A comprehensive plant guide to grow on

Whether you’re searching for a plant that will thrive in the shade, the perfect succulent for your Southwestern garden or one whose size and colors will fit into your existing layout, this comprehensive guide will provide the answers.

Authors Tony Rodd, a former horticulturalist at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Australia, and Geoff Bryant, a New Zealand-based writer and photographer, have compiled the perfect reference for the home plant enthusiast.

The easy-to-use book is divided into 10 chapters: Trees & Shrubs; Annuals and Perennials; Bulbs, Corms and Tubers; Grasses, Hedges and Bamboos; Fruit Trees, Nut Trees and Other Fruits; Vegetables and Herbs; Climbers and Creepers; Cacti and Succulents; Orchids; and Ferns, Palms and Cycads.

The 1,000-plus pages, which include more than 1,600 photos, cover plant species that grow in temperate, tropical and even Alpine zones, although the focus is on the more heavily populated temperate zones.

Especially useful is the plant-find selection tables that appear at the start of each chapter. At a glance, readers can find information about the characteristics and growth habits of each plant species or hybrid that has an individual entry within the section. If, for example, a gardener needs to know the height and spread of a certain plant, this is where the information can be located.

There are entries for some 5,000 varieties, all including precise descriptions, origin, climatic factors, cultivation requirements, propagation and pest-and-disease hazards. Within each chapter, plants are arranged alphabetically by genus name.

“The Plant Finder” is a no-nonsense and handy resource for all garden enthusiasts that will help all of us save both time and money.