The Miller Library has nearly 200 active subscriptions to magazines, journals, newsletters, and other periodical publications. I’d love to read them all, but time constraints force me to be selective. One that I never miss is “The Plant Review,” published quarterly by the Royal Horticultural Society of Britain.
“Bizarre, brilliant and beautiful plants that grow in gardens” is an accurate description of the magazine’s focus, as proclaimed on its website. Typical articles promote little known but garden-worthy selections or species of trees, shrubs, and all types of herbaceous plants in meticulous detail – a plant nerd’s delight!
For example, the June 2023 issue included an article titled “The Irises of Benton End,” describing the hybridizing efforts of artist Cedric Morris (1889-1982) at his home in eastern England. Written by Sarah Cook, who maintains the largest collection of Morris’ hybrids, the article includes photographs of all the 28 known survivors, along with the derivations of their names, including of friends, favorite places, and resident cats.
Another article, spread over four pages with several photographs, sorts out the difference between two maple cultivars, Acer ‘Silver Cardinal’ and A. ‘Red Flamingo.’ What are those differences? I don’t have the space to summarize, but this is typical of the horticultural conundrums addressed by “The Plant Review.”
In the March 2022 issues, Dan Hinkley shares the highlight of his three decades of exploration of the genus Begonia, especially searching for those hardy in temperate gardens. In the same issue, Graham Rice critiques various wildflower websites, while Helen Harrison searches for large examples of Monkey Puzzle trees (Araucaria araucana) in Wales.
While there is some overlap with “The Garden,” also published by the RHS, “The Plant Review” tackles the more obscure and esoteric subjects. It rarely features gardens, or the cultural and design practices found in its older, sibling publication.
Begun as “The Plantsman” in 1979, the Miller Library has a full run of this engaging magazine. When your favorite plant is profiled, it is invaluable, but I also recommend it for regularly reading. It will expand your plant knowledge and confirm just how amazing (and fun!) plants can be.
Reviewed by: Brian Thompson on November 6, 2023
Published in Garden Notes: Northwest Horticultural Society, Winter 2024