Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

by Michael A. Dirr (Author) "Many years past, in mid-March I would bundle up my Illinois students and take them south to Bernheim Arboretum, in Clermont, Kentucky, and Cave Hill..." (more)
Key Phrases: appreciable fall color, respectable yellow, reddish purple fall color, United States, Design Characteristics, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
A first-class source on the very best garden trees and shrubs. Excellent color photos accompany the well-written plant descriptions, which point out both the positive and negative attributes of each plant, including physical features, hardiness, disease resistance, and growth preferences. A multitude of cross-referenced indexes will help readers find the right plant for each location and desired effect. (LJ 11/15/97)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From The Washington Post
"The ultimate in reference texts about shrubs and trees...sets what should be the standard for plant books."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 494 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press, Incorporated (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881924040
• ISBN-13: 978-0881924046
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.8 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13,979 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #2 in	Books > Home & Garden > Gardening & Horticulture > Trees
  #2 in	Books > Home & Garden > Gardening & Horticulture > Shrubs
  #2 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Plants > Trees > Seed-Bearing Plants

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

152 of 152 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank God for Michael Dirr, April 16, 2002

By	Graham Henderson (Toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This is possibly the most useful book on trees for the non-specialist in existence (though any arborist or landscape designer worth their salt should, and probably does, have it). Here's why.

Alone among books on trees, Dirr provides not only descriptions of the trees, but he offers landscaping assessments. And he is not faint of heart. If he doesn't like a tree, he'll tell you. For example, of the Poplar, he famously wrote, "I have never recommended a Poplar to anyone, at least while conscious." Of the Common Ninebark he comments, "an extremely adaptable plant, perhaps even to nuclear attacks, and once established, requires a bulldozer for removal."

But it is when Dirr waxes lyrical about a tree that he loves that he achieves his apotheosis. He introduces one tree with this simple sentence: "I love this tree." He describes a beech forest as "one of the most awe inspiring sight in nature." The Silver Linden is the "Beauty Queen" among Lindens. Of the Maackii Amurensis he writes, "Unheralded and unknown, except in the gardens of the fortunate few."

Based on THAT comment, and the pictures of this extraordinary tree, I set out to find one. It took some doing. Now I have an allee of them that was planted 5 years ago. Every time I stroll past them, I thank god for Michael Dirr.

I also discovered the Metasequoia Glyptostroboides (Dawn Redwood) here. If anyone reading this can lay their hands on this tree and has room for it - GET IT.

Among other extremely useful features are the tree lists included in the back. He has listed trees by size, fruit, flower - you name it. The index lists trees both by their botanical name and their common name.

I can not begin to tell you how useful his evaluations are. I have a farm -- 150 acres. And bit by bit I am filling it with trees -- with Dirr's help. Without him I would be lost.

112 of 118 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A pictoral & literary masterpiece re: trees and shrubs, July 2, 1999

By	Dan Hooper (Medway, MA USA) - See all my reviews

The book is invaluable to the experienced nurseryperson and is also extraordinarily interesting to the home gardener.

As a landscape designer, I could not exist without it as a reference. It's written (and photographed) by someone who's "been there, seen that" in heartfelt, knowledge-packed language.

I would suggest two changes to the author and publisher: If the "critical data/information"--zones, maturity height, etc.--were treated in smaller type (i.e., set off from the editorial text), there would be more space for Dirr's wonderful insights on each plant. Also, since I'm fairly new at Latin terminology, a phonetic descriptor for each of the Latin names, small and underneath each, would be very helpful.

This book could easily be priced (higher), and I bet it would sell just as many. I'd still buy it.

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Photos, June 28, 2000

By A Customer

I love to design with plants. If I don't know a particular plant, this photographic reference is very helpful. This book is full of great information but there is not room for photos of all the different cultivars and the characteristics of the same. I prefer to use this book as a secondary reference to Dirr's Manual of Woody Landscape Plants. The Manual lists most all the cultivars available and the growing characteristics of each, but no color photos (at least not in the 4th edition). The Illustrated Encyclopedia has wonderful photos but not enough plant info.

To someone experienced with woody plants, this picture book is just not enough info to really know what to expect from a plant. Get it, but also have the Manual alongside.