The Tropical Look: Encyclopaedia of Landscape Plants for Worldwide Use Book

This is a huge reference book containing nearly 2,000 plants, conjuring up images of tropical scenes, beautiful seas, blue skies, palm trees, and fragrant blossoms. So why, might you ask, is it featured here in the UK? Quite simply, the author has highlighted the difference between tropical plants and tropical-looking plants and as a result the book appeals not only to those living in the tropics but also to others in colder regions. The author, Robert Lee Riffle, is a well-travelled gardening and writing consultant and formerly a manager of a nursery which specialised in tropical plants. He defines the tropical look as: "In short, one of flamboyant form and control." The book is arranged alphabetically from Acacia to Zombia, the colour photograph plates (about 400) being arranged in two batches rather than with their descriptive information. Included are trees, bamboos, palms, ferns, shrubs, perennials, vines, water plants, etc; also catcti, succulents and xeric plants. Each plant entry contains detailed information which includes tolerance to cold, whether it will spring back from the roots, soil and light preferences and requirements and propagation techniques. Botanical terms are carefully explained in a glossary and there are lists further categorising the plants for fragrance, size, leaf colour, fast growers, etc. It is certainly not a book for browsers, but is one for people requiring specialist information. --Susan NaylorRead More