Hortica: Color Cyclopedia of Garden Flora and Indoor Plants
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Hortica:color cyclopedia of garden flora in all climates and
Hortica: Color Cyclopedia of Garden Flora and Indoor Plants
Alfred Byrd Graf
Manufacturer: Roehrs Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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  1. Tropica: Color Cyclopedia of Exotic Plants and Trees for Warm-Region Horticulture   in Cool Climate the Summer Garden or Sheltered Indoors Tropica: Color Cyclopedia of Exotic Plants and Trees for Warm-Region Horticulture in Cool Climate the Summer Garden or Sheltered Indoors
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ASIN: 0911266259

Book Description

Alfred Byrd Graf is probably the most widely traveled plant explorer of the world's tropics and subtropics. Horticulturist, botanist, and professional photographer, he has roamed the earth in the spirit of Von Humboll, Darwin, and David Fairchild earlier in the 19th and 20th centuries, in search of exotic botanicals to add to the enlarging horticulture of the world. Among the honors received by the author are the award of the large Gold Medal of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, the Certificate of Merit of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the Distinguished Service Award of the Horticultural Society of New York, a Citation Award of the American Horticultural Society, and the Tercentenary Medalliou of the State of New Jersey. IN 1967 he was invested with the Sarah Champman Francis Medal of the Garden Club of America for outstanding literary achievement. In Pittsburgh, in 1972, Alfred Graf was elected to horticulture's hall of fame, the highest distinction given by the society of American Florists, and in 1978he was awarded the doctor of Science degree.

His most recent publications are TROPICA, Color-ama of Exotic Plants with 7000 photos incl. Plants indoors. Also Hortica (8100 photos), Color Cyclopedia of Garden Flora in all Climates showing Hardiness Zones.

He is the President and founder of Roehrs Company, Book division.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Hortica:color cyclopedia of garden flora in all climates and.......1999-10-09

This's a really amazing manual books for profesional and technical's horticulture!
The Tropical Garden
Average customer rating: Not rated
    The Tropical Garden
    William Warren , and Luca Invernizzi
    Manufacturer: Thames & Hudson
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

    GeneralGeneral | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
    LandscapeLandscape | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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    1. Landscaping With Tropical Plants (Sunset Series) Landscaping With Tropical Plants (Sunset Series)
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    4. The Subtropical Garden The Subtropical Garden
    5. Balinese Gardens Balinese Gardens

    ASIN: 0500017336

    Book Description

    Tropical gardens are some of the most spectacular to be found anywhere. The rich diversity of tropical flora and climates allows for an astonishing variety of forms, both native and introduced. Modern tropical gardens afford a display of striking plants from all over the world, in arrangements that blend the traditions of many countries and cultures. This highly successful compendium presents a selection of the most beautiful gardens of Hawaii, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, including Bali. Traditional and modern types are considered, and the origins and individual features of each example are discussed in full. With a special section giving information on garden features, the book will be a source of ideas and inspiration to gardeners both in the tropics and in temperate regions.
    The Exotic Garden: Designing with tropical plants in almost any climate
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Very informative
    • as practical as it is beautiful
    • Inspiring and educational
    • A MUST HAVE
    • Great photography, modestly informative
    The Exotic Garden: Designing with tropical plants in almost any climate
    Richard R. Iversen
    Manufacturer: Taunton
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

    Garden DesignGarden Design | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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    5. Palms Won't Grow Here and Other Myths: Warm-Climate Plants for Cooler Areas Palms Won't Grow Here and Other Myths: Warm-Climate Plants for Cooler Areas

    ASIN: 1561582328
    Release Date: 1999-04-01

    Amazon.com

    There's nothing new about the temperate gardener's love of hot tropicals: the not-so-secretly sensual Victorians planted lavish, whimsically shaped beds full of palms, giant reeds, and angels' trumpets, many of which still survive. (Of course, manual laborers were easier to come by in the 19th century.) This book shows not only how to re-create this sort of tropical bed and border, but how to fake it on small city plots and patios with tropicals planted in sizeable containers. Author Richard Iversen, who has gardened professionally in Barbados as well as on Long Island, New York, says, "Popping a banana plant into the soil next to an azalea may look exotic, but it doesn't make an exotic garden." His emphasis on color, texture, and form turns this from a book on novelty gardening into a fine garden-design book.

    If you crave a bed of exotic plants and are willing to do a bit of extra work, you can grow ficus and canna in Cleveland or Vancouver, but it is important to realize before taking on a tropical garden project that growing them is a year-round proposition, while enjoying them is a six-month pleasure; in colder climates, such as those colder than zones 7 or 8, many tropical and subtropical plants must winter over in a heated area such as a garage or greenhouse. Iversen is good at imparting this kind of careful detail, showing when to dig up tubers and how to store them, and including a picture demonstrating how early spring bulbs can share the garden with later-blooming tropicals. A glossary of 100 tropical plants at the book's end will get gardeners with a passion for the lush and dazzling off to a great start. --Barrie Trinkle

    Book Description

    The idea of mixing tropical plants with perennials and hardy annuals has been around since Victorian times. It is now enjoying a newfound popularity because tropical plants are more widely available. Gardeners who want to bring the lush beauty of tropicals to an existing garden, or who want to create an authentic vintage garden, will delight in The Exotic Garden. Although tropicals are novelties in temperate climates, they can successfully be grown anywhere. Iversen shows how tropicals can easily be used as annuals to perk up a garden with color during non-blooming seasons. The author's expert advice shows how to grow tropicals in beds, borders, and containers, select and combine plants, and use the tools of color, texture, and form. Plus, there are special overwintering tips and a full color glossary of more than 100 plants.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Very informative.......2002-11-02

    Dr. Iversen's book is full of wonderful ideas on using tender perennials and annuals for an exotic look in stunning combinations. In addition, there is a guide on how to care for and overwinter these plants.

    5 out of 5 stars as practical as it is beautiful.......2002-10-22

    Gorgeously illustrated with color photographs and garden design plans, "The Exotic Garden" convincingly maintains that the luxurious foliage, texture and bloom of tropical plants will work in any garden, providing you can give the plants house room during winter.

    There are separate chapters for designing tropical gardens, borders and beds, planting and caring for containers, and the care tropicals require. Many of Iversen's ideas combine tropicals with temperate-zone plants, and he uses color, leaf texture and height throughout for striking effects.
    The last 30-plus pages offer a glossary of 100 tropical plants. Each entry includes a color photo, the plant's origin, decorative interest (foliage or flowers), culture characteristics, height, propagation (cutting or seed, season, time to maturity), horticultural use and overwintering needs. Iversen also provides mail-order sources.
    An attractive book with ideas to fit anyone's garden.

    5 out of 5 stars Inspiring and educational.......2002-09-09

    I had the pleasure of studying under Dr. Iverson at SUNY Farmingdale. This man knows his plant material and how to use it effectively in challenging landscapes and spaces. If you are a northern gardener looking for some new ideas instead of the same hum-drum gardens buy this book ! This man got me to learn the Latin for some 200 plants..trust me you will close the book and have learned something.

    5 out of 5 stars A MUST HAVE.......2001-10-25

    This book is a must-have. I had Dr. Iversen as a professor at SUNY-Farmingdale and reading this book is like sitting in one of his classes or lectures. It is very clearly written and eloquent, and very informative, explaining everything from the culture and history of tropical plants, designing gardens, to the care and planting of tropicals, with beautiful photography. The SUNY-Farmingdale tropical garden is a beautiful site to see on campus. I have my own tropical container garden with my banana trees and angel trumpets by my back door at my apartment during the warm weather and inside my apartment in the cool weather. This book is excellent and should be on everyone's bookshelf.

    4 out of 5 stars Great photography, modestly informative.......2001-09-06

    The has two main sections. The first section is about garden design and plant care, about 119 pages. It contains 11 pages on tropical environments and habitats. 22 pages on color, form, and texture. 48 pages on tropical borders and beds. 20 pages on containers. 18 pages on growing and propagation.

    The second section is 33 pages. It contains an encyclopedia of 96 tropical, or exotic looking, plants. Each plant is described by common name, scientific name, country of origin, growing conditions, propagation tip, overwintering instructions, and a 2 inch photograph of the plant.

    The book also contains 2 pages of common names indexed to family names, 4 page topic index, over 130 large full color photographs and dozens of drawings.

    The first section about garden design and plant care is good, but not great. Much is the same old information that you can read in most every garden book. Nothing special.

    Photography is awesome. Images cover a great variety of plants, design concepts, and unusual situations. Very interesting and informative captions follow each photograph.

    The second section which is the tropical plant encyclopedia is great. Information is interesting and content is meaningful. Great layout of information with a photograph of each plant. Too bad this isn't the major concentration of the book - because this section is awesome!

    Overall the book is a good general guide to designing with tropical plants. There are sections of great content, but they do not fill the book. Solid information for beginners, although nothing that could not be found in other texts.
    The Subtropical Garden
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Beautiful pictures, as expected, a little short of details.
    • Palms, bamboos, ferns, oh my!
    • Beautiful photography!
    The Subtropical Garden
    Jacqueline Walker
    Manufacturer: Timber Press, Incorporated
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    ASIN: 0881923591

    Book Description

    A tempting selection of palms, bamboos, shrubs, foliage plants, perennials, orchids, and ferns suitable for gardeners in USDA zones 9 and 10 — or adventurous souls in colder areas who want to garden on the edge — or for use in containers for overwintering indoors.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Beautiful pictures, as expected, a little short of details........1999-11-10

    I went through this book cover to cover about 3 times. I also stopped in certain sections and read a few pages of text. The pictures were outstanding and definitely gave me some new ideas about landscape architecture.

    However, as expected the book was a little short on detail regarding specifics. It covered a lot of plants but, it did not go into details. At most, it might have devoted about 4 or 5 lines per plant although it covered the family in greater scope. This is fine for generalities but, even indiviual species within a family have vastly different requirements which is the kind of information I was looking for. For example, type of soil, amount of watering, to use or not to use ferilizer, drought resistance, amount direct sun versus indirect sun, etc., etc.

    I already have a myriad collection of books addressing the Palms. I will probably have to get books which specifically address the growing requirements of the various subtropical plants. To this degree I have also ordered the Encylopedia on Tropical Plants. Hopefully, it will add more depth regarding the characteristics and growing requirements of various tropical and subtropical plants. Living in Florida, this has evolved into a hobby since we have a year-round growing season down here.

    5 out of 5 stars Palms, bamboos, ferns, oh my!.......1999-04-02

    Glad I bought it! Great reading book to introduce you to all that's available. Breakdowns are by plant type -wish it had some more specifics, but with the numbers of species out there I can understand. Excellent photography.

    5 out of 5 stars Beautiful photography!.......1998-11-11

    The Subtropical Garden is just the book for those landscaping their homes, gardens, and greenhouses to achieve a tropical feel. It will give you many ideas and you will start making lists before you turn the first page. I do not agree with her advice against the running bamboos, but then I am used to handeling them. I think you will be surprized at some of the things she will teach you about these "mostly" foliage plants and their cultural needs. A big plus is the wonderful photography by Gil Hanly. Buy this today!
    A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants Cultivated In The Hawaiian Islands And Other Tropical Places
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Great reference for the serious gardener
    • Book of the Century
    A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants Cultivated In The Hawaiian Islands And Other Tropical Places
    George W. Staples , and Derral R. Herbst
    Manufacturer: Bishop Museum Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 1581780397

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Great reference for the serious gardener.......2007-09-24

    Not full of flashy photos, so this won't be appealing to casual gardeners. If you have some education in botany and understand the taxonomy, this will be a reference book you will come back to time and again. Very comprehensive.

    5 out of 5 stars Book of the Century.......2005-08-20

    I have just finished writing a review of this book for the West Hawaii Today newspaper. I've looked it over quite thoroughly. It's flawless! And I'm a very picky reviewer. It will be the authoritative classic for many years to come, and I predict it will garner some horticultural book awards during the coming year. The binding is real cloth, a rariety these days. Bishop Museum has produced a deluxe book. I know tropical horticulture books well and review them on my website.
    Landscaping With Tropical Plants (Sunset Series)
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • For the Home garden, very basic
    • Great buy for the Tropical Gardener
    • Inspirational
    • A surprise.
    • Not if you live in the tropics
    Landscaping With Tropical Plants (Sunset Series)
    Monica Moran Brandies
    Manufacturer: Leisure Arts
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    ASIN: 0376034572

    Book Description

    Imagine the lush possibilities. In one volume with over 200 photographs, readers will discover how to grow an entire spectrum of exciting new plants in their home gardens. This book reveals the types of tropical plants that are right for your site, no matter what your climate. In addition, it will tell how to get various plants through the winter and into the next growing season. Just the thing for the gardener who wants to incorporate the exotic into the usual landscape.

    Customer Reviews:

    3 out of 5 stars For the Home garden, very basic.......2007-06-27

    If you are intending to get professional advicing on using Tropical plants avoid this book, however if you are planning your own home garden it is a very didactic and fun to read book.

    5 out of 5 stars Great buy for the Tropical Gardener.......2007-05-27

    If you're like me, you prefer beautiful tropical landscape images over reading text about gardens. This book does an excellent job of that, particularly for the price. I regularly purchase books on tropical gardening, and what I don't want is another listing of plants, I can get that from the mail order catalogues. I like to see images of tropical environments that I can consider recreating, or views that show good tropical garden designs of actual plants (not drawn images). For the money, this book is well worth it.

    5 out of 5 stars Inspirational.......2007-04-07

    I found this book to be well organized, inspirational and informative with beautiful pictures of landscapes and common tropical plants. The book also gives tips on planting in general.

    5 out of 5 stars A surprise........2007-01-12

    I recently bought 3 hort books from Amazon, this one is used daily.
    It's the best if you are looking for straight planning ideas and great colour & the price is right. :)
    I can't wait for Sunset's new edition of Western Gardens due out in Feb 07, & any new book by Monica Moran Brandies.

    Buy it, you won't be disappointed, along with Tropical Plants for Home and Garden by William Warren.

    3 out of 5 stars Not if you live in the tropics.......2006-07-11

    This book is not for someone living in Zones 8,9,10 of the U.S. It focuses on how to use non-tropical plants or tropical plants as annuals to acheive a tropical "look". Not good if you actually live in the tropics and want a guide to plants for your area and how to care for them.
    Hawaiian Gardens are to Go to, A Treasury of Tropical Plants and Gardens
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Hawaiian Gardens are to Go to, A Treasury of Tropical Plants and Gardens
      Clayton Oslund , and Michele Oslund
      Manufacturer: Plant Pics
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      ASIN: 0966739906

      Book Description

      A user-friendly guide to public gardens and parks on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island.
      Tropical Garden Design
      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
      • Go for the hardcover edition
      • Tropical Garden Design
      • A Dreamers Dream
      • Reviewers' Inappropriate Projections
      • Great way to overcome winter blahs!
      Tropical Garden Design
      Made Wijaya
      Manufacturer: Periplus Editions
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      ASIN: 0794602428

      Book Description

      Made Wijaya, landscape designer to such high-profile gardens as those of rock icon David Bowie and the United States Ambassador in Jakarta, shares his brilliant garden designs and offers advice for both novice gardeners and professionals on creating similar results in their own backyards. Exploring Wijaya's many gardens, including water gardes, Balinese gardens, paths and paving, floating pavilions, courtyards, roof gardens, ad more, the designer reveals his expert techniques and practical tips for creating a lovely garden sanctuary with flair and creativity.

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Go for the hardcover edition.......2006-12-30

      You will find yourself repeadedly going back to this book, time & time again.
      Along with William Warren's books there are no better sources of "ideas" for your tropical garden. Buy it!

      2 out of 5 stars Tropical Garden Design.......2006-07-12

      I agree with some other reviewers that this is a book for day dreamers. It does not claim to be a guide to tropical garden design and it certainly is not in that category. It is a nice book with many nice early morning photographs of selected beautiful tropical gardens, mostly in Bali. It is a sharing of Michael White's philosophy of garden design oriented around controlled jungles (with high labor input in maintenance) rather than on "how to do it".It is also a fitting reminder and proof that one does not need a university degree to be successful at one's chosen profession.

      5 out of 5 stars A Dreamers Dream.......2005-08-27

      This is the book that you will pick up and read over and over again as it inspires you to turn your own place into a tropical paradise. This is one of my very favorites in my personal library and I just wish there were more like it. Not a "how to" but a wonderful book for daydreams. A combination of good writing and gorgeous photographs...always a winner!

      5 out of 5 stars Reviewers' Inappropriate Projections.......2005-07-19

      The title of this book is "Tropical Garden Design", not "How To Design A Tropical Garden In Ten Easy Steps".
      That reviewers on this page and across the board here on Amazon project their own desires into books that do not even pretend to be what the reviewers WISH they were is indeed odd, and quite unfair.
      Neither the title nor desciption claims that this is a guide to installing your own tropical garden, yet reviewers here rate this great book on a low scale because it doesn't do exactly that.

      4 out of 5 stars Great way to overcome winter blahs!.......2005-01-29

      If you are suffering from winter blahs, Tropical Garden Design by Made Wijaya is the perfect way for you to escape. Although this book was written as a useful resource for tropical gardeners, it is also a lovely coffee table book for gardeners in colder climates. There are dozens of photos of lush tropical gardens in this book.

      Tropical Garden Design begins with a history of tropical gardens. Because of Wijaya's writing style, this chapter is fun to read. The photos of the different tropical garden types are an added bonus.

      Chapter two dives right into how to create a Balinese garden. This chapter discusses how to get the Balinese feel and there are many photos, but it is not a step by step garden plan.

      As I moved on to Courtyards, Patios, and Terraces, I was excited to see an actual planting plan for a courtyard. There are also many pictures that will provide inspiration. I especially enjoyed the many different examples of stone used in the garden.

      Chapters four and five cover water gardens and swimming pools. Again, the pictures are lovely, and chapter five does include one planting plan.

      Planting schemes are discussed in chapter six. There are dozens of photos showing different planting schemes. Chapter seven covers tropical plants, but only touches on one or two of each species.

      The final chapter of Tropical Garden Design discusses garden art. Again, there are many lovely photos.

      The book ends with an appendix that includes information on Villa Bebek, a tropical home and garden, as well as a useful listing of trees and shrubs that flower in the wet season.

      Tropical Garden Design is filled with lovely photos. This book was written to showcase Wijaya's work and to talk about the way he designs tropical gardens, so has few actual garden plans. If you are looking for a how to book, you will be disappointed. However, if you want to escape the winter blahs or if you are designing a tropical garden and need some inspiration, make sure you don't miss Tropical Garden Design.
      Ornamental Plants & Flowers of Tropical Mexico
      Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
      • Ornamental Plants & Flowers of Tropical Mexico
      • Picture Book - Little Substance
      Ornamental Plants & Flowers of Tropical Mexico
      Linda Abbott Trapp
      Manufacturer: Abbott Publications
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

      GeneralGeneral | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
      Ornamental PlantsOrnamental Plants | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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      ASIN: 1599712520
      Release Date: 2006-09-30

      Product Description

      Identification and cultivation guide, fully illustrated with hundreds of color photographs. Includes common/scientific names, use/care information, cultivation/propagation tips, flowering habit, and history/little-known facts for over 100 of the most beautiful and interesting plants in areas frequented by visitors.

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Ornamental Plants & Flowers of Tropical Mexico.......2007-05-13

      The best book ever. It's now my flower guide and how to book for south of the boarder.Absolutely fantanstic!

      1 out of 5 stars Picture Book - Little Substance.......2007-04-09

      The book has some nice photographs of plants being grown in the area. Pretty much what you would expect to see in local gardens, or a plant nursery.

      It has virtually no usable information on gardening or growng anything, - a few mis-identified plants as well (in my edition at least).

      For me the book serves no purpose whatsoever, except i bought it locally (Vallarta) and part of the proceeds went to charity. Even so, had I seen the book prior to purchasing it I would not have purchased it.
      Tropical Plants for Home and Garden
      Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
      • One of the best references for tropical flowers I've seen
      • One of the Best Books for Gardeners
      • A very useful reference book.
      • A wide variety of plants of all sizes and types are covered to delight any who live in warm environments or have greenhouses
      • Showy Book Loses Stars for Imbalance, Lack of Variety
      Tropical Plants for Home and Garden
      William Warren
      Manufacturer: Thames & Hudson
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      ShrubsShrubs | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
      TropicalTropical | By Climate | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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      1. Landscaping With Tropical Plants (Sunset Series) Landscaping With Tropical Plants (Sunset Series)
      2. Plants for Tropical Landscapes: A Gardener's Guide Plants for Tropical Landscapes: A Gardener's Guide
      3. Tropical Flowering Plants: A Guide to Identification and Cultivation Tropical Flowering Plants: A Guide to Identification and Cultivation
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      ASIN: 0500283419

      Book Description

      "A stunningly beautiful presentation of flowers and plants native to tropical regions of the world." —Phoenix Home & Garden

      With sections on flowering shrubs and annuals, foliage plants, ornamental trees, ornamental vines and creepers, palms, exotics, water plants, ground covers, ferns, and orchids, Tropical Plants serves as a guide, an aid to identification, and a historical survey. Each segment contains beautifully illustrated photographs of each plant accompanied by comprehensive descriptions.

      Remarkable photographs of plants and flowers meticulously observed and documented are the perfect means of capturing the beauty of the plants and their backgrounds. William Warren's detailed knowledge of plants that flourish in hot climates is applied not only to the tropics themselves but also to varieties that are suitable for cultivation in the United States, Europe, and other nontropical areas. 449 color photographs.

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars One of the best references for tropical flowers I've seen.......2007-09-24

      Really a nice quality book. It's difficult to find books that provide good, clear photos. Wonderful coverage for its size. A real pleasure to just browse through and an excellent tool for identification. Shows not just the common plants but a few of the less known.

      5 out of 5 stars One of the Best Books for Gardeners.......2007-03-19

      Great asset for my son who is a gardener!

      5 out of 5 stars A very useful reference book........2007-02-10

      Tropical Plants for Home and Garden by William Warren is a beautifully done coffee table/reference book on many of the more commonly grown plants in the tropics. The paperback version is my second copy--having purchased the hardback edition a year ago. There is not a lot of cultural information given on the plants--it is a book devoted to plants, not a book on tropical gardening. Luca Invernizzi Tettoni's photographs, however, are vivid and very helpful in identification of the species. I am a writer of garden books, as well as the executive director of a tropical botanical garden, so I am very familiar with the plants in this book. I would recommend "Tropical Plants for Home and Garden" to anyone who gardens in Zones 10-11. Even those who live "up north" would enjoy it as a "tropical getaway".

      No one book is perfect, but we have many of William Warren's books on tropical plants/gardens in our reference library, and I have found all of them to be well written and to the point.

      5 out of 5 stars A wide variety of plants of all sizes and types are covered to delight any who live in warm environments or have greenhouses.......2006-05-22

      It's quite a simple formula: if you're looking to include tropical plants into your home or garden, you can't be without this book. Gorgeous color photos by Luca Invernizzi Tettoni pack a display of equally gorgeous plants accompanied by details on growing needs, propagation, cultivars, and use in home or garden environments. From ferns and succulents to gingers and bananas, a wide variety of plants of all sizes and types are covered to delight any who live in warm environments or have greenhouses to stock.

      Diane C. Donovan, Editor
      California Bookwatch

      3 out of 5 stars Showy Book Loses Stars for Imbalance, Lack of Variety.......2003-08-24

      Neither a good specimen guide nor glamorous coffee table showpiece, this nonetheless fills a gap in my growing library of tropical gardening books. It could be a nice introduction to tropical plants, but anyone who wants to actually garden with tropical specimens would be better served by other books, perhaps best of all, Gardening in the Tropics, ISBN: 0881923095 .

      As one reviewer points out, there are several silly mistakes. It is telling that the publisher is known for style & design books. It needed an editor with a little more botanical savvy.

      The format is clear and attractive, with huge photos and a little, nicely written text for each. The content is somewhat inconsistent. While many photographs are clear and nicely illustrative of the whole plant, some specimens are photographed in a massive mixed border some distance away. Identification, therefore, can be very frustrating. For every delight (there are, indeed, many gorgeous photos), there is a disappointment.

      Nomenclature seemed inconsistent, and local names (Indonesia, Malaysia, etc) could have been supplied by these contributors who spend much of their time in southeast Asia.

      There is no practical advice for a gardener (beyond the occasional note about something tolerating dry conditions or some such), but book doesn't pretend to be a guide book.

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