The Gardener's Guide to Growing Cannas (Gardener's Guide to Growing Series) - Hardcover

Cooke, Ian

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0881925136 ISBN 13: 9780881925135

Publisher: Timber Pr, 2001

Synopsis

The keeper of the National Collection of cannas at Nottingham U. introduces this plant ideal for creating an exotic look in temperate climates. An A-Z guide follows Cooke's chapters on Canna history, botany, cultivation, propagation, species, commercial production, hybridization, and role in UK and US gardens. Includes color photos, a glossary, resources, information on importing/ exporting cannas, cannas for specific aims, and FAQs. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

About this title

Review

The subject of the latest in the excellent series "Gardener's Guide to Growing" is Cannas, bringing the series to the forefront of fashion with today's current trend for exoticism in the garden. Written by one of the current holders of the National Collection of Cannas, Ian Cooke, this is probably the first comprehensive look at the genus since B.C. Ravenscroft's 1903 book "The Canna and How to Grow It". Cannas last had their heyday during the golden age of gardening in the mid 19th century when they were newly introduced to this country and widely used in the extravagant Victorian bedding schemes. Hailing from the West Indies and South America, they are both flamboyant and colourful with flowers ranging from red through pink, orange through to the palest yellow and with leaves from green to deepest purple to gaudy stripes. They combine well with their distant relatives the bananas and hedychiums and sit happily either in a conservatory with other tropical plants or as part of a traditional herbaceous border. Having similar cultural requirements to that of the ever-popular favourite, the dahlia, (albeit rhizomatous rather than tuberous) the canna has found favour with those gardeners looking for something a little different to enliven their summer displays. From general cultivation, propagation and hybridization, there is something for both the newcomer to gardening and the professional. An A-Z list of cultivars, hybrids and species is included together with a list of gardens where they can be seen in cultivation, both in the UK and abroad. The addition of canna-related website addresses brings this series right uptodate with today's Internet revolution. As the book is also aimed at the American market, the information includes nurseries and gardens throughout the USA for the benefit of American gardeners and those visiting the country.

Edition details

• Publisher: Timber Pr
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0881925136
• ISBN 13: 9780881925135
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 160