Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs

An Illustrated Encyclopedia

This bestselling encyclopedia, illustrated with brilliant photographs, describes the best woody plants adapted to cooler climates, showing both habit and details of more than 500 species, and including some 700 additional cultivars and varieties. Brief cultural information is supplied for each plant, as well as Dirr's perceptive comments and opinions.

Media reviews of this book:

"A great resource when searching for great landscape plants."

—Nancy Szerlag, Detroit News, November 3, 2007

"For more advice from the pros, get a copy of Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. Michael Dirr's huge compendium (495 pages) ... is an invaluable reference and belongs on every gardener's bookshelf."

—Linda Brazill, Capital Times (Madison), September 29, 2007

"Michael Dirr is the acknowledged authority on American trees and shrubs. His book ... is a valuable reference."

—Garden Design, September 2003

"Though my shelves sag under the weight of books about trees and shrubs, there's still space for a pictoral encyclopedia that does the subject justice."

—Sunset, February 2000

"A first-class source on the very best garden trees and shrubs."

—Library Journal, December 1, 1999

Customer reviews of this book:

"Awesome, as always! This is the third I have purchased and I don't know what I would do without it!"

—Molly W. from Scottsville, Virginia, April 1, 2007

"Great photos. I love the specific purposes, charts, and lists!"

—Donald W. from Middlefield, Ohio, July 18, 2006

"A perfect book!"

—Leslie K. from Haslett, Michigan, May 4, 2006

"This book is full of useful information."

—Richard M. from Bridgeton, New Jersey, May 4, 2006

"Excellent book, priceless resource, wonderful pictures."

—Aaron B. from Baltic, Connecticut, April 18, 2006

Read more media and customer reviews

An excerpt from this book:

Truly one of the best native shrubs for late-spring and early-summer flower. This broad-mounded, suckering shrub can colonize a large piece of real estate. The wonderful coarse-textured, dark green leaves are composed of five to seven 3- to 8-in.-long leaflets that turn rich butter-yellow in fall. The 8- to 12-in.-long, bottle-brush-shaped inflorescences contain hundreds of white, four-petaled flowers with pinkish white stamens that stand out an inch from the petals. The inflorescences occur at the ends of the branches and are held upright. Interestingly, this species flowers almost as prolifically in shade as in sun ...

Read the whole excerpt