The second book in a major two-volume reference work by Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix which covers over 1,000 genera in outstanding colour photographs and authoritative, detailed text. Bridging the gap between scientific texts and everyday horticultural books, this guide provides an unrivalled insight into the relationships between garden plants and their environments, the history of plant development (as studied through fossils), and the most up-to-date DNA studies, set to revolutionise classification. It will become an indispensable aid to any aspiring gardener. Botanical Garden Volume II: Perennials and Annuals focuses on herbaceous plants, covering over 550 genera of annuals, biennials, perennials, bulbs, and aquatic plants. New DNA studies proved vitally important in the classification of these plants, which was previously imprecise. Starting with the ancient and intriguing mosses and ferns, the book moves though all the flowering plants so indispensable to our gardens and our tables, closing with a separate section on the distinctive reeds and grasses.