Gardens Illustrated October 2005

James Fraser's Review of the book 'Architectural Plants'

This handsome effort is the hardback version of the paperback reference book published a couple of years ago in Collins Practical Gardener series. With double the amount of plants listed, it is just as essential to have in any gardening library as the first. For a start the book is a Good Look, nicely set out and easy to use. It's also written in a very jocular style with the friendly manner and sense of humour bred from a welcome familiarity with the subject. Every plant is treated like a member of the family whose charms and foibles are there for all the world to see.

This time round we get the bonus of being let in to family secrets, such as how to cloud prune a myrtle or close shave a Trachycarpus. The fact Ms Shaw also took most of the pictures adds to the family album atmosphere with practical advice and information listed learned from years of experience. For as is noted on the sleeve the author is a graduate and vice chancellor of the University of Architectural Plants, the nursery established in the late 1980s in West Sussex by Professor Emeritus His Excellency Angus White. As every gardener should know, in my view this was the most important day in the history of garden design for possibly half a century. From that day on, the horticultural canopy changed forever. No longer did landscape gardeners have to scratch around for odd varieties of structural plants: here was an impressive operation which guaranteed the specimen's provenance (a vital link for any successful planting) and provided enthusiasm, knowledge and quality of service. It's hard to imagine in 2005 how ground-shaking it was back then, but I shudder to think where we would be now, even with the plethora of 'cash & carry' nurseries on the scene.

For any modern, serious plantsman or woman a visit to the nursery is as essential as owning a copy of this book. Even sceptics must agree that these plants transcend the fickle nature of 'show-garden' fashions and it is the duty of the amateur or professional to consider this palette when choosing plants. For students of garden design in the UK it could be the most important reference book, up there with the RHS Encyclopedia and Graham Stuart Thomas. Some may say it's for the hardcore only but as a fraternity I think we should spread the word.

Translate it into every European language and include it in every horticultural curriculum without delay - shout the good news from the compost heaps!