Use as a Secondary Reference for Growing Plants
927003
TAYLOR'S GUIDE TO GARDENING IN THE SOUTH is an easily held book with colorful concise pictures.  The size of this guide allows you to use it as a reference when you visit nurseries.  Included among the pages are both native and non-native plants.  It helps that many of the contributors are experienced people with a vast background of what grows well in their area.

Though broad in scope there is enough information to help just about anyone.  The writers note that there isn't enough room to present all the plants that grow in southern gardens.  It references 'old standbys' and 'regional favorites'.  The book is divided into the four climate zones: Upper, Middle, Lower and Gulf or Coastal South.  The only problem with that is the gardener will need to be familiar with what grows in his or her zone.  Gulf or Coastal South covers zones 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 10 and 11.  What thrives in zone 10 may not do well in 8B.

Various trees, shrubs, ferns, vines and some perennials are included.  But it is important to use caution when considering a listed plant.  Remember to do some additional research when considering a plant.  My experience is that some of the Lantanas can be very aggressive.  The University of Florida lets the consumer know that "English ivy is not native to North America and can be a very invasive plant.  It is suggested that this potential invasiveness be noted at the retail level and that buyers be advised to only use this plant where it cannot become a nuisance."  Neither would I consider growing the common Mondo Grass in my area of north central Florida. It appears to do well for a few years and then eventually takes over and is hard to eradicate.

The important message here is that you should use this book only as a reference when considering plants.  Educate yourself by using local university websites, reviews for Dave's Garden, the 'Garden Web' and search out other books that list local plants.  Talk to those neighbors whose gardens you admire.  Refer to your local agricultural center.  If you are investing hard earned money and labor you will want to make sure that plant will do well in your yard.
309822
This is a superb written reference. However, it has no illustrations, and should be on your shelf as an essential reference to deepen your knowledge of plants for which you have illustrations in other books, or prior first hand knowledge from actually seeing and handling the plants.
4079123
I'm a fan of learning about what plants are recommended by experienced gardeners. Books that list every plant that will grow in a given zone are OK, but they lack the assurance of the seasoned perspective; that extra boost of confidence that comes from "I planted this under these conditions and it's thriving (or it's marginal)."

Denny McKeown has over 40 years of experience in the business to back up his plant recommendations, so as you view the color photos and descriptions, you know that each is a good choice for the listed location.

This is an often referenced book in my gardening library.
1648375
This field guide is a good standard reference for quick identification of plants in Michigan and its bordering states, and it is written specifically for botany students and professionals. If you do not fall within these groups, then you might want to look for a more accessible guide. There are a lot of plant parts and shapes described with which one may only be familiar through advanced education. If you are a trained botanist, though, the keying is very easy to follow and proceeds quite quickly in experienced hands.

I especially appreciate the side-notes and ecosystem/community information provided throughout the text. Particularly tricky genera are often highlighted to alert the identifier to potential slip-ups, and having an idea of the general habitat in which one might find a species can be very helpful as a simple check for error. I have used this guide throughout Michigan and in southern Ohio, and I have only grown more fond of it with time. Even in Ohio I have only had issues identifying a couple of species using this guide. I will note that I have not dared to attempt grass and sedge identification with this key; that is usually better served with a key of greater focus on those tricky plants.

It wasn't until well after my undergraduate coursework that I began to appreciate how great an asset this text is; Gleason and Cronquist are THE authorities used by most botanists throughout the northeastern US and Canada, and having our own field guide originally created by Gleason specifically for Michigan is a wonderful resource.
1781840
This is a very useful book to be used with an actual field guide with pictures. I don't regret buying it as he goes into great detail and helps you remember the plants and their uses much better than a field guide alone. A good book for all foragers.
1779702
We kept getting this book out of the library because we liked it so well until we decided we might as well just get one of our own. It has quite of bit of helpful information on a wide variety of plants. Anyone who loves growing plants will find lots of good descriptions of plants and what kinds of environments suit each one and tips on how to grow them.
1411877
Don't live in the far west anymore, but found that this book is still a good reference & love the pictures anyway.
It gives you zones where various plants might survive the harder winters, so still useful.
Arrived on time.
2887416
Tropical Plants for Home and Garden by William Warren is a beautifully done coffee table/reference book on many of the more commonly grown plants in the tropics. The paperback version is my second copy--having purchased the hardback edition a year ago. There is not a lot of cultural information given on the plants--it is a book devoted to plants, not a book on tropical gardening. Luca Invernizzi Tettoni's photographs, however, are vivid and very helpful in identification of the species. I am a writer of garden books, as well as the executive director of a tropical botanical garden, so I am very familiar with the plants in this book. I would recommend "Tropical Plants for Home and Garden" to anyone who gardens in Zones 10-11. Even those who live "up north" would enjoy it as a "tropical getaway".

No one book is perfect, but we have many of William Warren's books on tropical plants/gardens in our reference library, and I have found all of them to be well written and to the point.
3616014
I like the background material, the concept development and the planting advice.  All of this is really solid and gives a good background to intensive  gardening.  After buying and soaking up this book, I then found references elsewhere to a form of gardening that builds on this information by divided up areas into grids and proscribed what could be in each grid.  That is perhaps the only downside to this book is that it does not define easily replicated planting patterns.
3566480
A great intermediate information and reference book for gardeners between on-line/basic gardening  minimalist answers and an entry level botany course book.
Being current is an additional plus.
I also like the organization.
4630240
Aimed at the temperate climate gardener with a yen for the tropical look, this book provides basic instructions and suggested plant selections. To maximize the chances of success, seasonal guidelines are suggested, along with ways of creating tropical gardens inside, and in sheltered spaces. Typical of the Sunset books, there are ample attractive photographs. The added bonus for the garden planner is the number of effective combinations shown, and an array of landscape ideas as well. Special care and treatment of these plants in cold climates is discussed. Includes a list of garden zones with maps, and an index. For further information on a number of these plants, see:&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Ornamental-Plants-Flowers-of-Tropical-Mexico/dp/1599712520/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Ornamental Plants & Flowers of Tropical Mexico</a>.
4219139
This is a very detailed and useful book.  Some of the material did not apply to me, as I live in Central Florida.  This book would be most useful to the person attempting to grow orchids in natural habitat in South Florida.  Like most of the rest of the country, I raise them in a more sheltered environment.  Still, there are many good hints about the importance of adjusting care to the season.
2274157
This is the only book that I have found that shows the weeds in several stages of growth so that you can identify the weed at it's early stage and so that you do not pull out you seed planted flowers by mistake.  I use lots of composted manure which still has a large amount of weed seed in it so I need to tell the difference from my flower sprouts.

This is really more of a reference book and not necessarily an instruction book.
4779836
Much of the book is a cookbook.  This is useful, as one wants to know the various ways to use Moringa.  However I would have liked some more detailed information about growing the plant.  More information about things like growing zones would have been useful.  I came away with a mixed message, partly convinced that it will grow like a weed with little care, yet the seeds may often not sprout.  I guess it's important to know it is frost intolerant and that the soil should be well drained.  I still don't have a good grasp of how much water to give it.  The book seems to imply that it needs some water when being sprouted and thereafter little or none.

I'm just now planting my first seeds and I'm starting them in a sunspace that varies from 60 deg F at night to over 100 deg F during the day.  I don't know if this is appropriate, but keeping in mind some of the tropical climates where the plant seems to flourish, I'm hoping it can stand those daytime temperatures (assuming the seeds sprout) -- I suppose more will be revealed!
2314182
Hiscock's book is correctly titled a "mini" encyclopedia. For first-time planted tank owners, it is a godsend. It describes in detail the lighting, CO2, and substrate issues every planted tank has. It then shows layouts for many types of tanks, and how the plants might be placed in them.

He explains that there are hundreds of plant species available, and that he has hit on the most common ones.

The back part of the book, with the plant species, is the first place I look when I'm considering a new plant. Each plant is shown and a chart is given describing the growth conditions required, how fast it grows, and how to propagate it. With Hiscock's help, I have planted 5 tanks so far, with plans to expand to my others soon.
114759
Other reviewers described the different book sections, so I won't.  I love this book!  I find the book perfect for the following uses:

- I am sometimes given plants as gifts.  I use the book to identify the plant, decide where to put it, and how to care for it.

- I move frequently, and take plants with me if I can.  The book helps me find the right spot for each plant in each new home, and helps me adapt the plant's care to the new environment.  I re-read the book today to decide what kind of plants to put in which rooms of my next house.

- The book describes how to coax blooms from holiday plants (eg. Christmas cactus, poinsettias)from year to year.

- My husband has taken up cacti gardening.  He used this book to get started.

This book is a general house plant book; it is not a huge scientific book detailing each individual plant species and subspecies.  But it's just about right for what I need.

I am so impressed with this book, I'm planning to buy more from the author's series.
3696771
This is a reference book handy for Master Gardener work by a trusted author for our immediate area; it's helpful to have at hand.