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

~ (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...)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
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Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia + Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses + Viburnums: Flowering Shrubs for Every Season
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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 (57 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #31,059 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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

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

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More About the Author

Michael A. Dirr
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
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 Cemetery, in Louisville, Kentucky. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
appreciable fall color, respectable yellow, reddish purple fall color, lustrous dark green, general landscape use, white flowers occur, red fruit ripen, following shrubs, yellow fall color, red fall color, bark exfoliates, pyramidal outline, ornamental attributes, fruit persist, reddish purple foliage, multistemmed shrub, compound pinnate, variable spread, needle evergreens, green summer foliage, pyramidal habit, suckering shrub, elm leaf beetle, rounded shrub, youth the habit
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, Design Characteristics, New York, Arnold Arboretum, North Carolina, Nova Scotia, New England, North American, National Arboretum, New Jersey, American Elm, Asia Minor, Cape Cod, New Brunswick, Red Maple, White Oak, Pin Oak, White Pine, Common Lilac, Japanese Stewartia, Littleleaf Linden, Lombardy Poplar, Longwood Gardens, North Dakota, Red Oak
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Customer Reviews

57 Reviews
5 star:
 (46)
4 star:
 (8)
3 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (57 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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158 of 158 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.

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113 of 119 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.

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52 of 52 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.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars I wish it was online
Having paid a pretty penny for this book, I now wish it was online.

I agree with all the positive reviews I've read on this site. Read more
Published 1 month ago by R. Tompson

5.0 out of 5 stars useful client gift
I am a Landscape Architect practicing in the Berkshire Region of Western Massachusetts. This particular Michael Dirr book is used almost daily in our design office. Read more
Published 14 months ago by C. Okerstrom-Lang

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Michael Dirr's book on trees
This is probably the best gardening book that I have ever seen. I use it frequently. I am on a committee in my neighborhood that encourages tree-planting by our city's... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Kate K. Greer

4.0 out of 5 stars a quick visual reference for northern gardeners
This book is jam packed with helpful and beautiful photographs. it's the perfect book if you want to show a client or perhaps your wife what the plant you just bought (or more... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Daniel Breton

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Detailed
I have already used this reference to choose and buy a hedge. Lots of information and mentions common hybrids. Only CON makes it tough to use. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Normal

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you for this book!
I bought this book to gain more knowledge about trees and shrubs so I make informed decisions on what to grow in my yard. This book helped me tremendously. Read more
Published on January 20, 2008 by F. Annaba

4.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Book
This is a valuable book to see what trees and shrubs are like when they are mature. It will sort of help in identification, but it is not a book for identification. Read more
Published on November 28, 2007 by Donald F. Crego

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Photos and Descriptions
Highly recommended for its many lovely photos, sometimes 2 or 3 photos of each species. Also recommended for its loving and detailed descriptions of each species and variety... Read more
Published on June 11, 2007 by Q

5.0 out of 5 stars Honest opinions in addition to great descriptions
What makes this book stand out from all of the other encyclopedias describing plants and trees for the gardens is the candid opinions as to the relative merits of specific trees... Read more
Published on March 12, 2007 by Paul Silber

5.0 out of 5 stars very good!
For starters, my order was shipped in a very timely manner. I received the book much sooner than I expected.
Dirr's Illustrated Encyclopedia is an excellent book! Read more
Published on March 9, 2007 by Gift Card Recipient

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