Customer Reviews

Maples of the World

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

 

 

A very well informed book with very detailed information about the Acer species. Factual well presented and illustrated, covering all aspects and wide variety of species. A must for arborists and hordiculturalists.

This is an excellent, authoritative book on maples; however, the layout is disappointing. All the color plates are lumped into two sections, rather than placed adjacent to relevant text. The result is very unsatisfying.

This is an excellent reference on maples, but be advised that the paperback edition has no color plates, even though it says it does in the Contents. Don't be misled by the cover. Only the original hardbound edition has color plates. Priced as it is, it is very expensive for a book whose illustrations are minimally useful to the average gardener. Black and white photos in small sizes convey very little information.

I'm a garden writer myself (author of Allergy-Free Gardening) and I do extensive research on trees. I like to own all the finest, most in-depth books there are on as many genera of trees and shrubs as possible, since I make my living by researching which landscape plants cause allergies. Maples of the World isn't perfect and left me in question on a few things, but really, I have quite a few books on the genus Acer and this one is head and shoulders above all the rest. It has a very deep, terribly well-researched section on all the different cultivars of maples. It is well-written, well thought out, and the writers are bona fide maple experts. If you love maples (and what serious gardener doesn't?) consider buying this book. It isn't [inexpensive], but then it is a very large book, with tons of illustrations in color and many excellent drawings. Treat yourself to this valuable addition to your own personal horticultural library.