Trees and shrubs for foliage /

Why do gardeners select the plants they do? When it comes to trees and shrubs, most will seek spectacular flowers, dramatic foliage, and intoxicating fragrance, or a combination thereof, and any guide that can steer them in the right direction is a handy resource indeed. Devoting a separate book to each characteristic, Firefly's new series offers unparalleled in-depth coverage of each desirable trait. Designed to be used alone or in combination, Church's books are organized with usage keys, hardiness maps, and informational layouts. Like having an expert take you on an intimate tour of a nursery stocked with hundreds of woody plant species, Church's descriptions are wonderfully straightforward and conversational in tone. The Flowers volume covers the color, shape, and size of more than 425 blooming species, while Foliage concentrates on leaf shapes of 725 conifers and deciduous trees and shrubs. Profiling more than 100 plant genera, Fragrance offers extensive guidance in creating aromatic garden atmospheres. Along with personal observations, historical references, and helpful anecdotes, Church presents the salient facts in practical reference charts listing zone, dimensions, and dominant characteristics, while more than 220 of Greenfield's breathtaking color photographs adorn each entry in the series. --Donna Seaman

These first three volumes in a new series focus on a single aspect of woody plants: flowers, foliage, and fragrance, respectively. Within each, Church, a horticulturist who operates a specialist nursery and display garden in New Zealand, describes a little more than 100 genera, plus hundreds of additional species and cultivars. Greenfield, who collaborated with Church on Hydrangeas, supplies more than 250 beautiful photographs that reinforce the text. A common format includes genus description followed by discussion of selected species and cultivars within that genus. Size, color, and other physical features, common names, and other interesting characteristics are noted, as are U.S. and Canadian hardiness zones. A handy table at the back of each book alphabetically lists mentioned species and cultivars and their qualities, making it easy to identify and compare plants by specific traits such as color, size, and hardiness. The author provides cultivation tips based on years of experience with woody plants. Why publish three books instead of one? Those specifically looking for shrubs or trees with flowers, foliage, or fragrance in mind will appreciate the narrow focus and the modest price of the individual volumes. At the same time, these books work well together as a set because those who want the big picture will not have to suffer much repetition. Michael Dirr's Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, which covers woody plant species and varieties suitable for North American hardiness zones 3-6, and his Dirr's Trees and Shrubs for Warm Climates: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, which covers zones 7-11, make good alternatives (or complements) to the special qualities approach. The three Church volumes are recommended singly or as a set for public and academic libraries, depending on individual library needs.-William H. Wiese, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.