This alphabetical listing of flowering shrubs is a nice pictorial introduction; however gardeners and landscapers will want to use other works for more specific information on growing conditions, heat and cold zone ranges, and growth habit. Listing a plant as medium in size is not very helpful for most garden applications, especially with limited spaces. The chart at the end showing if the shrub is evergreen, needs full sun, and lots of water is good, but other works are more comprehensive. Of more use for gardening are books that have tables that group similar flower colors, all evergreens, long vs. short lived, planting zones, water needs, and even companion plants.