The Gardener's Guide to Growing Maples [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

James Harris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2000

This book covers not only the popular Japanese maples but surveys all 125 species in the genus Acer, from towering giants to small plants ideal for container growing.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Almost everyone has been rendered speechless by the fiery brilliance of a maple in autumn, but if you think that this blaze of glory is the tree's only outstanding characteristic, Harris' guide should thoroughly dispel that myth. In this comprehensive examination of maples' use in the garden, open landscapes, and even the home (as bonsai subjects), Harris provides detailed descriptions of the many species, subspecies, varieties, and cultivars that make up genus Acer . We not only learn of maples' botany, habitat, care, and cultivation, but discover their history as well. Enhanced by dazzling color photographs and supported by appendixes of where to see and buy maples, useful reference addresses, and sites of national collections, the book is both fascinating and practical--much like the maple itself. Whether you're a serious botanist or an enthusiastic gardener, Harris' guide should become the definitive treatise on one of nature's most diverse and magnificent treasures. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

Harris’ guide should become the definitive treatise on one of nature’s most diverse and magnificent treasures. -- Booklist, November 15, 2000

Sure to please anyone interested in Maples. -- Library News for Zoos and Aquariums, November 2000

The excellent photographs alone are worth the price of the book, but this volume takes you beyond beautiful photos. -- Nancy Fiers, Fine Gardening, December 2001

There is a maple to suit every garden, and this book should inspire more people to give them a try. -- Karen Junker, The Garden, February 2001

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press, Incorporated (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881924849
• ISBN-13: 978-0881924848
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,211,324 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A small, yet great maple "dictionary", March 30, 2001

By 

Eric Chow (La Canada, California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gardener's Guide to Growing Maples (Hardcover)

Of the maple books I have seen and viewed, this has been the cheapest and the most informational for its size. The book contains information, not only on Acer palmatum, but on all trees of this genus. It provides lots of good and useful general information on the care, propagation, and classification. It provides many pages of color photos of the many maples that are described in detail in the book. For me, this book helped me decide exactly which maple tree was to my taste and perfect for my gardern. So interested in maples? Get this book!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maple Mania, August 14, 2001

By 

IAN F DAWE (Afton, TN) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Gardener's Guide to Growing Maples (Hardcover)

This book is a must for anyone with a thirst for deeper knowledge of trees. James Harris' book describes the botany and world distribution of the massive genus Acer clearly and concisely. For identification of individual sub-species, the photographs and line drawings show amazing detail of bark, seed and leaf. The section, A-Z of species, deals with each Acer in sufficient and useful detail. Not only is the book an excellent reference for botanists/arborists, but also for the keen gardener, as the sections on cultivation and planting are highly informative. Personally, as a Bonsai enthusiast, I have found the book invaluable in researching a particular species of tree.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars They take a good whack at the topic, November 1, 2005

By 

R. Beasley "In my opinion???" (Piedmont, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gardener's Guide to Growing Maples (Gardener's Guide to Growing Series) (Paperback)

Nice pictures, and descriptions of many Maples. It may be lacking installation and propagation details. There are many good descriptions and may be adequate for most novices, they show the differences in the cultivars of a good sampling of maples, including the Hybridized, Japanese,Korean and Chinese maples. I have enjoyed the book yet there is much room for improvement,but that book would cost seventy to one hundred dollar plus. You get what you pay for most of the time and you do get what you for here as well. One book can not cover the topic in all its fascists, there are to many different point of view, qualifications, biases and specific interest all play a key roll in the author's compilation of the book and can she/he write and can she plant a tree with success or is she just faking us out and spiting out a book on contract .