Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia

by Michael A. Dirr

This book is a must-have for lovers of trees. Comprehensive and opinionated, this book offers both basic critical information (zone, maturity height, etc.) and insights from an obvious tree lover. The photos are marvelous, often including pictures of several cultivars of the same species--or the same species in different seasons. For the native gardener, Dirr's inclusion of the geographic origin of various species is also useful.