Product Description

It is hard to imagine gardens without peonies, flowering peaches, camellias, gardenias, azaleas, wisteria, forsythia, crabapples, and the host of other ornamentals that were introduced first in Chinese gardens. And the development of the modern repeat-flowering roses would not have occurred had the so-called monthly roses not been brought to Europe from China. In spite of the romance and excitement generated by the discoveries of the famous plant hunters in the wilds of China, the Chinese plants with the greatest impact on the gardens of the world have actually come from Chinese gardens and nurseries.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #473510 in Books
• Published on: 1999-05-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 400 pages

Amazon.com Review
Gardens have long been an integral part of Chinese culture, written about by scholars and prized by emperors and priests; think of Chinese scrolls traced with plum blossoms and wood-block prints etched with pine branches or bamboo. The West has not only received a great number of fine plants from China, it's also been influenced by the Chinese appreciation of plants, by their ideas on striving to have something in bloom year-round, and by their treasuring shape as well as bloom. A surprising number of our showiest and favorite plants are native to China, brought to the Western world by early plant explorers. Many varieties of crabapples, chrysanthemums, lilacs, wisteria, azaleas, rhododendron, camellias, and peonies originated in China, where they have been important in gardens, literature, and art for centuries.

Peter Valder's discussion of more than 400 garden-worthy plants includes color photographs, history, information on native habitat, and cultural suggestions. The photos are large and lovely, the information thorough and useful, and to help us remember the origin of each plant he has included the Chinese letters and common names, which are charming. The Chinese name for mock orange (Philadelphus) translates as "peace and tranquility flower"; "beautiful woman banana" is the translated common name for canna lilies. No matter what the name, Chinese plants deserve space in our gardens, and Valder has written a book that intrigues us with their history and educates us about how best to grow them. --Valerie Easton

Review
"Outstanding academic title."—Choice, January 2000 (Choice )

"This is a splendid and detailed book, profusely illustrated in colour with excellent modern photographs and a few reproductions from early Chinese and classic European journals."—Martyn Rix, Gardens Illustrated, July 2000 (Martyn Rix Gardens Illustrated )

"Valder gives us a window on a sophisticated garden ethic very different from Europe's, and an encyclopedia of more than 4000 Chinese garden plants. Many will inevitably become more widely seen here because of their natural resistance to pests and diseases now arriving from Asia via global trade."—Boston Globe, December 1, 1999 (Boston Globe )

A beautifully illustrated master work by a botanist who has received the Medal of the Order of Australia for his contributions to horticulture. -- The Avant Gardener, July 1999

A spectacular work. -- Taxon, August 1999

It is pure enjoyment to read. -- John E. Bryan Gardening Newsletter 19990701 Examination of the relationship between Chinese philosophies and the garden are followed by a detailed treatment of some 400 plants. SciTech Book News 20000201 It is both a beautifully designed and illustrated book, and one that is thoughtfully organized and well written. Arbor Essence 19990201 He makes the case that the plants that appear in Chinese gardens are there more because of their rich historical and cultural associations than for their horticultural performance. More than fifteen hundred years of art and literature attend these plants, and Valder reproduces paintings, drawings, pottery, poetry, and folklore to illustrate his point. -- Catherine Taylor Arbor Essence 19990201 A beautifully illustrated master work by a botanist who has received the Medal of the Order of Australia for his contributions to horticulture. Avant Gardener 19990701 A delightfully written presentations of some 400 favorite plants that we take so much for granted, and which have come to us from these very special gardens. It's not one you'll quickly put back on a shelf. Horticultural Society of New York Newsletter 20000201 An excellent book for both the serious and not-so-serious gardener. -- Mike Darcy Garden Showcase 19990801 Travel vicariously with Valder via the book's many photographs of ornamental plants in the parks, homes and historic sites of China. -- Kristine Moe Seattle Times 19991101 Valder gives us a window on a sophisticated garden ethic very different from Europe's, and an encyclopedia of more than 4000 Chinese garden plants. Many will inevitably become more widely seen here because of their natural resistance to pests and diseases now arriving from Asia via global trade. Boston Globe 19991201 Looking through this beautiful book will make you want to book a flight immediately. The photos were so well chosen that you can almost hear Chinese music playing as you study them. California Garden 20000201 This book is a must for anyone interested in China and interested in gardening ... If you want to give a gift to a gardener who is interested in feng shui, this book will knock their socks off. No other book exists like it in English. -- Clear Englebert FungShway.com 19991203 Outstanding academic title. Choice 20000101 One of the most wonderful (books) I have seen in a long time. -- Howard Garrett Dallas Morning News 20000303 The richly illustrated text is a stunning expose on gardening... Principles of Chinese horticulture and its role in Chinese history, culture, and philosophy, including edible landscaping, are all there. American Herb Association Quarterly Newsletter 19990316 A spectacular work. Taxon 19990822 Anyone contemplating a trip to China, or indeed intrigued with many of the commoner garden ornamentals, will find this sumptuous coffee-table book a great fund of information ... The magnificent reproductions of paintings and impeccable photography of temples and misty vistas capture not only the sense but something of the sensibility of China. -- Panayoti Kelaidis Rock Garden Quarterly 20000406 A beautiful presentation recommended for horticulture collections. Midwest Book Review 20000418 The Garden Plants of China is a beautifully realized book. And it should quickly become a standard reference on [China] the Mother of Gardens. -- Patricia Jonas Plants and Gardens News 20000501 Combining vast research as well as information and photographs from his many trips to China, Valder presents a comprehensive volume on ornamental plants in the gardens of China. -- Elaine Ezell American Reference Books Annual 20000517 This splendid book is an important addition to the otherwise scanty and scattered literature in English on China's contribution to the garden splendor of the West and should be added to every library's horticultural section. Choice 19991101 This is a splendid and detailed book, profusely illustrated in colour with excellent modern photographs and a few reproductions from early Chinese and classic European journals. -- Martyn Rix Gardens Illustrated 20000722 A beautiful book ... A significant addition to horticultural literature ... Highly recommended. E-Streams 20000629 His book is fascinating scholarship, with handsome photographs of the plants and their county. -- Ann Milovsoroff Pappus 20001004 Remarkably handsome, remarkably good value, and a remarkably good read, this is certainly a book to buy. -- Tim Longville Hortus 20001129 If you are greedy for cultural and horticultural history, this artful book will alter your coffee table in to a shrine. -- Julie Siegel Chicago Botanic Garden 20001210 An important reference guide for anyone interested in the history and origin of plant introductions. Quarterly Bulletin of the Alpine Garden Society 20001229 Everyone with an interest in Chinese culture, gardens, and plants will find much to learn and enjoy in this beautiful, readable and scholarly work. -- Richard Bisgrove Garden History 20000417 While we are often bombarded with a wealth of information on the Chinese plants that have been grown in our garden for, at the most, a few hundred years, this book describes those that the Chinese have been growing themselves, often for several thousand years ... An excellent and important addition to the available literature on Chinese plants. -- Allen Coombes International Dendrology Society Yearbook 20000629 The richly-illustrated text is a stunning expose on gardening...Principles of Chinese horticulture and its role in Chinese history, culture, and philosophy, including edible landscaping are all here. American Herb Association Quarterly Newsletter 20000214 Insightful and fascinating. -- Barbara Joe Hoshizaki Southern California Horticultural Society Newsletter 20030218 A great addition to the library of anyone who has traveled to China, is thinking of traveling to Chinga, or just wants to read about China and its great garden plants. The book is everything the author intended it to be as described in the introduction... For people that love plants this is a fun, informative book. If I didn't already have a copy... I would envy anyone that did. -- Winston Dunwell University of Kentucky HortMemo 20030331 Author and botanist Peter Valder is ... a gifted photographer, and The Garden Plants of China both shows and tells. -- Josephine Bridges Asian Reporter 20060411

Outstanding academic title.Choice, January 2000 (Choice )

This is a splendid and detailed book, profusely illustrated in colour with excellent modern photographs and a few reproductions from early Chinese and classic European journals.Martyn Rix, Gardens Illustrated, July 2000 (Gardens Illustrated )

Travel vicariously with Vader via the book’s many photographs of ornamental plants in the parks, homes and historic sites of China. -- Kristine Moe, The Seattle Times, November 28, 1999

Vader gives us a window on a sophisticated garden ethic very different from Europe’s, and an encyclopedia of more than 4000 Chinese garden plants. -- The Boston Globe, December 16, 1999

Valder gives us a window on a sophisticated garden ethic very different from Europe's, and an encyclopedia of more than 4000 Chinese garden plants. Many will inevitably become more widely seen here because of their natural resistance to pests and diseases now arriving from Asia via global trade.Boston Globe, December 1, 1999 (Boston Globe )

…a stunning expose on gardening...Chinese horticulture and its role in Chinese history, culture, and philosophy, including edible landscaping, are all there. -- The American Herb Association, Vol 15:3 1999

About the Author
Born in Australia and brought up in the bush, Peter Valder's early interest in the Australian flora was stimulated by local amateur botanists. He went on to become a plant pathologist and mycologist after graduating from the Universities of Sydney and Cambridge. He was pleased to later become involved in the teaching of general botany in addition to his mycological work. Peter has also been an office bearer of the Linnean Society and the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science. Since drifting into the popularizing of Australian botany and horticulture, he has made appearances on radio and television, wrote for magazines, and lectured to organizations concerned with plants and gardens. His interest in gardening has taken him to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Burma, and China, from which he has introduced numerous plants suited to the Australian climate. Also, he has visited gardens in Britain, New Zealand, North America, France, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, and Korea, accumulating photographs with which to illustrate his lectures and writings.

Customer Reviews

Beautiful photographs, great historical info
This is a fabulous, beautifully photographed, survey of the decorative plants native to China. The book opens with details of China's rich horticultural heritage and the role of plants in Chinese culture.

Further chapters are broken down by type of plant. These include bamboos, fruit trees, orchids, roses, chrysanthemums, aquatic plants and more. Items both familiar and exotic to the western gardener will be found here.

Many specific varieties are described in each chapter, with Latin, Chinese and common names. History, native habitat, and uses for each plant are described.

The photography is outstanding with several close-up color photos on each page. There is also a nice smattering of old botanical illustrations and Chinese art. I highly recommend this book.

Garden Book of the Year
This is a beautifully produced and immensely readable work of considerable scholarship . Its subject matter is intriguing and the author writes in a style where one finds oneself going quickly from one section to another. The wonderful photography certainly enhances the text. My views would seem to have been borne out by the recent decision of the British Gardens Writers Guild who have just awarded it the Reference Garden Book of the Year. I'm sure this will become the standard reference work for this engrossing subject for many years to come. I highly recommend it.

Beautiful presentation for horticultural collections.
400 pages and over four hundred color photos pack an in-depth examination of plants used in Chinese gardens for ornamental purposes. Listings appear using both Latin and common names and Chinese names, presenting the history, myths, horticultural information and uses of the plants. A beautiful presentation recommended for horticulture collections.