Book cover of Vaste Planten en Rotsheesters. Haarlem, 1924.

Green author

John Bergmans seized the opportunity to bring order to the nomenclature of many new plant species.

His most important work, Vaste Planten en Rotsheesters (Herbaceous Perennials and Rock Shrubs, first published in 1924, and in a revised version in 1939) became a leading publication for growers and botanists. In 1974, the book was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal by the Royal Horticultural Society. The original manuscript of the 2nd edition of Vaste planten en rotsheesters is on view at Special Collections also.

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Book cover of Bergmans' most important book Vaste Planten en Rotsheesters, Haarlem, 1924
Book cover of Bergmans' most important book Vaste Planten en Rotsheesters, Haarlem, 1924
Rockery at “Dennenheuvel” in Heemstede (image on page 96 of De rotstuin, practisch handboek voor aanleg, beplanting en onderhoud van rotstuinen, ..., Amsterdam, 1928)
Rockery at “Dennenheuvel” in Heemstede (image on page 96 of De rotstuin, practisch handboek voor aanleg, beplanting en onderhoud van rotstuinen, ..., Amsterdam, 1928)
The Veitch Memorial Medal, awarded to John Bergmans in 1974 by the Royal Horticultural Society
The Veitch Memorial Medal, awarded to John Bergmans in 1974 by the Royal Horticultural Society

Bergmans wrote ten books and nearly one thousand articles on herbaceous and ligneous species, various kinds of gardens, garden design, and indoor plants. He described his favourite garden in Rotsplanten in kleine tuinen (Rock Plants in Small Gardens, 1923), De Rotstuin (The Rock Garden, 1928) and Rots- en muurtuinen (Rock and Wall Gardens, 1934).