Trees - General Reference

Looking for Reference titles for specific geographical regions ... check out Trees - Regional References

Looking for Field Guides for trees? Go to the Guidebook page

• 100 TREE MYTHS
• DIRR'S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TREES AND SHRUBS
• DIRR'S HARDY TREES AND SHRUBS 
• DIRR'S TREES AND SHRUBS FOR WARM CLIMATES 
• ECLECTIC GUIDE TO TREES EAST OF THE ROCKIES, AN 
• FIREFLY ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TREES
• FIREFLY ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TREES AND SHRUBS 
• FORESTS OF CANADA, THE
• GROWING TREE, THE
• ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TREES (2/e)
• ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TREES OF AMERICAS
• LOIS HOLE'S FAVORITE TREES & SHRUBS 
• MANUAL OF THE TREES OF NORTH AMERICA 
• MANUAL OF WOODY LANDSCAPE PLANTS (6/e)
• MAPLES FOR GARDENS 
• NATIVE TREES FOR NORTH AMERICAN LANDSCAPES
• OAKS OF NORTH AMERICA 
• PHOTOGRAPHIC MANUAL OF WOODY LANDSCAPE PLANTS 
• SEEING TREES: Discover the Extraordinary Secrets of Everyday Trees
• SHADE TREES FOR THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN UNITED STATES AND CANADA 
• TREE BASICS
• TREES: A Visual Guide
• TREES (Eyewitness Companion)
• TREES: Their Use, Management, Cultivation and Biology - A Comprehensive Guide
• TREES: An Explore Your World Handbook 
• TREES AND FORESTS - A Color Guide: Biology, Pathology, Propagation, Silviculture, Surgery, Biomes, Ecology, Conservation
• TREES FOR URBAN AND SUBURBAN LANDSCAPES 
• TREES, SHRUBS AND VINES FOR ATTRACTING BIRDS
• URBAN TREE BOOK 

TREES: A Visual Guide
Tony Rodd, Jennifer Stackhouse.  Explores the world of trees from a variety of perspectives - from the world's great forests to the lifespan of a single leaf.  Illustrates how trees grow and function, examines their astounding diversity and adaptations, documents the key role they play in ecosystems, and explores their multitude of uses.  Topics discussed include: the details of flowers, bark, and roots; profiles of favorite trees; how animals and insects interact with trees; trees in urban landscapes; the role trees play in our changing climate; deforestation & reforestation, and; more.  A highly accessible, informative reference that provides a complete visual guide to the magnificence of the arboreal world. 10-1/2 x 9-1/4, 304p, 540 color photographs, 220 color illustrations, 20 maps, 2008.
T6506 hardcover..........US $44.95 CAN $54.95

SEEING TREES: Discover the Extraordinary Secrets of Everyday Trees
Nancy Ross Hugo, photography by Robert Llewellyn.  Teaches readers a whole new way of watching a tree.  "On every page we see the miracle of seeds maturing, leaves unfurling, and flowers emerging.  But moreover, this book teaches us what to look for when we slow down and take the time - what we can see in the scars of a leaf, the twig structure, and the pattern of the bark."  Provides up-close profiles of ten (10) classic species, including the Red Maple, the American Beech, the Black Walnut, the White Oak, the Southern Magnolia, and the Tulip Poplar.  A stunning visual library that opens our eyes to these earthly treasures. 8-1/2 x 10, 244p, color photos, 2011. OVERSIZE.
S2198 hardcover..........US $29.95 CAN $39.95

TREES: Their Use, Management, Cultivation and Biology - A Comprehensive Guide
Bob Watson (UK).   Examines the benefits of trees, their aesthetic features, use, arboricultural management, and cultivation.  Covers tree classification and nomenclature, all aspects of their biology and structure, their identifying features, and use in the landscape.  Examines the propagation systems of trees and shrubs, tree health, the environment of tree roots, and the planting, establish and support of trees.  A detailed, comprehensive reference, filled with both introductory and intermediate-level information.  A valuable resource for all those who have a passion for trees, as well as those who work in tree-related professions. 7-1/2 x 9-3/4, 384p, 30 color photos, 266 b&w illustrations, 2006. OVERSIZE.
T8858 hardcover..........US $79.95 CAN $104.95

NATIVE TREES FOR NORTH AMERICAN LANDSCAPES
Guy Sternberg, w/ Jim Wilson.  A comprehensive cross section of trees native to North America, from the Atlantic to the Rockies and from northern Canada to the Gulf Coast.  Explains how to choose  trees appropriate to a particular area, whether by planting new specimens or preserving those already on site.  Specific tree profiles describe flowers and fruit, native and adaptive range, culture, problems, and best seasonal features.  Discusses 650+ species and varieties, as well as over 500 cultivars.  Intended for anyone interested in, and fascinated by, our native trees and our natural environment. 8-1/2 x 11, 522p, 511 color photos, 96 line drawings, map, 2004. OVERSIZE.
N6078 hardcover ..........US $59.95 CAN $82.95

FIREFLY ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TREES
Steve Cafferty, ed..  An A-Z directory of the world's trees.  Features species identification tables, fact boxes, and thumbnail maps show the distribution of native trees.  Concise taxonomic descriptions, plus photos and illustrations depicting each family in summer and fall, bark texture, leaves, seeds and nuts, and where applicable, blossoms.  Includes a description of the forest ecosystem, the world's four (4) major forest types, notable forests around the world, and more.  A comprehensive, new reference. 9-3/8 x 11-5/8, 288p, 300 color photos, 250 color illustrations, 150 maps, 2005. OVERSIZE.
F0511 hardcover ..........US $46.95 CAN $49.95

TREES AND FORESTS - A Color Guide: Biology, Pathology, Propagation, Silviculture, Surgery, Biomes, Ecology, Conservation
Bryan Bowes, eds..  Trees are a dominant feature of life on earth, and yet are under severe threat.  This volume gathers together aspects of trees, forests, their development, environments and ecology that are usually considered separately.  Chapters cover trees from all different habitats around the world: northern boreal and montane coniferous forests; temperate rain and deciduous forests; temperate mixed evergreen forests, and; tropical and sub-tropical rain and dry forests.  Topics include tree morphology, diseases and pests, forest ecology, management, pruning and surgery, propagation and conservation.  Concise text is illustrated throughout by color photos, diagrams and summary tables.  A reference designed to appeal to professionals and students in plant science, plant biology, ecology and conservation, to those working in forestry and arboriculture and to interested non-specialist readers. 7-3/4 x 10-1/4, 288p, color photos, 2010. OVERSIZE.
Sorry, this title has gone out of print - limited quantity remaining!
T1738 hardcover..........US $103.00 CAN $145.95

AN ECLECTIC GUIDE TO TREES EAST OF THE ROCKIES
Glen Blouin.  A "one-of-a-kind" book on tree species occurring in North America east of the Rockies.  Identifies close to fifty (50) major tree species by their components (size, wood, bark, leaf, flower, fruit, twig, etc.).  Goes beyond these details to provide: the history of each species; its range, record sizes, preferred sites, and seasonal changes; value as habitat for fauna; natural enemies (insects, blights, diseases); uses by humans; the properties of its wood, and; more.  A valuable, multi-faceted book for those with an interest in trees. 6 x 9, 260p, tables, 140+ color photos, 2001.
Sorry, this title has gone out of print - contact us for availability.
E3519 paperback..........US $24.95 CAN $29.95

THE FORESTS OF CANADA
Ken Farr.  Presents a contemporary picture of Canada's rich and diverse forests.  Combines facts and color photographs to depict forest composition, ecology, characteristic wildlife species, and more.  Provides an overview of urban forests, and explores the Canadian approach to forest stewardship and the ongoing relationship Canadians maintain with the forests around them.  Features satellite photography showing the location of forest types across Canada.  A timely portrayal. 10 x 10-1/2, 152p, 150+ color photos, 2003.
F0044 hardcover (English ed.)..........US $39.95 CAN $39.95
F807X hardcover (French ed.)..........US $39.95 CAN $39.95

DIRR'S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TREES AND SHRUBS
Michael Dirr.  With Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs and Dirr's Trees and Shrubs for Warm Climates, the author set the gold standard for horticultural reference.  Now these two classics are under one cover, fully updated with 100's of new plants, photos, and commentary in Dirr's signature style.  This is his most comprehensive visual reference yet.  From majestic evergreens to delicate vines and flowering shrubs, Dirr features 1,000's of plants with all the essential details for identification, planting, and care, plus full-color photographs showing a tree's habit in winter, distinctive bark patterns, fall color, and more.  In a class by itself for its quality of information, the best researched recommendations for hardiness in the industry, beautiful photography, and Dirr's own preeminence as a master plantsman, Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs is a critical addition to any garden library. 8-3/4 x 11-1/2, 952p, 3530 color photos, 2011. OVERSIZE.
D9018 hardcover..........US $79.95 CAN $104.95

MANUAL OF WOODY LANDSCAPE PLANTS (6/e)
Michael Dirr.  A revised, updated edition of "A Horticulture Bible" - Chronicle of Higher Education.  Features expanded descriptions of former entries, over 2,000 new species and cultivars, trademark names and patent numbers, as well as all species, subspecies and variety names verified using the GRIN taxonomic data base (germplasm resources information network) and other sources.  Plants are listed by scientific, common and family name.  Each plant type is discussed in sequence and usually accompanied by a line drawing and characteristics related to leaf, bud and stem.  Attributes also discussed include hardiness, habit, rate of growth, texture, color, flowers, fruit, diseases and insects, landscape value, and culture.  A "classic" resource for those interested in the field. 8-1/2 x 11, 1325p, b&w illustrations, 2009. OVERSIZE.
M8707 hardcover..........US $101.95 CAN $139.95
M8685 paperback..........US $81.95 CAN $112.95

DIRR'S TREES AND SHRUBS FOR WARM CLIMATES: An Illustrated Encyclopedia
Michael A. Dirr.  A photographic encyclopedia of trees, shrubs, and vines for warm temperate zones.  In North America, these areas (USDA 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.  Shows both the habit and details ( flower, fruit, bark, fall color) of more than 400 species and describes 100's more cultivars and varieties.  Over 1400 color photographs combine with the authoritative text.   Concludes with useful lists for selecting plants for a variety of conditions and/or for ornamental characteristics. 8-1/2 x 11, 448p, 1438 color photos, 1 map, 2002. OVERSIZE.
D525X hardcover..........US $69.95 CAN $91.95

PHOTOGRAPHIC MANUAL OF WOODY LANDSCAPE PLANTS: Form and Function in the Landscape
Michael Dirr.  Includes over 1,200 photographs of habit and selected ornamental characteristics.  Plants are treated alphabetically by scientific name.  Photographs are keyed numerically to the text that includes descriptions of habit, bark, flower, fruit, foliage characteristics, culture, landscape use, size, and winter hardiness.  A valuable reference text on its own or a complement to Dirr's Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (M7957 above). 8-1/2 x 11, 378p, 1295 b&w photos, 1978.
P1533 paperback..........US $22.95 CAN $31.95

TREES FOR URBAN & SUBURBAN LANDSCAPES
Edward Gilman.  "The comprehensive all-in-one full-color tree guide for continental North America."  Combines the latest on the cornerstones of tree management - selection, planting, establishment, fertilization - with practical details on more than 1,000 species.  Detailed chapters include: Special Planting Situtations; Planting Techniques; Establishing Trees; Root Form, Depth, Spread and Season of Growth; Root Response to Nursery Production Practices, Culture and Planting; Fertilizing Trees, and; more.  Takes readers through the entire tree selection process, from start to finish.  More than 500 color photographs make tree identification realistic and enable users to easily select the right tree for the right landscape.  A complete reference on tree culture and management. 8-1/2 x 11, 688p, color photos, appendices, 1997.  See pruning companion, I2710 (in Pruning References)
Sorry, this title is going out of print - only 2 copies remaining!
T0539 paperback..........US $343.95 CAN $322.95

URBAN TREE BOOK: An Uncommon Field Guide for City and Town
Arthur Plotnik.  Explores two hundred (200) species of city or neighborhood trees that flourish amid the harsh conditions of urban areas.  Combines key botanical information with fascinating stories from history, folklore, and today's news.  In-depth "biographies" include natural history and lively asides - how linden trees repel bees, why a willow weeps - in every chapter. 5-1/2 x 8-1/2, 416p, 175 b&w line drawings, 2000.
U1033 paperback..........US $23.00 CAN $33.00

TREE BASICS
Dr. Alex Shigo.  Provides simple tree basics to homeowners, gardeners, and students (Grades 6+), in a large, open format, with lots of illustrations and photographs.  A good visual introduction on the subject. 8-1/2 x 11, 40p, 26 photographs, 19 illustrations, 1995.
T316X paperback ..........US $8.00 CAN $11.95

OAKS OF NORTH AMERICA
Howard Miller, Samuel Lamb.  A good, "user-friendly" guide to the oaks found throughout North America.  Cover the history and use of oaks.  Contains individual sections on "Eastern Oaks" and "Oaks of the West."  Includes keys for each section of oaks, details of identification, descriptions, growth habitats, range maps, and more.  "The best short guide on North American oaks." 5 x 8, 328p, b&w photos, 1984.
O1375 paperback..........US $17.95 CAN $22.95

FIREFLY ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TREES AND SHRUBS: Illustrated A-Z of Over 7000 Plants
Tony Rodd, ed..  An illustrated plant encyclopedia providing detailed information on 8500+ trees and shrubs from around the world.  Each entry details the plant origin, appearance, growth habit, flowering time, and cultivation requirements.  Includes color photos of plants in their natural habitats, plus close-ups of bark, leaf, fruit and flowers.  Discusses botanical classification, the uses of trees and shrubs by humans in culture, industry and medicine. 9-3/4 x 14, 912p, color photos, tables, CD-ROM, 2001. OVERSIZE.
Sorry, this title has gone out of print and will no longer be available.
F6033 hardcover..........US $100.00 CAN $100.00
         ON SALE..........US $65.00 CAN $75.00........ only 2 copies remaining!

TREES: An Explore Your World Handbook (Discovery Channel)
Jon Arno, ed..  Which tree was used by the ancient Greeks to treat asthma and coughs?  How do trees defend their neighbors against predators in the forest?  When is a tree not a tree?  This handbook answers these and other questions.  Discusses the evolution of trees, the inner workings, and how trees have enhanced human life.  Includes an identification guide to more than 160 various species and subspecies.  An interesting blend of information and entertainment. 5 x 8-1/4, 192p, 300+ color photos & illustrations, 2000.
Sorry, this title has gone out of print and will no longer be available.
T8407 paperback..........US $14.95 CAN $22.50
         ON SALE..........US $13.95 CAN $17.95........ only 2 copies remaining!

THE GROWING TREE (Revised ed.)
Brayton Wilson.  "...Covers just about everything one would want to know about how a tree grows."  Examines a tree as a growing, integral system.  Outlines how the graduated steps of tree growth occur and how they are regulated.  An excellent, readable reference for anyone with an urge to better informed about trees. 6 x 9, 138p, b&w illustrations, tables, 1984.
Sorry, this title has gone out of print - only 2 copies remaining!
G4242 paperback..........US $17.95 CAN $23.95

TREES (Eyewitness Companion)
Robert Cumming.  A visual guide to more than 500 species of trees from around the world.  Contains information on identification, anatomy, historic species, wood, flower and fruit types.  Discusses salient issues from commercial exploitation to conservation.  From folklore and forestry, understand the importance of trees and forests.  "A one-stop visual handbook." 5-1/4 x 8-3/4, 360p, color photos & illustrations, 2005.
T3590 paperback ..........US $25.00 CAN $30.00
         ON SALE..........US $20.00 CAN $24.00..... only 2 copies remaining!

DIRR'S HARDY TREES AND SHRUBS: An Illustrated Encyclopedia
Michael Dirr.  This beautifully-illustrated encyclopedia describes the best woody plants adapted to cooler climates, showing habit and details of 500+ species, including some 700 additional cultivars and varieties.  Brief cultural information is included for each plant.  Includes 36 tables listing the best plants for specific characteristics and purposes.  Intended for USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 6, but many of the plants will survive well into Zone 8 or higher. 8-1/2 x 11, 494p, 1656 color photos, 1997. OVERSIZE.
Sorry, this title has gone out of print - contact us for availability.
D4040 hardcover..........US $69.95 CAN $94.95

MANUAL OF THE TREES OF NORTH AMERICA (2 volumes)
Charles Sargent.  From the "great dendrologist America ever produced," this monumental volume is "unsurpassed as the most comprehensive and reliable volume on the subject" (back cover).  Includes 185 genera and 717 species of trees (and many tree-like shrubs) found in the United States, Canada, and Alaska.  Key features include detailed species-by-species descriptions (leaves, flowers, fruit, winterbuds, bark, wood, growth habits, immaturity variations, precise distribution, local variants, etc.) and a  synoptic key and 100+ further keys within the text to aid in identification.  An "unmatched lifetime reference work" considered as one of the best. 5-3/8 x 8-1/2, 986p, 783 b&w line drawings, 1922. OVERSIZE.
Sorry, this title has gone out of print - contact us for availability.
M2771 pb, 2 volumes..........US $40.00 CAN $56.00

SHADE TREES FOR THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN UNITED STATES AND CANADA
Sharon Yiesla, Floyd Giles.  An easy-to-use reference to 152 popular shade trees in the central and northern United States and Canada.  Contains descriptions of leaves, flowers, fruit, stems, and bark.  Includes culture and appropriate use, and setting for each tree. 8-1/2 x 11, 290p, 80+ color illustrations, 200+ line drawings, 1992.
S379X paperback..........US $28.95 CAN $41.00
         ON SALE..........US $22.95 CAN $29.95..... only 1 copy remaining!

MAPLES FOR GARDENS: A Color Encyclopedia
C.J. Van Gelderen, D.M. Van Gelderen.  From the principal author of Maples of the World, these world-famous experts offer a photo gallery of the best maples to include in your landscape.  Descriptions for 579 maples provide habit, flower, fruit, distribution, degree of cultivation, and propagation information.  Special attention devoted to Acer palmatum.  More than eighty (80) other species are illustrated with their cultivars and hybrids.  The photographs demonstrate the diversity of form, color, and size that make maples so useful in gardens of every kind. 8-1/2 x 11, 294p, 683 color photos, 2 color maps, 1999. OVERSIZE.
Sorry, this title has gone out of print - contact us for availability.
M4725 hardcover..........US $69.95 CAN $94.95

FAVORITE TREES & SHRUBS: Lois Hole's
Lois Hole, Jim Hallis.  Let the expert help plan and design a stunningly colorful yard, with trees and shrubs that add beauty, privacy and versatility.  Describes more than 300 trees and shrubs, all selected for their size, shape, seasonal color and hardiness. 5-1/2 x 8-1/2, 368p, color photos, 1997.
F0811 paperback..........US $15.95 CAN $19.95

TREES, SHRUBS, AND VINES FOR ATTRACTING BIRDS 
(2/e, Revised)
Richard M. DeGraaf.  This revised and updated "classic" remains the best source for information about the trees, shrubs, and vines that provide bird habitats and feeding sources in both the United States and Canada.  For each of the more than 160 plant species included, DeGraaf provides a full description, flowering and fruiting periods, preferred habitat conditions, growing ranges, and hardiness zones.  A good resource for readers interested in providing habitat for birds - "...a worthy addition to the birders library." 8-1/2 x 11, 224p, 24 illustrations, 64 drawings, 2002.
T2152 paperback..........US $24.95 CAN $32.95
         ON SALE..........US $22.95 CAN $29.95..... only 2 copies remaining!

ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TREES (2/e)
John White.  Winner of the National Arbor Day Foundation Media Award.  Almost 400 double-page spreads describe and illustrate 1800+ species and cultivars of trees commonly cultivated in England and continental Europe; most of which are also found in North American gardens.  Some are indeed native to North America.  Deciduous and coniferous trees are illustrated, with close-up art of leaves or needles, bark, blossoms, fruit, nuts, or cones.  A must-have for any reader with an interest in trees, whether to grow or identify them, or simply to admire the artwork. 7-1/4 x 10-3/8, 832p, approx. 4800 color plates, 2002, 2005, 2013. OVERSIZE.
I7511 hardcover ..........US $55.00 CAN $72.95