Ferns have graced our planet for hundreds of millions of years. With about 12,000 named species of ferns worldwide, the variety to be found among them is staggering in its array of forms, textures, and even colors. From towering tree ferns to tiny water clovers, ferns and fern allies offer a wide range of uses in the garden and home. This book offers useful advice on ferns and fern allies for any region, with details on cultivation, identification, landscaping, and more. The bulk of the book consists of an encyclopedic treatment of all the ferns in cultivation in the U.S. Some 700 species from 124 genera are described in detail, including physical descriptions, cultural requirements, hardiness, common names, synonyms, special uses, geographical range, and notable cultivars or related species. Each species is accompanied by a black-and-white illustration to allow for easy identification and to provide a useful means of comparing species. Updated and greatly expanded, this new edition of Hoshizaki's original 1975 book is the most comprehensive book available on fern cultivation.
Ferns are truly ancient plants, having existed on Earth for millions of years. With approximately 12,000 species of ferns, their array is staggering-- from the red and gold Cinnamon Fern to the shimmery Silver Tree Fern to the lushly green Oriental Chain Fern. Upon discovering the sheer number of fern species, a person interested in growing ferns might be just a bit overwhelmed. While many just pick up a fern at their local nursery, and hope their new household addition makes it through the night, others feel compelled to delve more deeply into the secret life of ferns. For the latter types, Fern Grower's Manual is a treasure trove.
This hefty volume (over 600 pages!) offers an encyclopedic treatment of some 700 species of ferns. Each is described in concise and accessible language, including a physical description, detailed pen-and-ink illustration, care and environmental requirements, geographical information, information on related species, and more. Authors Barbara Joe Hoshizaki (president of the American Fern Society) and Robbin C. Moran (associate curator at the New York Botanical Garden) provide useful information on how and where different types of ferns thrive, explore potential problems, and offer guidance on cultivating ferns indoors and out. First published in 1975, this book is a testament to the enduring popularity of ferns in our culture. This revised edition is significantly expanded, including information on almost twice as many fern species as the first, as well as more extensive and detailed illustrations and a section of color photographs.
While the book presents far more information than the average home gardener might ever want to know about ferns, the thoroughness of this substantial tome is unlikely to disappoint true pteridophiles (fern lovers). --Robin Donovan
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
The Best Fern Manual Available:
This book does exactly what its title suggests. It provides very useful and simple information on ferns and their cultivation. It is not a wordy book though it has well over 500 pages. It gets straight to the essentials of ferns and their requirements. The detailed drawings are clear and very useful in helping fern enthusiasts easily identify different species of ferns. i would have loved however to see a few more pages of color photographs of ferns and more fern entries but I am sure this well written book... more info
Fern Grower's Manual - More than you'll ever need to know!:
This book is fantastic for the amateur or professional fern grower. It is very informative, supplying you with alot of information about how to grow them, how to take care of them, and how to recognize them. If you are looking for one book that can tell you everything and more about ferns and not need to look through any other books, than this book is for you.
