This is a reference for identifying plants and planning gardens. Visual comparison charts help readers to select over 1000 international plants to create colour-co-ordinated borders. The book allows the reader to design beds and borders from scratch, or to fill difficult gaps and spaces to match an existing garden plan, taking the guesswork out of planing a border. It contains essential information on how to get the best out of plants: watering needs, position guides, soil conditions and how the plants grow. The plants are graded by eight principal colours - blue, yellow, pink, orange, green, purple, red and white - with a special section on mixed borders. The book gives an instant overview of the border as plants are organized by height - front, middle and back. Photo-spread examples offer alternative design plans suitable for different-sized and shaped borders. Each of the entries contain the following information: common name; Latin name; type (shrub, perennial); climate; soil (moist, well-drained); type of soil (clay, loam); foliage (colour and type); position (shade, sun); flowering season; propagation; watering requirements; how it grows (bushy, trailing); ideal temperature; and degree of maintenance needed. Jenny Hardy is the author of "Quick and Easy Topiary".