Best Rose Guide: A Comprehensive Selection [Hardcover]

The books by the team of Phillips and Rix are always a treat and this one is no exception. However, it doesn't compare with some of their earlier books (notably, "Quest for the Rose," which is one of the best books of its kind ever published). This one profiles over 850 roses from over 20 classes including the recent David Austin English roses, Romantica roses and Generosa roses. Each rose is given a description and "garden notes" which discusses hardiness and growth characteristics in the garden. Most all are illustrated with nice color photos (typically, many are close-ups - what is so wonderful about "Quest for the Rose" is how the photographs show their complete size so you can get an indea of how they grow in the garden). Most of the roses are photographed in their natural habitat but about half are photographed against white backgrounds. A concluding section, "Roses in the Garden" showcases ten pages of mouth-watering photos of roses growing among other plants, on garden walls, etc.) A glossary and brief tips on rose care are included as well.

I think the book is very nice and I can't think of better qualified experts on the rose. That said, I do think the book has some limitations. First of all, I don't like the way the roses are arranged. Each chapter covers a specific type of rose (i.e. "Hybrid Musk," "Floribunda," "Bourbon," etc.) and about 10 roses are profiled on a two-page facing spread alphabetically. When you turn the page, the roses on the next two pages are presented alphabetically starting over again at "A". The roses seem to be arranged by color but by not presenting the entire chapter alphabetically, it makes it harder to locate a specific rose. Of course, there is an index, but I still don't care for the layout. A few photos also seem to be mislabeled ("Georgetown Tea" for example).

The major limitation of the this book is that it doesn't discuss how the roses grow in various climates. Since the authors are British, I'm sure they selected roses that do fine in England, so gardeners in other climates might need a better selection guide (like the American Rose Society Encyclopedia for example).

Hyperbolic titles generally put me off, especially when it is not clear to what the hyperbole aspires. In this case, one can work out from the introduction that the authors meant to put together a wide catalog of roses they "love or have found memorable or striking for one reason or another". The result might be a comprehensive selection of roses they like, but do not expect a comprehensive guide to roses.

The strengths of this book are its simple overview of rose history and parentage, its multitude of color photos, and concise but informative historical and horticultural notes about each rose. For these reasons alone, the book earns a place on the shelves of rose aficionados.

The Phillips and Rix approach, familiar to readers from their vast number of titles, is what it is: many listings, mostly accurate statements, and a layout that emphasizes quantity rather than quality of photos. Such an approach offers lots of data, but it wants interpreting. This is where I hesitate to recommend this book as a starting place for absolute beginners, who would probably do better with the narrower focus of Philip Harkness in "Reliable Roses". The photos, too, remind one of a rose's appearance, but other references are far better at showing a rose's visual attributes of color, form, and habit.

One of the charms of roses is that a single plant may carry several different monikers. Not here: Phillips and Rix have elected to display only the current name accepted by the rose canon, which I think is a pity. There is no cross-reference, as is included in many rose books, and this will stop some from finding information about a rose they know by another name.

Perhaps if I were to labor at length over the text, I might be able to infer why some roses made the cut and others did not. That Abbaye de Cluny was left out of the little section on Romanticas, for example, stuns me. Likewise, Cupcake (deemed by John Clements to be "one of the most beautiful of all pink miniatures") is shunned. The lovely single, Golden Wings, is ignored. Why? "Too many beautiful roses" might be the answer -- but these are beauties: tough and hardly overplanted. Nevertheless, this pretty book will keep its place, for now, on my shelf as a guide to the roses Phillips and Rix like best.

As you'll notice from the listing, this is a heavy tome: four pounds. I am already becoming mildly concerned about the durability of the sewn binding. Even with careful use and storage, the pages seem to be loosening somewhat.

Anyone who is passionate about roses can relate to the newest rose encyclopedia out there, Best Rose Guide-A Comprehensive Selection. Authors Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix bring out their love for roses in this new book.

With descriptions of over 850 roses and fantastic photography to go with them, this book is sure not to disappoint.

Phillips and Rix give explanations of each rose group. From where they originated from, to the geneticists who studied them. They then give detailed descriptions of the dozens of different species in each group. There is also separate sections on information concerning rose gardens, hardiness and zones.

Don't be mistaken, you don't have to learn how to grow roses to enjoy this book. This is just the next big book full of information. Whether you are just a rose lover or a long time rose grower, this book is sure to accommodate you in some way.

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