Fiction Books About Gardening and Gardens
It may seem strange to make a post of fiction books about gardening and gardens in the middle of winter, but it is just what I needed on this grey day. And this is the perfect list of books to inspire your reading come spring and summer.
Just this past year, Kirsten and I realized we had read some fantastic fiction books about gardens and felt they were special enough to deserve their own post. Don’t worry, I haven’t neglected Books With Flowers in the Title! They have their own special place as well.
These gardening novels are fiction, historical fiction, and fantasy. I have not read any mysteries or thrillers set in a garden. If you have one, let me know! I hope you love the books on this list as much as I enjoyed reading them.
The Best Fiction Books about Gardening
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
The Best Fiction Book About Gardening
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh- Jump to Section
The Best Historical Fiction Book About Gardening
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton- Jump to Section
The Best Fantasy Book About Gardening
The Alchemy of Flowers by Laura Resau- Jump to Section
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Fiction Books About Gardening
The Language of Flowers
Author: Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Year: 2011
Genre: Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 14+
Plot
Victoria Jones has studied the language of flowers and uses it to communicate. After growing up in the foster care system, she is hesitant to let anyone get close to her. When she meets a mysterious stranger, she has to decide if she can let someone in and let go of her past.
Why Jackie loves it
Kirsten and I both absolutely loved this contemporary fiction book, which we read before we knew each other. There is something so magical about the Victorian language of flowers.
Why Kirsten loves it
The Victorian language of flowers is fascinating. This book incorporates this language into a story that will leave you wanting more.
Find this book in: Ultimate List of 67 Feel-Good Books / Ultimate List of Contemporary Fiction Novels / Books with Flowers in the Title / Fiction Books About Gardening and Gardens
Where You’re Planted
Author: Melanie Sweeney
Year: 2025
Genre: Romance
Spice Rating:💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Tansy Perkins is a librarian and single mom. When a hurricane damages her library, she has to set up a temporary branch in the county botanical gardens. Jack Reid is the assistant director and a grouchy person on a regular day, but when librarians take over his space, he is even more of a curmudgeon.
Jack and Tansy need to work together on the spring festival to raise money. They need to get the library back in working order and restore the plants that were destroyed in the hurricane. Soon sparks fly in this steamy, grumpy-sunshine romance.
Trigger Warnings
Hurricane and aftermath
Why Jackie loves it
Tansy is optimistic without being unrealistic. I liked that she felt like a real person with real problems so I was rooting for her to find love and a happy ending!
Find this book in: Grumpy Sunshine Trope Books / Best Beach Reads 2025 / Fiction Books About Gardens and Gardening
Historical Fiction Books About Gardens
Plot
A young girl is abandoned on a ship headed to Australia. When she arrives, the only thing in her possession is a suitcase with some clothes and a book of fairy tales. The dock master and his wife adopt Nell and tell her the story of her arrival in Australia on her 21st birthday. She goes back to England on a quest to find her lost identity.
Unsuccessful, her granddaughter later takes up the search and tries to assemble the pieces of her grandmother’s mystery and unlock the secrets of her past.
Trigger Warnings
Child Death, Infertility
Why Kirsten loves it
I was swept away by this story and found myself dreaming of Cornwall while reading. This gothic fiction is a perfect book for fall.
Find this book in: Kate Morton Books / Cozy Books / Family Saga / Books set in Cornwall / Historical Mystery / British Books / Best Cozy Mystery Books / Fiction Books About Gardens and Gardening
The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley
Author: Susanna Kearsley
Year: 2011
Genre: Magical Realism
Age Range: 16+
Plot
After Eva’s sister dies, she heads back to Cornwall England to find peace and rest. What she discovers is more than she expects when she finds herself inexplicably back in time. She finds herself falling in love with Daniel Butler, a man who lived in the eighteenth century.
As her heart begins to feel again, can she find a way to heal her broken heart and find love? Can she live between two times? This is a wonderful time travel romance book that you will want to read again and again.
Why Kirsten loves it
I read this book set in Cornwall in only a few days because I loved it so much. This is another book that I read this month that is the perfect pick for books like Outlander.
Why Jackie loves it
This historical romance book was such a quick read for me because I loved the plot and characters. I felt invested in Eva’s story and wanted her to get a happy ending.
Find this book in: Books Like Outlander / Books Like A Discovery of Witches / Time Travel Romance Books / The Best Historical Romance Novels / Books With Flowers in the Title / Historical Fantasy Books / Fiction Books About Gardens and Gardening
The Secret Garden
Author: Frances Hodgson Burnett
Year:1911
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
Age Range:5+
Plot
Mary Lennox, selfish and spoilt, was sent to stay with her hunchback uncle. She finds her way into a secret garden and begins to tend to it, and a change comes over her and her life.
Why Jackie loves it
I re-read this book with my daughter and we loved it. I have not read this book since I was a child and I think I loved it more this time. This classic book for kids is the perfect feel-good book. Yesterday was Daughter’s Day and this is the perfect book to read with your little one.
Find this book in: Books With Secret in the Title / Kid’s Books by Age / Fiction Books About Gardens and Gardening
Fantasy Books About Gardens and Gardening
Alchemy of Flowers
Author: Laura Resau
Year: 2025
Genre: Magical Realism
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
When Eloise sees an ad for a gardener in the Jardins du Paradis in a French gardening magazine, she seizes the opportunity to leave her life and start somewhere new. She leaves behind a failed marriage and the trauma of infertility in a place whose rules include no children allowed and never being outside at dusk.
When she arrives, she begins working with three people who quickly become like family to her. The tranquility of the garden helps her heal, but her mind begins to play tricks on her as she sees a woodsprite in the garden. Beneath the seemingly perfect garden of paradise is something that feels dangerous. Eloise is not sure if this is her past trauma following her or if there is really something more menacing in the garden.
Trigger Warnings
Infertility, miscarriage
Why Jackie loves it
This book captivated me from the first sentence. It is the perfect blend of fiction and mystery. It straddles the line of magical realism because you never know what is imagined vs magic. The characters were rich with emotional jouneys and I loved taking their journey with them. The descriptions of the flowers and plants are beautiful and the descriptions of the food made me hungry. This book is truly a feast for the senses. #gifted by Harper Muse
Find this book in: Magical Realism Books / Fiction Books About Gardens and Gardening
The Enchanted Greenhouse
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Year: 2025
Genre: Cozy Fantasy Romance
More info: The Spellshop #2
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 14+
Plot
This is a standalone fantasy set in The Spellshop world. Terlu cast an illegal spell and created a sentient plant earning her a punishment of being turned into a wooden statue. But Terlu wakes up on an island of hundreds of magical greenhouses, having been awoken by the lone human inhabitant – a gardener, Yarrow. He’s brought her here to help her stop the enchanted greenhouses from failing. As she works to save the various plants, she begins to fall in love with Yarrow despite his grumpy exterior.
Why Kirsten loves it
Like her previous novel, this story is like a warm hug of a book. I read it in spring when my own garden began to bloom and it brought the magic of the season to life in a fun way. I adored the talking plants and the slow, sweet romance between the main characters. You don’t have to have read the previous book by any stretch, but there is a sweet check in on those characters at the end of this story.
Why Jackie loves it
I listened to this book and was capticated from the first moment. The characters are endearing and the descriptions of the food, the flowers, the magic, and the greenhouses felt like I was there. Kirsten’s description of the book being like a warm hug is perfect. It is such a feel good story that is perfect for all ages. My daughter was in the car listening with me and insisted we listen to the entire book together. Gifted by #Macmillanaudio
Find this book in: Isolation Novels / Beach Reads 2025 / Fiction Books About Gardens and Gardening
In the Garden of Monsters
Author: Crystal King
Year: 2024
Genre: Fantasy
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
I had the pleasure of reading a fascinating retelling of the Persephone and Hades story, which included Salvador DalÃ!!!
In this version of the famed Greek mythology tale set in Sacro Bosco, a young model and aspiring artist, Julia, has been hired by Dalà to model for his painting of Persephone. The artist, his muse, his wife, and various employees settle into a grand palazzo whose gardens will be captured in the painting.
But Julia’s time at the palazzo has her in upheaval as she finds herself drawn to Ignazio, the owner, despite the enigmatic events that unfold over the week. Dalà tries to convince her to eat the pomegranate seeds to return to her king while she has dreams that make little sense to her.
Why Kirsten loves it
The epic meals were described with such accuracy that I could taste them while reading. The garden with its various stone statues (look it up – it’s a real place) was the perfect setting for this literary retelling. I’ve never read a book quite like it. It felt like a Dalà painting in written form! #Gifted by Mira Books
Find this book in: Greek Mythology Retellings / Mythology Books / Fiction Books About Gardens and Gardening
The Enchanted Hacienda
Author: J. C. Cervantes
Year: 2023
Genre: Magical Realism Romance
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
After being fired and dumping her boyfriend on the same day, Harlow Estrada flys back to her family flower farm in Mexico. But it’s no ordinary farm. The Estrada women have magical gifts that allow them to heal the hearts, interpret the dreams, and erase the memories of their customers, except for Harlow who believes she was never blessed with magic.
But when watching the flower farm while her mother and aunt are away, magical blooms start to open. When she meets a handsome man and feels drawn to him and his family, she learns of their grandmothers’ connection – and begins to feel one of her own.
Why Kirsten loves it
I felt like I was reading an adult version of Encanto, at least in the beginning. Then, I became so immersed in this cozy romance that I completely lost track of time. It the perfect story to read on a fall day.
Find this book in: Magical Realism Books / Cozy Books / Fiction Books About Gardens and Gardening
More Fiction Books About Gardens
Expert Tip
I know this is a very specialized list of books. Fiction, historical fiction, and fantasy are the only genres included. If there is nothing on this list that appeals to you, I have included an additional list of books that are on my TBR.
If there is still nothing on this list that you are excited to read, feel free to stretch the definition of a garden book!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fiction book about gardening or gardens?
These are NOT “how to” books. These novels are stories in which gardens and gardening feature heavily in the story. Often, these books have a gardener as well.
Related Content
Epilogue
What is your favorite fiction book about gardens and gardening? Did I include it on this list?
