This is a 1,000+ page dictionary of plants ranging from the quite common to the more unusual. After an explanation as to How This Book Works and a few pages of general introduction which includes a Hardiness Zone Map for the British Isles and a brief discussion of the Major Plant Groups comes the main Dictionary. The book includes An Explanation of Plant Names, a Glossary, A Table of Plant Families and Related Genera and and Index of Common Names and Synonyms.

In the Dictionary each genus has a brief introduction including cultivation notes, followed by the species or cultivars, each described in detail along with the hardiness rating. The book is profusely illustrated in colour, it would appear that every plant is shown, and while many of the pictures are quite small the standard of photography is excellent.

The book claims to list 10,000 garden plants - I haven't counted them. It includes plants from all over the world and from all climates, so many of them will need heated greenhouse or conservatory cultivation in the UK, however the photographs invariably show them growing in their natural habitat.

If you are interested in cultivating the traditional English garden there is plenty here of interest, but you may find it a little frustrating to find that you cannot grow a lot of the plants described. However if you are more adventuresome, want to push the boundaries of hardiness in your garden, or try something more exotic in your conservatory, you will find many plants to tempt you.

Whatever your interest though the sheer quantity of illustrations make this a fascinating book to browse in addition to being a very useful reference source. ( )