300 Extraordinary Plants for Home and Garden

If you would like to change your indoor garden characteristics dramatically, then 300 Extraordinary Plants for Home and Garden is the book for you. The book is divided into 4 topics: The Green World, A Primer for Gardening, Marvelous Houseplants, and The Plants.

The first three topic areas are very similar to the introductory information you would find any plant book. Here you find information on cultivation, light needs and using plants within your indoor or outdoor landscape. He also touches on topics like garden rooms and greenhouses.

The spectacular feature of this book is the section where he presents his plant choices. He chose a selection of plants from: Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis), Araceae (aroids/arums), Begoniaceae (begonias), Bromeliaceae (bromeliads), Cactaceae (cacti), Gesneriaceae (gesneriads), Liliaceae (lilies), Musaceae (bananas), Nepenthaceae (pitcher plants), Orchidaceae (orchids), and Zingiberaceae (gingers) families.

NOTE: For those who have forgotten, each plant has a family name, genus name and species name. Genera is the plural for genus.

Each family is introduced with a two-page color photograph of a representative from that family. He briefly summarizes the number of genera and species within the family, English name for the family, habitat preferred, geographical distribution uses and bloom period. Each family then has a brief narrative introducing the family followed by a discussion of selected genera within the family. The pictures are outstanding. Reading this book may send you on a plant hunting expedition to your favorite garden centers and nurseries.

Let's look at the typical description for a plant genus:

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)
The Chinese evergreen is a genus of tropical plants native to southern China and Southeast Asia. In recent years it has become a favorite houseplant because of its leaf markings. Most species have dark-green leaves stained silver or white. The white flowers are bract like. Plants like a shady place and evenly watered soil. Only pot-bound plants bloom, in the late summer or early fall. Most Chinese evergreens are easy to grow and thrive on neglect more than conscientious care. Page 71.

I've used the description to point out the main weakness I see in this book. The cultural notes for the plant genus are so general that I would need another book giving me additional information in order to take proper care of the plant. This is somewhat frustrating to me and almost makes this a "coffee table" book, rather than a book to use for learning in depth about the plants covered. I do believe that Kramer's purpose was to cause us to extend our plant exploration beyond those typically found in our homes and gardens. He did an excellent job of accomplishing this goal.

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