Columbines Aquilegia, Paraquilegia, and Semiaquilegia

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 gardener's 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 author's wife, celebrated botanical artist Cindy Nelson-Nold, the book also boasts several dozen exquisite photos of columbines in the wild and in gardens.

Robert Nold is a regular writer for the rocky Mountain Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society and the Colorado Gardener. His articles have appeared in The American Gardener and Horticulture, and he was a contributor to the 2004 revision of The American Horticultural Society's A–Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. He is the author of two award-winning Timber Press books: Penstemons and Columbines.