An encyclopedic reference on shade perennials provides information on more than 7,000 species and cultivars in 184 genera, including practical growing tips and chapters on soils, watering, fertilizing, and types of shade.

Celebrate shade! That's author Larry Hodgson's call to gardeners everywhere, no matter if you have a small shady corner or an entire landscape overshadowed by trees. His hands-on "been there, done that" advice will help you tackle planning, planting, and problem-solving, as well as create color, texture, and light-filled areas in the shade. He also shares more than 200 outstanding plants - perennials, annuals, bulbs, ferns, ornamental grasses, and climbing plants - that you can use to create a beautiful garden that will flourish under shady conditions. In fact, after reading Making the Most of Shade, even the gardener with the sunniest yard will want to create a shady nook!--COVER.

Describes the physical characteristics and hardiness of more than five thousand alphabetized perennials, provides guidance on their cultivation and propagation, and includes over a thousand color photos, sidebars on pests and other topics, and an index of common names.

In this book you'll learn how to prune selectively to admit more light and how to amend soil to increase its moisture retention. You'll also learn about more than 130 plants that accept reduced light and moisture levels-long-blooming woodland gems like epimediums and hellebores, and even lush foliage plants like evergreen ferns and hardy gingers, shrubs, climbers, perennials, ground covers, bulbs, annuals, and perennials- there is an entire palette to help you transform challenging spaces into rich, rewarding gardens.

From the "Galloping Gourmet" of the garden world comes a guide to perennials to fit every gardener's needs. 300 color photos. 7 color garden layouts.

Provides a photographic guide to more than 1,200 interesting and beautiful garden plants, with each entry including full-color photos, hardiness-zone information, growing tips and more, in a book that also has lists of plants for certain situations.

Discover everything you need to transform your empty plot into a stunning garden oasis with this gardening encyclopedia. This horticultural gem includes more than 2,000 recommendations from gardening experts and features valuable information and advice to expand on your gardening ideas. Planning your garden has never been this easy with this informative planting guide that every gardener needs on their bookshelf. Here’s what you’ll find inside: • Includes planting suggestions for over 30 types of sites, from notoriously dry ground by a hedge or fence to cracks in walls or paving • Explains how to assess site and soil, and presents a stunning range of plant partners and planting schemes • Includes a comprehensive range of more than 3,000 plants organized by size and situation • Simple recipes show you how to create beautiful beds, borders and garden designs • A “Special Effects” section helps you find plants with fragrant, colorful or architectural properties and offers solutions to common gardening problems and pests, like slugs, rabbits and deer Whether you have a small urban garden or sprawling acres of land, this gardening guide will help you every step of the way to create your garden masterpiece! You’ll discover a wealth of information on sections like which plants thrive in shady spots or whittle away in bright sunny areas, or “Special Effects” themes like Asian or Greek-inspired garden designs. The Encyclopedia of Garden Plants for Every Location is produced in association with the Smithsonian Institution, whose Smithsonian's Gardens creates and manages the Smithsonian's outdoor gardens, interiorscapes, and horticulture-related collections and exhibits. Your dream garden is within reach thanks to this helpful gardening reference book, perfect for gardeners looking to make the most out of their plot.

"It makes generous use of photographs, illustrations, charts, & special boxed segments to help pull the various concepts together.... It will be a useful volume in public libraries."-Booklist

3500 photographs. Over 380 genera. More than 3700 species and cultivars. Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs is the most comprehensive visual reference to more than 3700 species and cultivars. From majestic evergreens to delicate vines and flowering shrubs, Dirr features thousands of plants and all the essential details for identification, planting, and care. Color photographs show each tree's habit in winter, distinctive bark patterns, fall color, and more. Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs is a critical addition to any garden library.

A color encyclopedia of garden annuals.