Customer Reviews

Conifers: The Illustrated Encyclopedia (2 Volumes)

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Two world authorities compiled this outstanding conifer book featuring 2347 excellent, sharp photos reproduced beautifully on high quality paper. Each picture was taken at the proper distance to show the tree's outstanding detail. Captions are a sentence or two with location often included. For detail use a good companion book such as the Manual of Cultivated Conifers by Krussmann. Imperative for landscapers and a joy for tree lovers -- a bargain at the cover price. A quality book clearly at the top of my list of favorites.

This book is primarily intended as a catalog of, and identification tool for, the great many conifer cultivars that have found their way into the horticultural trade. Secondarily it conveys information on the locales, classification, and other commercial values of the wild species from which the cultivars have been selected. The objectives are achieved mainly through the medium of color photos, black/white cone sketches, and informative picture captions. Basic information on genera, including numerous new "split-offs" from unnamed sources, occupy thirty pages of Volume 1. As a photographic catalog of more than 2,000 cultivars, many of them never before illustrated for the public, these volumes are incomparable. The photos, many of them close-ups, clearly show the cultivars' distinctive characteristics, mainly in garden and arboretum settings. This is the great strength of these volumes. As a general conifer reference, the work falls somewhat short of that peak. As is true of all cases where European authors have tried to embrace American trees in their grasp, an unfamiliarity with geography and the species has led to numerous small errors. Thus we learn (incorrectly) that Shasta fir grows on the West Coast, and noble fir in Yosemite. Monterey pine cones are labeled as Torrey pine. Sketches purported to be of Jeffrey, Korean (stone), and sugar pines are not. Etcetera. But these minor problems are more than compensated for by the wonderful habitat photos of rare things like Welwitschias near Walvis Bay, Dacrydiums in Fiji, wild-type Mediterranean cypresses in Turkey, and the new Wollemia pines of Australia. And among the 2,574 photos are two showing the root parasite Parasitaxus ustus on its New Caledonian host Falcatifolium taxoides, red foliage and all. For these reasons and others, this 2-volume set should be on every conifer enthusiast's bookshelf.

I own and operate a nursery using both of these books as a primary resource when purchasing conifers from growers. When customers refer to these books at our library, they comment on how beautiful the many conifers are available. My only wish the book had w/b zone hardiness and growth habit. Buy it. ProGardens, Inc. East Amherst, New York.

As this is the best picture book it lacks details on the specimens. Information like what it starts out as and its various transitions in time.Let's take a variegated tree for example, it would be helpful to understand whether or not it starts out variegated or if it developes the variegation over time. This type of info is lacking. Also, it does'nt mention availability of the plant in commerce. It ends up being a wish book, without ever getting a feel for how/where to acquire these beauties!

We love this reference book. it gives accurate photographic examples of old favourites as well as new cultivars. It constantly whets our appetite for new cultivars not yet available in Australia. It is the best reference book that we have seen on conifers including dwarf conifers. Recommended for all conifer lovers and enthusiasts.

This set of 2 books has an enormous amount of photographs. In fact, what is meant by an Illustrated Encyclopedia is that it is composed solely of photographs. There is no text other than the captions. Photograph quality is generally good, although some are of juvenille specimens and don't show mature form. It is also clear that culture plays a large part in the mature form in many cases, and it would be nice to show various specimens rather than just one. Still, this is an essential resource to have in your library if you want to know about garden conifers. You'll just need additional resources as well.

pictures are great !!butlacks the necessary info on growing,care,climate zones&changes of sasons on the plants.but i love it for all it's visual contents

pictures are great !!butlacks the necessary info on growing,care,climate zones&changes of sasons on the plants.but i love it for all it's visual contents

Very good book. One of the few places you will a lot of trees published