The book provides details on their physical characteristics, distribution and medicinal properties. “It serves as an expert companion for anyone who wants to understand the diverse world of Indian flora, making it easier to identify the best shrubs and climbers for different regions and unlock their potential,” says the blurb of the book.
The idea for Shrubs & Climbers came to Pippa shortly after her third book, Flora of the South Western Ghats and Palnis: a field guide, was published in 2016. “When I finished writing this book, which took me five years, I realized it was ideal for those living in the Western Ghats, but perhaps too niche for other areas,” says Pippa, one of the founders of the Palni Hills Conservation Council, which started in 1985. “That’s when I decided to look at other species from around the country and choose 200 species that would appeal to a wider audience.”
She started researching this new book in 2020, around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she was stuck in England. “Luckily I had a lot of research material with me and I was also able to contact botanist friends in India to make the texts possible.”
Obtaining high-resolution photos was more difficult. “I had some of my own photos, but many of them required professional help, which delayed publication,” says Pippa, who Shrubs & Climbers AT AMBARA, BENGULURU, last month.
Pippa Mukherjee with her latest book | Photo credit: special arrangement
In love with nature
Born in England, Pippa was raised by parents who were very interested in natural history. “My parents introduced me to nature at a young age. My love for flora and fauna grew from there and was maintained by living in India.”
She moved to India in 1968 after marrying her husband, a Bangladeshi, who worked at Air India. “We lived in a small flat in Mumbai.” After having her two children and sending them to nursery school, she joined the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) in the late 1970s, serving for five years on the BNHS committee and as a nature education officer, offering environmental education to schools in the Bombay area.
“I worked with many environmental organizations, such as Friends of Trees, Chipko and others, and enjoyed the association these organizations gave me to meet and work with people like JRD Tata, Dr. Salim Ali, Humayun Abdulali and many other brilliant botanists, ornithologists and environmental scientists.”
Furcraea foetida or Mauritius hemp | Photo credit: Pippa Mukherjee
In 1984, she moved to Kodaikanal with her two children and started teaching at the Kodaikanal International School, first science to primary school students, then International Baccalaureate Environmental Science to senior students. “I taught at the school for just under 20 years,” says Pippa, who even today regularly leads walks with pupils, an activity she says is highly educational and helps with environmental awareness.
It’s important to teach young children early as it ensures they grow up, just like her, appreciating the beauty of nature, says Pippa. “I’m 85 now, but I still walk with students from the school and teach them about the environment and how to enjoy the beauty of what they see. I won’t stop until it’s impossible.”
On shrubs and climbers
In addition to leading nature walks, Pippa spends a significant portion of her waking hours writing. Her latest book features many well-known ornamental plants, such as Indian mallow, Chinese lantern, spiny asparagus, red powder puff, variegated croton, palm lily, blue sage, poinsettia, cape jasmine and Indian honeysuckle. “Many of the plants in the book are fairly common, but a few are surprisingly new, even to those who already have a garden.”
Plants According to Pippa they cover all parts of the country, including the Himalayas. “But 200 species is a tiny number of plants that can be written down.” Of these 200, only about 40 are actually native to India. “Most of them were brought in at some point by the British, the Americans, the French, the Dutch and the Portuguese.”
Abutilon x hybridum or the Chinese lantern | Photo credit: Pippa Mukherjee
Although some of the plants described are invasive and should not be planted, Pippa says, many are useful. Pippa attributes her interest in the potential uses of these plants to her first degree in nursing. “What is fascinating is the fact that India, like many Southeast Asian countries, uses a variety of treatments for diseases such as Ayurveda, Siddha, Tibetan medicine, homeopathy and others, unlike most Western countries that rely on allopathy.”
Podranea ricasoliana or pink trumpet vine | Photo credit: Pippa Mukherjee
The book is packed with information, which is not at the expense of clarity. There is no scientific jargon, there is a conscious stylistic choice. “When writing about plants, the text should be simple for those who are not used to botanical language,” says Pippa, who hopes the book will help people who know nothing about plants become interested in them. “I want younger people to look at a photo and say, ‘We have that in the garden, so let me read about it’.”
Published – Jan 28, 2026 06:03 IST
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