Best Gardening Encyclopedias Books of 2025

The Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by DK is a comprehensive guide to herbs and their medicinal properties. It features over 550 plants, with advice on how to grow and harvest your own herb garden. The book includes stunning photography and an informative guide to 100 key herbs and their traditional vs current uses. With 450 further plant entries listing their properties and practical remedies for a range of ailments, this book is a must-have for self-sufficient herbalists. The Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine is well-suited to herbal medicine practitioners and students alike. It is an ideal gift for the green-fingered gardener in your life with a niche for natural remedies.

The Old Farmer's Almanac Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook is a comprehensive guide for both new and experienced gardeners. The book offers step-by-step advice for growing over 30 vegetables in any zone and simplifies seed-starting and -saving methods. It also includes essential reference tables and charts, anecdotes from fellow gardeners, and more than 150 full-color photos. The book is written with a pleasant degree of humor, making it an enjoyable and informative read. Overall, The Old Farmer's Almanac Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook is a must-have for anyone looking to grow their own vegetables.

Plantopedia: The Definitive Guide to Houseplants is an essential book for anyone looking to bring the beauty of plants into their home. With over 130 plant profiles, including succulents, foliage plants, and rare gems, this book offers detailed care information, troubleshooting tips, and tricks for every level of indoor gardener. Written by Lauren Camilleri and Sophia Kaplan, the brains behind the Sydney-based interior design nursery, Leaf Supply, this book is a must-have for plant lovers. Overall, Plantopedia is an informative and visually stunning guide that will help anyone create a thriving indoor garden.

The Encyclopedia of Country Living, 50th Anniversary Edition: The Original Manual for Living off the Land & Doing It Yourself is a comprehensive guide to living a self-sustaining lifestyle. With origins in the back-to-the-land movement of the late 1960s, this homesteading classic has grown into the essential book of basic skills and country wisdom for living off the land. The book covers a wide range of topics from gardening, food preservation, cheese-making, and baking bread to raising animals, beekeeping, and making natural skincare products. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for anyone looking to live a healthier, greener, and more self-sustaining life.

A charming and gorgeously illustrated botanical encyclopedia, Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers by Jessica Roux is a must-have for anyone interested in the historical uses and secret meanings behind an impressive array of flowers and herbs. The book explores the coded significances associated with various blooms, from flowers for a lover to flowers for an enemy. Researched and illustrated by popular artist Jessica Roux, this book makes a stunning display piece, conversation-starter, or thoughtful gift for your favorite romantic, local witch, bride-to-be, or green-thumbed friend. Overall, this book is an informative and visually stunning guide to the mysterious and playful language of flowers.

This book, titled "40 Projects for Building Your Backyard Homestead: A Hands-on, Step-by-Step Sustainable-Living Guide" by Creative Homeowner, is a comprehensive guide to building backyard structures that enhance sustainable living. From garden structures to chicken coops, sheds, fences, and more, this book provides step-by-step instructions, tools, materials lists, and easy-to-understand techniques to build over 40 projects. The book is designed with simplicity, convenience, and budget in mind, making it accessible to even moderately handy individuals. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for those looking to become self-sufficient and save money by doing it themselves.

The Flower Color Guide by Phaidon Press is a stunning reference book for anyone who loves flowers. The book features 400 flowers organized by color, with an emphasis on seasonality and creative color schemes. It includes beautiful photography taken by Putnam & Putnam in their Brooklyn studio, as well as tips on flower care, vessel preparation, and suggested color schemes. The Flower Color Guide is perfect for seasoned flower enthusiasts and those just beginning to explore the possibilities of arranging flowers. Overall, this book is a delightful and comprehensive flower guide that is both practical and visually appealing.

Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs is a comprehensive guide that provides magical uses of over 400 herbs and plants from all over the world. The book is a must-have for those who perform natural magic, featuring illustrations for easy identification of every herb, in addition to common names, use, and rulership. The cross-referenced index of folk names is particularly impressive. Scott Cunningham's encyclopedic book is perfect for anyone interested in folklore or who practices magic with herbs.

The Old Farmer's Almanac Flower Gardener's Handbook is a must-have for anyone who wants to create a stunning flower garden all year round. With over 30 different flowers to choose from, this book provides expert guidance and inspirational ideas to help gardeners of all experience levels achieve success. The book features beautiful photos and essential information on planting, care, disease and pest problems, cut-flower harvesting, and recommended varieties. Additionally, the book offers chapters on summer-flowering shrubs, tiny bulbs, flowers for constant color throughout the season, and more. This book is highly recommended for anyone looking to create a beautiful and thriving flower garden.

If you're struggling to keep your houseplants alive, then "How Not to Kill Your Houseplant" by DK is a must-read book for you. This comprehensive guide offers survival tips for the horticulturally challenged, making it possible for you to create a thriving indoor garden. With over 50 popular houseplants covered, this book provides detailed information on the care each plant needs, including light, water, heat, and humidity. It also teaches you how to spot the danger signs and take the proper action to rescue your sick plant. Overall, this book is a great resource for anyone who wants to give their plants a chance to flourish!