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Horticulture

Resources for your research in horticutlure

Search the library collection using Summon

Start with Summon

Summon is the library's comprehensive search tool. Use it to find sources in all kinds of formats. 

Quick tips:

  • Search using keywords rather than sentences or questions
  • Use the filters in the left column to narrow your search results by content type, date, or topic

Not finding what you need?

Using Summon search

The video below will show you some tips for getting better search results using Summon.

See this Library FAQ if you need help refining your search.

FInd information in books

Standards, handbooks, dictionaries and more

The following are just a few of the horticulture reference books available in print in the library. Click the links to see more details about contents and borrowing.

The library also has many online encyclopedias, dictionaries and handbooks. You'll need to log in with your KPU ID when off campus.

To locate these, use the library catalogue, search by keywords, and limit to "online." See the Finding books tab on this box for more information on searching the catalogue.

How do I find a book?

Books can provide an overview of your topic as well as more detailed information. A book may be an edited volume with focussed chapters by various authors or it may be a comprehensive and general introduction to a subject. Use the index and table of contents to navigate to the section of the book that will be most useful. Most ebooks have a search tool that you can use to search across the entire content for your keyword or term.

The library has a vast collection of both print and ebooks, and the best tool for locating a book is the catalogue.

If you are unfamiliar with searching the library catalogue, check out the short video below.

Print books in the library are arranged according to a classification system and assigned call numbers. These are like addresses for books. For more information on how call numbers work, see our What is a call number? FAQ

If you find an item of interest using Summon, record the call number for locating the item on the shelf. Related books will be located in the same area.

You may prefer to head directly to the stacks and browse for books of interest. Below are some broad call number ranges where you'll find books on plants, garden design, propagation, pest control and more.

 

QK Botany (Plant Science) SB Horticulture
QK9 — dictionaries, taxonomies          S590 — Soil science
SB117— Seeds, propagation
QK115 — Trees  SB169 — Tree crops 
QK600 — Mosses, Fungi, Ferns  SB175 — Food crops 
QK660 — Seeds  SB403 — Flowers and ornamentals 
  SB421 — Classes of plants: annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees
SB469 — Landscape architecture 
SB473 — Gardens --design

Trying to decide if a book would be considered "scholarly" or "academic"?

Consider the following:

Who is the author?

  • holds an advanced degree in the subject covered by the book?
  • professional or researcher in the field?
  • is the author affiliated with a university / professional organization?

Purpose?

  • original research
  • literature review
  • advances research in discipline

Cited Sources?

  • bibliography / extensive notes
  • cites other scholarly sources
  • has an index

Publisher?

  • university press
  • scholarly publisher

Language?

  • uses terminology of the discipline
  • is written for other scholars / students

Open textbooks and other open educational resources (OER's) can provide useful introductions to topics and credible, external links for further reading. They are free to use, and accessible to everyone. The titles listed below are all created by instructors at  post-secondary institutions in North America and beyond.

Here are a few that could be helpful starting points for your research.