Plants are truly awe-inspiring. They can be vast, minute, smelly, or spectacularly ugly. Some plants live on their own, or by growing off others; some live by air and water; others are carnivorous, eating the creatures around them; some plants look remarkably like animals; while others have unusual symbolism; and some have special cultural significance. This book explores them all, bringing together the most peculiar and most fascinating plants on the planet - celebrating them in all their diverse splendour.
Split into five chapters, covering everything from poisonous plants to painkilling ones, Michael Perry explains exactly what makes each plant special. With exquisitely detailed illustrations of all the different species, this is an informative, humorous, and beautiful gift for all those who love plants - whether they want to grow them or not. Hortus Curious delivers a different way to view the plant world and enjoy it for its bonkers and bizarre.
The book is split into five chapters, covering:
- Plants Behaving Badly - the criminal world of plants such as poisonous plants, insect catching
plants, and plants that do risky things
- Mistaken Identity - plants that look like other things, e.g. flowers that look like monkeys, bees, or
even dead man's fingers
- Greater Good - did you know that aspirin comes from a plant? This chapter explores the plants
that make up our everyday products
- Superheroes - find out about the plants that can disguise themselves, changing colour, shape
or even moving themselves
- X-rated Plants - a selection of the rudest plants out there!
A humorous and quirky gift book for people interested in plants and gardening, Hortus Curious is sure to delight.
We offer free mainland delivery on all orders over £60
All plants are shipped using express next day services with DPD, UPS, Parcelforce and Royal Mail.
We offer economy shipping (3-5 day dispatch) and standard delivery (1-3 day dispatch).
For guaranteed next day dispatch please selected Express shipping at checkout available at an additional cost.
For a full breakdown of shipping prices please see our help center here.
Winter shipping is available in the winter months at an additional cost and includes heatpacks and thermal insulation where necessary.
For more information, please see our comprehensive shipping FAQs
We pride ourselves on the love and care with give our plants. Our entire team are plant obsessives at heart and so we go above and beyond to care for the plants we have in stock.
That said, plants are living beings and may differ slightly from the photo provided unless otherwise stated. Small leaf imperfections may be present and won't be compensated for.
Some plants such as Begonia may suffer slight leaf melt when shipped. This is normal and nothing to be concerned about.
All our plants are stores and/or grown in our nursery under LED lighting so they are in active growth when arriving with you.
The conditions in our nursery are a minimum of 60% humidity and 19C year round.
If you have any questions about caring for your plants or setting up your home for success, don't hesitate to contact us.
See behind the box with these awesome unboxing videos from some of our favourite Youtubers.
We've tested and refined our packaging across tens of thousands of orders over the years. Our streamlined system uses minimal materials while ensuring maximum protection.
Plus, every plant comes with a 7-day live arrival guarantee—so if the unexpected happens, we've got you covered!
We're a team of plant enthusiasts who understand the joy of receiving a new plant. That’s why we go the extra mile to ensure every order brings the same excitement.
Our packaging process is designed with quality control at its core—each plant is carefully inspected by hand before shipping to guarantee it arrives healthy, pest-free, and in perfect condition.
All our houseplants arrive fully potted and ready to grow—no extra fuss required! They make incredible gifts for any plant lover (or soon-to-be plant parent!). 🎁
Want to send a surprise? We can ship your gift directly to the recipient, and if you leave a greeting message at checkout, we’ll swap out the invoice for a gift note—because who doesn’t love a little extra plant happiness in their day? 🌿✨
