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Annuals and Biennials
Book Review Richard Wright
30 April 2002

Annuals and Biennials is a comprehensive guide to well over a thousand plants, both wild and cultivated. Each plant is beautifully illustrated by a colour photograph taken either in its natural setting or against a plain background to show up the details. The authors claim this is the first major illustrated work on annuals for over 150 years, making it a useful addition to any keen gardenerÂ’s bookshelf. They describe which annuals are native to different climatic areas and the conditions suitable for them, covering the wide variety available to the modern gardener. Many old favourites are here, including poppies, daisies and clarkias and hollyhocks. But there are a host of new and special rare additions now being introduced into commercial seed catalogues. One test of a book is whether it is user friendly, and Annuals and Biennials passes that test with colours. Whether you are looking for information or considering whether a particular plant would grow in your garden the answer is easy to find in this book

Annuals and biennials are a welcome addition to any garden, whether planted in a formal design, informally planted in blocks, used to fill gaps at one season or another, or planted with mixed grasses to create a wild natural appearance. Most annuals are easy to raise from seed, and the book offers tips for successful cultivation. Priced at £14.99 this is an inspiring book at a reasonable price with high quality photographs. It will give any gardener ideas for innovative planting, with a wide range of colourful plants to choose from, including some that are just into the seed catalogues. Some are specialised and demand a specific environment beyond the scope of the average gardener, but there are plenty of options and this book offers sound practical advice about what will or will not work.

Book: Annuals and Biennials
Authors: Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix
Publisher: Macmillan
Price: £14.99

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