Rose book

can anyone recommend a comprehensive book of roses, please? I have RHS encyclopaedias with rose sections, and the Hessayan Rose Expert .

 

Sorry can't help with that one Liz -I don't have a book specific to roses - mind with the number I now have, I shall be interested in what members recommend, cos I really should have one. :D

 

Liz i have got one that was my dads dont know whether you could still get it.
be your own rose expert
BY Dr.D.G Hessayon
and HARRY WHEATCROFT
iff not could send you this one as i dont keep roses and it tells all about different roses, mind dont know how old this is, whether it would be any good to you, unless you could get an up-dated version. let me know

 

One of the series with excellent photos is good, Liz - by Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix. ISBN 0330299972, if you want to have a quick look via Amazon - try their used books. I don't know of a wholly comprehensive book, though, but there s a rose encyclopaedia by Charles and Brigid Quest-Ritson - don't have it, so don't know the ISBN. Good luck!
Just had a look - follow the link... http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0751369764/202-2347702-0428620?v=glance&n=266239&s=gateway&v=glance

 

Hi thanks both. I have got the Hessayon one, it is very good but mine was published in 1997 and new roses come out every year. I was looking at the Phillips and Rix one on amazon and I notice that it is recommended in this months Amateur Gardening as well, so I might order that. I think it's 2003 so that's quite a big improvement!
I send of for all the catalogues as well!
Just bought both, it's all too easy on amazon!

 

You're welcome, Liz! Did you mean you've ordered the encyclopaedia as well as the Phillips and Rix one? If so, could you let me know wht you think of it? I've been wondering about getting it, but haven't yet done so - other things keep getting higher on my list..... :rolleyes: And I daren't go on Amazon - I end up buying things!! :D

 

Yes, I ordered the encyclopaedia and the Phillips and Rix, couldn't decide between....ordered at 21.00 last night, order now on its' way! I know all too well what you mean, I daren't go in the local bookshop either!
I will post a review as soon as I have had a proper look.

 

:D Ta, Liz

 

Having looked at [or rather drooled over] these 2 books over the past week, I'm glad I ordered both!
The RHS one is the usual straight forward alphabetical order with some 2000 roses from round the world, with details of name, type, parentage, smell, vigour and flowering time for each one. Starting with a history explaining types and origins, it includes sections on famous rose growers and gardens in with the roses as they occur in the alphabet, and a section on rose care as well. Published in 2003, it misses 'Rhapsody in Blue'.
The Phillips and Rix 'Utimate Guide to Roses' is a much more subjective book with a personal selection of 850 mainly European roses. They are arranged in 25 groups of types of rose including the David Austin English roses and the French Romantica and Generosa roses grown by Meilland and Guillot.
This book is very useful if you want to look at [for instance] climbers only, and within each section the roses are divided first into colours, and then listed alphabetically. It has a full index. Although not so consistent in its' details of perfume etc it has interesting anecdotes at intervals and the photography is very good, Roger Phillips is obviously sympathetic to his subjects. This book just catches 'Rhapsody in Blue', published in 2004.
Neither book is consistent in the inclusion of description of foliage, and the pictures of some roses look nothing like each other.
Taken together the two books form a good comprehensive coverage of roses today. I found each somewhat frustrating at times, but having both formed a good cross-check.
I suppose that as both books describe their contents as selections it is excusable that not a single rose is described as not worth growing, or even poor....

 

Well - that's fair enough, I suppose! :rolleyes: I really ought to get around to getting the encyclopaedia. I've got the other one - a present from the gardeners at the gardens of the rose... and signed by one of them!!

 

Thanks for the descriptions of the books Liz - I was thinking of getting a rose book, but from the sound of it I will need two :rolleyes: