Garden Flora: The Natural and Cultural History of the Plants in your Garden by Noel Kingsbury (Timber Press, £29.99).

This gorgeous book would make a great Christmas present for anyone you know who likes to either cultivate a garden, or simply enjoys viewing other poeple's efforts.

Presented in alphatecial order, it focuses on everything from Abutilons to Zinnias and is packed with superb illustrations and photographs.

The author reveals the fascinating history of all your favourite garden plants.

Did you know, for example, that the wild daffodil celebrated by British poets was actally introduced by the Romans more than 2,000 years ago?

Or that waterlilies are the most primitive of flowering plants, existing as early as the Jurassic period?

This is a big book packed with interesting information and great illustrations that you can enjoy either reading from cover to cover or dipping into whenever you want to know more about a specific plant or flower.