Timber Press -- better books for gardeners
Timber Press is a Portland, Oregon, publisher of books about gardening, ornamental and edible horticulture, garden design, sustainability, natural history, and the Pacific Northwest.

Book title Author name
HomeBooksNewsEventsMediaSpeakersAbout usContact us

Perennials

The Gardener's Reference

By Susan Carter, Carrie Becker, and Bob Lilly

Perennials play a central role in today's gardens. Choosing specific plants, however, can be daunting. Is this plant hardy in my area? How big does it get? When does it bloom? Perennials: The Gardener's Reference answers these and many other questions for more than 2,700 species and cultivars in 250 genera, making it one of the most comprehensive guides available. The informative text is enlivened throughout by the authors' wide-ranging experience with perennials and by Lynne Harrison's sumptuous photographs. Whether you're a beginning gardener, a seasoned expert, or a green-industry professional, Perennials: The Gardener's Reference will be the book you turn to again and again for essential information about these supremely beautiful and useful plants.

Awards for this book:

  • Garden Writers Association Gold Award
What's better than a Timber Press book? A Timber Press book shipped for free! Shop online and get FREE SHIPPING (for orders over US$30/L25 shipped within the U.S. or U.K.)
Shipping to:Price:
United States or Canada: US$49.95
Europe, Africa, or the Middle East: £35.00
Australia or New Zealand: See this page
Elsewhere: US$49.95
Number of copies:

Media reviews of this book:

"Encyclopedic yet concise, witty and drop-dead gorgeous. ... This book will not only entertain and educate you, it will save you money, time, and frustration with its snappy prescriptions for what to select, which companions to group it with, where to plant it and how to make it thrive with a minimum of effort. ... Feels so smart, welcoming and celebratory that I can't wait for spring."

—Sarah E. Smith, Oregonian, December 27, 2007

"It's a good sign when you open a plant encyclopedia and the first plant is one of the best. ... As gardeners, we've scored with this book."

—Kym Pokorny, Homes + Gardens Northwest, December 2007

"A well-illustrated, extensive encyclopedia of herbaceous perennials that can be successfully grown in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere in the continental U.S."

—B.K. Lym, Choice, November 2007

"Those who love flowery landscapes will happily devour [this book]. ... The luscious photographs by Lynne Harrison bring this outstanding reference to life. ... These pages hold a treasure-trove of specific information about less common perennials rarely mentioned even in reference books of this type."

—Ann Lovejoy, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, October 11, 2007

"The best source for instructions on which plant needs dividing when in our unique climate."

—Valerie Easton, Seattle Times, September 19, 2007

Customer reviews of this book:

"Good solid useful information, descriptions, and photos. It's a gem!"

—Nancy J. from Seattle, Washington, November 10, 2007

"Easy reading! The layout is very well done and can be easily understood."

—Gerard H. from Keansburg, New Jersey, October 24, 2007

"I loved the photos and all the great information! Thank you!"

—Jamie C. from Billings, Montana, June 27, 2007

"I've been waiting for this! Love it — so much information!"

—Iris A. from Seattle, Washington, June 20, 2007

"Exceptional garden writing with extreme knowledge, passion, and great humor."

—Hazel O. from Eastsound, Washington, June 3, 2007

Read more media and customer reviews

Format:
Hardcover

Pages:
544 pp.

Book dimensions:
8.5 x 11 in
(280 x 216 mm)

Illustrations:
306 color photos, 1 map

ISBN-13:
9780881928204

ISBN-10:
0881928208

About Susan Carter

Susan Carter is a garden and landscape designer in Seattle, Washington, with 25 years of experience in various areas of horticulture.

About Carrie Becker

Carrie Becker is a professional gardener, landscape designer, consultant, and educator. One of the original designers of the Northwest Perennial Alliance Borders at the Bellevue Botanical Garden, she has gardened in Seattle for more than 40 years.

About Bob Lilly

Bob Lilly, another of the original designers of the internationally acclaimed NPA Borders, now works as a plant broker selling perennials to wholesale growers.