Encyclopedia of Exotic Plants for Temperate Climates

With their bold foliage, exuberant colours, and luscious scents, exotic plants ignite curiosity and thrill the senses. Fortunately for gardeners in the world's cooler regions, it's not necessary to live in the tropics to experience spiky agaves, bright cannas, and the striking flame-like blooms of Strelitzia reginae.

Showcasing an unparalleled array of exotic plants, this authoritative resource is sure to delight gardeners who covet their dramatic effects and flamboyant beauty. Drawing on his experience running the acclaimed Exotic Garden in decidedly untropical Norwich, England, Will Giles shows how—with a dash of insider knowledge—a myriad of beguiling exotics can be persuaded to flourish in the unlikeliest of places.

With more than 1500 species and cultivars described, the encyclopedia covers many plant groups, including aroids, bananas, gingers, bromeliads, cacti, yuccas, ferns, palms and more. Detailed cultivation advice enables gardeners of all levels to make informed choices from the expansive plant palette, and information on geographic origins, microclimates, and recommended nurseries in the United Kingdom and North America enhances this comprehensive volume.

Lavishly illustrated with over 500 dazzling colour photos, this vital reference will inspire gardeners to question conventional hardiness restrictions, experiment with new plants, and create gardens that are out of the ordinary.

Renowned for growing plants that aren't supposed to survive in England gardens, Giles (The New Exotic Garden) introduces the challenges and rewards of pushing hardiness zone boundaries that have attracted Western gardeners since the Victorian era. Descriptions of some 1500 high-impact plants from bananas to yuccas include their provenance, hardiness category (tender to frost-hardy), genera, cultural needs, and enticing color photos. He also includes exotic-looking plants and houseplants that are quite at home outdoors in temperate climates, though no orchids. Resources include international sources for plants and seeds, and online catalogs and forums. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

With their bold foliage, exuberant colors, and luscious scents, exotic plants ignite curiosity and thrill the senses. Fortunately for gardeners in the world's temperate regions, it's not necessary to live in the tropics to experience spiky agaves, bright cannas, and the flame-like blooms of Strelitzia reginae.

The Encyclopedia of of Exotic Plants for Temperate Climates showcases an unparalleled array of exotic plants sure to delight gardeners who covet their dramatic effects and flamboyant beauty. Drawing on his experience running the acclaimed Exotic Garden in decidedly un-tropical Norwich, England, Will Giles shows how—with a dash of insider know-how—a myriad of beguiling exotics can be persuaded to flourish in the unlikeliest places.

Lavishly illustrated, this book is an inspirational and authoratative resource. It will inspire gardeners to question conventional hardiness restrictions, experiment with new plants, and create gardens that are out of the ordinary.

A lifelong exotic plants enthusiast, Will Giles has created his own celebrated Exotic Garden in an unlikely location: England's east coast. Touted as the authority on growing exotic plants in temperate conditions, Will has appeared on a wide range of British television programs and contributes regularly to UK radio shows and magazines.