Customer Reviews

Tropical Plants

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Neither a good specimen guide nor glamorous coffee table showpiece, this nonetheless fills a gap in my growing library of tropical gardening books. It could be a nice introduction to tropical plants, but anyone who wants to actually garden with tropical specimens would be better served by other books, perhaps best of all, Gardening in the Tropics, ISBN: 0881923095 .

As one reviewer points out, there are several silly mistakes. It is telling that the publisher is known for style & design books. It needed an editor with a little more botanical savvy.

The format is clear and attractive, with huge photos and a little, nicely written text for each. The content is somewhat inconsistent. While many photographs are clear and nicely illustrative of the whole plant, some specimens are photographed in a massive mixed border some distance away. Identification, therefore, can be very frustrating. For every delight (there are, indeed, many gorgeous photos), there is a disappointment.

Nomenclature seemed inconsistent, and local names (Indonesia, Malaysia, etc) could have been supplied by these contributors who spend much of their time in southeast Asia.

There is no practical advice for a gardener (beyond the occasional note about something tolerating dry conditions or some such), but book doesn't pretend to be a guide book.

This book is a good reference for everyone who love tropical plant and garden, many beautiful photographs from good garden and healthy plant, I note some mistakes:
(pg 50) pict 1 is not jackfruit or breadfruit
(pg 50) pict 2 is not breadfruit, it's a jackfruit
(pg 105) pict 2 is also Dracaena marginata, not a wild type
(pg 226) pict 4 is Epidendrum radicans not a Dendrobium
(pg 226) pict 3 is not Arundina, probably Arachnis hybrid
(pg 228) pict 2 is not Phalaenopsis hybrid, probably Miltonia
(pg 232) pict 2 is not Vanda tricolor
(pg 236) pict 2 must be rotate clockwise

I really loved this book. As a novice gardner I was able to learn more about plants, their correct names, how they reproduce and view spectular picturers. I keep wanting more and more. I've have read it several times and I refer to it frequently. It is informative without being too long winded. A must buy for the novice gardner.

This book is the companion to 'The Tropical Garden' by the same author, and maintains the same high standards.

The book is well-organized with a large selection of some of the best known species of tropical plants. Concise but informative descriptions of each species are provided complete with the scientific and common names. The highlight, however is the superb full-color photographs that accompany every entry. While lacking in hints for the budding gardener, this book provides plenty of inspiration as well as probably the best pictorial summary of the subject matter currently in print.

Absolutely stunning. For the novice, do not be afraid to buy this book. This book is a delight and the photos are breathtaking. A must for the tropical plant enthusiast.

A little more expensive than some other gardening books, but WORTH the money! Excellent clear colorful photos, both up close, and in perspective. Gives you a good idea of what these plants look like.

You'll still need a textbook for identifying proper zones if you're landscaping outdoors, but that is only a minor inconvenience in contrast to the amount of information this book gives. Highly recommend this one!

Lo he considerado como uno de los mejores libros de plantas tropicales, en cuanto a su fotografía, e información. Obviamente faltarían muchas plantas para incluir pero es de mucha utilidad como referencia para quienes se inician y para los viejos amantes. Lo recomiendo vale su precio

For someone who lives in a part of the world where tropical plants are something you raise only in a sunny window, this book is a wonderful treat. The photography is exquisite and the text is quite informative. I recommend it highly for anyone who loves the beauty of tropical gardens.

The thing I liked the best about this book is the beautiful color photos of the plants in their native habitats/gardens ( all of the plants were identified!!). This helps present a unique view of these wonderful plants.

Much more than the usual hibiscus, bouganvillea, and mandevilla pictures.

I also enjoyed seeing the RANGE of plants shown. I live in Maryland but collect tropicals and got quite a few ideas from the photos. I also enjoyed the "trip" through these beautiful tropical gardens. It helped me learn more ways to use and combine these incredible plants!

I think the book is fresh, and unique and anyone who loves tropicals will make this one of their favorite books in their collection. Well worth the money.

My FAVORITE book on tropicals to date. Second to BETROCK's FLORIDA PLANT GUIDE by Edward F. Gilman.