This is among the first books published by Timber Press, and after more than two decades it continues to be one of our signature bestsellers. A comprehensive source of information on the culture, identification, and nomenclature of Japanese maples, it describes each of the 320 cultivars of Acer palmatum and 60 cultivars of other Japanese maple species, plus briefly mentions 150 promising new plants. The index lists every horticultural name published, ensuring that Japanese Maples will continue to be the foremost reference book on this wonderfully versatile collection of ornamental plants.
This fully updated third edition has been revised by Peter Gregory and is even more international than its predecessors. It adds approximately 100 important new maple hybrids and selections that have been introduced since the last revision by Vertrees in 1987, bringing to nearly 400 the total number of plants described. Nomenclature has been updated to conform to current standards, many additional photographs have been included, and descriptions have been rearranged for greater ease of reference. |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 23 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
115 of 122 found the following review helpful:
 Third Edition.? . . . buy the Second EditionJun 24, 2001
By Roff Arden
Japanese Maples (Third Edition) does contain more pages, more words, and larger type. Unfortunately, the revision author, English writer Peter Gregory, lets his biases and ego show. Instead of improving on Vertrees' work, he has rewritten large portions of the text, removing some of the data and substituting sloppy verbiage and English gardening jargon. Example: the removal of 'samara' replacing it with 'nutlet.' Why? It serves no purpose and 'samara' is the correct term, which Mr. Vertrees explained in his original work. Substituting an alphabetical listing of all Acer Palmatums for the groupings that Vertrees used makes it more difficult to find an appropriate maple for any given garden situation because you have to know the name--and who knows the names of more than 400 plants and what they look like? Many of the new cultivars that have been added are not accompanied by photos, including some of the plants Mr. Gregory describes as being oldest and most well-known. In the Growing Section, Mr. Gregory states that containerized maples require only average care. Yet further on in that section, he states that one should not leave containerized plants unattended for periods of time (such as vacations!). That doesn't sound like average care. In my opinion, this is some of the sloppiest work I have seen in years. Since I have owned and relied on a valued Second Edition for the past 14 years, I am returning this book.
48 of 52 found the following review helpful:
 This is an outstanding guide to Japanese Maples!May 02, 1999
Few books come close to this one in terms of pure useful information. If you have little experience growing Japanese Maples, this book is easy to read and understand. For the hobby arborist, Vertrees' guide is full of listings of trees to put on your wish list. Think of this as the dictionary and encyclopedia of well known cultivars. Most people have only been exposed to a single common variety of Japanese maple at their local garden center. Vertrees' guide shows that there are many different kinds of maples being grown. Their beauty can be astounding, and this book clearly demonstrates that with detailed photographs.
22 of 24 found the following review helpful:
Great photos, but lacks specifics on fertilizers, pruning,May 17, 1998
By dianne@specialtytiles.com
This book has comprehensive photos and information about hundreds of different types of Japanese Maples but lacks specifics regarding fertilizers, soil properties and pruning which are apparently up to the gardener/propagator. Used by many professionals as a resource of many different trees. Excellent photos and technical descriptions.
14 of 16 found the following review helpful:
Everything you need to know about the cultivars.Mar 04, 1999
By brierley@mindspring.com
I am in the green indusrty and this book has always been the bible. I just have never owned one. But A. palmatums and their many cultivars are becoming more and more available even at the retail level. This book will identify any a. palmatum you will find at a local wholesale or retail nursery. Great photos and descriptions.
10 of 11 found the following review helpful:
A pleasure to read!Oct 07, 2002
By C. Wallis Davenport
"joyous2"
Filled with beautiful photos showing examples of hundreds of varieties of Japanese maples, this book is a treasure trove of information. This book features a plethura of information on care, maintenance, placement and characteristics of the many different Japanese maples available in an easy to understand format, that is also a pleasure to read. Vertrees manages to instill in the reader the same level of enthusiasm that he obviously fees for his subject, and, in fact, I can't wait until Spring to order some trees for my own garden!
See all 23 customer reviews on Amazon.com
|
based on 23 reviews
