Beyond the Camellia Belt: Breeding, Propagating and Growing Cold-Hardy Camellias

Batavia, IL - March 1, 2007 - Have you ever seen a camellia in a botanic garden or on a television show and said, "I wish I could grow that here"? Maybe you can.

These gorgeous plants are commonly thought to be solely Southern or Pacific Coast décor. Dr. William Ackerman dispels this myth by sharing his more than 40 years of experience hybridizing and growing cold-hardy camellias.

"Beyond the Camellia Belt" details this history of breeding camellias toward greater cold hardiness and how gardeners can cultivate these beautiful specimens themselves. Included in " Beyond the Camellia Belt" are chapters discussing propagation; culture; pest, disease and wildlife control; plant nomenclature; and hybridization. Beautiful color close-ups of camellia flowers showcase the cultivars of garden camellias enjoyed north of the Camellia Belt. "Beyond the Camellia Belt" provides everything gardeners in North American will need to know about growing these gorgeous plants above the Mason-Dixon Line.

Dr. William Ackerman served until his retirement as a research horticulturist at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. He continues his research and experimentation with hybridization of cold-hardy spring- and fall-flowering camellias and the development of commercially acceptable yellow camellias. Many of the camellias that Dr. Ackerman has bred, known as Ackerman Hybrids, are available commercially. Dr. Ackerman is a former president of the Camellia Society of the Potomac Valley and has written or been the subject of more than 200 research papers, book chapters, and popular articles. He also wrote "Growing Camellias in Cold Climates" (2003).

Title: "Beyond the Camellia Belt, Breeding, Propagating and Growing Cold-Hardy Camellias"
Author: William L. Ackerman
Publisher: Ball Publishing. Distributed by Independent Publishers Group

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