From seed to bloom : how to grow over 500 annuals, perennials & herbs / Eileen Powell ; plant illustrations by Mallory Lake except as noted.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Easy-to-understand plant-by-plant chart format includes information on zones, sowing, germination, light, soil, care, and propagation.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Introduction to Seed Starting A Plant-By-Plant Guide to Growing From Seed
• Alphabetical Listings for 517 Plants
• Appendices
• Climatic Zone Maps Directory of Seed Companies Glossary Common Names/Latin
• Genus Index
• General Index

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

For gardeners who are looking for economical ways to add plants to their gardens or for those who can't wait until the newest cultivar makes its way into the local nursery, growing from seed is a solution. Landscape designer Powell gives germination and cultural information for over 500 flowering plants. Following basic chapters on seed starting, seedling care, and vegetative propagation, plant entries are listed alphabetically by genus and often accompanied by a line drawing of the mature plant. Succinct "seed packet" information is provided on sowing, germination, planting seedlings outdoors, caring for plants, and propagation. Not all the plants listed are easy to grow from seed, and some take years until there is a bloom to behold. But gardeners honest about their abilities and degree of patience will find useful information. A good addition to collections that already have Ann Reilly's Park's Success with Seeds (Park Seed Co., 1978. o.p.), which has hard-to-find color photographs of emerging seedlings. (Index not seen.)-Virginia A. Henrichs, Chicago Botanic Garden Lib., Glencoe, Ill. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

This paperback guide to growing from seed is an alphabetical listing of 536 plants--from abronia to zinnia--with information on sowing, germinating, caring, propagating, hardness zones, and light and soil requirements. Most listings include a black-and-white drawing of the plant. There is advice on the basics of starting plants from seed, including a chapter on the joy of asexual propagation--which may be a bit more than the average gardener needs to know. There's also a cross-reference listing of common and botanical plant names, as well as a list of seed companies. --George Cohen