Dr. Dirr books - is year important?

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beakerlj Galien, MI Nov 07, 2008

I'm checking out a couple of books from Dr. Dirr. I know there are different editions and years. How much does the info change from edition to edition? Does the very latest version have to be gotten to get most of the good info? I saw a $20 difference between versions from 1983 and 1996 (dates are aprox.).

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Weerobin Saint Louis, MO(Zone 6a) Nov 07, 2008

The basic tree / shrub info will not change much.
But the newer editions have lots of information about newer cultivars.
So it depends on what type of information you're looking for.

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ViburnumValley Scott County, KY(Zone 5b) Nov 07, 2008

Get the most recent edition (1998, Fifth Edition, brown cover with allée of Cercidiphyllum). You won't regret it.

There is quite a bit of difference in the info provided, as Dirr will include original comments (dating back to 1975) and update them with more and more current commentary.

I have three of these editions, starting with the Third Edition (1983, white cover) which I picked up in 1985. I am amazed at how much more was included in the Fourth Edition (1990, green cover with Aesculus parviflora). The Fifth Edition did not fail to impress either, when it came out.

Keep looking for used books, if price is an object. There should be zillions of these floating around available. If you live near a university that has a horticulture program, go to their bookstore at the end of a semester and get one that students have returned. Those are pretty reasonable, too.

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