Book Description

Cacti have a very special fascination all their own. Like the brilliantly colored hummingbirds, the Cactaceae are creatures of the New World. Miniature spiny dwarf cacti less than an inch in diameter are hidden in the arid regions of North and South America; the majestic columns of the giant saguaro, Carnegiea gigantea, dominate the deserts of Arizona. Yet all these cacti, given time, offer the surprising paradox of brilliant flowers, their delicacy a striking contrast to the strong spines that keep the viewer at a respectful distance.

More than likely, cacti were among the gifts that Christopher Columbus presented on his return from the New World to Isabella, queen of Castile. The first reports of cultivation of cacti in Europe date back to about 1570. Somewhat later, a single plant of Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus, named after Otto von Kotzebue (1787-1846), the explorer, was sold immediately after its discovery to a nursery in Paris for a price many times exceeding the value of the plant's weight in gold. And the fascination continues -- cactus and succulent societies exist around the world. Despite the beauty and wonder of the cactus family, the last professional monograph of the plant was the 1919-1923 publication by Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose.

In this new book, Anderson covers the family Cactaceae in an encyclopedic manner, addressing 125 genera and 1811 species. Descriptions are short but information-packed, and the book includes 1022 color photos. The introduction to each genus concentrates on the discovery of the cacti and the improvements in our understanding of them, in many cases as a result of relatively recent investigation. This makes the book a vivid case study of the science of plant taxonomy or plant systematics.

1008 color photos, 6 b/w photos, 3 drawings, 8 maps, 8 1/2 x 11" ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Outstanding Reference Source!
Between 1919 and 1923, a landmark publication in four volumes, The Cactaceae, was published by the Carnegie Institution. It remains a landmark publication in the world's literature on cacti. Edward F. Anderson has produced a massive one volume encyclopedic work, which expands and extends the work of Carnegie Institution. This marvelous resource has been well worth waiting for as it is based on Anderson's forty-five years of research on cacti.

The unique attributes of cacti are discussed in five chapters. Cacti occur naturally and are native to what is called "The New World." Only one species of native cacti is found in tropical Africa. In all other countries of the world where cacti are present, their existence is owed to the early explorers who carried cacti back to Europe on their ships and to birds that dispersed cactus seeds throughout the world.

Cacti as food, both for humans and animals, is addressed along with the medicinal uses of cacti. Cacti have long been used for ceremonial and religious purposes by indigenous peoples of the New World and as a source of dyes, especially the beautiful red cochineal dye. A chapter on cacti cultivation has been contributed by Roger Brown. For those interested in growing cacti in their homes and gardens, Brown's advice on containers, potting and repotting, air circulation and ventilation, pests, pesticides, and propagation is a valuable bonus to this specialized encyclopedia.

Pages 105 through 681 contain over 1,000 stunning color photographs (many photographed by Anderson), which are overwhelming in their portrayal of both the beauty and the idiosyncratic nature of cacti. Examples of the photographic artistry found within these glossy pages range from close-up snapshots of cactus flowers and large photographs of intriguing oddities. It will be difficult for cacti enthusiasts to wean themselves from this prodigious book, which weighs almost ten pounds.

The appendices, glossary and indexes are superb. The eight-page double-column international bibliography is comprehensive, spanning over two centuries of research on cacti (the earliest citation is dated 1760 and the latest references are from 2001). This is truly a state-of-the-art source. This splendid work stands alone and at the top of its genre.

Disappointment!
Less than 50% of the described species has a photograph.
Actual photos are small in size.
No cultivation tips at all!
Good for botanists, less for amateur cactus growers.

WOW!!! Cactus lover's new bible.
Fuggedaboutit! This recently published work is quite simply the greatest single volume treatment of the Cactus family. Although expensive, I believe you will treasure this book in much the same way that you treasure your cacti collection. A wealth of knowledge expressed in terms a non-scientist can understand, yet also greatly useful to the serious scholar. Please read the other reviews. Much enthusiasm.

Dr Anderson - Where have you been all my Life?
This is the ultimate book for any serious cactus collector and grower. Although at first glance it seems daunting in the extreme, a sudden epiphany of understanding dawns as one reads through the book. Written by a scientist and true enthusiast, this book is exhaustive in its desctriptions and naming of cacti, even to the point of honesty, when Dr Anderson explains that many families of cacti are less well understood than others. This book has many scientific and true botanical references in it, but unlike many authors who believe (wrongly) that the reader will possess the same knowledge, Dr Anderson explains all this in great detail at the beginning of the book, with all the nomenclatures the reader and enthusiast is going to be encountering in later chapters. The photographs are stunning and comprehensive, the various different habitat each plant grows in is described, and the very important issue of conservation of valuable species is tackled in a topical and masterful manner. The exact care of each and every plant is not displayed together with its photograph, but at the beginning of the book, and all other aspects of care, from soil, sterilisation of tools, pots, eradication of pests and so on, can also be found there. The very simple but concise drawings of the anatomy of the cactus flower in general are wonderfully understandable, and in the later photgraphic section, any doubts the grower may have about a particular cactus are dispelled by the flower description, from stem to size and colour. There is also a glossary of botanical terms at the end of the book, so there is never a section in the book where the reader is blinded by scientific jargon. I would recommend this book to any seriously interested collector of cacti - the definitive book, in my opinion.

Profusely illustrated with color photography
Edward Anderson is senior research botanist at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona and 1998 winner of the prestigious Cactus d"or, given by the Principality of Monaco for outstanding research on succulents. In The Cactus Family, Anderson draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to create the definitive compendium on Cactus. An essential, core, "user friendly" title for personal, professional, and academic horticultural and gardening reference collections, The Cactus Family is profusely illustrated with color photography. Additionally, The Cactus Family is enhanced with an informative foreword by Wilhelm Barthlott; a chapter on cactus cultivation by Roger Brown; an appendices of maps; a second appendices "Two Botanic Gardens and Herbaria with Significant Collections of Cacti; a glossary; literature citation; an index of scientific names, and an index of common names. ... Read more

Book Description

Prickly and frequently taking strange shapes, cacti often thrive when given minimal care, and sometimes languish when owners "nurse them to death." This handsomely illustrated book introduces plant growers to the basics of cactus care and cultivation, then presents an alphabetized, photo illustrated directory of roughly 50 varieties--from Acanthocalycium to Uebelmannia pectinifera. Only avid plant lovers need remember the scientific names. More practical for plant growers, and shown in stunning photographs, is the magnificent variety of cactus flowers that blossom from the fascinating shapes of these plants. In addition to the identifying photos, each plant profile includes information on original region of growth and growth period. Readers get instructions for care, propagation information, and the botanical designation for each cactus plant shown. Cactus enthusiasts will also find sidebar tips that cover everything from water, soil, and light needs to the origins of some of the more interesting cactus names. This remarkable book features more than 275 color photos, a glossary, a directory of American and Canadian cactus societies, supply sources, and a detailed index. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

My First Book Ever on Cactus Care.
I have been an avid cactus fan since I was very young (I'm 16 now), but I never had a really good book on cacti until now. This one is concise, comprehensive, and offers a wide range of gorgeous color photos. Sure, it was the only one my local bookstore had. But by the same token, it is excellent, and not too expensive either. For the cactus lover.

Great for beginners and early collectors
Enough information for beginners to start with and valuable information for early collector to keep in mind. EXCELLENT ILLUSTRATIONS!. It has a great variety of species for the size of the book. ... Read more

Book Description

Classic on peyote an psychoactive cacti growing. Describesobtaining seeds, growing, cloning and grafting, and extracting maximumoutput of mescaline and other alkaloids. Includes Peyote, San Pedro,Donana and other cacti. Discusses legal aspects with appendix fromattorney Richard Glen Boire. List of Suppliers. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

PeYoTe
This book provides good information layed out in an easy to read format on the cultivation, consumption, legality, and history of peyote and other similar cacti. It also gives a breakdown of the alkaloids in peyote and gives detailed methods for mescaline extraction (you know...for resaerch purposes). It also includes pictures and descriptions of other cacti containing alkaloids similar to peyote. The only shortcoming I find in this book is the lack of any research reports on the harmful effects of peyote, but that could be because there has been very little research done on it. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in peyote for any purpose. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

the authority on succulents
You will never confuse a succulent from another cactus or in any matter from another succulent.This illustrated dictionary is for the succulent collector who has his or her own collection and is willing to take that extra step into the knowledge of succulents. This isn't a step to step guide on how to care for succulents however a reference guide foe identification and characteristics of the hundreds and hundreds od succulents in the world. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. great coffee table book with excellent photos and top notch quality I look at it everyday to refresh my memory and to discover new succulents some very strange to normal day to day succulents you can see in gardens both public and private. A wonderful and necessary reference tool.

No cultivation information
I am a beginner with succulent plants and rock gardening. This is a very pretty book with information & photos for identifying plants. I find the pictures a bit small (about 2"x3.25"). For me, differentiating some of the Sempervivum species (or Jovibarba) would be difficult with the description and photos provided (someone more expert may find the descriptions quite sufficient).

I really NEED more information on habitat and cultivation. For me, sun exposure, soil & water requirements, pest problems and such are what I want right now. Also of interest, how variation in sun exposure and water will effect color & habit, cold and heat tolerance, winter protection. Once again, for a more experienced gardener, or someone wanting to move into more exotic succulents (I am working with Sedum, and "hens & chicks" (common name)) this may rate five stars.

I did learn that what I know as "hens & chicks" could be Sempervivum, Jovibarba, or Graptopetalum. This is an example of why it would be nice to have a common name cross reference, as mentioned by another reviewer.

Initially, I thought I would return the book, but have decided to keep it. I have learned about some species that I would like to grow, if I can get information on their culture & habit. This reference will allow me to get new species to experiment with. (This may mean special orders, as local nurseries have limited supplies of common plants.) So far, the Crassulaceae family is where my interest lies - See, I have learned something of value!

Good beginning.
"Succulents: The Illustrated Dictionary", is the original work of these two partner authors. This concise original offers hundreds of succulents, beautiful and strange, in scientific names. The photographs are as beautiful as "Cacti: The Illustrated Dictionary", but more close up. However, for this guide to be complete, the sequel also needs to be bought along with the original. "Succulents 2" is almost identical to the original in photo and binding quality, which are fine. However, you may as well be purchasing half a book if you only buy one of the series. Both are needed for completion.
The content is rich, featuring different succulent families, such as the poisonous "Euphorbia" genus. (I am still waiting to purchase the sequel to find more interesting families.) When you have these, there is not a chance that you will misidentify differing species.

A must have book for all Succulent Enthusiasts
This is a very well written and illustrated book that covers almost all major groups of succulent plants. The photos are really nice and the book has been a great use for plant identification. The author's have also taken the time to explain very basic knowledge of succulent care, not assuming that the readers are advanced botanists.

I love this book.
This book is packed with great pictures. Great information. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

40 b/w photographs, 32 line illustrations, 40 tables The Cactaceae family, with about sixteen hundred species, is cultivated worldwide for fruits, forage, fodder, and even as a vegetable. Cacti are recognized for their attractive flowers, special stem shapes, and ability to tolerate drought. Because of their efficient use of water and other adaptations, biological and agronomic interest in cacti has soared. These fascinating plants also have much to teach us about biodiversity and conservation. Yet a current, synthetic, wide-ranging reference on cacti has not been available until now. This comprehensive book, compiled by a well-known cactus biologist, includes authoritative, up-to-date chapters by thirty-five contributors from around the world on topics ranging from evolution to biotechnology. It is the first book of its kind to compile information on cactus biology, ecology, and uses in one convenient place. The first half of the book provides a thorough overview of cactus biology and morphology and discusses the environmental and conservation issues that affect the plants. It includes a discussion of the evolution of the family, paying particular attention to new genetic and molecular approaches. The second half of the book focuses on the practical concerns of cultivating cacti, such as pest control and diseases, horticultural and forage applications, and techniques for agronomy. Other chapters cover the different markets for cacti and products that are made from them. This unique volume will be a reliable and informative reference for ecologists and environmentalists, agriculturists, plant biologists, and anyone seriously interested in these remarkable plants. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Advanced book for specialists
This is an advanced book, with plenty of black and white photos, but no color photos. This book consists of fifteen review chapters written by established experts and new contributors. The book description states that Cacti: Biology and Uses is the first book of its kind to compile information on cactus biology, ecology and uses.

Because this book covers a wide variety of topics, such as biology, morphology, conservation, pollination, and pest control, the writing is quite advanced in several different subject areas. For example, a physiologist may totally understand the chapter on shoot anatomy and morphology (Chapter 2), but may have less understanding of the chapter about breeding and biotechnology (Chapter 15). In Chapter 10 alone (Cactus Pear Fruit Production) a reader finds economic content with a supply and demand analysis and agronomic content with fertilizer and irrigation information. This seems to validate the book's description as a compilation of cacti information.
As previously mentioned, Cacti: Biology and Uses does not have any color photos, but it does have many, quality black and white photos, as well as many tables and figures. A basic table of contents is printed in the front, and then, each chapter begins with a more detailed table of contents. Each chapter ends with a conclusion and an extensive list of literature cited. An index, with some "See" and "See also" references, is provided in the back.

This is a high quality book who are interested in the biology, ecology or uses of a unique family of plants. ... Read more

Book Description

The Complete Book of Cacti & Succulents features the history, cultivation, and imaginative use of more than 300 plants -- in step-by-step color stages. This is a feast of in-depth information and eye-catching photography.DK's new line of paperback titles combines all the qualities of its hardcovers with the advantages of the soft cover format. Each of these already popular books will now be available to a large new readership who will delight in the essential elements of every DK title: clarity, educational value, and visual appeal. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Not the "Complete" Book without Yuccas!
This is a georgeous book, but it doesn't mention Yuccas at all! There is very little on Agavaceae in general.
The outstanding photography makes it somewhat worthwhile. All of the plants are photographed on white seamless, so they really pop off the page.

Excellent reference, not just for beginners
If you had to limit yourself to just one book, this should be that book.

For novices, this book has excellent basic advice for getting started, including many pictures and of how to display and plant them. For those with more experience, the book is a handy first reference before searching a specialized botanical tome.

This book makes the specific point that (popular, commonly available) cacti are no more difficult to grow than any other house plant.

The book thoroughly covers the needs of these plants, including what kind of soil, how much water, what temperature and amount of light they prefer.

The largest section has all of the popular genera, including the tropical varieties. This section has excellent photography of the plants at their best. If a person had a cactus that's in this book, that person would very likely be able to identify it from the descriptions and pictures. The book usually describes the distinguishing feature that classifies the plants of that type.

Typical and maximum sizes are given, along with the plants' growth habits and the age at which they first flower (some varieties do not flower until they are many years old).

Also included in this section is the hardiness, or how cold the plants can get before they die. If you don't live where these plants naturally grow, this is very important information. For instance, many kinds of cactus grow where it snows in the winter and can be grown outdoors in most of the USA.

At least one of each of the different general forms of cactus is shown: columnar cacti, prickly-pear types, barrel types, etc.

Following the section on specific cacti is a fairly representative section on popular succulents. There are so very many different kinds of succulents in the world, even a book ten times thicker would barely scratch the surface. This book concentrates on those species which are most commonly planted alongside cactus.

The lists at the back of the book are almost worth the price of the book itself. There are lists that categorize cacti and succulents in every which way, including many species that were not pictured or discussed in the main sections. There are lists by how easy the plants are to grow ("easy", "moderate", "difficult"), lists by temperature range ("cool", "temperate", "hot"), and other useful groupings. These lists help make this book continually valuable, even as one's experience and knowledge grows beyond the basics.

This author (Terry Hewitt) has written other books on cacti and succulents. Those books are also excellent, and worth purchasing for the unique information that they contain, but mainly as supplements to this book.

There are also other excellent cactus books that are more complete, but also more technical - or more specialized (for instance, there is an entire reference work on just the "opuntia" (prickly-pear) species).

This book is perfectly written for the average amateur cactus lover.

Kill Your Lawn - Part 2
Several years ago I converted my front lawn into a cactus garden. Actually, it's a hybrid cactus/zen garden. It has the requisite stream [dry of course] and dry pond. The buddhas have been replaced by coyotes and the lamps by Mexican-style chimneys. My neighbors seem to like it [at least they haven't tried to run me out of town]. Terry Hewitt's The Complete Book Of Cacti and Succulents has been an invaluable reference in my cactus education. It's a DK book and therefore has the killer DK style that I love so much. It's not as comprehensive as Miles Anderson's The Ultimate Book Of Cacti And Succulents [which Terry Hewitt consulted on], but it is still an excellent reference. My rating is actually higher than 4 stars, but not high enough to make it a 5 star book.

Excellent book- great info.- great photos!
Terry Hewitt's Complete Book of Cacti & Succulents may not exactly be complete (it is not an encyclopedia), but it is thorough and is an excellent book especially for beginners. Hewitt discusses the anatomy and discovery of cacti/succulents, how to plant them, propogate them, how to keep them healthy, and even discusses how best to display the plants. And of course the most important part: the plant catalog. He covers hundreds of cacti and succulents in full color. In addition to the many desert cacti I'm happy to say that Hewitt also covers epiphytic cacti including aporocactus, aporophyllum, epiphyllum, and the Christmas cacus. In the back of the book the author includes Plant Selection Lists. In these lists he lists the plants that are best for beginners, as indoor pot plants, those that are easy to flower, those that grow best in the different climates, etc. And I again want to stress the many, many beautiful, clear full color photos throughout the book.

One of the best succulent books I've seen
Beautiful pictures and helpful information are what makes this such a fantastic book. Descriptions of individual species is a bit sparse, but this doesn't detract much from the overall appeal of this book. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

As good a book as you will find on the Peyote Cactus
This book was a true classic, if you are looking for complete information on the Peyote Cactus, this is the book for you to buy. I cannot recommend it enough, it is one of my favorite books in my collection. It is professional, well written, and informative.

The authoritative study of peyote
The most complete authority on the peyote cactus, Lophophora williamsii. E. Anderson includes every aspects of peyote- history and religious uses to ethnobotanical, phytochemistry and pharmacology. For anyone interested in learning all aspects of this mystifying plant, Peyote: The Divine Cactus, will allow just that. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The best got even better
If you liked Maurizio Sajeva and Mariangela Costanzo's first book, Succulents, then you will really like their second edition titled Succulents II. The book's outline is basically the same with some new information provided. The photo's, like their first book are superior and serve as a great means of plant identification. The addition of having the book in hard cover form (the first is paperback), makes this book an excellent reference material without concern on wear and tear when carrying it around the garden. Amazon books has the best price on this book and I've shopped around before purchasing it. If you time it right, you can order it with a couple other things and take advantage of free shipping and handling. I think that's pretty good deal.

Succulents II: The New Illustrated Dictionary
For this subject, this is a "must-have" reference book. It is very visual. The images are great and the authors have gone beyond the commonplace. Do I recommend it? I give it 5 "Forget-about-it's".

An impressive catalog of succulent species.
Documents around 1,200 species of succulent plants in an A to Z format. Entries include a color photograph, species name, family, a brief description of appearance and habit, and details of specimen's origin. Introduction provides a brief overview of succulent families and representative genera. Appendices cover alternative names (scientific, not common) and additional reading materials, broken out by family.

Bear in mind when considering this book that it is a _survey_ compilation, not an identification guide. It sets out to catalog the astounding variety of succulents worldwide, and never touches on care or maintenance. Pictures are often of salient features, such as flowers or stem structures, rather than of the entire plant, and many are photographed in their native habitat (by which I mean, they are not always the flawless beauties that we are accustomed to seeing in plant books --although the settings are often as fascinating as the plants themselves!).

I very much enjoy thumbing through this book. Although I personally find it of very little practical value, I would recommend it to any plant enthusiast with an appreciation for diversity or photography.

Another must have reference
The authors have begun where the first book left off. Very similar in size, the sequal has some info on CITES status, as well a general overview, of certain genus and species. For easier identification, several species have multiple pictures, ensuring that pertinent information is not lost from a habit shot. Some species are repeated from the intitial 1994 release, but many are new. Certainly an invaluable source for species determination, individually and in concert with the original. ... Read more

Book Description

Succulents, with their striking forms, unusual colors, and easy-care reputation, are becoming an increasingly important design element in many contemporary gardens. Whether planted en masse, as specimens in the garden, or featured in containers, they have much to offer landscapers and home gardeners. Until recently, the range of succulents available commercially was relatively limited, but nurseries and garden centers are responding to the demand, and more and more species and cultivars are now available. Succulents for Contemporary Gardens is a book for beginners, enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike, presenting old favorites along with an enticing range of less-common, more collectable examples of these intriguing plants. Descriptions and cultivation information are given for hundreds of species and cultivars in more than 60 genera---from Adenia to Yucca---helping gardeners to choose plants best suited to their design requirements and garden conditions.

Illustrated throughout with 350 color photographs, this book will inspire gardeners and succulent connoisseurs to seek out more of these wonderful plants. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Pretty but not a good reference book
This book is an extensive collection of nice pictures of over 350 different succulents. They are arranged in scientific name order. However the descriptions for each entry are just text describing the plant. There is not even basic information like the hardiness zone so you will know if the one you like will survive your winter. The text does not directly reference the picture location so you have to find the picture key somewhere on each page ("This page, left to right ..."). The index is really just a table of contents - common names are listed under the scientific name instead of having a separate entry ("Purple Emperor" is indexed as "Sedum, Purple Emperor"). Get this for the pictures then get The American Horticultural Society "A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants" for the reference data. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

A technical book with a wealth of information
This is really a scientific work, but anyone with a knowlege of "Flora's" will find thier way around these books with ease. Although some of the nomenculture is outdated it is still a "Must" for the serious Cacti Species collector.

A cactus classic
The Cactaceae by Britton & Rose is a massive, semi-technical study on cacti. It is in fact the largest collection of cactus descriptions and illustrations ever compiled. It was first published in the early 1900's and has since been an indispensible classic for anyone seriously interested in cacti. Various reprints have been made since the original publication when the four volumes have been bound into two hard cover books. The four volumes (in two books) contain 1048 pages and 1250 black and white plates and illustrations. It goes without saying if one is interested in The Cactaceae, purchasing all four volumes (two books) should be considered in order to have total coverage of the subject .. and to retain the value of the publications if you should decide to sell them at some future date. The discounted price offered here is an excellent buy in today's market on these publications. ... Read more

Book Description

From tropical jungles to the driest deserts, from sea level to the tops of snow-packed mountains, cacti thrive in a multitude of environments. This wonderful, fact-filled reference introduces 150 of the most common and popular species. Each entry has a color photo and includes information on its origins, growing season, discovery, naming, and domestication. Take a look at the bright red flowering rat-tail cactus; the sea urchin cactus with pale yellowish petals; and the tall saguaro--the one you'll have seen in all those Westerns--and 147 more! Understand the process they use to extract water in areas of limited moisture, and examine the variety of their spines and the shapes of their flowers. See how to care for these exotic but hardy plants, using the important details to provide an atmosphere in which they can flourish and flower. You'll get the secrets of successful propagation (whether by seed, soil, or grafting); growing mediums and tools; recipes for soil mixes for particular species; facts on watering and feeding; and careful guidance on common problems. It's everything you need to know about cultivating cactus in the home and garden.112 pages (all in color), 8 1/2 x 11.
... Read more

Reviews (1)

asking info
i'll like to know wheter ur company posts or ships the book to oversesa? Because i'm in Malaysia, thank you. ... Read more

Book Description

Drought resistant, hardy and available in a range of rich colors and textures, succulents are a staple of gardens everywhere. Here is a complete guide to growing cacti, aloes, jade plants and many exotics. The information is perfect for beginners, yet comprehensive enough for experts, and supplemented by dozens of full-color photographs and illustrations. Topics include choosing the right succulent for your soil and climate, planting, propagation, disease, pest control, and more.
... Read more

Book Description

Covers the nothern Chihuahuan Desert with easy-to-read descriptions and full-color photgraphs.A separate section on succulents allows the reader to easily identify the most interesting plants in this area. ... Read more

Book Description

Prepare to prune and propagate to cacti perfection with this fantastic pocket-sized guide. One hundred and one nuggets of practical information take you stage-by-stage towards a broad understanding of the care of succulents and their spiky partners. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great reference book for the a beginner
This is an excellent reference guide for those with little or no experience with cacti and succulents. If you are visually-oriented, you will apprecicate the vivid and colorful photos. This is a very simple and easy book to read....I would consider it to be a nice starter book.

A good supplementary reference
This book is an excellent companion to "Complete Book of Cacti and Succulents" by the same author (Terry Hewitt).

"101 Essential Tips" has some information not included in the larger work. This reviewer recommends buying both books and consults both books on a regular basis.

This book is adequate on it's own, though. If one has a very limited budget, this would be the book to buy.

Reading this book will likely whet one's appetite for Hewitt's "Complete Book", but this book will get one started and might be all the book that one will ever really need. It contains every bit of basic information necessary to successfully grow these plants.

The format, of separately titled and illustrated "tips", also makes the book a very easy read. One can easily flip to some specific tip and never have to read the whole book end-to-end.

What it's not: This is not a book for identifying a just-purchased, unlabelled cactus. It's also not a coffee-table picture book (though it does have informative and useful photos) and it does not attempt to _thoroughly_ cover any aspect of cactus cultivation.

It is a small, inexpensive quick-reference with answers to common questions and solutions to common problems that arise when growing cactus. The photographs that it has are fully adequate for illustrating the techniques described.

The book shows implicitly, due to its small size and price, that growing cactus is neither difficult nor expensive.

This book is a very good value and makes a great starting book for those with a limited budget.

A Waste
This book is so cursory and high-level that I got nothing out of it. For example, there's an entry on spider mite damage to cacti. It says to combat this use a predatory mite. It fails to tell me which mites are predatory, where I might find them, how to use them, etc. I don't know the purpose of this book. It's so short, vague, and imprecise that some one new to cacti won't find it useful. And it's so vacuous that some one who knows cacti will read it and say "Duh." And it's too little to be a good coffee-table book....

Good info, but redundant
This little book has some pretty good tips, but if you already have Hewitt's Complete Guide to Cacti and Succulents you don't need this book. Virtually all of the information and photographs (as excellent as they are) comes right from the author's more complete book. So if you already have Hewitt's Comlete Guide... don't waste four bucks on 101 Essential Tips. If you want a good cacti/succulent book buy The Complete Guide to Cacti and Succulents not 101 Essential Tips.

this is a very imformative book for beginning cactus growers
This book is the best thing I have every purchased about cacti. The book gives you important information about watering, lighting, repoting, arranging, feeding, tempature, pests and diseases, and choosing cacti. I would recomend this book for anyone who is a beginning cactus grower, or anyone who has questions about cacti. ... Read more

Book Description

Fascinating, informative, and user-friendly, Simon & Schuster's Guide to Cacti and Succulents is a stunning reference to an intriguing category of plants. A thorough introduction describes the history of Cactaceae (the largest of the many plant families known as succulents because they store water in their leaves, stems, and roots) and provides general guidelines for their cultivation. Then, each of the more than 300 detailed entries describes an individual species, including its place of origin and ideal conditions for its growth. Full-color photographs enable easy identification of the plants in the field.

Whether for the casual gardener or the serious horticulturist, this beautiful and comprehensive guide will be an invaluable resource. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Many entries.
This guide to Cacti and Succulents is one of the greatest field guides that I have ever bought in my giant private collection of field and naturalist guides. As said above, this has numerous species and subspecies entries. I have never seen another cactus field guide with so many listings, mainly of cacti. There are a few succulents, but the cacti are the MAIN part of this book. If you want a guide to local succulents, purchase "Succulents", and "Succulents 2: The Illustrated Dictionary". But, if you are seeking out cacti, whether to plant them in a backyard, or simply find them in the field, this a priority to purchase.
The photographs themselves are beautiful and DO show enough of the plant for field identification. A few of the more familiar species are listed along with common names, but this is not needed for the advanced naturalists it is geared toward. Also recommended: "Cacti: The Illustrated Dictionary."

Overly technical
While this book contains a huge amount of information on cacti, the information on individual cacti is so technically oriented that the book is unsuitable for almost everyone except trained biologists and gardeners (and I have a PhD in astronomy, so I am very familiar with reading scientific literature). The cacti are organized by their latin names, with common names rarely given. Much of the information on the individual cacti is only relevant to identifying or cultivating the cacti. In contrast, such things as the Audobon field guides on birds and mammals present at least small amounts of information on the physiology and behavior of the species listed. The photos are of mediocre quality, and close-up photos of some cacti do not aid in identification. The one saving grace of this book is its introduction, which is written in a lighter style and which presents thorough background information on cacti. Nonetheless, I would recommend other books before this one.

Another very good cactus reference
I found this book to be both useful and informative, but not as one's only reference. It's a little too "biological".

The pictures are good - they generally show enough of the plant, including the flowers to help with identification. It has been noted that it is not always possible with these pictures to completely identify some species. This is true. Many species of cactus look nearly identical and require an experienced botanist to tell them apart, even given the actual physical plants.

This book is not quite as complete as some of the larger tomes (e.g.: "Illustrated Encylopedia of Cacti" by Clive Innes, et al), in terms of number of species, but the description for each specimen is often more complete. Many entries include comments that would not be necessary to merely identify the plant. Some comments are even (very) slightly chatty and opinionated.

At the front of the book is the best description of the scientific names of cactus that I have ever seen. It includes a detailed history of why cactus plants are named as they are, and shows how to understand them. Also explained is why there is disagreement between various books regarding the names of some cacti. Believe it or not, these plants are named logically.

Gripe: the text is quite long on botanical jargon while at the same time, the glossary is stupidly terse. The book is obviously written for the non-biologist, and yet the book is peppered with botanical terms (like "ramified") that are nowhere-between-the-covers defined. Yet the book has a pronunciation guide to the latin terms, which no botanist would need... very strange.

There are no hybrid (e.g.: cultivated) species represented at all. Other books do include the hybrids.

In spite of the title, there are no non-cactus succulents listed. The text makes this clear within a few paragraphs of the beginning, but if you bought the book without looking inside at all, you'd be mislead by the title.

Note: every author has a section about "how to water cactus", with his or her own strong opinions. No one book has the full story. They all agree that there is no rote method that does not require taking your own plants' situations into account. This book is particularly, perhaps overly, strident regarding best practices, and some other (almost _any_ other) cactus reference should also be consulted to gain some perspective.

I had previously rated this book as "4 stars" but I have changed my mind. It has turned out to be the cactus reference that I most often use. If you want one book with both cactus and other scculents thenTerry Hewitt's "Complete Book of Cacti and Succulents" is probably a better choice but this book makes an excellent reference.

Wonderful book!
This book contains a lot of information on cacti, a break away from books containing both cacti and succulents. The photos are breath-taking. One of their really good works!

they all look the same !
I was a little disapointed in this book because it is predominately cacti of the globular and columnar type with very little variation. there are almost no non-cacti type succulents in this book. So if you like looking at the same plant with only minute differences between them and their thorns then this is for you. Thank God it did not cost a fortune ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Most complete cactus guide available.
So complete that it does not require a sequel. The Illustrated Dictionary provides hundreds of photographs of foreign, local, and native cacti. Since it is geared toward botanists and interested naturalists, scientific names are used beside each species portrait. The photos themselves are stunning and beautiful, at times showing the entire plant for quick identification. The plants shown are admirable, and interesting to look at for a while. Some cacti forms may be so appealing, that you may want to find them on the internet for further information! Intriguing series consisting of two Succulent books and a single complete Cactus guide.
The binding is okay, nothing special. That will not matter once you are captivated by the stunning photographs and useful identification purpuses.

Great identification guide!!
This field guide to hundreds of cacti and globular species is one of the best yet. I bought this guide at a nursury selling numerous species. I have 4 in my collection now, and am in the process of identifying them. I have three in the Mammilaria genus, and one completely seperate from that category. This book has so many to choose from so that you will never run out of ID choices when you need them. When these cacti flower it will be a snap to put identification cards on them! Unfortunately for the Americans, these are foreign cacti and we may never see them in their natural habitat, but this book makes them look just as glorious as real life!!!

a good solid reference photographically
I've had this book for several years now and have found it to be very useful in identifying some cacti by their appearance alone, as the book is really a photo album with little text. It can also be used to choose species of cacti that you might want to own because it gives you some idea of their appearance 'pre-buying'. The authors are brothers who have worked well together and that in itself is kinda neat! I can recommend it to beginners and even some intermediate aficionados of cacti.

I usually like Timber Press
Pictures in this book are excellent with descriptions that allow for fairly positive identification. Plates are true to color and notations discuss variation in species. Unlike most books by Timber Press, the binding is of poor quality. Still, an excellent reference for beginners like myself.

Excellent pictorial dictionary
This book provides pictures of most of the small globular cacti. It is excellent for identification of your plants, determining which plants interest you and what those plants in a nursery catalogue look like. It has a short desciption of each plant and its place of origin which may help with cultivation if you know the conditions in that area. It does not cover the columnar cacti or the opuntias so if these are your interest then this book may not be for you. Otherwise, I find it to be amoung the most valuable book in my collection since I am only interested in the appearance of my plants. It allows me to choose which cacti are the most interesting in appearance so I can order them from cactus nurseries. ... Read more