Keith Grantham and Paul Klaassen. The Plantfinder's Guide to Cacti & Other Succulents Timber Press. 1999.

I've collected succulent plants for many years. Basically, I know what a succulent is versus a cactus. Too many people don't realize that most cactus are succulents but not all succulents are cacti. Confusing? Don't feel left out if you had this confused too. If you understand that a succulent is any plant adapted to arid conditions, then Euphorbias, Haworthias, and cactus all neatly fit into the category of "succulent" plants. One way to distinguish the cactus from other succulents, is that they originally came from the New World or Western Hemisphere. However, remember that we have other succulents in the New World too.

Grantham and Klaassen provide a good overview of the history, classification, culture, and propagation of succulent plants in their first 6 chapters. They put forth a reason for succulent plants becoming so popular with the early travelers which is still valid today with mail-order being the primary means of distributing these plants.

Whether collected on military or scientific expeditions, a succulent plant's adaptations to withstanding long periods of drought equip it ideally for transport during long journeys from its place of origin to its place of cultivation. [page 14] Their popularity increased as glass greenhouses were developed in Europe because most of these plants needed winter protection from low temperatures and high moisture levels. During the height of their popularity, they commanded outrageously high prices and the arrival of new varieties was reported in magazines and newspapers. I had to smile when the authors mentioned several periods when succulents were particularly popular: 1840, end of 1800s, 1920s, and 1960s. They ask if we are due for another increase in the popularity of these plants soon? My guess, based on the number of people on internet email discussion groups about cacti and succulents is that we, indeed, are at the beginning of such a peak period of interest. Hopefully, the distribution of this book will help increase interest among the English speaking countries.

They spend some time discussing the classification system and how it works. When you get done absorbing this information, you have a good understanding of why our plants have two Latin names and why they occasionally are changed. Hopefully, this section will help the serious hobbyist understand why names change and perhaps challenge him or her to study nomenclature in greater depth.

Two chapters, 3 and 4, discuss in detail where succulents grow in nature. Here you'll even find a chart giving the current number of cacti genera growing in each of the New World countries. I noted that Mexico has the highest number of cacti species with 752 currently known species distributed across 50 genera. The discussion of desert weather and wind patterns will help you understand the type conditions these plants come from. Once you understand where they originate, the chapter on where to grow them at home is particularly beneficial since it helps you to match plants to the right conditions. This is the key to growing any plant indoors -- mimicking their outside growing conditions as closely as possible.

Following a discussion of where succulents grow, chapters 5 and 6 provides a detailed explanation of the soil types, humidity levels, soil moisture level, air temperatures needed by these plants. The nutritional needs of our plants is also included. Diseases and pests are described along with a suggestion or two on how to prevent the problem. The discussion of first aid for the plant's owner may be of benefit to you too!

Most hobbyists I know eventually want to try their hand at propagating their favorite cactus or succulents. The authors describe several methods used with these plants. This section is then followed by a discussion of the conservation status of succulents world-wide. Read this section carefully to learn why many succulent species are no longer available for the collector. The importance of the International Organization for Succulent Plant Research in propagating some of the rarer species and getting them distributed to botanical gardens and even hobbyists is easily understood when collectors realize how small some populations of plants are today.

The remainder of the book discusses which plant families have succulent generas represented. If this confuses you, refer back to the earlier discussion on classification. Grantham and Klaassen describe several species in each plant genera mentioned. You'll learn who named the genera, and possibly the species discussed, when it was first known, and some of the distinguishing features of the species. This book is not intended as an identification book but it does provide an excellent introduction to various succulent plants which you may want to consider collecting as a hobby.

Of all the books I've read on cactus and succulents recently, this is the easiest for the novice plant collector to understand. It is well illustrated with drawings, charts, and color photographs of plants. Give this book to prospective succulent collector and they'll be hooked for life.