Dirr’s Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs

This heavyweight volume by Michael A. Dirr, combines the best from his previous treasures (Dirr's Hardy Trees & Shrubs and Dirr's Trees & Shrubs for Warm Climates) and is surely one of the definitive illustrated reference books to woody plants.

Dirr is an icon in the US. He is one of the top American authorities on woody plants and the author of over 300 scientific and popular papers, articles and books. A Professor of horticulture at the University of Georgia, Dirr has received the highest honours from the American Horticultural Society. In 'Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs' he brings together 380 genera with more than 3700 species and cultivars. There are more than 3,500 photographs illustrating a text which gives full details of the plants, from the latest nomenclatural changes to revisionist thinking of the ever-expanding limits of cold hardiness.

This book will definitely prove a 'must have', not only for landscape and garden designers and students but also for the gardening enthusiast who has an interest in trees and shrubs. His assessments are based on testing data, research reports and performance as well as evaluations at his breeding company in Watkinsville, Georgia, Plant Introductions Inc., of which he is a partner.

All the photographs in the book are Dirr's own and his text on each reference is clear and straightforward. There is an excellent index section and a comprehensive section on selecting plants for specific characteristics or purposes.

Dirr has been involved in breeding, evaluating and introducing many ornamental plants to the nursery industry and in 'Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs' has created an unsurpassed resource for tree and shrub identification and selection.

This is a large book of considerable weight, however, to do justice to the subject and the amount of information, the only other recourse would have been to produce it in two volumes. Weight notwithstanding, the single volume works well.

'Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs’ by Michael A. Dirr, is published by Timber Press – www.timberpress.co.uk - and priced at £50.00 (UK) and $79.95 (US). Check out the Reckless Gardener bookshop to order your copy - www.reckless-gardener.co.uk/online-shop