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In Botanical Time

The Extraordinary Lifespans of the World's Oldest Living Plants

Christopher Woods

$95

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English
Chelsea Green
24 February 2026
The fascinating botanical and cultural uses of twenty-five of the world’s longest-lived plants, including seagrass, aspens, and the five sacred trees of Japan.

In Botanical Time is an exploration of the fascinating botanical and cultural uses of twenty-five of the world’s longest-lived plants. The book will focus on how and why these plants have adapted and evolved and what we can learn from them today in our ever more extreme conditions.

In Botanical Time will also focus on the science behind how and why organisms have evolved to live that long at all, the sustainability benefits of being able to do so, and, from these investigations, larger lessons about the rapidity with which humans have caused and are still causing species to adapt to be able to survive in increasingly human-invaded habitats and conditions. The book will also draw meaningful parallels to the ways humans have long recognized these plant species’ worth, looking to them as symbols of strength or endurance, that will resonate with a general popular science and gardening readership.
By:  
Imprint:   Chelsea Green
Country of Publication:   United States
Dimensions:   Height: 261mm,  Width: 208mm,  Spine: 17mm
Weight:   845g
ISBN:   9781645023159
ISBN 10:   164502315X
Pages:   240
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming

Christopher Woods began his gardening life at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He is the author of two books: Gardenlust in 2018 and Our Natural World Heritage in 2023. Chris was director and chief designer of Chanticleer, transforming it into one of America’s most exuberant gardens, renowned for creative and innovative techniques. He has also served as vice president for horticulture at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden; director of the VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, Canada; executive director of the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens; and director of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Meadowbrook Farm. 

Reviews for In Botanical Time: The Extraordinary Lifespans of the World's Oldest Living Plants

Praise for Christopher Woods: ""To be passionate about gardens but have wanderlust seems like a curse of mythical proportion. It might turn you into a plant explorer, a landscape photographer or, if you are Christopher Woods, into a horticultural sojourner and writer.” —The Washington Post “Whether you are a garden globetrotter or an armchair explorer, this book is definitely one to add to your collection.” —Gardens Illustrated “Woods’s broad outlook is refreshing. . . . Descriptive essays that discuss thoughtfully, cogently, and often humorously the recurring themes. . . . Highly recommended for anyone interested in modern gardens, garden design, or garden travel.” —Library Journal “Author Chris Woods worked in top British gardens before moving to the States, where he transformed Chanticleer, and in his safe hands we are transported to these special places to discover what makes them notable. . . . His enthusiasm and warmth carry the reader along and make this the perfect gift for people who love real or armchair garden visiting, at home and abroad.” —The Telegraph “Woods is uniquely qualified to write a book of such a daunting global scope . . . a long love letter to the planet and its people” —Mother Nature Network “Most if not all will feel the tug of wanderlust and the gardenlust to explore many of these new and beautiful landscapes.” —NYBG's Plant Talk


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