Michael Moore, renowned herbalist, teacher, and author of several medicinal plant books, presents a one-of-a-kind guide to over 300 species of plants geographically ranging from Baja California to Alaska. This uniquely attractive book educates the reader to both native and introduced species within this region. With over eighty line drawings, forty-four colour photographs, maps, and a glossary, this book contains clear and reliable information on: Identification and safe use of the plants; Appearance, habitats, collecting methods, and storage; Therapeutic uses, constituents, and preparations; Potential toxicities and medical contraindications; Tea-making, tincturing, and salve making.'

Herbs are an important but often neglected part of garden life. Not only are these plants useful for their culinary, cosmetic, and medicinal properties, but they also make a delightful addition to any border and are usually very attractive to the insect, bird, and animal life we should be attracting into our gardens. This introduction to herbs - now in a newly revised and expanded second edition - is the ideal guide for the beginner. It is informative and easy to understand, giving sufficient pointers to further research without overwhelming the reader.

This extensive and engaging book--the first collaboration between a Chinese scientist and an American author and herbalist--blends traditional wisdom from both cultures with scientific verification of the medical effectiveness of many ancient Chinese plants, thereby deepening our knowledge of and appreciation for ornamentals whose usefulness extends far beyond their beauty.
More plants have been introduced from China to American and European gardens than from any other part of the world.
Many of the Asian species grown as ornamentals--such as daylilies, forsythia, gardenia, peonies, crape myrtle, and mums--are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine.
The authors supply specific techniques for cultivating Chinese herbs and flowers in Western gardens, as well as for using them medicinally.