: The book is famous for Dirr's "inimitable personality". His descriptions go beyond technical data to include frank, often humorous opinions on a plant's landscape value, ranging from "outright acclaim" to "frank condemnation".
The original 1997 hardcover is a substantial volume at nearly . While widely regarded as a "standard reference," it is often sought out as a more portable or focused alternative to Dirr's massive Manual of Woody Landscape Plants . Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs: An Illustrated E...
: Covers more than 500 species and approximately 700 additional cultivars and varieties, ranging from common favorites to more obscure choices. : The book is famous for Dirr's "inimitable personality"