T.M.E. Branney

Following the Introduction, through the first seven chapters this study considers various aspects of hardy gingers and how to grow them: Botany; Ecology; Cultivation; Propagation; Culinary and Medical Use; Cut Flower Use; Landscaping Use. Chapter eight which comprises the bulk of the book is a listing of the species and cultivars by genus: Alpinia; Amomum; Boesenbergia; Caulokaempferia; Cautleya; Costus; Curcuma; Globba; Hedychium; Hemiorchis; Kaempferia; Roscoea; Siphonochilus; Zingiber, and includes the individual descriptions of the hardy species, cultivars and hybrids. Chapter nine looks at growing tropical gingers. Also included is Where to Buy Gingers and Where to See Gingers, both in the UK and the USA; and a list of on-line ginger discussion groups. There is also a bibliography.

The plant descriptions are informative, often quite extensive, and interesting to read. The book also includes 90 colour photographs of the plants.

This is certainly a very useful and accessible guide. Most of the plant entries provide before going into the description the plant's dimensions and also the minimum temperature it requires. The descriptions usually provide clear indications as to the plants garden requirements and its suitability to frosty gardens. While there are many plants included here in reality the number suitable for gardens that experience any number of sub-zero temperatures is not so many.

This is a very useful guide, makes for good reading, and will possibly introduce the gardener to a few otherwise little known plants.… (plus d'informations)