Perennials for Every Purpose: Choose the Right Plants for Your Conditions, Your Garden, and Your Taste (Rodale Organic Gardening Books

by Larry Hodgson

The title says it all-- there really are perennials for all of your gardening sites and needs. Whether you have a shady spot or want a plant that attracts birds, Perennials for Every Purpose features plants that are perfectly suited to your needs. Author Larry Hodgson expresses his passion for perennials with hands-on advice and tell-it-like-it-is descriptions. Larry never gives up on a plant until he has learned its strengths and weaknesses, and he delivers his hard-won secrets in this book.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Plants, Reference

512 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

There just isn't anything to dislike about this book or it's author.

The book contains a vast spectrum of useful information for the novice & veteran gardener alike. Mr. Hodgson is very transparent on his views about 100's of perennials & specific cultivars. He doesn't paint a pretty picture when there's not one to paint. He's honest & up front about the woes of various plants & the nightmares they can haunt us unsuspecting gardeners with. He also shares a wealth of positive examples about those that are a great pleasure to grow in any garden & encourages the reader to find a place in our yard for those special ones.

The authors down to earth approach is a pleasure to experience & he certainly has a gift for sharing his many years of travels around the world & testing thousands of plants.

This is the kind of book that should be in every gardeners library as this kind of information is altogether valuable & beneficial at all levels.

My only disappointment with this book...was that it wasn't much longer to include another few thousand perennials & the authors advice on them.

The author has so much to impart...the reader will be delighted in their purchase of this book. A wise investment indeed!!!!

[David Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perennials For Every Purpose: Choosing the Right Plants For Your Conditions, Your Garden, and Your Taste by Larry Hodgson (Rodale 2000)(635.932). This is my favorite old book about perennial gardening. This is the one that captured my interest and started me on the course of my fondest past time. It's a grand introduction to organic gardening in the most painless way possible. My rating: 9.5/10, finished 2002.

[Dioscita · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all-time favorites; I use it endlessly for resources and cross-referencing.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mostly skimmed, but seems like a great reference tool and I love the idea of the garden plans in the front. Also great to have the plants categorized as they were and seems to be great info on other things you’d need to know.

[Linda Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this valuable book the information about plants is thorough. An entry will tell you the benefits of a flower as well as the drawbacks. There are suggestions about where to locate the flower and what to plant with it. Most importantly for me, a Minnesota gardener, this book does not ignore the north.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful, easy, beautiful book. I find something new every time I look at it!

[Kristal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gardening and loving it. A great reference tool.

[Vollmar]

Very good book. I like his philosophy about telling honestly about plants. It's flaws and stars. Easy to pick what kind flowers will suit my garden and me.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a newbie in gardening, I really enjoyed this book! I've learned a lot of useful information and I am looking forward to start gardening!