Columbines: Aquilegia Paraquilegia and Semiaquilegia

About this book

Fresh from his award-winning monograph on penstemons Robert Nold turns his attention to one of the best-loved - and most frequently misunderstood - groups of garden plants. Columbines: Aquilegia Paraquilegia and Semiaquilegia is the first gardeners guide to these striking plants in more than half a century; and in his funny personal and charming prose Nold makes sense of the thorniest taxonomic and horticultural questions they present. Sixty-five species of Aquilegia receive detailed examination with a complete summary of cultivation needs history and biology. The author also describes plants of the genera Semiaquilegia and Paraquilegia cutting through confusion and dissension to create a useful overview of these "columbine cousins." Nold also provides a brief history of hybridization and practical chapters on propagation and pests and diseases round out the book. In addition to beautiful paintings by the authors wife celebrated botanical artist Cindy Nelson-Nold the book also boasts several dozen exquisite photos of columbines in the wild and in gardens.