From Booklist
Sharing her experiences based on years of gardening with hostas, Barrett, along with coauthor Hughes, guides readers through the limitless variety and versatility of each plant, highlighting more than one hundred species and varieties, and offering landscape ideas, companion plantings, and specific cultivar information for both. Carol Haggas
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Carol Haggas, Booklist / RBB 03/15/2004
Guides readers through the limitless variety... excels with its clear concise format, detailed descriptions, and superlative color photography.


Halifax Chronicle Herald 06/20/2004
A loving look at a garden staple... endless ideas for that shady spot in your garden.


Linda Hutchinson, Pasadena Star-News 08/14/2004
The book provides pictures of many varieties, which shows both their color and their setting in the garden.


Karin J. Shank, E-Streams 07/2004
Informal, almost chatty, tone... valuable resource for anyone like myself who has a large area of deep shade.


Science News 09/04/2004
Clear and plentiful instructions about how to propagate and cultivate hostas and what other plants make good companions.


Book Description
The definitive guide to a popular hardy perennial. The growing popularity of hostas can be credited to their colorful beauty, longevity and ability to grow successfully just about anywhere. Hosta foliage comes in astonishing variations. From blue, green, yellow to multicolored, the leaves appear in all manner of shape, size and texture. Their growing season stretches from early spring to late fall. The plant's flower ranges in color from white to pale lavenders and blue-purples. For gardeners in colder climates, the best part is that hostas flourish to Zone 3 -- virtually all of continental United States as well as populated areas of Canada and Alaska. Hostas introduces modern, busy gardeners to the charms of this beautifully diverse plant. After a brief section on the fascinating history of hostas, the book covers growing the various cultivars in fine detail. Topics include: - Cultivation - Propagation - Landscaping with hostas - Borders and beds - Typical garden settings - Enhancing a garden's special features - Growing hostas in containers - Good plant and tree companions - Catalogue of hostas Illustrated with color photographs throughout, Hostas is a valuable resource for modern, creative gardeners.


About the Author
Rosemary Barrett writes for garden magazines and specialist periodicals. She owns a nursery with her husband. Derek Hughes specializes in garden and horticulture photography and his work has appeared in many books and magazines.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The definitive guide to a popular hardy perennial.

The growing popularity of hostas can be credited to their colorful beauty, longevity and ability to grow successfully just about anywhere. Hosta foliage comes in astonishing variations. From blue, green, yellow to multicolored, the leaves appear in all manner of shape, size and texture.

Their growing season stretches from early spring to late fall. The plant's flower ranges in color from white to pale lavenders and blue-purples. For gardeners in colder climates, the best part is that hostas flourish to Zone 3 -- virtually all of continental United States as well as populated areas of Canada and Alaska.

Hostas introduces modern, busy gardeners to the charms of this beautifully diverse plant. After a brief section on the fascinating history of hostas, the book covers growing the various cultivars in fine detail.

Topics include:CultivationPropagationLandscaping with hostasBorders and bedsTypical garden settingsEnhancing a garden's special featuresGrowing hostas in containersGood plant and tree companionsCatalogue of hostas

Illustrated with color photographs throughout, Hostas is a valuable resource for modern, creative gardeners.

SYNOPSIS