Common or Garden: Encounters with Britain's 50 Most Successful Wild Plants (Hardback) - Ken Thompson

A beautifully illustrated spotter's guide to 52 of Britain's most successful plants - their names, stories, uses and quirks

We often imagine that rarity is special - we seek out the most uncommon wild plants to tick off our lists, while overlooking the extraordinary appeal of the species we encounter day-to-day. Yet it's these plants -the most successful, able to adapt and thrive - which are truly fascinating. Botanist, writer and expert gardener Ken Thompson has set out to chart Britain's fifty most abundant wild plants and reveal the secrets of their success. He explores the roots of their common names, from the dog rose to Yorkshire fog, and explains the key traits that have led them to flourish across Britain. And, along the way, he shares his tricks for making your garden a haven for green life. Stunningly illustrated by Sarah Abbott, Common or Garden is a celebration of the everyday wonder of the plants that you can see, as Thompson enthuses, 'before you even have lunch'

About the Author

Dr Ken Thompson teaches on the Kew Horticulture Diploma, and was for twenty years a lecturer in the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences at the University of Sheffield. He writes regularly on gardening for various publications. He is the author of Where Do Camels Belong? and Darwin's Most Wonderful Plants.