A Little Book of Latin for Gardeners, 9780349140698
Paperback
Unearth garden secrets: Latin plant names reveal beauty, history, and more.
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A Little Book of Latin for Gardeners

$27.84

  • Paperback

    336 pages

  • Release Date

    16 February 2026

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Summary

Decoding the Language of Flowers: A Gardener’s Guide to Botanical Latin

How did the delphinium get its name? Which parts of the body lend their names to auriculas and orchids? Who are the gentian, lobelia and heuchera named after? Why are nasturtiums and antirrhinums connected? What does an everlasting pea have to do with Indian miniature paintings?

These are some of the questions answered in Peter Parker’s adventurous exploration of the mysteries of Botanical Latin.

Book Details

ISBN-13:9780349140698
ISBN-10:0349140693
Author:Peter Parker
Publisher:Little, Brown Book Group
Imprint:Abacus
Format:Paperback
Number of Pages:336
Release Date:16 February 2026
Weight:41g
Dimensions:198mm x 126mm x 22mm
What They're Saying

Critics Review

Parker makes a convincing case that a little bit of Latin goes a long way towards enhancing gardeners’ knowledge and enjoyment of what they grow … an entertaining and invaluable resource - Sunday Times

Offers something memorable on every page … Parker’s book is filled with piquant little facts … It should be on every gardener’s bedside table - Sunday Times (Ireland)

Parker writes fluently, delving into fascinating details that immediately absorb the reader - Oldie

Those looking for an excuse to break off from weeding or deadheading by a sudden desire to know why the Latin name for the foxglove is digitalis, or what delphiniums have to do with dolphins, will find themselves still reading an hour later, unable to break away from the fascinating mixture of history, literary allusion, anecdote

and occasional gardening advice. The effect on the reader is sometimes that of being led round an English country garden by a charming plantsman - Times Literary Supplement

About The Author

Peter Parker

Peter Parker was born in Herefordshire and now lives and gardens in London’s East End. He is the author of two books about the First World War, The Old Lie and The Last Veteran, biographies of J. R. Ackerley and Christopher Isherwood, and Housman Country: Into the Heart of England. He has written about plants and gardens for HORTUS and the Daily Telegraph, and is a former Chair of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Lindley Library Advisory Committee.

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