Conifers for Gardens: An Illustrated Encyclopedia [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Richard L. Bitner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 2007

Conifers for Gardens is intended to take away the element of uncertainty when you're choosing a plant that may alter your yard for years to come. Profusely illustrated with more than 1,500 crisp photographs and brimming with concise descriptions of both species and their numerous cultivars, this meticulously researched reference provides information — including size, appearance, hardiness, preferred growing conditions and susceptibility to pests and diseases — for almost every hardy conifer you're likely to encounter in the trade, whether it's a tried-and-true favorite or a connoisseur's treasure. So if you've ever been torn between, say, 'Golden Mop', 'Lemon Thread', and 'Sungold' sawara-cypresses, relax — choosing and identifying conifers just got a whole lot easier.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Novice gardeners and savvy designers alike often learn by error when planting conifers. Time passes, and a young specimen may reveal itself as inappropriate for the site for various reasons. Devotee Bitner presents an encyclopedic reference for guidance in selecting coniferous plants to beautify small gardens or thrive in any given landscape. Botanical background is provided along with design advice for everything from topiary to an inviting allée, a forested backdrop to a sequestered nook. To illustrate the breathtaking range of species and cultivated varieties of shrubs and trees—conifers in their myriad shapes and sizes—1,200 photographs accompany entries describing the hardiness and character of exotic Araucaria and Ginkgo, yew and spruce, cypress and false cypress, firs, cedars, pines, and numerous types of junipers. The enlightening counsel provides detailed plant profiles and cultivation requirements that help demystify conifer selection. Bitner is equally adept at explaining how to identify unusual deciduous species, or specimens in their habitat, pointing out form, foliage, cones, and bark. An excellent resource. Joyce, Alice
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

“Aimed at general gardeners, woody plant specialists, nursery and landscape professionals, almost every hardy conifer you’re likely to encounter is covered in this book.” - Sierra Heritage Magazine

"…offers plenty of information, as well as incentive, for all those who want to know more about the common or slightly less common conifers in gardens, or indeed for those who want to grow them."

International Dendrology Society

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 424 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press (June 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881928305
• ISBN-13: 978-0881928303
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #505,535 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #100 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Gardening

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Conifer Book for American Gardens, June 6, 2007

By 

Ilene Sternberg (West Chester, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Conifers for Gardens: An Illustrated Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

This is the first comprehensive book on American conifers to appear in twenty years. The two volume Van Huey Smith book is almost that old (reprinted with later dates), has minimal text and the photographs are poor. The Bloom book on gardening with conifers is attractive, more recent, has beautiful pictures, but British and, therefore, limited in scope.

This one offers well-organized, thorough info on 1370 species and 1,550 good photographs for choosing garden-worthy selections. It handles ornamental attributes, culture, pests and diseases, value to wildlife (including attractiveness to "hoofed browsers") traditional uses of the wood, and best dwarf cultivars for bonsai, particularly useful to those of us who are downsizing or just want to grow conifers in containers on a small patio or deck.

Ornamental features are illustrated (i.e. most genera have good photos of typical foliage, bark, cones, etc.) along with brief descriptions of available cultivars, their habit, growth rate, distinguishing features, etc., many trees shown in garden settings. Most were photographed in arboreta and public gardens from the NE, mid-W to the NW, Canada, and throughout Germany.

In the appendix are lists of recommendations for specific conditions, a discussion of the qualities one should expect in selecting a holiday tree, lists of specialty conifer nurseries, and places to view conifers in the US, Canada, Britain, and Germany (with website listings.)

The book reads like a series of well-prepared lectures by a knowledgeable instructor. I would enthusiastically recommend it to anyone considering selecting appropriate conifers for gardens, either as a professional landscape architect, garden designer or home gardener.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Conifers for Gardens, June 7, 2007

By 

Home Gardener (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Conifers for Gardens: An Illustrated Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

As a home gardener, I found this book extremely helpful. The photographs are beautifully composed, and there is a wealth of information on how the wood from various conifers is used. The comments on how wild critters use the trees are also most interesting. An excellent reference book to keep on my bookshelf.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last, an excellent guide to choosing conifers!, July 19, 2007

By 

D. Buchanan (Philadelphia, Pa. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Conifers for Gardens: An Illustrated Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

If your idea of a conifer is one of those green blobs overgrowing a door or a window, you need to buy this book. It is an excellent guide to the great range of conifers available to gardeners, and it shows you what they would look like in your garden. Well organized and easy to read, it tells gardeners which conifers would be best suited to particular situations. And it offers information on many dwarf alternatives that are available to the increasing number of gardeners with small yards. If you have been intimidated by conifers in the past, you will be empowered after reading this book.