The Encyclopedia of Container Plants: More Than 500 Outstanding Choices for Gardeners

by Ray Rogers, Rob Cardillo (Photographer)

Container gardening is ideally suited to today’s lifestyles—it provides the excitement, versatility, and variety of in-the-ground gardening to those with limited space, time, and resources. But in order to make the most of container gardening, aspiring gardeners—whether rank beginners or seasoned veterans—need to know precisely which plants perform best in containers; just as importantly, they need to know how to grow them well.

Author Ray Rogers is the ideal guide to this world of colorful possibilities. An award-winning container gardener and horticulturist, he profiles more than 500 outstanding plants in 180 genera. Along with Rogers’s engaging descriptions, the entries include each plant’s height and spread; light, moisture, temperature, and soil requirements; ease and rate of growth; principal interest and design attributes; potential problems; and best method of propagation. To this abundance of useful information, Rob Cardillo’s stunning photographs add a wealth of visual inspiration.

Success with container gardening isn’t always instantly achieved—it’s easy to be seduced by brightly flowering plants at a nursery or garden center that turn out to be unsuited to the growing conditions provided for them, or that make poor companions for their pot-mates. Even a brief dip into this authoritative reference, however, is sure to yield a host of plants that will show just how spectacular a well-grown—and carefully chosen—container garden can be.

 

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

344 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2010

Reviews

[Lana]

Loved the photos and the growing guides. Also, if you're a plant nerd like me you'll catch some of his funny jokes in the text. Super helpful information. I dog-eared all the plants I have and/or plan to grow. I have a feeling I'll be keeping this one for years.

[Lavender]

I have been wanting to grow more plants, both in my outdoor garden and inside. This book shows a good cross section of container plants. The pictures are a nice addition to the detailed text about each type of plant and the best way to take care of them.

[Laura Gilfillan]

Many great ideas here, great pictures, really inspired me to go out and plant something. Unfortunately it is January in Wisconsin. I'm going to have to wait a bit. But I can dream...

[Lisa Blair]

Informative text. Great photos!

Definitely will help me pick the appropriate flowers this spring.

[Lynda]

This is a very helpful resource book with many color photographs.