ranging from tried and true favorites to cutting edge newcomers bursting with potential, each plant has been handpicked for its superb performance in the landscape. An additional 545 hostas are briefly mentioned.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12515 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 212 pages

Review
"One of the most important reference books a gardener can own." Jill Sell, Cleveland Plain Dealer

"This compact book...describes 280 old and new cultivars, with ample advice for selecting and caring for them." Beth Botts, Philadelphia Inquirer

About the Author
Diana Grenfell, a co-founder of the British Hosta and Hemerocallis Society, is the author of The Color Encyclopedia of Hostas, The Gardener's Guide to Growing Hostas and The Gardener's Guide to Growing Daylilies. She operates the well-known nursery, Apple Court, at Lymington in Hampshire with her husband, Roger Grounds, author of The Plantfinder's Guide to Ornamental Grasses.

Michael Shadrack is a member of the British Hosta and Hemerocallis Society and the American Hosta Society. His interest in photography has led to a library of nearly 3200 hosta images, many of which have been published in books, magazines, and catalogs. He regularly lectures on hostas in Europe and North America.

Customer Reviews

Grenfell & Shadrack: Pocket Guide to Hostas
This is another in the continuing series of Pocket Guides being published by Timber Press, more or less based on TP's comprehensive collection of authoritative books on a wide variety of gardening and horticultural subjects.

This volume, stemming from Diana Grenfell and Michael Shadrack's classic reference tome published in 2004, "The Color Encyclopedia of Hostas," will appeal to all gardeners and nursery people interested in hostas and want to know more about them.

In addition to being up to date with the inclusion of over 70 new introductions, it lists the tried and tested classic hostas enjoyed in numerous large and small gardens in North America and Europe.

Easy to carry around, the small volume is packed with information on cultural details, pest control and landscaping ideas. There are also succinct sections on history, botany and what to look for when purchasing hostas, an excellent index and a quick reference at the beginning on choosing hostas for different sites and climatic conditions.

The photographs clearly illustrate the wide variety of textures and shades of leaf color, as well as the sumptuousness of hostas with the largest leaves. In addition, they highlight the wide variety of different shapes in which hosta leaves are available.

Highly recommended for all gardeners and nursery people; a wealth of practical information at a bargain price.

Warren I. Pollock
Contributing Editor
"The Hosta Journal"

Great book
This book is most helpful for the beginner and the "hostaholic". All the important cultivars are listed, plus many more expensive ones that the avid collector can strive to find. Lots of helpful tips and ideas on growing, displaying and collecting. It is a great field guide and great book to have on hand in your garden. AAAA rated by Cheryl's Gardens.

Hosta Handbook
It is a good handbook but does not contain all the important information to identify a hosta like the number of vein pairs.