Perennial All Stars: The 150 Best Perennials for Great-Looking, Trouble-Free Gardens

by Jeff Cox

Showcases one hundred fifty perennials of proven performance sure to live up to their catalog descriptions and offers advice on selection and cultivation

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Jeff Cox (15 May 1940 - ) writes about food, wine, and gardening from his home in Sonoma County, California.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starts off with "10 Steps to a Starring Perennial Garden" with great advice for starting and maintaining a flower garden. Considerations include site, soil, light, zone, variety and composition, focal point, trial and error practice, and future needs.

Next up is a perennial plant finder that helps you choose a good match for your growing conditions and garden preferences. This section lists choices based on seasonal color, height, climate, wet or dry sites, sun or shade, and more. It's a short section but it can really help you focus in on your specific needs or desires and allow you to easily find the plants that will work best for your garden instead of having to read every plant profile.

The main content is, of course, the plant profiles. Each two page profile offers a picture or two of the plant and provides helpful information on growing conditions, propagating, siting, and companion pairings. The focus is on foundation plants, many of which need minimal care. Some common varieties may be noted making it less worrisome if you can't find the specific kind mentioned.

I found this very useful with a good range of options. There were familiar flowers to read up on and new possibilities to envision here and there amongst my greenery and blooms. It's a nice resource to consult when considering adding a new perennial to your flower garden.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book from the library -- the 1998 version (there is a 2002 edition somewhere). I liked it so much I ordered a used copy from amazon. Jeff Cox subtitles this "The 150 Best Perennials for Great-Looking, Trouble-Free Gardens". The color photos are very nice as well as descriptions, planting zone, and soil preferences. I really love that he gives ideas for placement in a garden and also suggests other perennials that work particularly well with it. I definitely recommend it!

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gardening reference for perennials; indexed by color, bloom time length, height, full sun spots, shade areas. Each perennial has a two page spread including a photo, bloom time and length of bloom,pests, online nurseries that sell the plant, good plants to plant near it, etc. Invaluable resource.

[Lauren Houck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great guide, I love the pictures, facts, tips and new ideas! Very reader friendly and full of useful knowledge.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my first, most reliable garden books. Packed with information but not overwhelming. It's virtually memorized now.

[David Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perennial All-Stars: The 150 Best Looking Perennials for Great Looking Trouble Free Gardens (Rodale Organic Gardening Book) by Jeff Cox (Rodale Books 1998)(635.932). This is one of the best overviews of the perennial plants. It is a great book. My rating: 7/10, finished 2002.

[Aimee Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are planting a perennial garden, this book organizes perennials in every way possible!!!