The Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening

Every genus a Victorian gardener could grow — Abelia to Zygopetalum across four volumes, with each plant's history, species, and culture, by the Curator of Kew.

Browse by Type

Orchids

211 entries

Ferns & Mosses

117 entries

Trees & Shrubs

1463 entries

Fruits & Vegetables

325 entries

Flowers of the Border

125 entries

Under Glass

593 entries

The Gardener's Craft

121 entries

Pests & Diseases

136 entries

The Garden Dictionary

1712 entries

Highlights

Sagittaria

(from sagitta, an arrow; alluding to the prevalent form of the leaves). Arrow-head. ORD. Alismaceae. A genus consisting of about…

Phyllobius

A genus of small beetles, belonging to the great family of Weevils. The form, size, and general appearance are shown It will be…

Passiflora (From passio passion and flos)

(from passio, passion, and flos, floris, a flower; a name given by the early missionaries in South America, in allusion to a…

Trametes

(from trama, the layer in Hymenomycetes that supports the hymenium, or spore-bearing surface on each side of it, in the gills or…

Polymnia

(dedicated to the muse Polyhymnia, for no obvious reason, the species being coarse and inelegant). Leaf-cup. ORD. Compositae. A…

Erythrina

To the species described on pp. 531-2, Vol. 1., the following should now be added: E. vespertilio (bat-like). fl. numerous, in…

4813Plants & Terms
1884Year
Take the quiz Search the book
Rights & ReuseThe complete text of The Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening (1884) is in the public domain in the United States — like all works published before 1928 — and is free to read, download, quote, teach from, and reuse. This digital edition (its transcription, restored images, and site design) is © 2026 PhotoOpAI, and any editorial commentary we add is clearly marked as ours; the underlying public-domain text carries no such restriction.