The Plant-lore & Garden-craft of Shakespeare

A plant named in a Shakespeare play can carry a history of gardens, old remedies and changing English names. Henry Nicholson Ellacombe follows those connections in this study of the flowers, herbs and trees found in Shakespeare's writing. His notes combine passages from the plays with botanical observations, earlier literary references and practical remarks on cultivation. The introduction sets out his case for Shakespeare as an attentive lover of plants and outdoor life.

The entry on plantain moves from dialogue about treating an injured shin to names such as Waybroad and Ribwort, tracing their meanings through old vocabularies and herbals. A discussion of the plane tree brings together early accounts of its presence in England and its usefulness in towns. Alongside the plant entries are sections on garden practice, daisies, seasonal references and plant names. Readers interested in literary detail or the history of gardening can use these notes to connect familiar lines with the plants behind them.