Product Description

Writing for gardeners who need specific information on these wonderful plants, Mary and Gary Irish provide detailed guidance on care, cultivation, and gardening uses. In addition, amateur naturalists will be pleased to note that the botanical history of the plants is given a succinct overview; complete keys are provided to help identify agaves and yuccas relying on foliage and growth form. Sixty-five species of agaves and twenty-five species of yuccas are profiled, together with information on natural habitat and garden care. Selected plants from nine other genera also are described. More than 100 color photographs and 18 drawings complement the text.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #190083 in Books
• Published on: 2000-05-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 384 pages

Review
"A wealth of information on the cultivation and gardening uses of Agave and Yucca." -- SciTech Book News, September 2000

"The enthusiasm of the two authors shines through and should bring many converts to these formidable plants." -- Gordon Rowley, The Garden, January 2001

"This volume is packed with both information and inspiration." -- The Amateur's Digest, August 2000

"You're in for a treat...Full of interesting tidbits and in-depth growing information." -- Phoenix Home & Garden, , November 2000

"A useful and authoritative new reference."—William May, American Gardener, January/February 2001 (William May American Gardener )

"An excellent introduction to this delightful group ...Mary and Gary Irish have produced a book that will be an invaluable reference for the enthusiast and a source of inspiration for those not yet familiar with these useful and beautiful plants."—Dean Kelch, Pacific Horticulture, Winter 2001 (Dean Kelch Pacific Horticulture )

"This is a must-read for lovers of these spectacular plants ... well-organized, friendly, inviting."—Lauren Springer Ogden, Horticulture, October 2004 (Lauren Springer Ogden Horticulture )

A useful and authoritative new reference.William May, American Gardener, January/February 2001 (American Gardener )

An excellent introduction to this delightful group ...Mary and Gary Irish have produced a book that will be an invaluable reference for the enthusiast and a source of inspiration for those not yet familiar with these useful and beautiful plants.Dean Kelch, Pacific Horticulture, Winter 2001 (Pacific Horticulture )

This is a must-read for lovers of these spectacular plants ... well-organized, friendly, inviting.Lauren Springer Ogden, Horticulture, October 2004 (Horticulture )

From the Publisher
In Agaves, Yuccas, and Related Plants, Mary and Gary Irish provide all the information necessary to choose some of these distinctive plants for your garden. They have included crisp photos and plenty of descriptive information. Moreover, the authors detail propagation and cultural requirements; despite the plants natural affinity for arid southern locations, they are frequently cold hardy, and they will often grow just fine in wetter, humid climates. This volume is packed with both information and inspiration.

From the Author
Comments from Author, Mary Irish

TP: At what experience level is this book aimed?

M: We wanted to strike a balance where it would appeal to experienced gardeners and horticulturists who work with these plants, as well as create some interest and appeal in people who may not have thought of these plants as useful and as very different forms.

Customer Reviews

Terrific resource
I am the librarian at the Desert Botanical Garden and this book has been a tremendous addition to our collection. I have only had it for two weeks and have already used it several times to answer reference questions. The photos are wonderful and the index is extensive. What sets this book apart from all the rest, however, is the clear and succinct format used to describe each plant. Each reference includes the botanical name, synonyms, common names, descriptions of the size, leaves, blooms, distribution, propagation, cultural requirements, similar or related species, and uses. Mary and Gary Irish have created an invaluable resource for anyone interested in agaves, yuccas and related plants.

Agaves, Yuccas, and Related Plants : A Gardener's Guide
This book fills a real gap in information for gardeners interested in agaves, yuccas, and similar plants, such as hesperaloes. I haven't found any other book that lists so many species of these plants AND has photographs of each. The text has extensive information for both identifying and growing these plants, whereas many books on plants will emphasize one aspect or the other. In other words, this book would be useful for botanists as well as gardeners and horticulturalists.

There is also some useful information on the cold hardiness and adaptability of these plants to wetter climates. Some experimental gardeners on the east coast of the U.S. may find the minimum temperature limits listed for some plants to be a little conservative. However, the horticultural information on growing these plants, more than makes up for that.

All around, this is a very good book and would be of interest to anyone interested in growing or identifying agaves, yuccas, and similar plants.

Fantastic Book
This is the book to have if you are interested in growing agaves, and yuccas particularly if you have an interest in growing them as landscape plants and want to know how hardy a particular species is likely to be. It has rapidly become the Bible for growers of these plants.