I was recently sent Claire Austin’s Book of Perennials to review and it’s proving rather useful for a new project in the garden.
Landscaping work to remove what was an increasingly difficult to manage slope has left me with some new borders to plant. While that’s exciting, it’s also daunting – something Claire acknowledges in her book: “knowing where to start can be difficult – like being faced with a blank piece of paper at an exam.”
I was given a copy of the book in return for a fair review.
Not that she calls herself a designer, rather someone who has used plants in her various gardens to “paint the picture each garden demanded”.
Originally written in 2015 to provide a guide to perennials and how to use them, Claire Austin’s Book of Perennials has been updated, expanded and republished, resulting in a comprehensive review of what are mainstay plants for many gardeners.
When it was first published, it won the Garden Media Guild’s Reference Book of the Year award and it’s easy to see why. Inspiring and informative, it more than fulfils the original aim of encouraging “all gardeners, not just new ones, to try perennials”.
Despite not being a selling guide, it appears many gardeners are using it as such, Claire told me when we met at the Garden Press Event. Yet, it’s more than merely just a how-to gardening book or a catalogue and can be used as either. In particular, I found the pictures – mostly from the nursery’s garden at White Hopton Farm – perfect for getting ideas of plants that go well together.
The book opens with a brief history of perennials and domestic gardening from the Industrial Revolution to the beginning of garden centres. Why plant names change and the importance of botanical Latin are explained along with exactly what is meant by hardy.
Although perennial refers to anything that lives longer than two years, including trees, shrubs and bulbs, Claire has narrowed her scope to just herbaceous perennials. One can only imagine how big the book would have been without that decision.
There’s no narrowing in the advice on how to choose perennials with everything from soil type, light levels and garden style to flower shape, plant habit and colour considered. Each section has a list of suitable plants and advice on combinations.
The practicalities – where to buy, how to prepare the soil, on-going maintenance and propagation – are also covered in her no-nonsense, clear style.
The bulk of the book is devoted to a Plant Directory that gives details of some of her favourite perennials, with growing needs, where they can be used and suggestions of varieties – all illustrated with photos.
Based upon the perennials she has grown during a lifetime in horticulture – there are more than 1,000 varieties on her nursery alone – it is, we are told, a “personal selection and I make no apologies for ignoring your favourites”. They are all things she has found to be reliable and readily available. Naturally, both iris and peonies feature heavily – she has a National Collection of bearded iris and a provisional National Collection of herbaceous peonies.
I happily lost myself for some time in the directory and I fear my ‘shopping list’ is growing. It seems I’m in good company: “I have no discipline when it comes to plants”, Claire says, describing herself as a “plant collector”. Above all, it’s this sheer love of plants that comes through.
After many years at shows such as RHS Chelsea, Claire Austin Hardy Plants now sell mainly online and at the nursery, though before the current shutdown, Claire had planned to return to the show circuit with a stand at BBC Gardeners’ World Live. Claire Austin’s Book of Perennials can be bought for £19, including P&P in the UK, on the website Inquire for delivery elsewhere.
The nursery has donated a gift voucher worth £50 as the prize in a fundraising quiz devised by the Shropshire National Garden Scheme county team. You can take part here.
Enjoyed this? You can read more of my gardening and garden-related book reviews here.