Book Review: The Encyclopedia Of Cultivated Palms

The first edition was originally published back in 2003 and ever since The Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms has been a key reference text for all palm enthusiasts.  This much anticipated update includes an additional author and well known palm expert Scott Zona, curator of the Wertheim Conservatory in Florida and also includes a significant number of palm species and varieties that have been  introduced into cultivation since the original edition was published.

There are 825 species of palm described in detail, including key information for us on cold hardiness, water needs, height, and any other special requirements. Each palm is well illustrated, with almost 1,000 colour photographs in the book in total.

Our own interest is particularly focused on those palms available within the UK for example, Trachycarpus and Brahea are well represented with each having 8 species listed and described. Butia, Chamaedorea and Syagrus fair even better with 9, 43 and 24 species discussed respectively. Some of the very new introductions are omitted but clearly the botanic world can be quite fast moving and so any encylopedia will need regular revision and updates to include everything.

Many will be familiar with the revised naming convention that was proposed in 2010 for the Butia family, the new names are used in the book and are well explained, in particular how the name impacts on the popular Butia odorata (formerly Butia capitata).

After an initial introduction to palms, the book contains two main sections, the first of which deals with the photographs, The Gallery of Palms has 250 pages containing in excess of 900 colour photographs, many of which tease and delight in equal measure. Sadly many remind us how far north and cold we are in the UK and thus we can only admire many of the wonderful plants from afar or within the protected environs of places such as The Palm House at Kew.

Following on from the photo gallery comes the second and significantly larger section of the book which contains an alphabetical listing of the palms starting with Acanthophoenix and covering the 825 species through to Zombia. The individual entries each give an overview of the family with an introduction to the genus, followed by a more detailed discussion and explanation  of the individual species characteristics, including typical traits and growing conditions needed as well as seed form and germination techniques.

The final part of the book lists palms by  a number of categories, assisting those looking to select a palm for a specific aspect, for example drought tolerance or speed of growth, perhaps this section may be less useful for those growing palms in the UK as most will have to be grown under glass due to the colder climate.

For those of us growing palms in the UK we often have to deal with pests or overwintering plants in doors, the book doesn't cover pests and treatments or the suitability of a plant to spending time as a house plant. However this book is great value for money and a must have read for anyone interested in growing, identifying or simply enjoying palms. Highly recommended.

The Encyclopedia Of Cultivated Palms is published by Timber Press and available from all the usual outlets.

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Book Review: Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs

Michael Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs is without doubt one of the most comprehensive guides to trees and shrubs. Containing over 900 pages of beautifully described and illustrated plants this really is a first place to start when selecting trees and shrubs for the garden.

The size of the book may be a little daunting at first, with the 951 pages, where do you start? To try and start on page one and read it all the way through is not really going to work.

I started by looking into several plant families I am already familiar with, first up was Aesculus. Many people will be familiar with the widely known horse chestnut but within this group are some wonderful species. At the end of last year I had bought an Aesculus indica, known as the Indian Horse Chestnut, so I wanted to see how my view on this plant compared to the authors. I was not disappointed  although this is rare in North America (where Dirr hails from) he describes the magnificent specimens at Kew Gardens. Being familiar with these I am pleased he shares my opinion. Clearly such a  large tree will not work in our own garden, but it is one I intend to keep small.

Exploring his selection of other Aesculus, I was drawn to Aesculus glabra var. nana, a delightful compact shrub I was not previously familiar with but one which may well find a home in our garden if I can find a source in the UK.

This book really does draw you in, flicking through and spotting interesting shrubs, which are described with lovely detail and multiple illustrations. The photography is superb and well over half the book is taken up by photos, both close up and from further back showing the detail and form of the trees and shrubs under consideration. Where trees have interesting autumn colour this is described and also illustrated.

Michael Dirr is a horticulturist and a professor of horticulture at the University of Georgia, and the book is written with the North American garden in mind, however this does not preclude it from being an extremely useful addition to the British gardeners reference library. I can see myself and Mark referring to this regularly when looking for ideas or for checking the cultural requirements of potential new plants for our garden.

Published by Timber Press, Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs is available in all the usual shops.

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Book Review: Cacti & Succulents for Cold Climates

Thinking about making an arid or xerophytic bed? Getting more into cacti and succulents and wanting to know more about growing this fabulous group of architectural plants in a colder region? Do you want to grow some of these plants outside but afraid that (British) winters may be too cold or wet for all of them? Then do get this most helpful and well written book, for your questions are more likely to be answered!

As I ponder myself on the idea of making a dedicated arid bed for the first time at the front of our house (the raised beds in our new area do not count) I am pleased to have got hold of this book which I have found most helpful in more ways than one. Not only does it list a selection of cacti and succulents, chosen for their suitability in being grown in colder regions, but it also gives cultivation hints on the best way to grow them. Extra information is also given on individual plants listed, on top of the general recommendations, to help them sail through cold (and wet) winters.

Most of the plants that are listed were chosen based on the author's own experience in growing them in his own garden for many years, in Denver, a zone 5 (winter minimums down to -20F/-28C) region. Several of the photographs featured were taken from his own garden, and from the gardens of other generous enthusiasts, all showing how well their plants are thriving in their gardens that are colder and outside the 'cactus country'.

Cacti and some companion plants in the author's garden (photo from Timber Press website)

Although most of the cultivation notes were based on conditions found in colder regions of North America, there are also plenty of references of growing these succulents in areas that also experience wet winters. Conditions that are similar to most parts of the British Isles which makes some of the advice applicable to the UK, as well as some direct references to growing them here.

Without giving away too much, the book has sections on understanding hardiness, cultivation notes, propagation, watering and water requirements, lists of recommended cacti and other succulents, and even companion planting. The book is written in a way that it is easy to understand and practical, giving plenty of hints and tips to guide someone wanting to take on the challenge of growing cacti and succulents in colder regions.

On a personal note, it was great and definite plus points to read advice on making raised beds, the need for winter sun, planting mix, and if needed the use of frost fleece and rain shelters. Details like these tend to be omitted in other books but are actually very helpful on a practical level. A section on the importance of provenance towards influencing the potential for cold hardiness of plants is also there, a section that I was really pleased to see.

The only minor criticism I have for this book are the small photos on the individual plant section. I wish they were bigger to enhance appreciation of the plants mentioned. But apart from that this book is a very welcome addition to our library that no doubt we will refer to many times through the year. And if you're into cacti and succulents, or at least starting to venture into it, you'll find it as useful, informative, and entertaining to read as we did.

Read a fun interview of the author Leo J. Chance on the Timber Press Blog here.

Mark :-)

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James Wong's Homegrown Revolution

James Wong's new book is now out which is something of a celebration of growing your own produce. As this is usually an exotic/tropical garden blog you may be wondering why we would be reviewing a book about growing your own food. Well the reason is simple: James' book concentrates on unusual and exotic plants for crops, many of which would make excellent choices as ornamental plants for a tropical style garden, not just on the dinner table!

Decaisnea fargesii, we have grown this for a number
of years but never considered eating it

The book concentrates on 80 or so of the unusual, but edible plants that James has been growing in his own garden over the last couple of years, as he has personally grown and eaten these its his own experiences that come through rather than being a re-hash of other peoples knowledge. Not only that but many of the selections in the book are plants you would not normally consider eating (dahlias, daylilies, dandelions, plus lots of plants not beginning with the letter D as well, such as cannas and even ferns).

Each plant includes a how to guide, with tips and tricks on how to grow as well as harvest and eat the plants, plus a number of more detailed recipes through out the book.

Exotic plants and exotic food in one place... that's a combination I can certainly live with!!

Cucamelons (Melothria scabra)

One of several plants that I fancy adding to the garden next year are Cucamelons (Melothria scabra), a vine from Central America, with a number of fun common names including my personal favourite, the mouse melon. Cucamelons are a little hardier than cucumbers but still should only be planted after frosts have finished. They scramble and climb for up to 2 to 3 meters, and produce plenty of the small mouse melons in the photo. 

I must admit I didn't know that originally Dahlias, were first brought to the UK as a food plant, not for the large showy blooms we now know them for. They were cultivated by the Aztecs as a food plant for many years, and according to the book are still a popular food in Mexico even today. For eating them, James recommends growing the large "cactus" varieties you can get from any normal garden centre. These apparently produce much better tubers to eat. However as a word of caution, many years of breeding them for flowers has meant the taste have been neglected. Some have a Jerusalem artichoke kind of taste and others are simply "rather waters, bland and with a bitter taste".

As for eating there's a variety of ways of consuming dahlias, James suggests roasting them rather like parsnips. To be honest I think I'll stick to growing them for the flowers, but with so many other plants to try I'll give some of them a go.

As well as plants normally associated with their flowers there's also plenty of suggestions of plants more commonly eaten, such as sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas). We have grown these for their foliage before in the garden, and in fact there are a number of cultivars available for interesting foliage.

Another suggestion I think I will give a go next year is the Peruvian mint marigold (Tagetes minuta) which James likens the foliage to the look of marijuana (Cannabis), although I think there are a number of plants more closely resembling that particular 'weed'. However this does have a lovely form and foliage, and I think would look great in our garden next year. To eat this it can be chopped finely and use to accent the flavour of a tropical fruit salad. 

Tagetes minuta (image from Wikipedia)

Whilst the main theme of the book is about growing plants to eat I enjoyed this for the suggestions of interesting plants, many of which were new to me. Most of the plants are not just edible but also extremely ornamental, and being unusual as well would fit right into our garden. Well worth adding to your reading list even if you don't normally grow edible plants.

James Wong's Homegrown Revolution is available from all the usual book shops, but with it being the festive season we have two copies of his book to give away. 

To enter simply answer the following question:

Where did James train?

a) Kew Gardens

b) New York Botanical Garden

c) Singapore Botanic Garden





Extra entries can be made by following us and sharing this competition on Twitter or by liking our page and sharing the competition on Facebook. An additional entry can be made by "following" this blog via Google Friend Connect

Terms and conditions: This competition closes at 23.59 on 15 December 2012. Any entries received after this time will not be counted. Entrants must be UK residents aged 18 years or older to enter. By entering this competition you agree and consent to your name being published and by taking part in the competition, entrants are deemed to have read, understood and accepted all of the Terms and Conditions and agreed to be bound by them. The winner will be selected at random from the correct entries and will be announced here on the blog. Please make sure we are able to contact you if you do win, as we will need to arrange for your prize to be sent to you.

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