I just received my copy and have browsed through it enough to have a very favorable impression. Any one else have some views to offer? The same author also has The Hosta Handbook (2000) and Hostapedia (2009). The latter is absolutely essential in my opinion, especially if you want to develop your biceps! Pick up a copy and you will know why! Seriously, it is so extensive, with photos of almost every hosta listed; I refer to it constantly. But the new Field Guide is light-weight and easy to use, has full info on 272 of the hostas which Zilis considers "essential" and each entry includes information on other related hostas. I compared my collection of about 500 and learned I have only 101 of the 272. Does that mean I have 399 superfulous hostas? [just kidding] Finally, this new book completely replaces the 2000 Handbook because so much has happened in the hosta world in the last 14 years; it is more than just an up-date.

I have been wanting to get the Hostapedia, waiting for them to come down. LOL. I got this one instead (link) It has a lot of information but not as much as I would like, especially concerning dormancy. I would love to know more about what does good in the south, not much information except for Tony Avent's article. He has written other articles about Hostas and I do enjoy reading them. I also like to know the sun tolerance of hostas and pest resistance. I have been using databases to collect my own information there is not actually a book that has all I need to know. I am very happy to research hostas and plant the ones with a high sun tolerance and pest resistance, it allows more time to enjoy the hosta garden instead of doing maintenance and killing slugs. So much for a humid, zone 8 hosta garden.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/0881929603/

I was the butt of many jokes with my giant lap book on the other Hosta Forum. I do have a rope to drag it around with. LOL.

Got the Field Guide a couple of weeks ago and have enjoyed looking through it.

That's great Ann, good to see ya!

I just re-read my own post about the new Field Guide and realize that I made a completely erroneous statement about the Hostapedia, by the same author. I said "it is so extensive, with photos of almost every hosta listed". Not true! Many, many of the listings did not include photos. But almost all of the photos were taken by Zilis himself in gardens that he visited. He included listings for every hosta he found any info at all about even if not commercially available and in some cases no longer thought to exist. Incidentally the book weighs 12 pounds... the reason I joked about exercising my biceps! I apologize for my mis-information. I do highly recommend both books.

Wow 12 pounds? that is heavier than my lap book! LOL. I do not really use the book I already have but it does have some nice pictures.

The "Hostapedia" is NOT a lap book. Your thighs will go numb. Looks great on the coffee table though.

We need to catalogue sources online because those are more easily updated and cost nothing.

I think a coffee table is a great place for a lap book.