Mr Guilfoyle’s Shakespearian Botany

‘What’s in a name? That which we call a Rose

By any other name would smell as sweet.’


William Shakespeare


The great William Guilfoyle, credited as the architect of Melbourne’s Royal Botanic gardens, was an eminent landscape designer, botanist and writer. Here are his collected writings on the dozens of plants, fruits and flowers William Shakespeare referred to in his plays and poems. Each entry is accompanied by Basilius Besler’s groundbreaking illustrations and delicate watercolours by Jacques le Morgues.



Shakespearian Botany is a feast for those who love the bard, gardens and art. It is the first in the Mr Guilfoyle trilogy.


Mr Guilfoyle’s Honeymoon: The Gardens of Europe & Great Britain and Mr Guilfoyle’s South Sea Islands Adventure on HMS Challenger will be published in 2019.