Product Description

Compiled by two of the worlds authorities on the subject and illustrated throughout in full color, this book is the most complete collection of photographs2,347 strongof conifers ever assembled. It is published in two volumes, which nearly doubles the pages of Timber Presss acclaimed earlier book Conifers, Second Edition, written by the same authors.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #208230 in Books
• Published on: 1996-10-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 2
• Binding: Hardcover
• 706 pages

Review
"A tantalizing overview of nearly 1,200 evergreens now in cultivation."—Linda Yang, New York Times, October 1, 1986 (Linda Yang The New York Times )

"Serious conifer students, libraries, landscape architects or just plain evergreen lovers will enjoy the hundreds of color photos that make this book a fascinating addition." Dale Langford, Rocky Mountain News, December 27, 1986 (Dale Langford Denver Rocky Mountain News )

"The best reference work on the subject to appear in recent times."—Ann Lovejoy, Horticulture, February 2000 (Ann Lovejoy Horticulture )

...The best reference work on the subject to appear in recent times. -- Anne Lovejoy, Horticulture

A tantalizing overview of nearly 1,200 evergreens now in cultivation.Linda Yang, New York Times, October 1, 1986 (The New York Times )

Conifers is an extremely thorough and well-illustrated book that will be a great asset to landscape architects and horticulturists. -- Landscape Journal

Serious conifer students, libraries, landscape architects or just plain evergreen lovers will enjoy the hundreds of color photos that make this book a fascinating addition. Dale Langford, Rocky Mountain News, December 27, 1986 (Denver Rocky Mountain News )

The best reference work on the subject to appear in recent times.Ann Lovejoy, Horticulture, February 2000 (Horticulture )

This is a scrumptious atlas for all lovers of gymnosperms. -- Taxon, August 1997

From the Publisher
These volumes are the most complete collection of conifer photographs ever assembled, displaying fine details of bark, cones, and needles. There are notes on distribution for each genus, discussion of botanical characteristics and classification, and lists of exemplary species. Besides 10 new genera, new in this set are a common name index, an index of synonyms, a suggested reading list, and a brief essay on photographing conifers.

About the Author
D. M. van Gelderen is an officer of the Netherlands Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society and proprietor of one of the worlds great specialist nurseries for conifers, maples, and rhododendrons. J. R. P. van Hoey Smith is director of the Trompenburg Arboretum in Rotterdam and President of the International Dendrology Society. D. M. van Gelderen is an officer of the Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society and proprietor of Firma C. Esveld in Boskoop, The Netherlands, one of the worlds great specialist nurseries for conifers, maples, and rhododendrons. In 1994, he was awarded the Royal Horticultural Societys Gold Veitch Memorial Medal.

J. R. P. van Hoey Smith is director of the Trompenburg Arboretum in Rotterdam and President of the International Dendrology Society. An avid conifer collector, he travels extensively to photograph plants in their native habitats.

Customer Reviews

A unique collection of photographs of conifer cultivars
This book is primarily intended as a catalog of, and identification tool for, the great many conifer cultivars that have found their way into the horticultural trade. Secondarily it conveys information on the locales, classification, and other commercial values of the wild species from which the cultivars have been selected. The objectives are achieved mainly through the medium of color photos, black/white cone sketches, and informative picture captions. Basic information on genera, including numerous new "split-offs" from unnamed sources, occupy thirty pages of Volume 1. As a photographic catalog of more than 2,000 cultivars, many of them never before illustrated for the public, these volumes are incomparable. The photos, many of them close-ups, clearly show the cultivars' distinctive characteristics, mainly in garden and arboretum settings. This is the great strength of these volumes. As a general conifer reference, the work falls somewhat short of that peak. As is true of all cases where European authors have tried to embrace American trees in their grasp, an unfamiliarity with geography and the species has led to numerous small errors. Thus we learn (incorrectly) that Shasta fir grows on the West Coast, and noble fir in Yosemite. Monterey pine cones are labeled as Torrey pine. Sketches purported to be of Jeffrey, Korean (stone), and sugar pines are not. Etcetera. But these minor problems are more than compensated for by the wonderful habitat photos of rare things like Welwitschias near Walvis Bay, Dacrydiums in Fiji, wild-type Mediterranean cypresses in Turkey, and the new Wollemia pines of Australia. And among the 2,574 photos are two showing the root parasite Parasitaxus ustus on its New Caledonian host Falcatifolium taxoides, red foliage and all. For these reasons and others, this 2-volume set should be on every conifer enthusiast's bookshelf.

Conifers : The Illustrated Encyclopedia (Two Volume Set)
Two world authorities compiled this outstanding conifer book featuring 2347 excellent, sharp photos reproduced beautifully on high quality paper. Each picture was taken at the proper distance to show the tree's outstanding detail. Captions are a sentence or two with location often included. For detail use a good companion book such as the Manual of Cultivated Conifers by Krussmann. Imperative for landscapers and a joy for tree lovers -- a bargain at the cover price. A quality book clearly at the top of my list of favorites.

Nothing compares
I own and operate a nursery using both of these books as a primary resource when purchasing conifers from growers. When customers refer to these books at our library, they comment on how beautiful the many conifers are available. My only wish the book had w/b zone hardiness and growth habit. Buy it. ProGardens, Inc. East Amherst, New York.