Once you get started with house plants, it's hard to quit. Growing plants indoors is an extremely rewarding and inexpensive hobby, and one that nearly anyone can pursue, but finding detailed information on specific hybrids and more obscure plants is not always easy. Most house plant books are written for beginners and don't give you everything you're looking for.
Here are a few that go well beyond the basics. Many of these books are out of print, but all are available from used book dealers:
Plants that Really Bloom Indoors : (Simon and Schuster, 1974) George and Virginie Elbert are among the most beloved authors of books about house plants. They experimented with every flowering plant imaginable, even going so far as to grow annuals like marigolds and portulaca under lights. Their enthusiasm is very contagious.
The Essence of Paradise: Scented Plants for Indoor Gardens (Little, Brown 1991) Tovah Martin has written an absolutely beautiful and detailed book devoted solely to the subject of fragrant house plants. If you love scented plants, this is a must-have.
Well-Clad Windowsills (MacMillan, 1994) Another stunningly beautiful volume from Tovah Martin with much very useful information, focused mainly on flowering plants. Illustrated with color photographs.
The New House Plant by Elvin McDonald (MacMillan 1993) :Like the other books listed, this volume goes beyond the usual houseplant book, and does so in a very comprehensive way, with excellent color photographs.
Tropica and Exotica by A.B. Graf (Roehrs Company,1986 and 1973, respectively): These are two extremely comprehensive books of photographs of tropical plants, very useful for identification. Cultural instructions appear in the back of each volume. Although these books are expensive, they're the ultimate wish books for indoor gardeners.
Books about specific plant families:
The Miracle House Plants: George and Virginie Elbert (Crown, 1986) This is the bible for gesneriad growers, a very comprehensive survey of the entire family. (Gesneriad is the technical name for members of the plant family that includes African violets) Although not as chatty as Plants that Really Bloom Indoors, it's an essential reference for anyone who loves African violets and their relatives.
Begonias by Mildred L. Thompson and Edward J. Thompson (Times Books, 1981): This essential begonia reference is beginning to get expensive. One can only hope the publishers come out with a new edition soon. It's a very comprehensive guide to the entire begonia family, and one you won't to be without.
Home Orchid Growing by Rebecca Tyson Northern(Prentice Hall Press, 1990) Although thousands of orchid books have been published, this is still one of the most detailed and comprehensive.
Check Amazon, Abebooks and other online book dealers for these wonderful additions to your gardening library.
Author's notes:
The editions listed are those owned by the author. In some cases, more recent editions may have become available. In general, the most recent edition is to be preferred where cost is not prohibitive.
If you have favorite houseplant books that aren't listed here, please add them in the comments section below.
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