Synopses & Reviews
An impassioned memoir from the remarkable botanical horticulturist — “an inspiration” (Jane Goodall) — who is saving extraordinary plants on the brink of extinction.
Carlos Magdalena is a man on a mission to save the world’s most endangered plants. He has travelled to the remotest parts of the globe in search of exotic species, protecting plants from man-made ecological destruction and thieves hunting for wealthy collectors. Here, Magdalena takes readers from the Amazon to the jungles of Mauritius to deep within the Australian Outback in search of the rare and the vulnerable. Back in the lab, we watch as he develops groundbreaking, left-field techniques for rescuing species from extinction, encouraging them to propagate and thrive once again. Passionate and absorbing, The Plant Messiah is a tribute to the diversity of life on our planet and to the importance of preserving it.
Review
“[I]t is fascinating to follow Magdalena…. But the greater accomplishment of The Plant Messiah is the compelling case that Magdalena makes from caring about plants in general.” Los Angeles Times
Review
“An entertaining, planterly romp around the world and a glimpse inside one of the world’s great botanical institutions.” Financial Times
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“A gripping account….The work done by Magdalena and others like him is nothing short of miraculous. [The Plant Messiah] illustrates just how much can be done to save even species that all but the greatest optimist would consider doomed.” The New York Review of Books
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“A thrilling and inspirational account of adventures in the botanical world.” The Wall Street Journal
Review
“Carlos is an inspiration to me. He’s the perfect spokesperson for the plants of the world.” Jane Goodall
About the Author
CARLOS MAGDALENA is the tropical senior botanical horticulturist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and an international lecturer. He is renowned for his unique skills as a plant propagator who is saving the world’s rarest plants.