United States
£ GBP
This majestic work covers more than 20,000 plants from around the world. It is the first new gardening encyclopedia to be published for 7 years and has been written by an international team of botanical and horticultural experts including Tony Lord, Martyn Rix, David Austin, Geoff Stebbings, Terry Hewitt and Peter Brownless. Organized in A-Z format by botanical name, it includes the main plant groups: trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials, bulbs, corms and tubers, cacti and succulents, lawns, ground covers, ornamental grasses, herbs, vegetables, fruit trees, nut trees and other fruits, palms and cycads, ferns, climbers and creepers, and orchids.
Each individual entry provides a detailed description of the plant and its features, notes on origin, cultivation requirements, growth habit, propagation, pests and diseases. The introduction explains the world's 12 climatic zones and their environmental features as they affect plants. It also provides lists of plants suitable for growing in specific areas as well as ideas for garden design.
There are 12,000 stunning colour photographs taken in situ around the world. Also included is a CD-ROM with the entire contents of the encyclopaedia and a Plant Chooser.
The two volumes comes in a sturdy slipcase.
- 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 - Orchids
Tony Lord is a photographer, writer and horticultural consultant. He was for many years Gardens Adviser to the National Trust and now serves on several Royal Horticultural Society committees. He is the editor of the bestselling annual "Plant Finder" and the author and photographer of "Best Borders", "Gardening at Sissinghurst" and "Designing with Roses".
the most comprehensive guide to more than 20,000 plants from around the world. Its 1584 densely packed pages are illustrated with 12,000 beautiful photographs.
- THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH (12/10/03)
"At first I felt overwhelmed by the gaps in my gardening knowledge. Next I had an almost insatiable desire to read every single page. Finally, I felt reassurance - that I would always have this useful tome... The information is not just horticultural, but also social, and the strange facts about plant uses and the origins of their names, is as fascinating as the advice on cultivation and growing conditions."
- THE HERALD, GLASGOW
"This book promises to be the ultimate gardeners' encyclopedia. Over 20,000 garden plants from all over the world are covered in detail covering origin, cultivation requirements, growth habits, propagation and the pests and diseases to which it is prone. Written by a team of botanical and horticultural experts, it is also beautifully illustrated with more than 10,000 colour photographs of plants in their natural habitats."
- COUNTRY HOUSE & HOME (Oct 2003)
"Cassell's 'Flora' deserves a space on any keen gardener's book shelf."
- GARDEN NEWS (22 Oct 2003)
"Cassell's has just produced a magnificent two-volume tome of plants. Admittedly Cassell's 'Flora' costs 50 but would make a great present. Set out in an A-Z format, with 12,000 photographs it covers not just trees, shubs, perennials, bulbs, corms and tubers and grasses. It also has cacti, succulents, lawns, fruits and vegetables, ground cover, ferns, orchids and cycads. Each entry gives the plant's cultivation needs, propagation, habit, origin and potential pests."
- Pippa Greenwood DAILY MIRROR (1 Nov 2003)
"Weighing in at a massive 1500 pages is the first new gardening encyclopedia to be published in 5 years and a serious challenger to the excellent RHS(etc). Indeed if number of plants is what delivers the knockout blow, with more than 20,000 Flora wins the bout hands down... There's no doubt that the scope covered here is far wider... a wonderful reference work... The glossary of terms is outstanding. The excellent use of photographs... gives a more sumptuous feel... and very fine it is too."
- KITCHEN GARDEN (Dec 2003)
"...plant lovers have their own heavy-weight tomes - two of them. Cassell's Flora is an encyclopedia of 20,000 plants from all over the world. If you can't face staggering from shelf to table to look something up, the CD included in the price is delightfully portable and complete"
- Mary Keen THE SPECTATOR (29/11/03)
"One approaches a book of this size with fear and trembling. It's BIG. But then it has to be: how else to describe and illustrate in full, clear colour virtually every one of the more than 20,000 plants (trees, shrubs, flowers and ferns) grown in gardens around the world? Weighing in at just shy of 15 pounds, sturdily bound in two volumes enclosed in an equally sturdy box, 'Flora' offers a serious, possibly winning, challenge to that other thousand-pager, Dorling Kindersley's bestselling RHS A-Z."
- SAGA magazine December 2003
"'Flora, The Gardener's Bible' comes complete with a CD-ROM containing a plant selector, a journal to record your own planting, hundreds of online links, all the text and more, plus a searchable index. Exactly what everyone wants of a reference work. Clever Cassell."
- SUNDAY HERALD (Glasgow) 7/12/03
"'Flora' contains over 20,000 plants from around the world, which are listed alphabetically by botanical name, with full details on their origins and how to grow them successfully. It also includes advice on choosing plants that are suitable for growing in specific areas. There is an interesting introduction, too, which explains how the world's 12 climatic zones work and the plants that grow in them. Written by a team of experts, this encyclopedia will make a splendid gift for a gardener."
- THE LADY 9/12/03
"'Flora' is an enormous, two-volume tome accompanied by a CD. A clear and authoritative plant encyclopedia, and a gift to last for decades."
- BBC HOMES & ANTIQUES (Jan 2004)
"New bible for gardeners. An impressive line-up of gardening experts have helped pen a mammoth book of plants. Matthew Biggs, panelist on Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time, and rose breeder David Austin have contributed to 'Flora', a two-volumed set that contains descriptions of more than 20,000 plants and 12,000 photos along with information about habitat, cultivation and propagation."
- BBC GARDENERS WORLD (Jan 2004)
