Fran Bailey grew up on a flower nursery near York, England, where her Dutch father encouraged her love of horticulture. After studying at the Welsh College of Horticulture, she moved to London to work as a freelance florist. In 2006, she opened her first flower shop, The Fresh Flower Company.

Zia Allaway is an author, journalist, and horticulturalist who has written and edited a variety of gardening books for the Royal Horticultural Society and DK, including Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Zia also writes a monthly column on garden design for Homes and Gardens magazine and is a contributor to the Garden Design Journal. She runs a consultancy service from her home and offers practical workshops for beginners.

Consultants: Christopher Young is the horticultural team leader of the Glasshouse at RHS Wisley, the Royal Horticultural Society's flagship garden in Surrey, England.

Cassidy Tuttle is a blogger and creator of the popular Succulents and Sunshine blog. She's also a professional photographer and the author of Idiot's Guide: Succulents, and several ebooks, including Propagating Succulents and Growing Succulents Indoors.