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So Many Books: Which Should I Buy?

© Diana Pederson

Today I looked at my collection of gardening books, considered the immense cash investment involved, and played the "what if" game. I posed the question to myself--if I could only own four houseplant books, which ones would I consider indispensable? I chose these four books.

The first book is the The New Houseplant, Bringing the Garden Indoors, by Elvin McDonald. It was published in 1993 by MacMillan Publishing Company for $40.00. This book discusses the basics of house plant care, where to place plants in your home, explained how to train plants into topiary shapes or espaliers new and how to grow them in terrariums. I like his organization of plants into plant families. This makes it easy to identify plants that like the same growing conditions. It is well illustrated with color photographs. I particularly enjoy Elvin McDonald's writing style. You almost feel like you are sitting down with him having a wonderful chat about houseplants!

Growing Beautiful House Plants by Newman Rob Herwig would also be included. It was published in 1987 by Facts on File and sells for $45. It discusses the selection and care for over 1000 plants. Each description includes the name of the plant, its family grouping, how to take care of the plant and propagate it followed by a quick summary listing its light, temperature, water, humidity, and soil requirements. Each plant is beautifully illustrated. This book covers most of the common houseplants grown today. I've turned to it many times with labels from newly bought plants to check on the label's accuracy and learn more about the plant's needs.

The third book I feel essential is Cacti by Clive Innes and Charles Innes. These men are well known among cactus collectors for their quality writing in the cactus and succulent field. Published in 1991 by Portland House Publishers, it sold for $40. Although, this book is for the cacti lover, houseplant lovers will enjoy browsing through it. It may even inspire you to become a cacti collector. This particular book includes over 1200 cacti with very brief notes about their care.. Most illustrations show the flower too.

The final book I consider essential is Succulents, The Illustrated Dictionary, published by Timber Press in 1994 for $39.95 and just released in paperback. The book is written by Maurizio Sajeva and Mariangela Costanzo. This is the only book I know of that illustrates most of the succulent families including Adenias, Adromischus, Aeoniums, Ceropegias, Conophytums, Gasterias, Jatrophas, Pachypodiums, Sarcocaulons, Senecios and many others under one cover. For the first time, I have an affordable book which illustrates many of my Haworthias, Euphorbias and includes many of the unique plants I enjoy. If you collect the bizzare type succulents, this is definitely the book for you. Until now, I had to resort to repeatedly checking out the same books from my local university library. It's wonderful to have it sitting on my own bookshelf. The only drawback to the book is that it does not discuss the care of the plants illustrated. It simply gives a brief description and its origins.

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