Dirr's Trees and Shrubs for Warm Climates

An Illustrated Encyclopedia

Following the phenomenal success of Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs, written for gardeners in the climates of USDA zones 3–6, this companion volume is a superlative photographic encyclopedia of trees, shrubs, and vines for "warm temperate" zones. In North America, these areas (zones 7–11) stretch from the Mid-Atlantic states to the South, include most of Texas and the Southwest, and encompass the entire West Coast, up to western Canada. Many parts of the British Isles, Australia, and New Zealand experience similar conditions. In a nutshell, any gardener who lives in an area where average winter temperatures do not fall below 0° Fahrenheit (–18° Celsius) will want this book, and curious gardeners in colder zones may well want to test these select plants in their local microclimates.

This remarkable volume shows both the habit and details — flower, fruit, bark, fall color — of more than 400 species and describes hundreds more cultivars and varieties. Certain genera offer myriad hybrids and selections, and photographs of many of the best of these are included as well — nearly 40 named crapemyrtles, a dozen teaolives, and 11 loropetalums. In all, more than 1400 photographs join with the authoritative text to bring the plants to life.

From Abelia to Ziziphus, gardeners will encounter many new and unfamiliar plants that thrive in warmer climates. Dirr gives special attention to hardy palms that can survive outside the subtropics. The book also reflects the author's inimitable personality, which holds nothing back when a plant deserves outright acclaim ("If prescriptions could be written for perfect garden plants, this species would come close to filling the order"), backhanded praise ("Use for accent, for novelty, or to drive visitors loony"), or frank condemnation ("Splays to the point of no redemption with time").

The book concludes with useful lists for selecting plants for a variety of conditions or for ornamental characteristics, such as flower color and fragrance, fruit, and fall color.

Media reviews of this book:

"Useful to those with microclimates or adventurous gardeners who want to test the limits of their zone."

—Denise Cowie, Philadelphia Inquirer, November 22, 2002

"An invaluable addition to the library of anyone who gardens in the 'warm temperate' Zones 7-11 ... Drawn from the well-traveled researcher's decades of obsessive observation and liberally seasoned with humor, the richly informative plant profiles provide multiseasonal descriptions and tell how to use and care for hundreds of species and cultivars suitable for Zones 7-9 and warmer."

—Carol Bishop Miller, Horticulture, October 2002

"Yet another must-have reference book [by Michael Dirr] ... an indispensable resource for both novice and experienced gardeners. "

—Fine Gardening, November/December 2002

"Dirr's Trees and Shrubs for Warm Climates is such a sumptuous feast for both eye and mind that if you live in a warm climate and grow woody plants, you must own it!"

—Scott Ranger, American Gardener, July/August 2002

"Since publication in 1997, Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs has been a preferred resource of many accomplished gardeners ... Now gardeners in warmer zones have their own version of this trusted text."

—Rebecca Sawyer-Fay, Country Living Gardener, July/August 2002

Customer reviews of this book:

"One of the finest encyclopedias. ... A must for all gardeners and landscapers."

—Stacey S. from Little Rock, Arkansas, March 21, 2006

"I enjoy the author's down-to-earth comments. I'm not a beginning gardener and appreciate an honest opinion of plants. Great photos, too. Thank you."

—Anonymous from Springfield, Oregon, April 18, 2005

"A must for any southern gardener!"

—Jane C. from Atlanta, Georgia, June 29, 2004

"This is my fourth book by Dirr."

—B. C. from Milledgeville, GA, May 8, 2003

"Dirr is always fantastic."

—D. L. from Lloyd, FL, May 8, 2003

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An excerpt from this book:

What a wonderful chance discovery about eight years past at an antebellum home across from the Georgia campus, where a low subshrub with pink wisteria-like flowers was growing in the shade of pecan trees. Another key-out quest was performed, with this species surfacing as the leading candidate. A suckering, spreading shrub with seven to thirteen, 1 to 2 1/2-inch long rich green leaflets per leaf. Flowers, each 3/4 in. long, pink, in 4 to 8 in. long, 20 to 40 flowered racemes, explode in May and continue sporadically into August and September on new growth. Have yet to observe fruit set. I hope to breed this species with the others for improved floral characteristics ...

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