Common or Garden
Encounters with Britain's 50 Most Successful Wild Plants
Published on 1. January 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-1-80081-146-1 (ISBN)
Description
We often imagine that rarity is special - we seek out the most uncommon wild plants to tick off our lists, while overlooking the extraordinary appeal of the species we encounter day-to-day. Yet it's these plants -the most successful, able to adapt and thrive - which are truly fascinating.
Botanist, writer and expert gardener Ken Thompson has set out to chart Britain's fifty most abundant wild plants and reveal the secrets of their success. He explores the roots of their common names, from the dog rose to Yorkshire fog, and explains the key traits that have led them to flourish across Britain. And, along the way, he shares his tricks for making your garden a haven for green life.
Stunningly illustrated by Sarah Abbott, Common or Garden is a celebration of the everyday wonder of the plants that you can see, as Thompson enthuses, 'before you even have lunch'
Botanist, writer and expert gardener Ken Thompson has set out to chart Britain's fifty most abundant wild plants and reveal the secrets of their success. He explores the roots of their common names, from the dog rose to Yorkshire fog, and explains the key traits that have led them to flourish across Britain. And, along the way, he shares his tricks for making your garden a haven for green life.
Stunningly illustrated by Sarah Abbott, Common or Garden is a celebration of the everyday wonder of the plants that you can see, as Thompson enthuses, 'before you even have lunch'
Reviews / Votes
Excellent ... written in an enjoyably flowing and engaging style, with no little humour ...meticulously researched ... a fresh and insightful account of the flora that lives within walking distance of all our homes * British Wildlife * Being common is actually 'a rare and rather exceptional quality' ... We should value these familiar plants, Thompson writes, because they are the ones we have learnt to use as medicines, in cookery and incorporate into folklore. This charming books zips along at a breakneck pace, much enhanced by Sarah Abbott's jaunty illustrations * Daily Mail * A beautifully illustrated spotter's guide to Britain's most successful wild plants * Countryside *More details
Edition
Main
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Illustrations
60 b/w drawings
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-80081-146-1 (9781800811461)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
05/2023
Profile Books Ltd
€16.49
Available for download
Person
Dr Ken Thompson teaches on the Kew Horticulture Diploma, and was for twenty years a lecturer in the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences at the University of Sheffield. He writes regularly on gardening for various publications. He is the author of Where Do Camels Belong? and Darwin's Most Wonderful Plants.