Customer Reviews

Dirr's Trees and Shrubs for Warm Climates: An Illustrated Encyclopedia

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This volume is the perfect companion to Dirr's other magnificent books, "Manual of Woody Landscape Plants" and "Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs." These books aren't cheap so if you really, really have to pick just one, buy the "Manual" for its comprehensive, even exhaustive, coverage. But then do whatever you can to scrape together enough money to buy the other two volumes! They provide less information than the "Manual", but are worth their price for the color illustrations alone. Both are handsomely produced books, the kind for which Timber Press is becoming well-known. One particular asset of this book with respect to the others is its treatment of palms and several genera and species that were given short shrift, or not mentioned at all, in Dirr's "Manual". Throughout the book, Dirr's opinionated good nature and conversational writing style makes it a pleasure to read.

A previous reviewer bemoaned the fact that well-known southern plants are missing from this volume. In fact, it is a valuable reference precisely because there is virtually no overlap with "Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs." Already owning the previous volume, I was very pleased to find that the new book complements it perfectly; plants that were previously discussed are not repeated. Sure, you have to buy both books, but have I already mentioned that it's worth it?

Although I am sure I will find more as I read the book more carefully, the only error I have found so far is the misspelling "Rhapidiophyllum" for "Rhapidophyllum".

In this book, our leading expert on woody plants gives brief descriptions and excellent photos of many of those suited for warm climates. As noted by another reviewer, the selection is more complete for the humid Southeast (of the U.S.) than it is for California and other Mediterranean climates. However, I expect that all warm-climate gardeners will find much of value.

It is important to note that this book complements Dirr's two other major efforts on woody plants: his Manual of Woody Landscape Plants and a photographic volume (similar to this one) called Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs. The Manual provides more detailed taxonomic and cultural information (including info on propagation), but has line drawings of foliage only. The two photographic books cover most woody plants suited to the U.S. There is no overlap between the photographic books, which is why redbud and dogwood aren't found in this volume, as noted by a previous reviewer. They are hardy, and they are in Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs.

This book is invaluable for seeing what mature specimens of these plants will look like and for Dirr's always interesting comments on suitable uses and culture. Highly recommended.

A wonderful companion to his landmark "Manual" and 1997 illustrated book of hardy trees/shrubs, this newest effort deserves a spot on the book shelf of every woody plant lover. The biggest strength of this volume is its well conceived format, brief text supplemented by quality photographs. Southern plants are often not covered adequately by mainstream literature, so this book fills a key niche. Included within the volume are old favorites, trendy "new" exotics and wonderful natives seldom described and photographed in popular literature. There are, of course, some notable omissions in terms of species and cultivars, but this tome nonetheless is highly functional and enjoyable.

I was impressed with Dirr's Manuel of Woody Landscape book and really looked forward to this one. I live in Zone 8/B in south Georgia and so many plants labeled to grow in this area do not. Since Dirr is from Georgia I thought this book would be just what the doctor ordered. Well, not exactly.
I loved having the color photos but was not impressed with the number of plants he excluded or included for that matter. I was hoping for the same format as his previous book, listing all the qualities and pros and cons. What I got was some pics with a paragraph or two (some without pictures at all) describing a few things about it. Some of the plants listed are common, even weedy. My main beef is that it is sometimes hard to tell exactly where they should grow because of the way it is written. Example: Zones (8)9 to 10. New Zealand,Australia, Tazmania. I assume the countries are where the plant originated but I can't tell if it grow in Zone 8 or not. There are also problems when he describes a plant that grows on the west coast. Example:Zones 6 to 8, 9 to 10 on the west coast. Does this mean 6 to 8 anywhere and also in 9 and 10 on the west coast or all the zones on the west coast only? I think my biggest problem occured in thinking since he was from Georgia he would be talking about the warm, humid climate in the southeast. It seems like a majority of the plants are for the Pacific Coast region. Like I said, my mistake. I got some good ideas but having decided on a holly that I want, have not been able to find it anywhere, even online. I am not sorry I spent the money but if I had had an actual copy in hand, say at the library or in Barnes and Noble, I would have just copied down the names of what interested me and jumped on the computer at home.

I don't know what the above reviewer expected...by way of clarification; bamboos are grasses, and agapanthus are herbaceous perennials NOT shrubs or trees. If you are expecting to find a comprehensive acount of all warm climate plants this is not the book for you (as the title clearly states)

If you are someone who is looking for a good primary survey of trees and shrubs for this zone this is an extremely useful book. Professional and non-professional alike. It may not have every esoteric specie but it will serve as a solid foundation of what performs best.

Well, the name pretty much says it all for this book. There are some wonderful photographs throughout the book with small descriptions beside each photo. As a reference book, this is great but I would not recommend it if you are looking for a good book to read on those long winter evenings.

Another drawback is that many trees that will thrive in warmer climates are not listed. It seems to list the more commonly known ones instead of the ones that very little information is available on.

I do feel that this book will be a great help to those who either know or suspect which plant they have and want to make a positive identification. The photos are definitely the best part of this particular book.

My wife had the other Dirr's tree book and we moved to the south. This book is a great reference for all who like to identify warm climate plants.

I can't believe what I am saying. If you love trees, shrubs, and vines, basically the foundation of any decent garden, then Dirr is the authority on them - face south, put down your prayer rug, and start genuflecting (sp?).

Living in Athens, Georgia, I had the greatest expectations for this book for southern gardeners as he typically calls them as he sees them when it comes to horticultural value of a particular plant - I absolutely love his descriptions based on his knowledge of the horticultural relevance of a given plant - basically this one is worth it, this one [is bad]...

I can't even begin to convey the disappointment with this book. Where are the signature trees for the southern garden - dogwoods and redbuds and all their varieties. Nowhere is there any discussion of redbuds, and the only Cornus description is Cornus capitata, Bentham's Cornel. I like that he talked about a species I had not heard about previously, but where are descriptions and pictures of the signature trees of the South and all their varieties?

No excuse for this - I repeat, no excuse for this. What on God's green earth was he thinking? Buy the hardy trees and shrubs book in order to find out about the signature plants in the southern landscape? Obviously to me, an editorial decision. No excuse, no excuse, no excuse.

I'm going to repeat this - absolutely inexcusable. It is probably the editor's fault, not Dirr's, but still, there is NO EXCUSE for this. The great Southern plants and all their varieties should be described in great detail along with pictures of the varieties. Shame on you, Dr. Dirr, for allowing this to happen with your name on it...

I am still waiting for a reference book like this for Southern California. This book largely ignores us. Virtually nothing on Eucalyptus. Half our palms aren't there. NO bamboo at all. No Agapanthus even. Lots of holes. Suprising that there is still only Gordon Courtwright's books.