This work offers practical advice on planning, planting and maintaining rock and water gardens including more than 300 stunning photographs. It includes: everything you need to know to design, plan and plant a unique rock and water garden; detailed garden illustrations highlight the best plant selection to complement your chosen feature; at-a-glance lists of plants and materials required to create all kinds of rock and water gardens; clear practical advice on planting techniques, propagation and dealing with pests and diseases; and, a comprehensive plant directory includes all the major plant groups from free-floating, oxygenating and moisture-loving plants to ornamental grasses, trees, shrubs and alpines. This illustrated book shows how choosing the right plants can turn the simplest pond into a dramatic statement in any garden and is perfect for the beginner as well as for the more experienced gardener. A section on rock and water design contains plans showing different garden ideas. Each garden plan includes a detailed list of suitable plants to complement your chosen feature. There is also clear advice on planting techniques, propagation and dealing with pests. A plant directory looks at all of the main plant groups, with entries arranged alphabetically within each category and clear descriptions of each plant.