[.uk] The Random House Book of Shrubs (Random House Book of ... (ISBN 0679723455)

Beautiful book with British bias:
This is a beautifully produced reference book with extensive color photos. Its size gives it the illusion of being comprehensive. However, it only includes plants that will grow "somewhere in the British Isles". It omits a number of species which are U.S. natives (e.g., no Rhododendron catawbiensis, although the author offers a whole section on Asian rhododendrons). It also misses species cultivated in the Southern US (e.g., no gardenias). List of cultivars circa 1989 is getting dated. I would also hope that the next edition would alphabetize the order in which species are presented within the sections. If you don't mind its limitations, it's a bargain; buy it for the photos.

This book took my breath away, I could not put it down!:
This volume is the most gorgeous and comprehensive overview of shrubs I have seen to date. The information contained, although not exhaustive, is concise and useful. The breadth of plants covered is truly amazing and the photography excellent. The only disappointment is lack of information on how to obtain these plants. I reach for this book so often, it seems to live on my desktop (Along with the other Random House Plant Books), not the reference shelf!

Photos great:
Perhaps this is aimed at a novice landscaper or plant enthusiast, but as I botanist....I LOVE it. The photos are great and unrivaled. There are photos for identifying plants in any season (leaves, bark, flower, fruit). There is also a companion in my collection for TREES. I recommend them both for the same reasons. Some times a botanical key is not enough to jog my memory.

Great information:
I found that it had a lot of information and great colored photos to help with identification. Glad I got the book.

Random House Book of Shrubs:
I love this series! The photos are awesome, and anyone serious about gardening should have the books!