From Booklist
*Starred Review* Major garden and plant reference sources are appearing like bulbs sprouting in the spring. A significant contribution to the bouquet is this work from the independent publisher Timber Press, which is celebrating its twenty-fifth year in the industry. The encyclopedia was produced in Australia by Global Book Publishing, and the chief consultant, Hogan, for many years managed the Australia/New Zealand areas at USC-Berkeley Botanic Garden. Most of the 15 contributors are from the U.S and have credentials or experience in horticulture.Following some introductory material on hardiness zones and plant nomenclature, the pages are filled with descriptions of 20,000 plants accompanied by 10,000 color photographs. There are entries from all plant groups--trees, shrubs, bulbs, herbs, fruits, vegetables, grasses, etc. They are arranged alphabetically by botanic name and include distinguishing features, commercial use, propagation, and cultivation. Individual species follow with common name, growth habit, flower color, hardiness zone, and width and height. The majority of the plants are cultivated (not wild) and grow in temperate climates. Starred species are those recommended by the consultants.Many of the pages are more than half-filled with color pictures of various sizes from all over the world--Chile, Namibia, Nepal, Puerto Rico. The great number of species that are in existence is illustrated by 17 pages of irises, 24 pages of camellias, 59 pages of rhododendrons, and 68 pages of roses. Since the plants are listed by genus, it is necessary to use the index to find the common name. However, varieties are in the index only as a subheading of the genus; the "Peace" rose, for example, is listed as Rosa "Peace." A small glossary and full-page spreads illustrating leaf, fruit, and flower types complete the work. An accompanying CD-ROM enables a gardener to choose plants by group, hardiness zone, flower, color, and flowering season. For 50 plants, a moving illustration shows the change of seasons on the plant. Several American Horticulture Society publications are comparable. The American Horticultural Society A to Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants (DK, 1997), with 15,000 entries and 6,000 small colored photos, is not as complete. A 2003 revision of the American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers [RBB My 1 03] contains a "Plant Catalog" and also provides step-by-step suggestions for creating different garden designs. Librarians and gardeners will need to look at their budgets before deciding how many plant reference sources are needed, but Flora certainly is a beautiful and comprehensive encyclopedia for the serious gardener. RBB
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Valerie Easton, The Seattle Times Magazine, November 2, 2003
"You'll refer to 'Flora' more often than any other gardening book on your shelves."

Kym Pokorny, The Oregonian, November 13, 2003
"The information contained in these 1,584 pages and accompanying CD-ROM is truly admirable."

Publisher's Weekly
"Talk about a magnum opus. . . . A two-volume work containing exhaustive information on over 20,000 plants with more than 10,000 photos."

Jane Garmey, Town & Country, November 2003
"Deserving a good foot of space on any home library's reference shelf."

Book Description
This comprehensive, beautifully illustrated encyclopedia of plants contains information on over 20,000 plants from all around the world. Organized in an A to Z format by botanical name, the individual entries provide a detailed description of each plant and its features, notes on origin, cultivation requirements, growth habit, propagation and pests and diseases. The introduction explains how the 12 climatic zones work, and looks at the environment and the plants that grow in those zones. Lists of plants suitable for growing in specific areas, for example, alpine gardens and seaside gardens, are also given. In addition, the introduction provides ideas for garden design. Flora covers all the plants groups: trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials, bulbs, corms and tubers, cacti and succulents, lawns, ground covers, ornamental grasses, herbs, vegetables, fruit trees, other fruits, nut trees, palms and cycads, ferns, climbers and creepers, and orchids. Written by a team of international botanical and horticultural writers, this book will allow all gardeners to choose the perfect plants for their garden, and expand their knowledge on the wealth of plants available. The stunning color photography from all around the world is the perfect complement to the text.

About the Author
Sean Hogan is the co-founder of Cistus Design in Portland, Oregon. He was formerly a horticulturist at the University of California, Berkeley Botanic Garden, where he managed the New World Desert, Australia/New Zealand, Africa, and California-cultivar gardens. He is a frequent contributor to horticultural journals such as the Rock Garden Quarterly and Pacific Horticulture.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

This comprehensive, beautifully illustrated encyclopedia of plants contains information on over 20,000 plants from all around the world. Organized in an A to Z format by botanical name, the individual entries provide a detailed description of each plant and its features, notes on origin, cultivation requirements, growth habit, propagation and pests and diseases.

The introduction explains how the 12 climatic zones work, and looks at the environment and the plants that grow in those zones. Lists of plants suitable for growing in specific areas, for example, alpine gardens and seaside gardens, are also given. In addition, the introduction provides ideas for garden design.

Flora covers all the plants groups: trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials, bulbs, corms and tubers, cacti and succulents, lawns, ground covers, ornamental grasses, herbs, vegetables, fruit trees, other fruits, nut trees, palms and cycads, ferns, climbers and creepers, and orchids.

Written by a team of international botanical and horticultural writers, this book will allow all gardeners to choose the perfect plants for their garden, and expand their knowledge on the wealth of plants available. The stunning color photography from all around the world is the perfect complement to the text.

About the Author:

Sean Hogan is the co-founder of Cistus Design in Portland, Oregon. He was formerly a horticulturist at the University of California, Berkeley Botanic Garden, where he managed the New World Desert, Australia/New Zealand, Africa, and California-cultivar gardens. He is a frequent contributor to horticultural journals such as the Rock Garden Quarterly and Pacific Horticulture.

FROM THE CRITICS

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