RHS Latin for Gardeners: More than 1,500 Essential Plant Names and the Secrets They Contain - Hardcover

Lorraine Harrison . Royal Horticultural Society

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 184533731X ISBN 13: 9781845337315

Publisher: Mitchell Beazley, 2012

Synopsis

Since Latin became the standard language for plant naming in the eighteenth century, it has been intrinsically linked with botany. And while mastery of the classical language may not be a prerequisite for pruning perennials, all gardeners stand to benefit from learning a bit of Latin and its conventions in the field. Without it, they might buy a Hellebores foetidus and be unprepared for its fetid smell, or a Potentilla reptans with the expectation that it will stand straight as a sentinel rather than creep along the ground.

An essential addition to the gardener’s library, this colorful, fully illustrated book details the history of naming plants, provides an overview of Latin naming conventions, and offers guidelines for pronunciation. Readers will learn to identify Latin terms that indicate the provenance of a given plant and provide clues to its color, shape, fragrance, taste, behavior, functions, and more.

Full of expert instruction and practical guidance, Latin for Gardeners will allow novices and green thumbs alike to better appreciate the seemingly esoteric names behind the plants they work with, and to expertly converse with fellow enthusiasts. Soon they will realize that having a basic understanding of Latin before trips to the nursery or botanic garden is like possessing some knowledge of French before traveling to Paris; it enriches the whole experience.

About this title

About the Author

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is the UK's largest gardening charity, dedicated to advancing horticulture and promoting good gardening. Its charitable work includes providing expert advice and information, training the next generation of gardeners and promoting the ecological, aesthetic and psychological benefits of gardening in an urban environment. Lorraine Harrison has a masters degree in Garden History from the University of London and has written several books on the subject. She is a successful gardener and gardening writer with a passion for exotic and heirloom vegetables. Her previous titles include How to Read Gardens and The Shaker Book of the Garden, and she regularly contributes to Gardens Illustrated and Hortus magazine.

Review

"Comprehensive and beautifully illustrated." (Martha Stewart Living)

"For those who want a better understanding of plant taxonomy, Latin for Gardeners, by Lorraine Harrison, is a treasure." (Dominique Browning New York Times)

“Latin for Gardeners is useful, surprising, and beautiful—an accessible dictionary for everyone who puzzles over botanical identifications, an opportunity to get better acquainted with the extraordinary discoverers and namers of so many of our favorite plants, and a treat for all who enjoy the art and lore of the garden.”
(Jane S. Smith, author of The Garden of Invention)

"I have several books dedicated to Latin plant names but none fall into the category of Lorraine Harrison’s book which is not only informative but entertaining and beautifully illustrated. This is no dull list of Latin plant names—it is a book which begs to be picked up and looked at." (The Reckless Gardener)

Edition details

• Publisher: Mitchell Beazley
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 184533731X
• ISBN 13: 9781845337315
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 224