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The Plants of Middle Earth: Botany and Sub-Creation
A new path for exploring the culture and values of Tolkien's Middle-earth "Rather than inventing an alien world into which human and familiar characters are introduced, as in science fiction, Tolkien created a natural environment that is also home to `supernatural' beings and elements, as in medieval works like Beowulf. The Shire is always the touchstone to which the hobbits return mentally and against which they (and we) measure the rest of Middle-earth. By creating a sense of familiarity and belonging early and then in each of the cultures encountered, we can meet `others' without feeling estranged." --from the Introduction Beautifully illustrated with dozens of original full-color and black-and-white drawings, The Plants of Middle-earth connects readers visually to the world of Middle-earth, its cultures and characters and the scenes of their adventures. Tolkien's use of flowers, herbs, trees, and other flora creates verisimilitude in Middle-earth, with the flora serving important narrative functions. This botanical tour through Middle-earth increases appreciation of Tolkien's contribution as preserver and transmitter of English cultural expression, provides a refreshing and enlivening perspective for approaching and experiencing Tolkien's text, and allows readers to observe his artistry as sub-creator and his imaginative life as medievalist, philologist, scholar, and gardener. The Plants of Middle-earth draws on biography, literary sources, and cultural history and is unique in using botany as the focal point for examining the complex network of elements that comprise Tolkien's creation. Each chapter includes the plants' description, uses, history, and lore, which frequently lead to their thematic and interpretive implications. The book will appeal to general readers, students, and teachers of Tolkien as well as to those with an interest in plant lore and botanical illustration.
124 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2006
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116 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 28, 2025
A delightful little book. As one with no knowledge of botany, I found the information on various kinds of flora and fauna to be surprisingly fascinating and this book has made me think much more about Tolkien’s botanical descriptions in his books. I appreciated some of the history of the plants and their historic medicinal uses, and I especially enjoyed learning the heavy mythology and symbolism surrounding many plants.
“…the state of plant life reflects the personality of a place and helps us imagine its soul.”
“…the state of plant life reflects the personality of a place and helps us imagine its soul.”
August 16, 2022
It just felt like the book kept forgetting what it set out to do.
November 21, 2016
A somewhat peculiar read. By the end, the author reveals that there is so much more botany within Middle-Earth that she simply didn't have time to cover; yet, the book is only ~100 pages long, and certain passages go on and on about the "hidden meaning" of The Lord of the Rings instead of focusing on the natural history of flora - which, incidentally, is what I wanted when I picked up this book! Tolkien mentions about 20 different kinds of trees in The Lord of the Rings; the author covers maybe five of them in the text. Where is the in-depth natural history of plants this book's dust jacket promised? Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the bits of botanic knowledge peppered throughout. I just felt that the author shied away from really making this a standout book, instead favoring the path of so many others by always wandering back to the philosophies of Tolkien himself. The illustrations were absolutely gorgeous, as a side note. Just don't be fooled by what this book proclaims to offer.
December 24, 2025
As others have noted in their reviews, this book follows a strange structure given the book's summary. Hazell (which, by the way, is the perfect name for someone who wants to write about plants) follows the geographic progress of The Lord of the Rings by beginning with the Shire and then moving south towards Mordor. She then zooms into Ithilien and trees as special topics, but this raises questions about the order of the text as we seem to be jumping around and sometimes repeating the discussion. The book largely focuses on plants in The Lord of the Rings but also draws on material from The Silmarillion, and yet -- the Trees of Valinor are not featured in the tree chapter. The chapters also spend a lot of time summarizing the events described in both books, which left me wondering for whom the book was best suited. I think most Tolkien fans who are very familiar with the books would quibble with the summaries and want more deep dives on the plants and why Tolkien may have used them in the story than is presented here, especially after the chapter on the Shire. Casual Tolkien fans who read The Lord of the Rings once or watched the movie adaptations might be more interested in the text as it stands. I didn't dislike the book, but both the order and depth left me with a haphazard feeling of what-might-have-been. It does have a useful list of plants referenced in the book at the end in the appendix, which is nice.
August 27, 2013
What a charming book!
On the shelf, it stood out not only for the title (of all things it was sub-creation I was drawn to; the concept is Tolkien's gift to the fantasy genre far more than any number of medieval worlds and elves) but also its soothingly soft green cloth binding with gold letters. Inside, it is gorgeously illustrated with drawings and watercolors of the planets, flowers, and trees discussed. The Plants of Middle-Earth belongs on a coffee table or anywhere you'd like a guest to see it, pick it up, and feel welcome.
An unusual mixture of herb lore and literary criticism, Hazell's book traces the significance of the plants featured throughout The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien's related works. The history and myth surrounding plants can guide reader interpretation of the fictional events and cultures they appear in. The brief chapters were a pleasure to browse through on quiet evenings, studying the illustrations and learning the old names, uses, and superstitions of the herbs, flowers, and trees. The prose is simple but has a certain whimsical poetry that shares observations and the occasional new insight (I jotted down the line "roses escape commonality" to share with a friend who I associate with roses yet who is anything but common). I did not find the book particularly challenging or groundbreaking, although it had more texture than an ordinary book on botany and more real-world connections than most literary criticism.
Cross-posted from Story Addict.
I chose to say 'real-world' in the above paragraph advisedly; The Plants of Middle-Earth is less about the botany unique to Tolkien's creation (though Hazell briefly discusses the possible inspirations of athelas and other fictional plants, including the Ents) and more about those shared with Earth and its own rich botanical traditions. This relates to the point Hazell wants to make about sub-creation: because the herbs, flowers, and trees which inhabit and form Middle Earth are familiar to us, we are willing to accept the otherwise unbelievable things that happen with them as a background. However, this potentially runs the risk of erasing an author's work in creating his (or her) setting by over-reliance on what we know of the primary world. The folk magic that offers insight into the significance of Hobbit women's names is based on the beliefs of medieval England, rather than anything Tolkien writes his Hobbits as believing. What if their superstitions about the Sweet Briar Rose are different? Does that matter, given real-world readers will form their impressions of a character named Eglantine based first and foremost on our own experiences and half-remembered knowledge? On a subject different from botany, Saruman the White's choice of colors may be deceptive or ironic to Western readers familiar with white as the color of purity and goodness and black as the shade for corruption and evil, but I wonder if the turn his character takes would be less shocking to readers from cultures where white is the color of death and funerals.
The target audiences for this work make up a Venn diagram: gardeners, folklorists, and Tolkien fans. Of course, there's quite a bit of overlap. I learned more about botany than Tolkien in reading it, and though it prompted some thinking about the role of environment in fiction and in the real world as well it is not by any means rigorous literary criticism; yet it sticks in my mind as a singularly unusual and enjoyable read.
On the shelf, it stood out not only for the title (of all things it was sub-creation I was drawn to; the concept is Tolkien's gift to the fantasy genre far more than any number of medieval worlds and elves) but also its soothingly soft green cloth binding with gold letters. Inside, it is gorgeously illustrated with drawings and watercolors of the planets, flowers, and trees discussed. The Plants of Middle-Earth belongs on a coffee table or anywhere you'd like a guest to see it, pick it up, and feel welcome.
An unusual mixture of herb lore and literary criticism, Hazell's book traces the significance of the plants featured throughout The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien's related works. The history and myth surrounding plants can guide reader interpretation of the fictional events and cultures they appear in. The brief chapters were a pleasure to browse through on quiet evenings, studying the illustrations and learning the old names, uses, and superstitions of the herbs, flowers, and trees. The prose is simple but has a certain whimsical poetry that shares observations and the occasional new insight (I jotted down the line "roses escape commonality" to share with a friend who I associate with roses yet who is anything but common). I did not find the book particularly challenging or groundbreaking, although it had more texture than an ordinary book on botany and more real-world connections than most literary criticism.
Cross-posted from Story Addict.
I chose to say 'real-world' in the above paragraph advisedly; The Plants of Middle-Earth is less about the botany unique to Tolkien's creation (though Hazell briefly discusses the possible inspirations of athelas and other fictional plants, including the Ents) and more about those shared with Earth and its own rich botanical traditions. This relates to the point Hazell wants to make about sub-creation: because the herbs, flowers, and trees which inhabit and form Middle Earth are familiar to us, we are willing to accept the otherwise unbelievable things that happen with them as a background. However, this potentially runs the risk of erasing an author's work in creating his (or her) setting by over-reliance on what we know of the primary world. The folk magic that offers insight into the significance of Hobbit women's names is based on the beliefs of medieval England, rather than anything Tolkien writes his Hobbits as believing. What if their superstitions about the Sweet Briar Rose are different? Does that matter, given real-world readers will form their impressions of a character named Eglantine based first and foremost on our own experiences and half-remembered knowledge? On a subject different from botany, Saruman the White's choice of colors may be deceptive or ironic to Western readers familiar with white as the color of purity and goodness and black as the shade for corruption and evil, but I wonder if the turn his character takes would be less shocking to readers from cultures where white is the color of death and funerals.
The target audiences for this work make up a Venn diagram: gardeners, folklorists, and Tolkien fans. Of course, there's quite a bit of overlap. I learned more about botany than Tolkien in reading it, and though it prompted some thinking about the role of environment in fiction and in the real world as well it is not by any means rigorous literary criticism; yet it sticks in my mind as a singularly unusual and enjoyable read.
May 26, 2017
Review originally published 26 May 2017 at Falling Letters.
I purchased this book expecting a field guide of sorts to the plants found in Middle-earth*. The Plants of Middle-earth instead uses said greenery as a point from which to explore various themes and concepts in Tolkien’s work. Hazell argues that Tolkien’s careful selection and naming of plants both real and fantastic reflects the implications of the grander tale.
I recommend this book for a fresh take on the world of Middle-earth, through the lens of its plentiful plant life.
*For anyone interested in such a field guide, a forthcoming release from Oxford UP ( Flora of Middle-Earth ) might be the book we’re looking for.
I purchased this book expecting a field guide of sorts to the plants found in Middle-earth*. The Plants of Middle-earth instead uses said greenery as a point from which to explore various themes and concepts in Tolkien’s work. Hazell argues that Tolkien’s careful selection and naming of plants both real and fantastic reflects the implications of the grander tale.
The Lord of the Rings is far too complex to be reduced to a simple tale of good versus evil, but one of the questions that must be asked is whether it is ultimately optimistic or pessimistic. Tolkien explores the issue in many places, not least in his botany, where he directs our gaze toward the ephemeral beauty of a single bloom and the enduring strength of nature. (43)I particularly liked the chapter “Forest and Trees”, which discusses significance of trees (beyond the role of Ents) via a tour of the forests of Middle-Earth. I also came to appreciate a brief aside on modernization and Sarehole Mill, which I initially thought was somewhat removed from the topic (84 to 87).
Of course, The Lord of the Rings cannot become commonplace, regardless of how often we read it. But hopefully awareness of its plant life will offer a new perspective for future visits to Middle-earth. (95)The Plants of Middle-earth is a pretty little book, an example of why one might prefer physical over digital. The deep green binding is soft to touch and the pages have a bit of weight to them. The lovely illustrations are one of this book’s feature attractions. However, the illustrations were not captioned. I could usually figure out which plant featured in the illustrations, but some pages described multiple plants and I wasn’t quite sure what was being depicted. For those wondering about the artists, that information is tucked in the back of the book (117).
I recommend this book for a fresh take on the world of Middle-earth, through the lens of its plentiful plant life.
*For anyone interested in such a field guide, a forthcoming release from Oxford UP ( Flora of Middle-Earth ) might be the book we’re looking for.
October 30, 2015
Aesthetically speaking, this book was beautiful. When I turned to the first chapter, I was nearly struck dumb by how lovely the making of the book was; the dust jacket echoed beautifully the interior pink of the cover and the green of the exterior, and the fine paper with elegant designs and font accentuated the lovely watercolor flowers etched upon its sister page. So, simply from the standpoint of beauty, this book is worth having.
The author offers a lovely synthesis of both gardening and herb-lore, as well as literary analysis, and she appears especially in-tune with the major loves and passions of Tolkien's life. It was a very unique walk through Middle-earth, and it made me want to garden like a spring-awakened Entwife.
The author offers a lovely synthesis of both gardening and herb-lore, as well as literary analysis, and she appears especially in-tune with the major loves and passions of Tolkien's life. It was a very unique walk through Middle-earth, and it made me want to garden like a spring-awakened Entwife.
November 22, 2014
It is a nice little book with pretty illustrations. It would be a good book for someone new to reading Tolkien criticism. It summarizes his works a lot. There wasn't much meat for a reader to chew on if expecting something to contribute to one's interpretation of or deepening the one's experience of the Tolkien cannon.
November 30, 2020
Much more basic than I expected.
June 1, 2020
Şimdi ne alaka diyeceksiniz, botanik falan... Ben de bilmiyorum. Tolkien'in adını görünce kaptırıyorum kendimi, hepsini okuyasım geliyor. Bu da öyle bir kitaptı işte.
Girişte birkaç sayfada bu kitabın yazılma amacından bahsetmiş yazar, amaç Orta Dünya'nın florasını tanıtmak olduğu halde kitabın büyük çoğunluğunda Tolkien'in yarattığı ya da esinlendiği bitkileri anlatmak yerine bu dünyanın derinliğini övüp durmuş. Evet, Orta Dünya'yı ben de övüyorum, herkes övmeli, ama kitabın asıl odağı botanik olmasına rağmen Tolkien felsefesinden dışarı çıkılamamış.
Kitabı bölümlere ayırmış yazar, bir bölümden diğerine geçerken aslında Orta Dünya haritası üzerinde hareket ediyorsunuz. Bu muhteşem bir özellik, bir sayfa çeviriyorsunuz ve Lothlorien'den Khazad-dum'a atlıyorsunuz. Kitabın organizasyonu genel olarak şahane, bahsedilen bitkinin görselinin altında, bitkinin eğer varsa esinlenildiği kaynak ya da isim verdiği karakterlerden bahsedilmiş. Bazılarında etimolojik kökenler incelenmiş, bazılarında da diğer kültürlerden faydalanılmış olabileceği anlatılmış. (Bkz. http://1000kitap.com/gonderi/54172870, http://1000kitap.com/gonderi/54382286, http://1000kitap.com/gonderi/54381028)
Kitabın son kısmında yazar Orta Dünya botaniğinin çok daha geniş olduğunu, hepsini anlatmaya yetecek vakti olmadığından bahsetmiş; ama yine de, bu 136 sayfalık kitapta floranın doğal tarihine odaklanmak yerine, Yüzüklerin Efendisi'nin "gizli anlamı" hakkında konuşulmuş hatta birçok bölümde tekrara düşülmüş. Yani aslında 'hepsini anlatmaya yetecek vakti' olabilirmiş ama olmamış.
Tolkien, Yüzüklerin Efendisi'nde yaklaşık 20 çeşit ağaçtan bahseder; yazar metinde 5-6 tanesinden bahsetmiş. Tolkien'in tamamen kendi yarattığı ağaç ve bitkilerden (mesela athelas, elanor, mallorn...) bahsetmek yerine Shire sakinlerinin bazılarına isim veren çok meşhurlarını anlatmış. Bir tek bu konuda eleştirebilirim kitabı.
İlgilisi için güzel kitap, göze de hitap ediyor, keyifli okumalar.
Girişte birkaç sayfada bu kitabın yazılma amacından bahsetmiş yazar, amaç Orta Dünya'nın florasını tanıtmak olduğu halde kitabın büyük çoğunluğunda Tolkien'in yarattığı ya da esinlendiği bitkileri anlatmak yerine bu dünyanın derinliğini övüp durmuş. Evet, Orta Dünya'yı ben de övüyorum, herkes övmeli, ama kitabın asıl odağı botanik olmasına rağmen Tolkien felsefesinden dışarı çıkılamamış.
Kitabı bölümlere ayırmış yazar, bir bölümden diğerine geçerken aslında Orta Dünya haritası üzerinde hareket ediyorsunuz. Bu muhteşem bir özellik, bir sayfa çeviriyorsunuz ve Lothlorien'den Khazad-dum'a atlıyorsunuz. Kitabın organizasyonu genel olarak şahane, bahsedilen bitkinin görselinin altında, bitkinin eğer varsa esinlenildiği kaynak ya da isim verdiği karakterlerden bahsedilmiş. Bazılarında etimolojik kökenler incelenmiş, bazılarında da diğer kültürlerden faydalanılmış olabileceği anlatılmış. (Bkz. http://1000kitap.com/gonderi/54172870, http://1000kitap.com/gonderi/54382286, http://1000kitap.com/gonderi/54381028)
Kitabın son kısmında yazar Orta Dünya botaniğinin çok daha geniş olduğunu, hepsini anlatmaya yetecek vakti olmadığından bahsetmiş; ama yine de, bu 136 sayfalık kitapta floranın doğal tarihine odaklanmak yerine, Yüzüklerin Efendisi'nin "gizli anlamı" hakkında konuşulmuş hatta birçok bölümde tekrara düşülmüş. Yani aslında 'hepsini anlatmaya yetecek vakti' olabilirmiş ama olmamış.
Tolkien, Yüzüklerin Efendisi'nde yaklaşık 20 çeşit ağaçtan bahseder; yazar metinde 5-6 tanesinden bahsetmiş. Tolkien'in tamamen kendi yarattığı ağaç ve bitkilerden (mesela athelas, elanor, mallorn...) bahsetmek yerine Shire sakinlerinin bazılarına isim veren çok meşhurlarını anlatmış. Bir tek bu konuda eleştirebilirim kitabı.
İlgilisi için güzel kitap, göze de hitap ediyor, keyifli okumalar.
January 21, 2016
I saw this as a recommended read on here since I have been reading a lot of Tolkein. I got this from another library and it was such a cool book. There are lovely drawings of plants within. Most of the plants that Tolkein featured in his books were real with the exception of a few (athelas, elanor, mallorn, etc.). I'd like to purchase this book for my own library at home. I recommend this if you are a fan.
March 6, 2008
A delightful discussion of the plants mentioned in Tolkien's legendarium!
May 8, 2016
Incredibly interesting read! I enjoyed looking at the importance Tolkien placed on plants to round out and detail the settings in the trilogy.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews