Product Description

At the heart of every garden are the plants, which enhance our land and engage our souls. For gardeners, no matter how new or how advanced, whether we cultivate for ourselves or for landscaping clients, plants are the sine qua non. They intrigue us and inspire us. And the more we learn about them, the more they add to our pleasure in gardening.
For all of these reasons, every gardener needs a good plant encyclopedia. And, as the only plant encyclopedia written exclusively for North American gardeners, Taylor"s Encyclopedia of Garden Plants will be as useful twenty years from now as it is today. If a plant can"t be grown on this continent, you won"t find it here.
Readers will use this book in a number of ways: as a resource for identifying plants, as a guide to purchasing the best species and cultivars for particular gardening locations and growing conditions, and as an important way to save the cost and disappointment of buying plants that won"t thrive or will overwhelm a garden. Choosing just the right tree or shrub can add the crowning touch to your landscape plan.
Here you"ll find expert information about more than a thousand species of trees, shrubs, roses, bulbs, perennials, annuals, and ground covers. Illustrated with 1,200 color photos and hundreds of line drawings, the encyclopedia includes instructions on how to grow the plants and even on how to propagate many of them. An extensive glossary and a common name index make this book accessible to beginners as well as longtime gardeners.
Like gardening itself, Taylor"s Encyclopedia of Garden Plants will bring its readers immediate pleasure as well as long-term rewards.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #73521 in Books
• Published on: 2003-10-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 464 pages

From Publishers Weekly
This beautifully illustrated encyclopedia offers North American gardeners a definitive resource for all their questions, from flowers to trees to shrubs. Long-time Houghton Mifflin editor Tenenbaum (who has edited the Taylor series for more than 30 years) arranges her book alphabetically according to genus, then breaks plants down by species (an index of common names helps readers follow the Latin terms). Under Ficus, for example, is a pronunciation key ("FYE-kus"), the common family name (Mulberry), then a description ("It exhibits potentially unlimited growth in warm gardens"; "as a vine, it clings tenaciously by secreting a tiny amount of latex"); and finally, suggestions for growing ("It will perform best in moist well-drained loamy soil"). At the end of the book, Tenenbaum features succinct, clearly illustrated directions for propagating plants, whether growing them from seed or by dividing or taking cuttings. 1,200 color photos.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Positioned as the only plant encyclopedia intended solely for the American gardener, Taylor's directory encompasses more than one thousand trees, shrubs, vines, and perennials suitable for a garden located anywhere in North America. An ambitious compilation, it bears the Taylor trademark of reliable information imparted in an entertaining but usable manner, and highlighted by superlative production values that include an easy-to-navigate layout, crisp photography, and detailed illustrations. The alphabetical directory of plants is organized by genus and supported by a common-name index for quick cross-referencing. Each entry offers a brief yet thorough description of plant habit and culture, with valuable tips on planting, climate, size, bloom, noteworthy cultivars, and comparable species. An entire chapter is devoted to plant propagation, and precise illustrations accompany the text detailing proper techniques for sowing seed, taking cuttings, and dividing plants. Taylor's comprehensive guide to North American plant material is designed to be used as a single-source reference and destined to become a time-honored resource for novice and experienced gardener alike. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"The reference book that earned an instant spot on my shelf." -- Review

Customer Reviews

This is a great book -- but not a quick reference
You must read well into the description of a plant to find out if it's shade or sun lover. It's not something you can quickly discern.
Also missing is the distance needed between plants which is so helpful when developing a bed and purchasing more than one of each kind.

Informative
This encyclopedia has a broad scope on many of the plants used in the garden landscape. You will find information about how the plants are arranged, and how/ why the chosen plants came to be included in this book.
The plants are outlined alphabetically by botanic nomenclature. In the back of the book it also has a common name index which is immediately followed by the botanic equivalent.
Each entry starts with the botanic name, with a phonetic spelling and genus family. Followed by a general description and how to grow the species. Under each entry will be the individual cultivars with a description and zone tolerances.
This encyclopedia also has general info about propagation, a glossary and a hardiness zone map.
No single encyclopedia will have that one single plant you are looking for.
For any gardener, this book should be included in your library.
I have a landscape design and build company, and have several encyclopedias in my collection. This is one I reference, from time to time for its accuracy and authority.

A most informative book
We got much more than we expected. I expected a small "manual" type book. Instead, we got a beautifully bound and illustrated folio. The information is clear, and the pictures are beautiful. We have looked up numerous plants from our yard and have checked out the suitability of others for our unique condition. I would recommend this book highly.