Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs

December 1, 2011

Dirr (horticulture, Univ. of Georgia) has been growing and breeding plants for years and has experience with all the plants in this book. This large volume combines Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs (1997) and Dirr's Trees and Shrubs for Warm Climates (2002), both considered authoritative volumes, and offers new entries on plants that have been developed in the last 10 to 15 years. The bulk of the book is the A-to-Z listing of plants by their botanical names, with short annotations and over 3500 color photos, including close-ups of flowers, leaves, and other parts of interest as well as full-plant views. There are 15 special topic listings--by flower color, flowering sequence, fall color, winter interest, salt or shade tolerance, moisture requirements, and plant form--which will help gardeners choose plants, as well as indexes of botanical and common names. BOTTOM LINE This book is a good reference for home gardeners, but the descriptions and photographs are not concise enough for botanists and have limited use for plant identification. This is not a necessary purchase for libraries that own the older volumes, unless they wish to provide for avid gardeners interested in new varieties or those who enjoy Dirr's personal observations.--Margaret Henderson, Virginia Commonwealth Univ. Lib., Richmond

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from December 15, 2011
With beautiful, artistic photographs and succinct text, this volume is nearly as attractive as one of the gorgeous blossoming shrubs discussed within. Dirr has added another well-written and slickly produced book to his volumes on plants used in ornamental horticulture. This volume is filled with information for the gardener, landscape architect, and all those curious about the trees and shrubs they may encounter.The chatty descriptions incorporate information often limited to tablesdisease resistance, size, shape, and zone hardiness as well as some history and taxonomy. These descriptions are accompanied by high-quality photographs. Reading the entries is educational as well as inspirational for readers. There are mentions of trends, such as the note that junipers are falling out of fashion but that potentillas are highly regarded in northern gardens. An appendix listing plants for specific needs and purposes is notable. Comments like about the closest to red flowers but still not red speak of Dirr's passion for and delight in the trees and shrubs as well as his expertise. His personal experiences with particular species are forthrightly and sometime wryly noted: They sit in the garden and look at me, never prospering. With descriptions of 380 genera illustrated with 3,500 photographs, this is likely to become a standard reference for including trees and shrubs in gardens of all types. Highly recommended for all public and academic libraries.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)