The plant-lore & garden-craft of Shakespeare

This work opens a fragrant doorway between the Bard’s verses and the world of Victorian horticulture. Drawing on every plant name that appears on the Globe’s stage, the author uncovers the botanical identity, seasonal habits and historical uses of each flower, herb and tree Shakespeare invoked. Readers hear the poems come alive with the scent of rosemary, the blush of a rose, and the practical knowledge of how those plants were tended in Elizabethan gardens.

Organised by play and quoted line, the book presents tidy entries that blend literary citation with clear, hands‑on gardening advice. It weaves classical references, notes on ancient herbals, and vivid descriptions of cultivation techniques, offering both scholars and garden lovers a concise reference that feels as much a field guide as a literary companion.

The second edition refines the original with corrected readings, added passages from the “Two Noble Kinsmen,” and updated line numbers, making the work a reliable resource. Listening invites you to picture Shakespeare’s stage not just as a setting for drama, but as a living garden whose plants enrich the meaning of his most celebrated lines.