Excellent resource/reference for "woodies" - I'll be using it for numerous college landscape courses & keep it for a working reference; would have liked outlines of tree/shrub shape; very good leaf drawings.
September 22, 2008

If you are an avid gardener, you will want this book

If I had but one garden book to keep, this is the one I would unquestionably choose. And I have more than 40 garden related books.
Sure would like to see a 2008 edition!
Robert in northern Indiana

September 13, 2008

textbook for a lifetime

My son began his study of horticulture this year, and Dr. Dirr's book, it seems, is the "bible" for lifetime use in horticulture. Our textbook arrived quickly, beautifully, and at about 1/2 of the price at the college bookstore. A noteworthy investment!
September 08, 2008

long time plant person

Dirr is the bible for plant information. I find that most plant people have a copy on their bookshelves with significant signs of use. (worn pages, dog earing, stains, soil etc)
July 13, 2008

An Industry Standard; not for casual weekend gardner's

Too bad that so many of these reviews are written by Weekend Warriors who wanted a "pretty book with pictures." ~sigh~ I'm a landscape architect who trained under Dr. Dirr when he was teaching at U of Illinois. Of course, because he was teaching the subject, this tome was part of the required course. For the professional plantsman or very serious gardner, there is nothing like it! This is my third edition of this book, the first one being thin and light and probably a two-pounder. This one weighs in at 6 pounds. I don't know of a serious nursery that does NOT have this as part of their library; it's excellent when you need to know just how Acer saccharum and Acer saccharinum differ; what diseases do Betula nigra contract; and which Ilex species to plant in your zone.

The reason why he does NOT bother with roses, clematis and other pretty plants extensively is that there are far better sources than his book to refer to for information and he just can't be bothered to rewrite what better experts have already written.

This book is NOT a key to identify plants. This book is NOT a coffee table book to impress anyone. This book is to be used at a store or in the field, covered with mud and spotted pages as you earn your living from working, planting and selling woody ornamentals. There are 100's of pretty books that Barnes & Noble cranks out each year for the casual gardener. If in doubt about a book, hike to a store or library and check the book out THERE, rather than ordering an unknown book and criticizing the author for what he's NOT vs. what he is. If you pay your mortgage and truck payment by working with trees and shrubs, you already have this book and know how good it is!
May 26, 2008

SIMILAR PRODUCTS

Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia
by Michael A. Dirr

Manual of Herbaceous Ornamental Plants
by Steven M. Still

Botany for Gardeners
by Brian Capon

Landscape Graphics
by Grant Reid

Viburnums: Flowering Shrubs for Every Season
by Michael Dirr