Flowers have long been a favorite subject among artists, and the development of many well-known horticultural varieties may be traced through their depiction on paper or canvas over the centuries. Painterly Plants explores this fascinating relationship between horticulture and art through 14 of the most exquisitely beautiful flowers that nature and hybridization can produce. Some are the subjects of history's most famous botanical masterpieces, while others look as if they themselves have been daubed with paint. Each chapter focuses on an enduringly popular plant and its most spectacular varieties, providing a history - including its artistic history - with plenty of lively anecdotal information, and a key botanical illustration that is discussed in the text. In addition, gardens expert Clare Foster provides succinct practical information on cultivation and recommended varieties. The jewel-like colours and sculptural shapes of the flowers are captured in a series of superb close-up photographs by Sabina Ruber.

Author Biography

Clare Foster is Garden Editor at House & Garden magazine, and was previously Editor of Gardens Illustrated. She has contributed to the Sunday Times and The Guardian newspapers, and is the author of Your Allotment (2007) and Compost (2005). Sabina Ruber is an acclaimed gardens photographer. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, including Gardens Illustrated, House & Garden, The Times and The Observer.