Known as "lilies of the Nile" (though they"re native to South Africa), the showy perennials in the genus Agapanthus have been avidly collected and grown since they were discovered by Dutch explorers in the 17th century. The few species in the genus have been hybridized intensively, yielding hundreds of interesting and dramatic cultivars. Despite their huge popularity among gardeners, however, there has never been a truly comprehensive book on the genus, an oversight that has finally been corrected by author Wim Snoeijer, working in concert with Holland"s Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society. With keys and more than 100 color photos as an aid to identification, this groundbreaking book is one no devotee of these plants can afford to be without.