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For Horticulturalists Only Full of beautiful pictures and containing much helpful information, one would think that this book is the perfect resource for home gardening enthusiasts and hydrangea lovers. However, the most important information for gardeners without a degree in horticulture is the USDA Hardiness zone. In my opinion, without this information, the book is useless. I had high hopes that this book would contain it all; I was sorely disappointed. Keep searching unless you just want to add one more hydrangea book to your collection. A Valuable Contribution Far too often the horticulture literature consumed by American gardeners is written from a European perspective. While useful, such accounts miss the idiosyncracies endemic to gardening in the United States. For example, Hydrangea macrophylla -- the star of this book -- displays grossly different tendencies depending upon growing climate. Dirr attempts and succeeds in turning the tide with this new book. Information is dispensed in an easy-to-read, organized format that has become one of Dirr's trademarks (along with his opinionated voice, which is apparent here, as well). The author's insights gleaned from many years spent growing and observing plant material across the continent is invaluable. Perhaps most satisfying, however, is the book's presentation of the current state of the genus Hydrangea. The new horticultural forms of H. quercifolia, H. arborescens and, especially, the Japanese imports of H. macrophylla and H. serrata are all addressed in detail. While it is unfortunate more attention could not be given to EVERY cultivar (a full paragraph would have been wonderful, but length limitations are understandable), tables are presented. It is my opinion that Schizophragma and Decumaria should have been addressed here, as well. Despite these minor flaws, anyone interested in this most ornamental group of small trees, shrubs and vines will benefit from this effort. See also:
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