From Booklist
Sharing her experiences based on years of gardening with hostas, Barrett, along with coauthor Hughes, guides readers through the limitless variety and versatility of each plant, highlighting more than one hundred species and varieties, and offering landscape ideas, companion plantings, and specific cultivar information for both. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Carol Haggas, Booklist / RBB 03/15/2004
Guides readers through the limitless variety... excels with its clear concise format, detailed descriptions, and superlative color photography.


Science News 09/04/2004
Clear and plentiful instructions about how to propagate and cultivate hostas and what other plants make good companions.


Karin J. Shank, E-Streams 07/2004
Informal, almost chatty, tone... valuable resource for anyone like myself who has a large area of deep shade.


Halifax Chronicle Herald 06/20/2004
A loving look at a garden staple... endless ideas for that shady spot in your garden.


Linda Hutchinson, Pasadena Star-News 08/14/2004
The book provides pictures of many varieties, which shows both their color and their setting in the garden.


Book Description
The definitive guide to a popular hardy perennial. The growing popularity of hostas can be credited to their colorful beauty, longevity and ability to grow successfully just about anywhere. Hosta foliage comes in astonishing variations. From blue, green, yellow to multicolored, the leaves appear in all manner of shape, size and texture. Their growing season stretches from early spring to late fall. The plant's flower ranges in color from white to pale lavenders and blue-purples. For gardeners in colder climates, the best part is that hostas flourish to Zone 3 -- virtually all of continental United States as well as populated areas of Canada and Alaska. Hostas introduces modern, busy gardeners to the charms of this beautifully diverse plant. After a brief section on the fascinating history of hostas, the book covers growing the various cultivars in fine detail. Topics include: - Cultivation - Propagation - Landscaping with hostas - Borders and beds - Typical garden settings - Enhancing a garden's special features - Growing hostas in containers - Good plant and tree companions - Catalogue of hostas Illustrated with color photographs throughout, Hostas is a valuable resource for modern, creative gardeners.


About the Author
Rosemary Barrett writes for garden magazines and specialist periodicals. She owns a nursery with her husband. Derek Hughes specializes in garden and horticulture photography and his work has appeared in many books and magazines.


Excerpted from Hostas by Rosemary Barrett, Derek Hughes. Copyright © 2004. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Introduction Hostas are plants grown for their wonderful foliage of infinite variation. Depending on the species or cultivar, the hosta can have blue, green, yellow or variegated leaves in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and textures. The plants may be grown separately or mixed with other plants that like the same conditions. Hostas appear in early spring and disappear in late fall, and are hardy to zone 3. The hosta also has the grace to produce a very acceptable flower in colors ranging from white to pale lavenders and blue-purples. To my mind the hosta is, without a doubt, a perfect perennial. Anyone who wishes to grow it can; no matter how small the garden there is always a place (partly shaded and damp) for at least one or two plants. They also look wonderful grown in containers (and there is always room for one or two of these). My knowledge comes from years of growing these lovely plants. In this book I would like to share my experience of how, why and where to grow hostas and discuss which hostas, out of the infinite choices available, I have found to be best for the garden. For ease of use, I have listed all the species and varieties mentioned in the book in chapter 9, including details of leaf color and plant size. There has been a great upsurge in the use of hostas in gardens in the last few years, no doubt because they are not only beautiful, and beautifully diverse, but because they are very easy to grow. For the modern gardener who does not have a great deal of time, or perhaps does not wish to spend it in the garden, the hosta is an answer to a prayer. As we shall see in chapters 2 and 3, their cultivation is easy -- and the rewards are great. While understanding the constraints of budget, it seems a great pity to perhaps own half a dozen of the more common varieties and just keep splitting them up and spreading them around the garden. I feel continuity can be taken too far, and that gardeners are limiting themselves by ignoring the beautiful and different hostas that are available. I hope this book will provide you with information on not only what is available but the many ways in which these lovely plants can be used and enjoyed.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The definitive guide to a popular hardy perennial.

The growing popularity of hostas can be credited to their colorful beauty, longevity and ability to grow successfully just about anywhere. Hosta foliage comes in astonishing variations. From blue, green, yellow to multicolored, the leaves appear in all manner of shape, size and texture.

Their growing season stretches from early spring to late fall. The plant's flower ranges in color from white to pale lavenders and blue-purples. For gardeners in colder climates, the best part is that hostas flourish to Zone 3 -- virtually all of continental United States as well as populated areas of Canada and Alaska.

Hostas introduces modern, busy gardeners to the charms of this beautifully diverse plant. After a brief section on the fascinating history of hostas, the book covers growing the various cultivars in fine detail.

Topics include:CultivationPropagationLandscaping with hostasBorders and bedsTypical garden settingsEnhancing a garden's special featuresGrowing hostas in containersGood plant and tree companionsCatalogue of hostas

Illustrated with color photographs throughout, Hostas is a valuable resource for modern, creative gardeners.

SYNOPSIS