Dirr's Hardy trees and shrubs

by Michael Dirr

"Visually beautiful, with over 1,600 color photographs of woody plants that bring the text to life, this volume is destined to become a standard reference source for gardening and botany. Entries are arranged alphabetically by scientific name and describe the habitat, foliage, flower, fruit, availability from commercial sources, and landscape use of U.S. northern trees and shrubs, suitable for zones 3 to 8. Readable, short essays reflect the experience and personality of the author, a professor at the University of Georgia. About the Carolina hemlock, Dirr says that "many gardeners rave about this species ... [but] my heart never missed a beat." Dirr took all the photographs during his 25 years as a horticulturist, and there is generally a shot of the full bush or tree and smaller close-ups of the fruit and the leaves of each. Thirty-four tables assist the landscaper in "Selecting Plants for Specific Characteristics or Purposes," such as flowering sequence, flower color, or shrub size"