Flowers, Fruit, By Region, Vegetables 

In its most familiar form the passion flower is instantly recognizable to most gardeners, but few may be aware of the range and variety of species in this spectacular family of prodigious flowering climbers. This is the first comprehensive book on the subject in more than fifty years. It is a beautifully illustrated guide to over 100 of the 400 identified species, revealing a wide variation of color, size, and form - from the many American species, including May Pops, wild water lemon, and monkey guzzle, to the green and blue passion flower of Britain, the purple Granadilla of Africa, and the yellow passion flower of Australia. Originating in the Americas, passion flowers have become increasingly popular with gardeners in the south and in the southwest. Plantsman John Vanderplank, owner of Greenholm Nurseries in Great Britain, provides details of their propagation and cultivation, showing how easy these exotic climbers are to grow, either as house or conservatory plants, or outdoors in temperate regions and in the tropics. He also includes information on pests (including welcome predators such as hummingbirds and the beautiful heleconid butterfly), diseases, edible fruit and their uses, and hybridization and grafting. An identification key and numerous line drawings will greatly aid the collector. John Vanderplank is Keeper of the U.K. National Collection of Passiflora and a commercial nurseryman dedicated to the production of passion flower hybrids with a long flower life. He keeps a permanent exhibition at Greenholm Nurseries Garden Centre, Congresbury, Avon. - from Amzon