The New RHS Dictionary Manual of Ferns

The beauty of ferns is usually described as 'quiet' or 'subtle'. They are said to be plants that fascinate rather than grasp the grower. They are often thought of as a speciality plant. Yet ferns have inspired a gardening craze that outstripped our passion even for tulips, orchids or roses. Today gardeners seem poised for another spell of pteridomania, as we rescue the fern from its dark places in the woodland garden or its vigil in the office and other places of neglect. We are aware again of the rich if restrained palette the ferns offer us - from the fragility of the filmy fern to the prehistoric grandeur of tree ferns. There are ferns for all situations in the garden, from rockery to pond; ferns for the home and glasshouse - proof that a world without flowers can be a colourful and varied one. This book is a fully comprehensive guide to tender and hardy ferns and fern allies grown throughout the world. It includes essays on botany, life cycles, cultivation, propagation and history and describes over 180 genera, adopting the latest nomenclature. Easy identification is assured through keys and line drawings.