The presentation often gets in the way, 03 Dec 2008
A very large format book, Cacti and Succulents provides a plant directory along with care and cultivation directions, and suggestions as to how to grow the plants. The introduction explains what cacti and succulents are as well as showing plants in their natural habitat. The section Design Ideas contains suggestions for growing the plants outdoors, indoors and in various containers. Under Care and Cultivation it ranges from suggestions for tools and equipment and soil mixes to maintenance, propagation and pests and diseases, and more. Also included is a glossary, lists of plants for various purposes, and an index. The mai bulk of the book however comprises the Plant Directory, an alphabetical listing of Cacti followed by the other succulents. The book includes 700 photographs, which in addition to showing specific species includes pictures of plants in habitat, in garden and indoor settings, and step by step sequences for various care procedures.

The information contained seems sound and helpful, although often quite general, and sometimes incomplete. For example in the plant directory each plant has a brief description and a few notes on cultivation, along with minimum temperatures, but not always, occasionally some of that information is not provided. The section on pests and diseases offers general rather than specific control methods, and some well tried non-chemical remedies are not mentioned. In the section of Plant Lists under species with large flowers neither Echinopsis nor Lobivia is mentioned, yet some species with smaller flowers are. Including as it does only 400 varieties there are obviously going to be many plants excluded, but I find it surprising that genera such as Lophophora and Melocactus are not to found in the book. Many genera are represented by just one species. While some recent name changes have been adopted, this had not been done for all plants; and there are no synonyms provided, so if you don't know the current name you will have difficulty finding it.

The overall presentation seems to be aiming for attractive rather than practical; I find it a little chaotic. The plant directory particularly I find distracting with its variable layout, pictures presented in rectangular and round format along with cut-out pictures of varying sizes, and the type often with excessive line spacing. Elsewhere the presentation can be brash; it does not have the feel of an instruction manual but a rather popular magazine.

While useful and informative, this is perhaps a book which will appeal more to the beginner or casual collector. For those unfamiliar with the cacti and other succulents it is maybe a book that will inspire the reader to learn more and look further; but it is not perhaps the book one will turn to for specific research. In conclusion, the serious or experienced collector I suspect will be somewhat irritated by various aspects of the book, along with the omissions and often general or even scant plant information.

The presentation often gets in the way, 03 Dec 2008
A very large format book, Cacti and Succulents provides a plant directory along with care and cultivation directions, and suggestions as to how to grow the plants. The introduction explains what cacti and succulents are as well as showing plants in their natural habitat. The section Design Ideas contains suggestions for growing the plants outdoors, indoors and in various containers. Under Care and Cultivation it ranges from suggestions for tools and equipment and soil mixes to maintenance, propagation and pests and diseases, and more. Also included is a glossary, lists of plants for various purposes, and an index. The mai bulk of the book however comprises the Plant Directory, an alphabetical listing of Cacti followed by the other succulents. The book includes 700 photographs, which in addition to showing specific species includes pictures of plants in habitat, in garden and indoor settings, and step by step sequences for various care procedures.

The information contained seems sound and helpful, although often quite general, and sometimes incomplete. For example in the plant directory each plant has a brief description and a few notes on cultivation, along with minimum temperatures, but not always, occasionally some of that information is not provided. The section on pests and diseases offers general rather than specific control methods, and some well tried non-chemical remedies are not mentioned. In the section of Plant Lists under species with large flowers neither Echinopsis nor Lobivia is mentioned, yet some species with smaller flowers are. Including as it does only 400 varieties there are obviously going to be many plants excluded, but I find it surprising that genera such as Lophophora and Melocactus are not to found in the book. Many genera are represented by just one species. While some recent name changes have been adopted, this had not been done for all plants; and there are no synonyms provided, so if you don't know the current name you will have difficulty finding it.

The overall presentation seems to be aiming for attractive rather than practical; I find it a little chaotic. The plant directory particularly I find distracting with its variable layout, pictures presented in rectangular and round format along with cut-out pictures of varying sizes, and the type often with excessive line spacing. Elsewhere the presentation can be brash; it does not have the feel of an instruction manual but a rather popular magazine.

While useful and informative, this is perhaps a book which will appeal more to the beginner or casual collector. For those unfamiliar with the cacti and other succulents it is maybe a book that will inspire the reader to learn more and look further; but it is not perhaps the book one will turn to for specific research. In conclusion, the serious or experienced collector I suspect will be somewhat irritated by various aspects of the book, along with the omissions and often general or even scant plant information.


The Perfect Bible For Exotics !!, 05 Nov 2008
Being new to exotic gardening, this book has been invaluable to me.
I saw the author recently on a Channel 5 programme and he is extremley knowledgable on this subject and that shines through in this book.
One thing i think that slightly lets it down is the lack of growing advice for the UK, other than that, it is a superb book to add to my collection and ive lost count of how many times ive had to go to the book to look a plant up.
If you are a beginner (like myself) or an experienced exotic gardener, then this book is well worth the price tag.

the best book on exotic plants, 17 Feb 2008
At long last the world of exotic/architectural plants has a bible - and this is it. Will Giles's latest book covers a large cross section of plants, including trees, shrubs, herbacous plants and an entertaining section entitled "houseplants outdoors". Giles also includes plants which are valuable for their asthetic qualities but are far from exotic - some even native to the UK. Each plant has a fairly detailed entry detailing growing procedure and preferred climatic conditions, most also having a photograph. The author grows many of these plants in his own garden, so there's a great deal of first hand experience in the text. To round it off there's also a useful listing of suppliers and websites.

Informative and beautiful, 10 Dec 2007
Really delighted with my copy. Clear straight forward horticultual advice on growing. Botanical names for identification. Beautiful photos that make it a good pick up and dip into. Great to clear away the winter blues as you dream of what exotics it is now possible to grow. Just fantastic for real and armchair gardeners alike.

The presentation often gets in the way, 03 Dec 2008
A very large format book, Cacti and Succulents provides a plant directory along with care and cultivation directions, and suggestions as to how to grow the plants. The introduction explains what cacti and succulents are as well as showing plants in their natural habitat. The section Design Ideas contains suggestions for growing the plants outdoors, indoors and in various containers. Under Care and Cultivation it ranges from suggestions for tools and equipment and soil mixes to maintenance, propagation and pests and diseases, and more. Also included is a glossary, lists of plants for various purposes, and an index. The mai bulk of the book however comprises the Plant Directory, an alphabetical listing of Cacti followed by the other succulents. The book includes 700 photographs, which in addition to showing specific species includes pictures of plants in habitat, in garden and indoor settings, and step by step sequences for various care procedures.

The information contained seems sound and helpful, although often quite general, and sometimes incomplete. For example in the plant directory each plant has a brief description and a few notes on cultivation, along with minimum temperatures, but not always, occasionally some of that information is not provided. The section on pests and diseases offers general rather than specific control methods, and some well tried non-chemical remedies are not mentioned. In the section of Plant Lists under species with large flowers neither Echinopsis nor Lobivia is mentioned, yet some species with smaller flowers are. Including as it does only 400 varieties there are obviously going to be many plants excluded, but I find it surprising that genera such as Lophophora and Melocactus are not to found in the book. Many genera are represented by just one species. While some recent name changes have been adopted, this had not been done for all plants; and there are no synonyms provided, so if you don't know the current name you will have difficulty finding it.

The overall presentation seems to be aiming for attractive rather than practical; I find it a little chaotic. The plant directory particularly I find distracting with its variable layout, pictures presented in rectangular and round format along with cut-out pictures of varying sizes, and the type often with excessive line spacing. Elsewhere the presentation can be brash; it does not have the feel of an instruction manual but a rather popular magazine.

While useful and informative, this is perhaps a book which will appeal more to the beginner or casual collector. For those unfamiliar with the cacti and other succulents it is maybe a book that will inspire the reader to learn more and look further; but it is not perhaps the book one will turn to for specific research. In conclusion, the serious or experienced collector I suspect will be somewhat irritated by various aspects of the book, along with the omissions and often general or even scant plant information.


The Perfect Bible For Exotics !!, 05 Nov 2008
Being new to exotic gardening, this book has been invaluable to me.
I saw the author recently on a Channel 5 programme and he is extremley knowledgable on this subject and that shines through in this book.
One thing i think that slightly lets it down is the lack of growing advice for the UK, other than that, it is a superb book to add to my collection and ive lost count of how many times ive had to go to the book to look a plant up.
If you are a beginner (like myself) or an experienced exotic gardener, then this book is well worth the price tag.

the best book on exotic plants, 17 Feb 2008
At long last the world of exotic/architectural plants has a bible - and this is it. Will Giles's latest book covers a large cross section of plants, including trees, shrubs, herbacous plants and an entertaining section entitled "houseplants outdoors". Giles also includes plants which are valuable for their asthetic qualities but are far from exotic - some even native to the UK. Each plant has a fairly detailed entry detailing growing procedure and preferred climatic conditions, most also having a photograph. The author grows many of these plants in his own garden, so there's a great deal of first hand experience in the text. To round it off there's also a useful listing of suppliers and websites.

Informative and beautiful, 10 Dec 2007
Really delighted with my copy. Clear straight forward horticultual advice on growing. Botanical names for identification. Beautiful photos that make it a good pick up and dip into. Great to clear away the winter blues as you dream of what exotics it is now possible to grow. Just fantastic for real and armchair gardeners alike.

Keen by Name, Keen by Nature, 14 Mar 2005
This is a splendid book and the enthusiasm of the author shines through. No book on cacti can give all the answers, the subject is too vast.
The author of this book takes the sensible approach and ensures that the content is well written and informative.
The photographs in the book are excellent and show some species that are not normally seen in this type of book, particularly the Asclepiadaceae family. The feeling that the author would like you the reader to know exactly what he knows comes through strongly.
There are articles on pests and diseases, grafting, watering and soil mixtures and even some tips on showing your plants. For those people who have a small collection of plants and want to keep them healthy and flowering, without going into too many technicalities, this is the book for you, and excellent value too.

The presentation often gets in the way, 03 Dec 2008
A very large format book, Cacti and Succulents provides a plant directory along with care and cultivation directions, and suggestions as to how to grow the plants. The introduction explains what cacti and succulents are as well as showing plants in their natural habitat. The section Design Ideas contains suggestions for growing the plants outdoors, indoors and in various containers. Under Care and Cultivation it ranges from suggestions for tools and equipment and soil mixes to maintenance, propagation and pests and diseases, and more. Also included is a glossary, lists of plants for various purposes, and an index. The mai bulk of the book however comprises the Plant Directory, an alphabetical listing of Cacti followed by the other succulents. The book includes 700 photographs, which in addition to showing specific species includes pictures of plants in habitat, in garden and indoor settings, and step by step sequences for various care procedures.

The information contained seems sound and helpful, although often quite general, and sometimes incomplete. For example in the plant directory each plant has a brief description and a few notes on cultivation, along with minimum temperatures, but not always, occasionally some of that information is not provided. The section on pests and diseases offers general rather than specific control methods, and some well tried non-chemical remedies are not mentioned. In the section of Plant Lists under species with large flowers neither Echinopsis nor Lobivia is mentioned, yet some species with smaller flowers are. Including as it does only 400 varieties there are obviously going to be many plants excluded, but I find it surprising that genera such as Lophophora and Melocactus are not to found in the book. Many genera are represented by just one species. While some recent name changes have been adopted, this had not been done for all plants; and there are no synonyms provided, so if you don't know the current name you will have difficulty finding it.

The overall presentation seems to be aiming for attractive rather than practical; I find it a little chaotic. The plant directory particularly I find distracting with its variable layout, pictures presented in rectangular and round format along with cut-out pictures of varying sizes, and the type often with excessive line spacing. Elsewhere the presentation can be brash; it does not have the feel of an instruction manual but a rather popular magazine.

While useful and informative, this is perhaps a book which will appeal more to the beginner or casual collector. For those unfamiliar with the cacti and other succulents it is maybe a book that will inspire the reader to learn more and look further; but it is not perhaps the book one will turn to for specific research. In conclusion, the serious or experienced collector I suspect will be somewhat irritated by various aspects of the book, along with the omissions and often general or even scant plant information.


The Perfect Bible For Exotics !!, 05 Nov 2008
Being new to exotic gardening, this book has been invaluable to me.
I saw the author recently on a Channel 5 programme and he is extremley knowledgable on this subject and that shines through in this book.
One thing i think that slightly lets it down is the lack of growing advice for the UK, other than that, it is a superb book to add to my collection and ive lost count of how many times ive had to go to the book to look a plant up.
If you are a beginner (like myself) or an experienced exotic gardener, then this book is well worth the price tag.

the best book on exotic plants, 17 Feb 2008
At long last the world of exotic/architectural plants has a bible - and this is it. Will Giles's latest book covers a large cross section of plants, including trees, shrubs, herbacous plants and an entertaining section entitled "houseplants outdoors". Giles also includes plants which are valuable for their asthetic qualities but are far from exotic - some even native to the UK. Each plant has a fairly detailed entry detailing growing procedure and preferred climatic conditions, most also having a photograph. The author grows many of these plants in his own garden, so there's a great deal of first hand experience in the text. To round it off there's also a useful listing of suppliers and websites.

Informative and beautiful, 10 Dec 2007
Really delighted with my copy. Clear straight forward horticultual advice on growing. Botanical names for identification. Beautiful photos that make it a good pick up and dip into. Great to clear away the winter blues as you dream of what exotics it is now possible to grow. Just fantastic for real and armchair gardeners alike.

Keen by Name, Keen by Nature, 14 Mar 2005
This is a splendid book and the enthusiasm of the author shines through. No book on cacti can give all the answers, the subject is too vast.
The author of this book takes the sensible approach and ensures that the content is well written and informative.
The photographs in the book are excellent and show some species that are not normally seen in this type of book, particularly the Asclepiadaceae family. The feeling that the author would like you the reader to know exactly what he knows comes through strongly.
There are articles on pests and diseases, grafting, watering and soil mixtures and even some tips on showing your plants. For those people who have a small collection of plants and want to keep them healthy and flowering, without going into too many technicalities, this is the book for you, and excellent value too.

Fabulous!, 03 Jun 2008
This book is a well written, substantial piece of work with hundreds of photos.

It would be good if a measurement could also be added to the photo text as it is hard to get a sense of scale.

The presentation often gets in the way, 03 Dec 2008
A very large format book, Cacti and Succulents provides a plant directory along with care and cultivation directions, and suggestions as to how to grow the plants. The introduction explains what cacti and succulents are as well as showing plants in their natural habitat. The section Design Ideas contains suggestions for growing the plants outdoors, indoors and in various containers. Under Care and Cultivation it ranges from suggestions for tools and equipment and soil mixes to maintenance, propagation and pests and diseases, and more. Also included is a glossary, lists of plants for various purposes, and an index. The mai bulk of the book however comprises the Plant Directory, an alphabetical listing of Cacti followed by the other succulents. The book includes 700 photographs, which in addition to showing specific species includes pictures of plants in habitat, in garden and indoor settings, and step by step sequences for various care procedures.

The information contained seems sound and helpful, although often quite general, and sometimes incomplete. For example in the plant directory each plant has a brief description and a few notes on cultivation, along with minimum temperatures, but not always, occasionally some of that information is not provided. The section on pests and diseases offers general rather than specific control methods, and some well tried non-chemical remedies are not mentioned. In the section of Plant Lists under species with large flowers neither Echinopsis nor Lobivia is mentioned, yet some species with smaller flowers are. Including as it does only 400 varieties there are obviously going to be many plants excluded, but I find it surprising that genera such as Lophophora and Melocactus are not to found in the book. Many genera are represented by just one species. While some recent name changes have been adopted, this had not been done for all plants; and there are no synonyms provided, so if you don't know the current name you will have difficulty finding it.

The overall presentation seems to be aiming for attractive rather than practical; I find it a little chaotic. The plant directory particularly I find distracting with its variable layout, pictures presented in rectangular and round format along with cut-out pictures of varying sizes, and the type often with excessive line spacing. Elsewhere the presentation can be brash; it does not have the feel of an instruction manual but a rather popular magazine.

While useful and informative, this is perhaps a book which will appeal more to the beginner or casual collector. For those unfamiliar with the cacti and other succulents it is maybe a book that will inspire the reader to learn more and look further; but it is not perhaps the book one will turn to for specific research. In conclusion, the serious or experienced collector I suspect will be somewhat irritated by various aspects of the book, along with the omissions and often general or even scant plant information.


The Perfect Bible For Exotics !!, 05 Nov 2008
Being new to exotic gardening, this book has been invaluable to me.
I saw the author recently on a Channel 5 programme and he is extremley knowledgable on this subject and that shines through in this book.
One thing i think that slightly lets it down is the lack of growing advice for the UK, other than that, it is a superb book to add to my collection and ive lost count of how many times ive had to go to the book to look a plant up.
If you are a beginner (like myself) or an experienced exotic gardener, then this book is well worth the price tag.

the best book on exotic plants, 17 Feb 2008
At long last the world of exotic/architectural plants has a bible - and this is it. Will Giles's latest book covers a large cross section of plants, including trees, shrubs, herbacous plants and an entertaining section entitled "houseplants outdoors". Giles also includes plants which are valuable for their asthetic qualities but are far from exotic - some even native to the UK. Each plant has a fairly detailed entry detailing growing procedure and preferred climatic conditions, most also having a photograph. The author grows many of these plants in his own garden, so there's a great deal of first hand experience in the text. To round it off there's also a useful listing of suppliers and websites.

Informative and beautiful, 10 Dec 2007
Really delighted with my copy. Clear straight forward horticultual advice on growing. Botanical names for identification. Beautiful photos that make it a good pick up and dip into. Great to clear away the winter blues as you dream of what exotics it is now possible to grow. Just fantastic for real and armchair gardeners alike.

Keen by Name, Keen by Nature, 14 Mar 2005
This is a splendid book and the enthusiasm of the author shines through. No book on cacti can give all the answers, the subject is too vast.
The author of this book takes the sensible approach and ensures that the content is well written and informative.
The photographs in the book are excellent and show some species that are not normally seen in this type of book, particularly the Asclepiadaceae family. The feeling that the author would like you the reader to know exactly what he knows comes through strongly.
There are articles on pests and diseases, grafting, watering and soil mixtures and even some tips on showing your plants. For those people who have a small collection of plants and want to keep them healthy and flowering, without going into too many technicalities, this is the book for you, and excellent value too.

Fabulous!, 03 Jun 2008
This book is a well written, substantial piece of work with hundreds of photos.

It would be good if a measurement could also be added to the photo text as it is hard to get a sense of scale.

Exotic Bible., 05 May 2001
This is a very informative and practical book if you have an interest in exotic gardening, in fact I would deem it as an essential addition to your gardening library. Information about hardiness, propogation and identification is clear and precise. UK gardeners should note that it is an American pulication but anybody with a bit of plant husbandry knowledge should be able to adapt this infomation to suit UK conditions. I have found myself coming back to this book for information and it will travel with me on all my plant hunting expeditions!

The presentation often gets in the way, 03 Dec 2008
A very large format book, Cacti and Succulents provides a plant directory along with care and cultivation directions, and suggestions as to how to grow the plants. The introduction explains what cacti and succulents are as well as showing plants in their natural habitat. The section Design Ideas contains suggestions for growing the plants outdoors, indoors and in various containers. Under Care and Cultivation it ranges from suggestions for tools and equipment and soil mixes to maintenance, propagation and pests and diseases, and more. Also included is a glossary, lists of plants for various purposes, and an index. The mai bulk of the book however comprises the Plant Directory, an alphabetical listing of Cacti followed by the other succulents. The book includes 700 photographs, which in addition to showing specific species includes pictures of plants in habitat, in garden and indoor settings, and step by step sequences for various care procedures.

The information contained seems sound and helpful, although often quite general, and sometimes incomplete. For example in the plant directory each plant has a brief description and a few notes on cultivation, along with minimum temperatures, but not always, occasionally some of that information is not provided. The section on pests and diseases offers general rather than specific control methods, and some well tried non-chemical remedies are not mentioned. In the section of Plant Lists under species with large flowers neither Echinopsis nor Lobivia is mentioned, yet some species with smaller flowers are. Including as it does only 400 varieties there are obviously going to be many plants excluded, but I find it surprising that genera such as Lophophora and Melocactus are not to found in the book. Many genera are represented by just one species. While some recent name changes have been adopted, this had not been done for all plants; and there are no synonyms provided, so if you don't know the current name you will have difficulty finding it.

The overall presentation seems to be aiming for attractive rather than practical; I find it a little chaotic. The plant directory particularly I find distracting with its variable layout, pictures presented in rectangular and round format along with cut-out pictures of varying sizes, and the type often with excessive line spacing. Elsewhere the presentation can be brash; it does not have the feel of an instruction manual but a rather popular magazine.

While useful and informative, this is perhaps a book which will appeal more to the beginner or casual collector. For those unfamiliar with the cacti and other succulents it is maybe a book that will inspire the reader to learn more and look further; but it is not perhaps the book one will turn to for specific research. In conclusion, the serious or experienced collector I suspect will be somewhat irritated by various aspects of the book, along with the omissions and often general or even scant plant information.


The Perfect Bible For Exotics !!, 05 Nov 2008
Being new to exotic gardening, this book has been invaluable to me.
I saw the author recently on a Channel 5 programme and he is extremley knowledgable on this subject and that shines through in this book.
One thing i think that slightly lets it down is the lack of growing advice for the UK, other than that, it is a superb book to add to my collection and ive lost count of how many times ive had to go to the book to look a plant up.
If you are a beginner (like myself) or an experienced exotic gardener, then this book is well worth the price tag.

the best book on exotic plants, 17 Feb 2008
At long last the world of exotic/architectural plants has a bible - and this is it. Will Giles's latest book covers a large cross section of plants, including trees, shrubs, herbacous plants and an entertaining section entitled "houseplants outdoors". Giles also includes plants which are valuable for their asthetic qualities but are far from exotic - some even native to the UK. Each plant has a fairly detailed entry detailing growing procedure and preferred climatic conditions, most also having a photograph. The author grows many of these plants in his own garden, so there's a great deal of first hand experience in the text. To round it off there's also a useful listing of suppliers and websites.

Informative and beautiful, 10 Dec 2007
Really delighted with my copy. Clear straight forward horticultual advice on growing. Botanical names for identification. Beautiful photos that make it a good pick up and dip into. Great to clear away the winter blues as you dream of what exotics it is now possible to grow. Just fantastic for real and armchair gardeners alike.

Keen by Name, Keen by Nature, 14 Mar 2005
This is a splendid book and the enthusiasm of the author shines through. No book on cacti can give all the answers, the subject is too vast.
The author of this book takes the sensible approach and ensures that the content is well written and informative.
The photographs in the book are excellent and show some species that are not normally seen in this type of book, particularly the Asclepiadaceae family. The feeling that the author would like you the reader to know exactly what he knows comes through strongly.
There are articles on pests and diseases, grafting, watering and soil mixtures and even some tips on showing your plants. For those people who have a small collection of plants and want to keep them healthy and flowering, without going into too many technicalities, this is the book for you, and excellent value too.

Fabulous!, 03 Jun 2008
This book is a well written, substantial piece of work with hundreds of photos.

It would be good if a measurement could also be added to the photo text as it is hard to get a sense of scale.

Exotic Bible., 05 May 2001
This is a very informative and practical book if you have an interest in exotic gardening, in fact I would deem it as an essential addition to your gardening library. Information about hardiness, propogation and identification is clear and precise. UK gardeners should note that it is an American pulication but anybody with a bit of plant husbandry knowledge should be able to adapt this infomation to suit UK conditions. I have found myself coming back to this book for information and it will travel with me on all my plant hunting expeditions!

Perfect Sense Planting, 08 Apr 2006
This book is ideal for anyone wanting to get the best out of their garden. Rosemary deals with all aspects of planting schemes, offering common sense and suggestions throughout. The pictures are accompanied by detailed descriptions of each plant - this aspect alone makes the book worth buying. A must for anyone who wants to create a beautiful plot whatever its size.

Glorious, 19 Sep 2001
The things I like about this book are that it has glorious photos as opposed to the more usual fuzzy water colour drawings that one sees in books of this type and is evidently written by a women who was a plantswoman to the core with a knowledge of plants and gardens that I can only dream of one day having. Far better than the RHS book on Planting Schemes.

Traditional gardens and borders, 30 Jan 2001
Another inspirational book by Rosemary Verey. This book deals with the art of companion planting, taking into account different habitats and characteristics of the plants. She gives detailed information on bulbs, climbers, mixed borders,ground cover, woodland and containers. Always very English and traditional planting with lovely and harmoniuous combinations.

All beautifully photographed.

If you like Beth Chatto and Penelope Hobhouse then you'll enjoy this book!

It makes you want to 'get out there' and re-create the borders in your own little patch!

The presentation often gets in the way, 03 Dec 2008
A very large format book, Cacti and Succulents provides a plant directory along with care and cultivation directions, and suggestions as to how to grow the plants. The introduction explains what cacti and succulents are as well as showing plants in their natural habitat. The section Design Ideas contains suggestions for growing the plants outdoors, indoors and in various containers. Under Care and Cultivation it ranges from suggestions for tools and equipment and soil mixes to maintenance, propagation and pests and diseases, and more. Also included is a glossary, lists of plants for various purposes, and an index. The mai bulk of the book however comprises the Plant Directory, an alphabetical listing of Cacti followed by the other succulents. The book includes 700 photographs, which in addition to showing specific species includes pictures of plants in habitat, in garden and indoor settings, and step by step sequences for various care procedures.

The information contained seems sound and helpful, although often quite general, and sometimes incomplete. For example in the plant directory each plant has a brief description and a few notes on cultivation, along with minimum temperatures, but not always, occasionally some of that information is not provided. The section on pests and diseases offers general rather than specific control methods, and some well tried non-chemical remedies are not mentioned. In the section of Plant Lists under species with large flowers neither Echinopsis nor Lobivia is mentioned, yet some species with smaller flowers are. Including as it does only 400 varieties there are obviously going to be many plants excluded, but I find it surprising that genera such as Lophophora and Melocactus are not to found in the book. Many genera are represented by just one species. While some recent name changes have been adopted, this had not been done for all plants; and there are no synonyms provided, so if you don't know the current name you will have difficulty finding it.

The overall presentation seems to be aiming for attractive rather than practical; I find it a little chaotic. The plant directory particularly I find distracting with its variable layout, pictures presented in rectangular and round format along with cut-out pictures of varying sizes, and the type often with excessive line spacing. Elsewhere the presentation can be brash; it does not have the feel of an instruction manual but a rather popular magazine.

While useful and informative, this is perhaps a book which will appeal more to the beginner or casual collector. For those unfamiliar with the cacti and other succulents it is maybe a book that will inspire the reader to learn more and look further; but it is not perhaps the book one will turn to for specific research. In conclusion, the serious or experienced collector I suspect will be somewhat irritated by various aspects of the book, along with the omissions and often general or even scant plant information.


The Perfect Bible For Exotics !!, 05 Nov 2008
Being new to exotic gardening, this book has been invaluable to me.
I saw the author recently on a Channel 5 programme and he is extremley knowledgable on this subject and that shines through in this book.
One thing i think that slightly lets it down is the lack of growing advice for the UK, other than that, it is a superb book to add to my collection and ive lost count of how many times ive had to go to the book to look a plant up.
If you are a beginner (like myself) or an experienced exotic gardener, then this book is well worth the price tag.

the best book on exotic plants, 17 Feb 2008
At long last the world of exotic/architectural plants has a bible - and this is it. Will Giles's latest book covers a large cross section of plants, including trees, shrubs, herbacous plants and an entertaining section entitled "houseplants outdoors". Giles also includes plants which are valuable for their asthetic qualities but are far from exotic - some even native to the UK. Each plant has a fairly detailed entry detailing growing procedure and preferred climatic conditions, most also having a photograph. The author grows many of these plants in his own garden, so there's a great deal of first hand experience in the text. To round it off there's also a useful listing of suppliers and websites.

Informative and beautiful, 10 Dec 2007
Really delighted with my copy. Clear straight forward horticultual advice on growing. Botanical names for identification. Beautiful photos that make it a good pick up and dip into. Great to clear away the winter blues as you dream of what exotics it is now possible to grow. Just fantastic for real and armchair gardeners alike.

Keen by Name, Keen by Nature, 14 Mar 2005
This is a splendid book and the enthusiasm of the author shines through. No book on cacti can give all the answers, the subject is too vast.
The author of this book takes the sensible approach and ensures that the content is well written and informative.
The photographs in the book are excellent and show some species that are not normally seen in this type of book, particularly the Asclepiadaceae family. The feeling that the author would like you the reader to know exactly what he knows comes through strongly.
There are articles on pests and diseases, grafting, watering and soil mixtures and even some tips on showing your plants. For those people who have a small collection of plants and want to keep them healthy and flowering, without going into too many technicalities, this is the book for you, and excellent value too.

Fabulous!, 03 Jun 2008
This book is a well written, substantial piece of work with hundreds of photos.

It would be good if a measurement could also be added to the photo text as it is hard to get a sense of scale.

Exotic Bible., 05 May 2001
This is a very informative and practical book if you have an interest in exotic gardening, in fact I would deem it as an essential addition to your gardening library. Information about hardiness, propogation and identification is clear and precise. UK gardeners should note that it is an American pulication but anybody with a bit of plant husbandry knowledge should be able to adapt this infomation to suit UK conditions. I have found myself coming back to this book for information and it will travel with me on all my plant hunting expeditions!

Perfect Sense Planting, 08 Apr 2006
This book is ideal for anyone wanting to get the best out of their garden. Rosemary deals with all aspects of planting schemes, offering common sense and suggestions throughout. The pictures are accompanied by detailed descriptions of each plant - this aspect alone makes the book worth buying. A must for anyone who wants to create a beautiful plot whatever its size.

Glorious, 19 Sep 2001
The things I like about this book are that it has glorious photos as opposed to the more usual fuzzy water colour drawings that one sees in books of this type and is evidently written by a women who was a plantswoman to the core with a knowledge of plants and gardens that I can only dream of one day having. Far better than the RHS book on Planting Schemes.

Traditional gardens and borders, 30 Jan 2001
Another inspirational book by Rosemary Verey. This book deals with the art of companion planting, taking into account different habitats and characteristics of the plants. She gives detailed information on bulbs, climbers, mixed borders,ground cover, woodland and containers. Always very English and traditional planting with lovely and harmoniuous combinations.

All beautifully photographed.

If you like Beth Chatto and Penelope Hobhouse then you'll enjoy this book!

It makes you want to 'get out there' and re-create the borders in your own little patch!

The moss lover's bible with an artistic approach, 26 Jan 2008
This is a must have item for the moss lover.
Mainly because of it's inspirational way it describes the subject.
Beautiful pictures!!!
And a chapter where a selection of mosses, liverwortd and lichens are descibed.
You will need a more scientific field guide to help you identify moss species and where to find them, because this book focusses more on Mr Shenk's personal view on moss gardening


Moss on your mind! Great stuff!, 18 Mar 2001
Including Lichens, Liverworts and Other Miniatures, mosses tell an ancient success story of longevity & adaptability, appearing in fossils 400 million years old & totaling 15,000 species from the Arctic to Antarctica.

This is the first book to cover the whole gamut of moss gardening & is destined to become a classic in its own right. Impressively illustrated with glorious full color photographs of the many & various moods of moss gardening from a tilled sand Zen meditation garden complete with moss covered stones to sun-dappled wood lands, carpeted in a glowing shag of green.

It says something about George Schenk's affection & enthusiasm for the gardening of these plants that makes watching grass grow or paint dry seem like a 100 yard dash, that I gobbled this book up like asparagus in season.

I then immediately took a walkabout of our sliver of land & for the first time saw the variety & beauty of that ground cover I'd simply ignored or considered a blight upon my erstwhile unweathered topography.

I know it sounds oxymoronic when I gush that Moss Gardening is one exciting read on an elusive subject. If you know of anyone who has moss in their gardens or on their minds, this is the book for them! Do check out my site for my full review & many other gardening books.

Good one, 02 Aug 1999
I recommend this book to begineers, it is nicely written and easy to understand. Will definitely encourage you into moss growing.

I would have appreciated a mean of identifying the types of moss that already grow in my garden, maybe some magnified pictures ? There are in this book but maybe not close enough. Although there are 15000 types of moss, maybe it is too tricky.

Good book anyway

The presentation often gets in the way, 03 Dec 2008
A very large format book, Cacti and Succulents provides a plant directory along with care and cultivation directions, and suggestions as to how to grow the plants. The introduction explains what cacti and succulents are as well as showing plants in their natural habitat. The section Design Ideas contains suggestions for growing the plants outdoors, indoors and in various containers. Under Care and Cultivation it ranges from suggestions for tools and equipment and soil mixes to maintenance, propagation and pests and diseases, and more. Also included is a glossary, lists of plants for various purposes, and an index. The mai bulk of the book however comprises the Plant Directory, an alphabetical listing of Cacti followed by the other succulents. The book includes 700 photographs, which in addition to showing specific species includes pictures of plants in habitat, in garden and indoor settings, and step by step sequences for various care procedures.

The information contained seems sound and helpful, although often quite general, and sometimes incomplete. For example in the plant directory each plant has a brief description and a few notes on cultivation, along with minimum temperatures, but not always, occasionally some of that information is not provided. The section on pests and diseases offers general rather than specific control methods, and some well tried non-chemical remedies are not mentioned. In the section of Plant Lists under species with large flowers neither Echinopsis nor Lobivia is mentioned, yet some species with smaller flowers are. Including as it does only 400 varieties there are obviously going to be many plants excluded, but I find it surprising that genera such as Lophophora and Melocactus are not to found in the book. Many genera are represented by just one species. While some recent name changes have been adopted, this had not been done for all plants; and there are no synonyms provided, so if you don't know the current name you will have difficulty finding it.

The overall presentation seems to be aiming for attractive rather than practical; I find it a little chaotic. The plant directory particularly I find distracting with its variable layout, pictures presented in rectangular and round format along with cut-out pictures of varying sizes, and the type often with excessive line spacing. Elsewhere the presentation can be brash; it does not have the feel of an instruction manual but a rather popular magazine.

While useful and informative, this is perhaps a book which will appeal more to the beginner or casual collector. For those unfamiliar with the cacti and other succulents it is maybe a book that will inspire the reader to learn more and look further; but it is not perhaps the book one will turn to for specific research. In conclusion, the serious or experienced collector I suspect will be somewhat irritated by various aspects of the book, along with the omissions and often general or even scant plant information.


The Perfect Bible For Exotics !!, 05 Nov 2008
Being new to exotic gardening, this book has been invaluable to me.
I saw the author recently on a Channel 5 programme and he is extremley knowledgable on this subject and that shines through in this book.
One thing i think that slightly lets it down is the lack of growing advice for the UK, other than that, it is a superb book to add to my collection and ive lost count of how many times ive had to go to the book to look a plant up.
If you are a beginner (like myself) or an experienced exotic gardener, then this book is well worth the price tag.

the best book on exotic plants, 17 Feb 2008
At long last the world of exotic/architectural plants has a bible - and this is it. Will Giles's latest book covers a large cross section of plants, including trees, shrubs, herbacous plants and an entertaining section entitled "houseplants outdoors". Giles also includes plants which are valuable for their asthetic qualities but are far from exotic - some even native to the UK. Each plant has a fairly detailed entry detailing growing procedure and preferred climatic conditions, most also having a photograph. The author grows many of these plants in his own garden, so there's a great deal of first hand experience in the text. To round it off there's also a useful listing of suppliers and websites.

Informative and beautiful, 10 Dec 2007
Really delighted with my copy. Clear straight forward horticultual advice on growing. Botanical names for identification. Beautiful photos that make it a good pick up and dip into. Great to clear away the winter blues as you dream of what exotics it is now possible to grow. Just fantastic for real and armchair gardeners alike.

Keen by Name, Keen by Nature, 14 Mar 2005
This is a splendid book and the enthusiasm of the author shines through. No book on cacti can give all the answers, the subject is too vast.
The author of this book takes the sensible approach and ensures that the content is well written and informative.
The photographs in the book are excellent and show some species that are not normally seen in this type of book, particularly the Asclepiadaceae family. The feeling that the author would like you the reader to know exactly what he knows comes through strongly.
There are articles on pests and diseases, grafting, watering and soil mixtures and even some tips on showing your plants. For those people who have a small collection of plants and want to keep them healthy and flowering, without going into too many technicalities, this is the book for you, and excellent value too.

Fabulous!, 03 Jun 2008
This book is a well written, substantial piece of work with hundreds of photos.

It would be good if a measurement could also be added to the photo text as it is hard to get a sense of scale.

Exotic Bible., 05 May 2001
This is a very informative and practical book if you have an interest in exotic gardening, in fact I would deem it as an essential addition to your gardening library. Information about hardiness, propogation and identification is clear and precise. UK gardeners should note that it is an American pulication but anybody with a bit of plant husbandry knowledge should be able to adapt this infomation to suit UK conditions. I have found myself coming back to this book for information and it will travel with me on all my plant hunting expeditions!

Perfect Sense Planting, 08 Apr 2006
This book is ideal for anyone wanting to get the best out of their garden. Rosemary deals with all aspects of planting schemes, offering common sense and suggestions throughout. The pictures are accompanied by detailed descriptions of each plant - this aspect alone makes the book worth buying. A must for anyone who wants to create a beautiful plot whatever its size.

Glorious, 19 Sep 2001
The things I like about this book are that it has glorious photos as opposed to the more usual fuzzy water colour drawings that one sees in books of this type and is evidently written by a women who was a plantswoman to the core with a knowledge of plants and gardens that I can only dream of one day having. Far better than the RHS book on Planting Schemes.

Traditional gardens and borders, 30 Jan 2001
Another inspirational book by Rosemary Verey. This book deals with the art of companion planting, taking into account different habitats and characteristics of the plants. She gives detailed information on bulbs, climbers, mixed borders,ground cover, woodland and containers. Always very English and traditional planting with lovely and harmoniuous combinations.

All beautifully photographed.

If you like Beth Chatto and Penelope Hobhouse then you'll enjoy this book!

It makes you want to 'get out there' and re-create the borders in your own little patch!

The moss lover's bible with an artistic approach, 26 Jan 2008
This is a must have item for the moss lover.
Mainly because of it's inspirational way it describes the subject.
Beautiful pictures!!!
And a chapter where a selection of mosses, liverwortd and lichens are descibed.
You will need a more scientific field guide to help you identify moss species and where to find them, because this book focusses more on Mr Shenk's personal view on moss gardening


Moss on your mind! Great stuff!, 18 Mar 2001
Including Lichens, Liverworts and Other Miniatures, mosses tell an ancient success story of longevity & adaptability, appearing in fossils 400 million years old & totaling 15,000 species from the Arctic to Antarctica.

This is the first book to cover the whole gamut of moss gardening & is destined to become a classic in its own right. Impressively illustrated with glorious full color photographs of the many & various moods of moss gardening from a tilled sand Zen meditation garden complete with moss covered stones to sun-dappled wood lands, carpeted in a glowing shag of green.

It says something about George Schenk's affection & enthusiasm for the gardening of these plants that makes watching grass grow or paint dry seem like a 100 yard dash, that I gobbled this book up like asparagus in season.

I then immediately took a walkabout of our sliver of land & for the first time saw the variety & beauty of that ground cover I'd simply ignored or considered a blight upon my erstwhile unweathered topography.

I know it sounds oxymoronic when I gush that Moss Gardening is one exciting read on an elusive subject. If you know of anyone who has moss in their gardens or on their minds, this is the book for them! Do check out my site for my full review & many other gardening books.

Good one, 02 Aug 1999
I recommend this book to begineers, it is nicely written and easy to understand. Will definitely encourage you into moss growing.

I would have appreciated a mean of identifying the types of moss that already grow in my garden, maybe some magnified pictures ? There are in this book but maybe not close enough. Although there are 15000 types of moss, maybe it is too tricky.

Good book anyway

Palms Won't Grow Here and Other Myths: Warm Climate Plants for Cooler Areas , 02 Jan 2009
Palms Won't Grow Here and Other Myths: Warm Climate Plants for Cooler Areas

A interesting book challenging the convention and norm on more "temperature" sensitive plants. The book gets you to think outside the box, thinking how micro climates within your own garden allows for more adventerous planting. Aimed at the american gardener but the sound principles apply in the EU just as well. If nothing else a good read.
Recomended for those long winter evenings to inspire and plan for the spring planting. (It is responsible for starting my interest in growing "tropical" garden plants!)

The presentation often gets in the way, 03 Dec 2008
A very large format book, Cacti and Succulents provides a plant directory along with care and cultivation directions, and suggestions as to how to grow the plants. The introduction explains what cacti and succulents are as well as showing plants in their natural habitat. The section Design Ideas contains suggestions for growing the plants outdoors, indoors and in various containers. Under Care and Cultivation it ranges from suggestions for tools and equipment and soil mixes to maintenance, propagation and pests and diseases, and more. Also included is a glossary, lists of plants for various purposes, and an index. The mai bulk of the book however comprises the Plant Directory, an alphabetical listing of Cacti followed by the other succulents. The book includes 700 photographs, which in addition to showing specific species includes pictures of plants in habitat, in garden and indoor settings, and step by step sequences for various care procedures.

The information contained seems sound and helpful, although often quite general, and sometimes incomplete. For example in the plant directory each plant has a brief description and a few notes on cultivation, along with minimum temperatures, but not always, occasionally some of that information is not provided. The section on pests and diseases offers general rather than specific control methods, and some well tried non-chemical remedies are not mentioned. In the section of Plant Lists under species with large flowers neither Echinopsis nor Lobivia is mentioned, yet some species with smaller flowers are. Including as it does only 400 varieties there are obviously going to be many plants excluded, but I find it surprising that genera such as Lophophora and Melocactus are not to found in the book. Many genera are represented by just one species. While some recent name changes have been adopted, this had not been done for all plants; and there are no synonyms provided, so if you don't know the current name you will have difficulty finding it.

The overall presentation seems to be aiming for attractive rather than practical; I find it a little chaotic. The plant directory particularly I find distracting with its variable layout, pictures presented in rectangular and round format along with cut-out pictures of varying sizes, and the type often with excessive line spacing. Elsewhere the presentation can be brash; it does not have the feel of an instruction manual but a rather popular magazine.

While useful and informative, this is perhaps a book which will appeal more to the beginner or casual collector. For those unfamiliar with the cacti and other succulents it is maybe a book that will inspire the reader to learn more and look further; but it is not perhaps the book one will turn to for specific research. In conclusion, the serious or experienced collector I suspect will be somewhat irritated by various aspects of the book, along with the omissions and often general or even scant plant information.


The Perfect Bible For Exotics !!, 05 Nov 2008
Being new to exotic gardening, this book has been invaluable to me.
I saw the author recently on a Channel 5 programme and he is extremley knowledgable on this subject and that shines through in this book.
One thing i think that slightly lets it down is the lack of growing advice for the UK, other than that, it is a superb book to add to my collection and ive lost count of how many times ive had to go to the book to look a plant up.
If you are a beginner (like myself) or an experienced exotic gardener, then this book is well worth the price tag.

the best book on exotic plants, 17 Feb 2008
At long last the world of exotic/architectural plants has a bible - and this is it. Will Giles's latest book covers a large cross section of plants, including trees, shrubs, herbacous plants and an entertaining section entitled "houseplants outdoors". Giles also includes plants which are valuable for their asthetic qualities but are far from exotic - some even native to the UK. Each plant has a fairly detailed entry detailing growing procedure and preferred climatic conditions, most also having a photograph. The author grows many of these plants in his own garden, so there's a great deal of first hand experience in the text. To round it off there's also a useful listing of suppliers and websites.

Informative and beautiful, 10 Dec 2007
Really delighted with my copy. Clear straight forward horticultual advice on growing. Botanical names for identification. Beautiful photos that make it a good pick up and dip into. Great to clear away the winter blues as you dream of what exotics it is now possible to grow. Just fantastic for real and armchair gardeners alike.

Keen by Name, Keen by Nature, 14 Mar 2005
This is a splendid book and the enthusiasm of the author shines through. No book on cacti can give all the answers, the subject is too vast.
The author of this book takes the sensible approach and ensures that the content is well written and informative.
The photographs in the book are excellent and show some species that are not normally seen in this type of book, particularly the Asclepiadaceae family. The feeling that the author would like you the reader to know exactly what he knows comes through strongly.
There are articles on pests and diseases, grafting, watering and soil mixtures and even some tips on showing your plants. For those people who have a small collection of plants and want to keep them healthy and flowering, without going into too many technicalities, this is the book for you, and excellent value too.

Fabulous!, 03 Jun 2008
This book is a well written, substantial piece of work with hundreds of photos.

It would be good if a measurement could also be added to the photo text as it is hard to get a sense of scale.

Exotic Bible., 05 May 2001
This is a very informative and practical book if you have an interest in exotic gardening, in fact I would deem it as an essential addition to your gardening library. Information about hardiness, propogation and identification is clear and precise. UK gardeners should note that it is an American pulication but anybody with a bit of plant husbandry knowledge should be able to adapt this infomation to suit UK conditions. I have found myself coming back to this book for information and it will travel with me on all my plant hunting expeditions!

Perfect Sense Planting, 08 Apr 2006
This book is ideal for anyone wanting to get the best out of their garden. Rosemary deals with all aspects of planting schemes, offering common sense and suggestions throughout. The pictures are accompanied by detailed descriptions of each plant - this aspect alone makes the book worth buying. A must for anyone who wants to create a beautiful plot whatever its size.

Glorious, 19 Sep 2001
The things I like about this book are that it has glorious photos as opposed to the more usual fuzzy water colour drawings that one sees in books of this type and is evidently written by a women who was a plantswoman to the core with a knowledge of plants and gardens that I can only dream of one day having. Far better than the RHS book on Planting Schemes.

Traditional gardens and borders, 30 Jan 2001
Another inspirational book by Rosemary Verey. This book deals with the art of companion planting, taking into account different habitats and characteristics of the plants. She gives detailed information on bulbs, climbers, mixed borders,ground cover, woodland and containers. Always very English and traditional planting with lovely and harmoniuous combinations.

All beautifully photographed.

If you like Beth Chatto and Penelope Hobhouse then you'll enjoy this book!

It makes you want to 'get out there' and re-create the borders in your own little patch!

The moss lover's bible with an artistic approach, 26 Jan 2008
This is a must have item for the moss lover.
Mainly because of it's inspirational way it describes the subject.
Beautiful pictures!!!
And a chapter where a selection of mosses, liverwortd and lichens are descibed.
You will need a more scientific field guide to help you identify moss species and where to find them, because this book focusses more on Mr Shenk's personal view on moss gardening


Moss on your mind! Great stuff!, 18 Mar 2001
Including Lichens, Liverworts and Other Miniatures, mosses tell an ancient success story of longevity & adaptability, appearing in fossils 400 million years old & totaling 15,000 species from the Arctic to Antarctica.

This is the first book to cover the whole gamut of moss gardening & is destined to become a classic in its own right. Impressively illustrated with glorious full color photographs of the many & various moods of moss gardening from a tilled sand Zen meditation garden complete with moss covered stones to sun-dappled wood lands, carpeted in a glowing shag of green.

It says something about George Schenk's affection & enthusiasm for the gardening of these plants that makes watching grass grow or paint dry seem like a 100 yard dash, that I gobbled this book up like asparagus in season.

I then immediately took a walkabout of our sliver of land & for the first time saw the variety & beauty of that ground cover I'd simply ignored or considered a blight upon my erstwhile unweathered topography.

I know it sounds oxymoronic when I gush that Moss Gardening is one exciting read on an elusive subject. If you know of anyone who has moss in their gardens or on their minds, this is the book for them! Do check out my site for my full review & many other gardening books.

Good one, 02 Aug 1999
I recommend this book to begineers, it is nicely written and easy to understand. Will definitely encourage you into moss growing.

I would have appreciated a mean of identifying the types of moss that already grow in my garden, maybe some magnified pictures ? There are in this book but maybe not close enough. Although there are 15000 types of moss, maybe it is too tricky.

Good book anyway

Palms Won't Grow Here and Other Myths: Warm Climate Plants for Cooler Areas , 02 Jan 2009
Palms Won't Grow Here and Other Myths: Warm Climate Plants for Cooler Areas

A interesting book challenging the convention and norm on more "temperature" sensitive plants. The book gets you to think outside the box, thinking how micro climates within your own garden allows for more adventerous planting. Aimed at the american gardener but the sound principles apply in the EU just as well. If nothing else a good read.
Recomended for those long winter evenings to inspire and plan for the spring planting. (It is responsible for starting my interest in growing "tropical" garden plants!)

Award winning Bonsai book, 07 Feb 2007
Growing Bonsai: A Practical Encyclopedia has been named the "Enthusiasts' Book Of The Year 2006" by the prestigious Garden Writers Guild.

The Garden Writers Guild judges reported that "This book is beautifully presented, clearly written and informative. The author leads one to engage with his subject and share his enthusiasm. The excellent photographs by Neil Sutherland help and encourage the reader to try this fascinating art for themselves."

The book covers the art of displaying bonsai in some detail, with useful advice on pots and containers, display stands, accessories and the often overlooked area of accent planting.

[...]

The presentation often gets in the way, 03 Dec 2008
A very large format book, Cacti and Succulents provides a plant directory along with care and cultivation directions, and suggestions as to how to grow the plants. The introduction explains what cacti and succulents are as well as showing plants in their natural habitat. The section Design Ideas contains suggestions for growing the plants outdoors, indoors and in various containers. Under Care and Cultivation it ranges from suggestions for tools and equipment and soil mixes to maintenance, propagation and pests and diseases, and more. Also included is a glossary, lists of plants for various purposes, and an index. The mai bulk of the book however comprises the Plant Directory, an alphabetical listing of Cacti followed by the other succulents. The book includes 700 photographs, which in addition to showing specific species includes pictures of plants in habitat, in garden and indoor settings, and step by step sequences for various care procedures.

The information contained seems sound and helpful, although often quite general, and sometimes incomplete. For example in the plant directory each plant has a brief description and a few notes on cultivation, along with minimum temperatures, but not always, occasionally some of that information is not provided. The section on pests and diseases offers general rather than specific control methods, and some well tried non-chemical remedies are not mentioned. In the section of Plant Lists under species with large flowers neither Echinopsis nor Lobivia is mentioned, yet some species with smaller flowers are. Including as it does only 400 varieties there are obviously going to be many plants excluded, but I find it surprising that genera such as Lophophora and Melocactus are not to found in the book. Many genera are represented by just one species. While some recent name changes have been adopted, this had not been done for all plants; and there are no synonyms provided, so if you don't know the current name you will have difficulty finding it.

The overall presentation seems to be aiming for attractive rather than practical; I find it a little chaotic. The plant directory particularly I find distracting with its variable layout, pictures presented in rectangular and round format along with cut-out pictures of varying sizes, and the type often with excessive line spacing. Elsewhere the presentation can be brash; it does not have the feel of an instruction manual but a rather popular magazine.

While useful and informative, this is perhaps a book which will appeal more to the beginner or casual collector. For those unfamiliar with the cacti and other succulents it is maybe a book that will inspire the reader to learn more and look further; but it is not perhaps the book one will turn to for specific research. In conclusion, the serious or experienced collector I suspect will be somewhat irritated by various aspects of the book, along with the omissions and often general or even scant plant information.


The Perfect Bible For Exotics !!, 05 Nov 2008
Being new to exotic gardening, this book has been invaluable to me.
I saw the author recently on a Channel 5 programme and he is extremley knowledgable on this subject and that shines through in this book.
One thing i think that slightly lets it down is the lack of growing advice for the UK, other than that, it is a superb book to add to my collection and ive lost count of how many times ive had to go to the book to look a plant up.
If you are a beginner (like myself) or an experienced exotic gardener, then this book is well worth the price tag.

the best book on exotic plants, 17 Feb 2008
At long last the world of exotic/architectural plants has a bible - and this is it. Will Giles's latest book covers a large cross section of plants, including trees, shrubs, herbacous plants and an entertaining section entitled "houseplants outdoors". Giles also includes plants which are valuable for their asthetic qualities but are far from exotic - some even native to the UK. Each plant has a fairly detailed entry detailing growing procedure and preferred climatic conditions, most also having a photograph. The author grows many of these plants in his own garden, so there's a great deal of first hand experience in the text. To round it off there's also a useful listing of suppliers and websites.

Informative and beautiful, 10 Dec 2007
Really delighted with my copy. Clear straight forward horticultual advice on growing. Botanical names for identification. Beautiful photos that make it a good pick up and dip into. Great to clear away the winter blues as you dream of what exotics it is now possible to grow. Just fantastic for real and armchair gardeners alike.

Keen by Name, Keen by Nature, 14 Mar 2005
This is a splendid book and the enthusiasm of the author shines through. No book on cacti can give all the answers, the subject is too vast.
The author of this book takes the sensible approach and ensures that the content is well written and informative.
The photographs in the book are excellent and show some species that are not normally seen in this type of book, particularly the Asclepiadaceae family. The feeling that the author would like you the reader to know exactly what he knows comes through strongly.
There are articles on pests and diseases, grafting, watering and soil mixtures and even some tips on showing your plants. For those people who have a small collection of plants and want to keep them healthy and flowering, without going into too many technicalities, this is the book for you, and excellent value too.

Fabulous!, 03 Jun 2008
This book is a well written, substantial piece of work with hundreds of photos.

It would be good if a measurement could also be ad