PlantAmerica – The Growers Network

Four years ago, Michael A. Dirr came out with his landmark Photo Library of Woody Landscape. Since its release it has been used extensively as a tool for teaching and for identifying plants. Last week, Dirr released The Interactive Manual of Woody Landscape Plants. This new version includes descriptions of 9,470 plant species and cultivars, more than 1,100 line drawings, and more than 2,100 high quality photographs of trees, shrubs, vines, and groundcovers.

This represents added value over the original edition (which is still a highly useful product) as it has greater search capabilities and loads of information from one of the most respected plantsmen in America. Approximately 1,225 printed pages of text and line drawings cover the history and uses of the plants and provide useful information on experiences with plants in different parts of North America. A powerful search engine allows you to find the perfect plant for your landscape requirements. Help files include a glossary, a hardiness zone map, a section on plant nomenclature and classification, and diagrams to clarify terms used to identify plant shapes.

Seventy-two search criteria can be utilized to delineate plants that will mesh with your design and garden expectations. The Interactive Guide is a powerful resource that distills almost 10,000 woody plants to a highly usable format. Amateur gardeners, landscape architects and designers, garden centers, nursery and landscape management professionals, and students will find the Interactive Guide will quickly become their most powerful woody plant resource.