Camellias: A Practical Gardening Guide

For decades, large swathes of the United States and Europe believed camellias to be altogther too tender for garden use, their exquisite blooms in pure colors giving the impression that they were too rarified and delicate to tangle with. Today, few gardens are without their share of camellias.

This encyclopedia is a comprehensive, one-stop reference for camellia enthusiasts at all levels. It provides information on how to grow and care for camellias as well as detailed descriptions of a handpicked selection of over 600 garden-worthy species and cultivars. The highly informed and truly international plant selection includes classic favorites as well as the latest introductions from around the world. Significant coverage is given to cold-hardy cultivars and there are chapters devoted to establishing camellias in the garden and growing them successfully in containers.

Over 800 enticing images will entice all gardeners to accommodate more of these exquisite plants.

Jim Rolfe has been growing, studying, and writing about camellias for over 30 years. He is an accredited camellia judge and was for a numbers of years editor of the New Zealand Camellia Bulletin.

Yvonne Cave is one of New Zealand's foremost garden photographers. Her superb photos have illustrated a number of major gardening books, including Irises: A Practical Gardening Guide and The Gardener's Encyclopedia of New Zealand Native Plants.

Jennifer Trehane and her son have an expanding blueberry business, including a nursery in Dorset, England, that specializes in blueberries, cranberries, and related plants. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in horticulture from the University of Reading and then helped her father plant the first thousand blueberry plants that became the basis of the family business. Her other passion is camellias; she is a past vice president of the International Camellia Society and author of Camellias.