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National Audubon Society Guide
National Audubon Society Trees of North America
Updated for the first time in decades, this unparalleled reference work is the most comprehensive and authoritative guide to the trees of North America and now includes the latest information on conservation status and the effects of climate change--from the creators of the world's most trusted field guides, a go-to source for millions of nature lovers
[Makes] it easier than ever to figure out which trees are in your yard or are along the trail while you're hiking. Every nature lover needs this guide. --Portland Book Review
This handsome volume is the result of a collaboration among leading scientists, scholars, taxonomic and field experts, photo editors, and designers. An indispensable reference, it covers more than 540 species, with nearly 2,500 full-color photographs--including images of the bark, fruit, and flowers, as well as photos that illustrate leaf shape and seasonal color changes.
For ease of use, the book includes a glossary, a robust index, and a ribbon marker, and is arranged according to the latest Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification system--with trees sorted by taxonomic orders and grouped by family, so that related species are presented together. Readers will appreciate the crisp detail of the photographs; range maps (reflecting the impact of climate change); physical descriptions; and information on fruit, habitat, uses, and similar species. The guide includes an important new category on conservation status and essays by leading scholars who provide holistic insights into the world of trees.
Whether putting a name to the towering conifers spotted along a hike or getting to know the trees that grow in the backyard, readers will come to rely on this work of remarkable breadth, depth, and elegance. It is a must-have reference for the library of any nature lover, and is poised to become the number one guide in the field.
[Makes] it easier than ever to figure out which trees are in your yard or are along the trail while you're hiking. Every nature lover needs this guide. --Portland Book Review
This handsome volume is the result of a collaboration among leading scientists, scholars, taxonomic and field experts, photo editors, and designers. An indispensable reference, it covers more than 540 species, with nearly 2,500 full-color photographs--including images of the bark, fruit, and flowers, as well as photos that illustrate leaf shape and seasonal color changes.
For ease of use, the book includes a glossary, a robust index, and a ribbon marker, and is arranged according to the latest Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification system--with trees sorted by taxonomic orders and grouped by family, so that related species are presented together. Readers will appreciate the crisp detail of the photographs; range maps (reflecting the impact of climate change); physical descriptions; and information on fruit, habitat, uses, and similar species. The guide includes an important new category on conservation status and essays by leading scholars who provide holistic insights into the world of trees.
Whether putting a name to the towering conifers spotted along a hike or getting to know the trees that grow in the backyard, readers will come to rely on this work of remarkable breadth, depth, and elegance. It is a must-have reference for the library of any nature lover, and is poised to become the number one guide in the field.
592 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2021
12 people are currently reading
6737 people want to read
About the author
National Audubon Society
481 books173 followersIncorporated in 1905, the National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that uses education and advocacy to advance its mission to conserve and restore natural habitats of birds and wildlife in the United States and across the Americas. Audubon also produces bestselling descriptive field guides on a wide variety of nature-related topics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
January 8, 2023
Did you know there are an estimated 3.04 trillion trees in the world...and that about 15 billion of them are cut down each year? How about that an acre of forest absorbs about six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen? National Audubon Society's Trees of North America is a must-have for any tree enthusiast, lover of nature, or anyone curious about the most essential co-habitants on this planet.
This comprehensive guide contains a wealth of information accompanied by 2,500 full-color photographs. The opening pages include information about trees and how to identify them (leaf shape, wood and bark, fruit and flowers). There is straightforward, concise information about conservation, the evolution of trees, defining forested ecosystems, and plant communication.
Then the best part, a complete, full-color guide to the trees in North America. Trees are organized by order, then family. For instance, the order Sapindales includes the torchwood, cashew, soapberry, citrus, quassia, and mahogany families. Each family is represented by tree; for each tree, you will find their common and scientific name, photos, a map that features growing region divided into dense population, light population and naturalized, and a description of the tree, including its flowers, fruit, habitat, range, uses, similar species and conservation status.
In addition to reading through this beautiful book page by page, it is also useful to identify what trees live in your region. I could also see bringing it along on any travel in North America, to see what trees grow in the place you're visiting. It also has a companion guide, The Birds of North America, that is equally beautiful and informative. This comprehensive guide is a beloved addition to my home library.
Thank you to the National Audubon Society, Alfred A. Knopf Publishers, and Goodreads Giveaways for a copy of this treasure!
This comprehensive guide contains a wealth of information accompanied by 2,500 full-color photographs. The opening pages include information about trees and how to identify them (leaf shape, wood and bark, fruit and flowers). There is straightforward, concise information about conservation, the evolution of trees, defining forested ecosystems, and plant communication.
Then the best part, a complete, full-color guide to the trees in North America. Trees are organized by order, then family. For instance, the order Sapindales includes the torchwood, cashew, soapberry, citrus, quassia, and mahogany families. Each family is represented by tree; for each tree, you will find their common and scientific name, photos, a map that features growing region divided into dense population, light population and naturalized, and a description of the tree, including its flowers, fruit, habitat, range, uses, similar species and conservation status.
In addition to reading through this beautiful book page by page, it is also useful to identify what trees live in your region. I could also see bringing it along on any travel in North America, to see what trees grow in the place you're visiting. It also has a companion guide, The Birds of North America, that is equally beautiful and informative. This comprehensive guide is a beloved addition to my home library.
Thank you to the National Audubon Society, Alfred A. Knopf Publishers, and Goodreads Giveaways for a copy of this treasure!
September 12, 2022
Great book, which I won through the Goodreads Giveaway Program. Thank you, Goodreads, and the publishers, too!
Now this is not a book which you necessarily sit down and read straight through, even if you are a tree-lover, which I am. So this is what I did...
I read up on all the trees which are on my properties and said to myself, got that one right, got that one right and oh, didn't know that was a damn hickory! Hah! Years ago, as a Biology major in college, I took a required course, Field Natural History, which was one of my favorites. We were in the field, identifying animals, plants, insects, you name it and learning about how they fit into their various habitats, niches, etc. Part of our final examination was the identification of some of the more common trees, plants, etc., in the area. We studied quaking bogs, pine forests, salt marshes, etc. What I remember most is learning all the names of trees - much of which I haven't forgotten.
And this book brought it all back! Plus reminded me of how to tell ashes from elms and black walnut trees from everything else. At any rate, this book is GREAT. Descriptions, photographs, environmental status of populations, range and habitat, and even mention of invasive species and their effect on various environments/habitats and so on. A great resource for the botanist, ecologist, naturalist or anyone else who's interested in trees and wants to know more than just: that's an oak and that's a maple.
Five stars.
Now this is not a book which you necessarily sit down and read straight through, even if you are a tree-lover, which I am. So this is what I did...
I read up on all the trees which are on my properties and said to myself, got that one right, got that one right and oh, didn't know that was a damn hickory! Hah! Years ago, as a Biology major in college, I took a required course, Field Natural History, which was one of my favorites. We were in the field, identifying animals, plants, insects, you name it and learning about how they fit into their various habitats, niches, etc. Part of our final examination was the identification of some of the more common trees, plants, etc., in the area. We studied quaking bogs, pine forests, salt marshes, etc. What I remember most is learning all the names of trees - much of which I haven't forgotten.
And this book brought it all back! Plus reminded me of how to tell ashes from elms and black walnut trees from everything else. At any rate, this book is GREAT. Descriptions, photographs, environmental status of populations, range and habitat, and even mention of invasive species and their effect on various environments/habitats and so on. A great resource for the botanist, ecologist, naturalist or anyone else who's interested in trees and wants to know more than just: that's an oak and that's a maple.
Five stars.
November 1, 2021
This reference book is intended to help readers identify trees in North America. With about 560 listings, Trees offers an amazingly consistent organization and structure. The book is richly illustrated, although sometimes the photographs are too small or ill defined to be of much use. I tried to identify the trees around my campus with almost no success using this book.
The book is organized by tree families, not regions. Subsequent breakdowns at the genus and species levels. Readers looking for trees native to their homes will be disappointed. Even a basic search for common varieties of trees may be located in different parts of the book. This book does not lend itself to browsing. I can only imagine this book on a coffee table with casual readers saying "I like that flower....," regardless if it is invasive or likely to thrive in their back yard.
I did learn some interesting information. A tiny section at the end of the book discusses the different tree families. Again, the descriptions are limited to one paragraph per family. It is fascinating to know that the Cashew Family includes cashews, mangoes, and poison ivy. From the Mulberry Family are neat species like mulberries, figs, and rubber. The uses listed for most species are on the whole informative. Although one contributor clearly had an interest in the Philippines because they are mentioned several times in the book, sometimes quite superficially "ie: may be used as a flotation device in the Philippines." Those few entries stand out from the herd.
The strength in this book is the organization. Every entry includes an introduction, and headings for the following: description, flowers, fruit, habitat, range, uses, similar species, conservation status, and sometimes caution for poisonous species. Each heading is no greater than a paragraph. Most entries include photographs of the tree's bark, shape, leaf, fruit, and sometimes flower. Most entries include a map showing the range of the species. Spoiler: Southern Florida and California include the most natural biodiversity in the country.
The problems begin with the photographs. They are too small. Consider all of the 1100 species in the Mulberry Tree Family, or just the 50 species in the Walnut Tree Family. The book illustrates only a tiny fraction of these species and they look remarkably similar. In another common problem, the pictures of fruits are closeups. That is not problematic. The problem is that when madly skimming the book looking at pictures of fruits, readers can easily miss that the fruits are often tiny, whereas the picture suggests they may be more noticeable.
My campus has a lot of biodiversity. We have a lot of live oaks. And we have a lot of other flowering trees. But I was driven mad not being able to find them in the book. Our ligustrum trees look like Fragrant Ash. I asked our groundskeeper if they are related. He said they were totally different trees. I asked him about another strand on campus. I guessed wrong. They are Japanese Yew Trees. None of the Yew trees listed in the book looked like these. Again, the groundskeeper said the leaf shape is what tells someone they are Yew Trees. Anyhow, neither the Ligustrum nor the Japanese Yew are listed in the book. I did find the Crape Myrtles and a few others. The groundskeeper said there are thousands of trees, there is no way to cover them all. OK.
Overall, I want to like this book; but it fails me on so many levels. The content is too brief. The photos are too small. The content is not extensive (there are 2,800 species in the Laurel Family alone). And I had a dreadful time identifying the trees in my own backyard, much less gain any ideas for what to add. I am disappointed.
The book is organized by tree families, not regions. Subsequent breakdowns at the genus and species levels. Readers looking for trees native to their homes will be disappointed. Even a basic search for common varieties of trees may be located in different parts of the book. This book does not lend itself to browsing. I can only imagine this book on a coffee table with casual readers saying "I like that flower....," regardless if it is invasive or likely to thrive in their back yard.
I did learn some interesting information. A tiny section at the end of the book discusses the different tree families. Again, the descriptions are limited to one paragraph per family. It is fascinating to know that the Cashew Family includes cashews, mangoes, and poison ivy. From the Mulberry Family are neat species like mulberries, figs, and rubber. The uses listed for most species are on the whole informative. Although one contributor clearly had an interest in the Philippines because they are mentioned several times in the book, sometimes quite superficially "ie: may be used as a flotation device in the Philippines." Those few entries stand out from the herd.
The strength in this book is the organization. Every entry includes an introduction, and headings for the following: description, flowers, fruit, habitat, range, uses, similar species, conservation status, and sometimes caution for poisonous species. Each heading is no greater than a paragraph. Most entries include photographs of the tree's bark, shape, leaf, fruit, and sometimes flower. Most entries include a map showing the range of the species. Spoiler: Southern Florida and California include the most natural biodiversity in the country.
The problems begin with the photographs. They are too small. Consider all of the 1100 species in the Mulberry Tree Family, or just the 50 species in the Walnut Tree Family. The book illustrates only a tiny fraction of these species and they look remarkably similar. In another common problem, the pictures of fruits are closeups. That is not problematic. The problem is that when madly skimming the book looking at pictures of fruits, readers can easily miss that the fruits are often tiny, whereas the picture suggests they may be more noticeable.
My campus has a lot of biodiversity. We have a lot of live oaks. And we have a lot of other flowering trees. But I was driven mad not being able to find them in the book. Our ligustrum trees look like Fragrant Ash. I asked our groundskeeper if they are related. He said they were totally different trees. I asked him about another strand on campus. I guessed wrong. They are Japanese Yew Trees. None of the Yew trees listed in the book looked like these. Again, the groundskeeper said the leaf shape is what tells someone they are Yew Trees. Anyhow, neither the Ligustrum nor the Japanese Yew are listed in the book. I did find the Crape Myrtles and a few others. The groundskeeper said there are thousands of trees, there is no way to cover them all. OK.
Overall, I want to like this book; but it fails me on so many levels. The content is too brief. The photos are too small. The content is not extensive (there are 2,800 species in the Laurel Family alone). And I had a dreadful time identifying the trees in my own backyard, much less gain any ideas for what to add. I am disappointed.
March 4, 2023
Tree guide books are always very hit and miss for me. They're never consistent in what they show (bark, seeds/flowers, leaves, etc) and they also vary in the amount and type of written info given.
While this book does, unfortunately, fall into the former category of being extremely inconsistent with images, it does provide excellent and consistent types and amounts of written info about the trees themselves. Rather than relying on scientific terminology only, it provides more laymen's terms to describe the trees. The maps provided are relatively small, but they provide the general range of the trees in terms of dense and sparse populations.
Some people have mentioned it's annoying that the trees are organized by family rather than by region, but family organization is pretty common for these types of books, regardless of the range they cover.
Overall, this still is not the tree book I've always wanted, but it's still very nicely organized and presented, with information that will compliment the other tree guide books I have. However, it still falls pretty low when it comes to visually identification via pictures, and also doesn't provide common alternative names or nicknames for trees either (e.g. I couldn't find the Tulip Tree at all, so ended up having to google it to find out that it's also called a tulip or yellow poplar, which then led me to finding it in this book).
Still, I can never say no to a nature guide book and this meets enough marks for me to be glad to have it as a reference! I would love to see what the bird guide in this series is like, because the format is over easily navigable and quite pretty!
I won a copy of this from a Goodreads giveaway.
While this book does, unfortunately, fall into the former category of being extremely inconsistent with images, it does provide excellent and consistent types and amounts of written info about the trees themselves. Rather than relying on scientific terminology only, it provides more laymen's terms to describe the trees. The maps provided are relatively small, but they provide the general range of the trees in terms of dense and sparse populations.
Some people have mentioned it's annoying that the trees are organized by family rather than by region, but family organization is pretty common for these types of books, regardless of the range they cover.
Overall, this still is not the tree book I've always wanted, but it's still very nicely organized and presented, with information that will compliment the other tree guide books I have. However, it still falls pretty low when it comes to visually identification via pictures, and also doesn't provide common alternative names or nicknames for trees either (e.g. I couldn't find the Tulip Tree at all, so ended up having to google it to find out that it's also called a tulip or yellow poplar, which then led me to finding it in this book).
Still, I can never say no to a nature guide book and this meets enough marks for me to be glad to have it as a reference! I would love to see what the bird guide in this series is like, because the format is over easily navigable and quite pretty!
I won a copy of this from a Goodreads giveaway.
January 11, 2023
A beautiful and useful book. Sturdy enough to haul around, but better suited for a car or camper than a backpack, it's big! Each tree's descriptions are detailed and excellent, and a solid 95% of the photos are useful, while a few suffer from lower lighting and odd framing. A quibble.
I've been shopping for a good local tree guide for a while now, and this is as good as any I've seen. I intend to take it on my upcoming road trip through California and use it here in my office as a writing reference.
Thank you Goodreads Giveaways for the review copy.
I've been shopping for a good local tree guide for a while now, and this is as good as any I've seen. I intend to take it on my upcoming road trip through California and use it here in my office as a writing reference.
Thank you Goodreads Giveaways for the review copy.
August 21, 2023
very educational, i got 7th place!!
March 22, 2024
Liked the book, but the pictures are really small.
January 15, 2023
An absolutely stunning reference guide to identify the trees of North America!!! It's extremely detailed and easy to follow and understand!! I love all of the photographs, they are clear and are easy to compare to tree you're trying to identify/classify! If you are looking for a book to help you study trees, even more specifically trees found in the North American region, then this is a wonderful book for one to look into.
It identifies the following for each tree individually: conservation status, a description, similar species, height, range, fruit, similar species, habitat, and uses. All of the diagrams and maps are easy to follow and understand. The maps may be a little on the small side, and may require a magnifying glass 🔎 for those with difficulty reading the maps, but they are still detailed and easy to follow since they are color coded. The trees are divided into groups, and are color coded by what group they belong too --- a fun way to flip to section quick without opening book, you just look at the pages on the side and find the color for the group you are investigating.
The book itself also has a built in ribbon bookmark, which is really classy and helpful for finding your place quickly, without fear of loosing a bookmark on the go. The book itself is also a good size, neither too big nor too small. It is also not super heavy either, which is nice. It's not a full hardback book, but it's definitely more sturdy than your average paperback book. The pages are also a nice quality, and are glossy.
All in all, this is just an overview of my overall first impressions of the book itself at first glance, and from reading a few passages. I'm excited to read all of the passages someday, but so far I've only read the introduction and the first few trees, in the first group/section. Even so, I am very pleased with the book so far! I was lucky enough to win this book as part of a giveaway, and I couldn't be happier! This would be a wonderful present for any tree lover!!!
It identifies the following for each tree individually: conservation status, a description, similar species, height, range, fruit, similar species, habitat, and uses. All of the diagrams and maps are easy to follow and understand. The maps may be a little on the small side, and may require a magnifying glass 🔎 for those with difficulty reading the maps, but they are still detailed and easy to follow since they are color coded. The trees are divided into groups, and are color coded by what group they belong too --- a fun way to flip to section quick without opening book, you just look at the pages on the side and find the color for the group you are investigating.
The book itself also has a built in ribbon bookmark, which is really classy and helpful for finding your place quickly, without fear of loosing a bookmark on the go. The book itself is also a good size, neither too big nor too small. It is also not super heavy either, which is nice. It's not a full hardback book, but it's definitely more sturdy than your average paperback book. The pages are also a nice quality, and are glossy.
All in all, this is just an overview of my overall first impressions of the book itself at first glance, and from reading a few passages. I'm excited to read all of the passages someday, but so far I've only read the introduction and the first few trees, in the first group/section. Even so, I am very pleased with the book so far! I was lucky enough to win this book as part of a giveaway, and I couldn't be happier! This would be a wonderful present for any tree lover!!!
September 15, 2022
This is a nearly perfect book if you have an interest in trees and want to identify the ones around you. The first striking thing about the book is its binding. Not something normally thought of when I read most books, but you can just feel that this is meant to be carried around and part of the book folded back as you compare the information to what you're seeing in real life. They probably could have gone for a better paper stock, but then they wouldn't hit the acceptable price point they have.
Getting into the book itself, I really appreciated the Tree Biology Topics section. As far as I'm concerned, it could have been lengthier. I'm far from a dendrologist, but giving discussion of evolution and fossil history of trees as well as communication and regeneration a few more paragraphs each wouldn't hurt.
My only real criticism of the book is the organization of the tree identification section -- which, yes, takes up the bulk of the book. The section is divided by family, which makes perfect sense. Pines, cypress, palms, etc. So you're carrying this book around and you can quickly get to the right section based on broad characteristics just fine. But as you're trying to narrow in on what you're looking at in person, you're just going to be flipping through page after page to hopefully find a picture that matches because the trees are in alphabetical order by genus and species. I don't know if there's actually a better way to organize the book, though. And I'm sure they've been doing this for years. It just doesn't feel like it's efficient.
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway, FYI. It's more than worth the price tag, though. Assuming you're into trees.
Getting into the book itself, I really appreciated the Tree Biology Topics section. As far as I'm concerned, it could have been lengthier. I'm far from a dendrologist, but giving discussion of evolution and fossil history of trees as well as communication and regeneration a few more paragraphs each wouldn't hurt.
My only real criticism of the book is the organization of the tree identification section -- which, yes, takes up the bulk of the book. The section is divided by family, which makes perfect sense. Pines, cypress, palms, etc. So you're carrying this book around and you can quickly get to the right section based on broad characteristics just fine. But as you're trying to narrow in on what you're looking at in person, you're just going to be flipping through page after page to hopefully find a picture that matches because the trees are in alphabetical order by genus and species. I don't know if there's actually a better way to organize the book, though. And I'm sure they've been doing this for years. It just doesn't feel like it's efficient.
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway, FYI. It's more than worth the price tag, though. Assuming you're into trees.
September 10, 2022
I received this as a goodreads giveaway book.
Very informative book with a lot of beautiful pictures. I wish there would be more information for helping to identify different tree species. As others have said some pictures are small and many don't show enough to properly identify a tree. The book is more to flip through and read in a free moment, than to use as a research or reference book. Like a coffee table book.
I liked the brief descriptions in the back which went into more detail on some characteristics of a family of trees.
Also a bit more explanation on the format would be helpful. Some of the minimaps are not present, due to not growing I'm North America? Not sure, it isn't explained. Also those pages don't look complete since they are missing that map. The upper picture could have been wider, or provided two pictures, to fill the blank space. Also the map in my copy had a rendering issue on the Blue Spruce page.
Finally though the book is called Trees of North America, it is mostly trees of the US, Canada, and some limited coverage of northern Mexico. Maps don't cover regions outside of that though i always though of North America covering south down through Panama.
Very informative book with a lot of beautiful pictures. I wish there would be more information for helping to identify different tree species. As others have said some pictures are small and many don't show enough to properly identify a tree. The book is more to flip through and read in a free moment, than to use as a research or reference book. Like a coffee table book.
I liked the brief descriptions in the back which went into more detail on some characteristics of a family of trees.
Also a bit more explanation on the format would be helpful. Some of the minimaps are not present, due to not growing I'm North America? Not sure, it isn't explained. Also those pages don't look complete since they are missing that map. The upper picture could have been wider, or provided two pictures, to fill the blank space. Also the map in my copy had a rendering issue on the Blue Spruce page.
Finally though the book is called Trees of North America, it is mostly trees of the US, Canada, and some limited coverage of northern Mexico. Maps don't cover regions outside of that though i always though of North America covering south down through Panama.
January 27, 2023
Thanks Goodreads and publishers of National Audobon Society Trees of North America for my giveaway copy of this book. It is a fantastic resource book with beautiful photographs of the trees (including closeups of leaves, trunks, and other details). It is definitely not a cover to cover read but rather a book to be read in chunks. I have read about several of the trees in my region and have used it to identify some trees in my neighborhood.
Each page gives a general introduction, description, fruit description (and picture), habitat, range, uses, similar species, and conservation status of a particular tree. I especially like the conservation status because in this day and age, we should all be concerned about our planet. Each page also has a little map insert showing where the tree population is and how dense it is. This is especially helpful when researching your area.
I'm sure I will use this book as a resource on a regular basis. I highly recommend this book.
Each page gives a general introduction, description, fruit description (and picture), habitat, range, uses, similar species, and conservation status of a particular tree. I especially like the conservation status because in this day and age, we should all be concerned about our planet. Each page also has a little map insert showing where the tree population is and how dense it is. This is especially helpful when researching your area.
I'm sure I will use this book as a resource on a regular basis. I highly recommend this book.
January 28, 2023
This book is a collection of a great wealth of knowledge and resources - and it is so user-friendly that I think even younger ages could easily use this identification guide.
There is one tree per page, with each page covered with colored photos and identifying resources of the species, along with some general facts. Truly, if you are looking for a tree identification guide - you should pick this one.
My only question I asked my friend was why no photos or illustrations of tree bark would be included, and he kindly reminded me that not every part of the continent has winter where identification without leaves is necessary. That is perhaps best suited to a more narrowed vision of an identification book. And some species generally speaking can be id'd in winter - to reach a more specific conclusion sometimes you do need to see them in the growing season.
Thank you to Knopf Books who provided me a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
There is one tree per page, with each page covered with colored photos and identifying resources of the species, along with some general facts. Truly, if you are looking for a tree identification guide - you should pick this one.
My only question I asked my friend was why no photos or illustrations of tree bark would be included, and he kindly reminded me that not every part of the continent has winter where identification without leaves is necessary. That is perhaps best suited to a more narrowed vision of an identification book. And some species generally speaking can be id'd in winter - to reach a more specific conclusion sometimes you do need to see them in the growing season.
Thank you to Knopf Books who provided me a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
December 8, 2022
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway and am providing an honest review. I can’t say enough about this tree reference book - it’s beyond a guide but also not so massive that you wouldn’t want to take it from your home and into the field. I honestly can’t think of any additions I would make. The 3-4 photos that run along the bottom of each page of fruit, bark, and leaves are perfect, but I most appreciate the small color coded geographical map of dense/light tree population. It’s what I look at immediately when determining if I have identified the tree correctly (there are many trees that look alike yet grow in different regions.) All in all this book is beautifully printed and designed in a way that maximizes each page without over crowding it with unnecessary information.
January 11, 2023
I received this in a giveaway! Thank you!
It came in the mail yesterday. I took it out of the box , sat on the floor, and started flipping through it immediately! Who knew there were so many different kinds of pine trees? I came across some interesting tidbits about random trees, viewed some pretty pictures, and learned about a couple of trees I shouldn’t plant because they’re invasive. Obviously this isn’t a book to sit and read through cover to cover, but it’s the kind of book that’s great to pick up, take a break, and find out some interesting facts. I don’t live in a part of the country with lots of trees, so using it as a tool to identify trees probably won’t be high on my list of uses, but it will certainly be useful for getting my tree fix! I’m so happy to have it! It’s great!
It came in the mail yesterday. I took it out of the box , sat on the floor, and started flipping through it immediately! Who knew there were so many different kinds of pine trees? I came across some interesting tidbits about random trees, viewed some pretty pictures, and learned about a couple of trees I shouldn’t plant because they’re invasive. Obviously this isn’t a book to sit and read through cover to cover, but it’s the kind of book that’s great to pick up, take a break, and find out some interesting facts. I don’t live in a part of the country with lots of trees, so using it as a tool to identify trees probably won’t be high on my list of uses, but it will certainly be useful for getting my tree fix! I’m so happy to have it! It’s great!
September 25, 2022
This is an awesome book! It is filled with color photographs of hundreds of North American trees. Each page has a map of where the trees are found, a short description of each tree, the fruit produced, their habitat, uses, range, similar species, and conservation status. My wife and I are surrounded by trees that we know nothing about, but this book makes it easy to identify and learn about them in a way that is not overwhelming. It is very user friendly and the writers should be commended for a fun, informative, easy to navigate book that the whole family can enjoy. I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.
October 12, 2022
I received this book from Goodreads Giveaway contest on Oct. 10th. It is obvious that I can't read this book cover to cover to be able to review this book fairly. In fact, it's not necessary as the books' quality and value is so apparent. Anyone who is studying botany or more focused on trees would be proud to add this book to their personal library. If you have young children this book would be invaluable to aid them if they are interested in the sciences. The book is organized so each entry is uniform with very nice graphics and descriptions to identify each entry. I will defiantly be sharing this with my grandkids.
December 12, 2022
***4.0 Stars***
Overall,
I live in a pretty heavily wooded area of Virginia and every time I walk my dog I am always curious about which trees I am walking by. I can easily tell the difference between deciduous and coniferous thanks to biology class, but really understanding my environment around me has always been interesting. This book has great pictures and is easy to read and find what you are looking for. I recommend it to anyone who has any interest in identifying the trees they live around.
I received a copy of this book from a goodreads giveaway in exchange for a free and honest review.
Overall,
I live in a pretty heavily wooded area of Virginia and every time I walk my dog I am always curious about which trees I am walking by. I can easily tell the difference between deciduous and coniferous thanks to biology class, but really understanding my environment around me has always been interesting. This book has great pictures and is easy to read and find what you are looking for. I recommend it to anyone who has any interest in identifying the trees they live around.
I received a copy of this book from a goodreads giveaway in exchange for a free and honest review.
December 12, 2022
**Goodreads giveaway recipient**
This would have been a great resource last year when we were looking to replace two dying trees on our lot. *sigh* Alas…
BUT!!
Good photos and descriptions of a huge variety of trees (I can’t claim whether or not it covers every single kind in North America, but I know it covers a couple hundred!).
Fascinating info about each species and lots about trees and conservation in general.
I looked up some of my favorite trees and found them easily—and learned a few things.
I think anyone who loves the outdoors will love this! I plan to share this with my folks.
This would have been a great resource last year when we were looking to replace two dying trees on our lot. *sigh* Alas…
BUT!!
Good photos and descriptions of a huge variety of trees (I can’t claim whether or not it covers every single kind in North America, but I know it covers a couple hundred!).
Fascinating info about each species and lots about trees and conservation in general.
I looked up some of my favorite trees and found them easily—and learned a few things.
I think anyone who loves the outdoors will love this! I plan to share this with my folks.
December 22, 2022
This was a GoodReads giveaway win of the published Paperback edition.
I am not really sure how to rate field guides. This is a quality publication. Can be carried with you on your explorations. It is a bit too large for your daypack. But all of the pages are glossy and can easily withstand handling out in the field. There are ample photos and descriptions of the most common trees and their native environment. It is also noted how some trees are adaptable to areas outside of their natural origin.
I am a novice in my tree searches, so I will be more of a fair weather hiker and look forward to the spring to fully test this book out.
Have a GoodReads.
I am not really sure how to rate field guides. This is a quality publication. Can be carried with you on your explorations. It is a bit too large for your daypack. But all of the pages are glossy and can easily withstand handling out in the field. There are ample photos and descriptions of the most common trees and their native environment. It is also noted how some trees are adaptable to areas outside of their natural origin.
I am a novice in my tree searches, so I will be more of a fair weather hiker and look forward to the spring to fully test this book out.
Have a GoodReads.
November 20, 2022
The National Audubon Society has produced a wonderful book with the Trees of North America. Given the sheer number of tree families and species within each family, choosing which trees to highlight within the books 591 pages must have been a monumental task. Rather than get stuck deciding, they did a commendable job in providing different species throughout different regions in the country. Of the 14 different trees I have in my own yard, only 5 are contained in this volume. The information provided on those covered is descriptive and insightful.
December 10, 2022
This is a wonderful reference book for North American trees. The organization, photos, descriptions are absolutely the best. There are full-color photos of critical differentiating features, often including roots, leaves, bark, seedlings, flowers, and fruit. I really prefer this edition over the pocket editions I've used in the past. The description and plates together is a much more enjoyable format than the plates being separate. The color coding organization by family really made it easy to use as a reference.
October 9, 2022
This book gave a great overview of trees in North America. It's a fantastic resource for someone like me who just moved to a new area in the US & has trees I'm unfamiliar with in my yard. It definitely provides a basic overview and is a good jumping off point for further research. I also appreciated that it contained close-up pictures of the leaves, fruits, and flowers.
I won this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway.
I won this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway.
December 2, 2022
Attractive and comprehensive guide to North American trees with full color 579 pages. Tons of photos. Each page shows maps where the trees grow, leaf shape, bark patterns, flowers/fruit/cones and conservation status. Includes an introduction on identifying different species, glossary of terms and overview of the various tree families. Comes with an attractive attached ribbon bookmark. This is a nice reference and makes a good gift or coffee table book.
January 31, 2023
This is an encyclopedia of a book, large and heavy, so not much good toting out into the field. The tree descriptions are brief, at one page per tree, so not an in depth source for any one kind of tree. But most of the major trees from our area appear to be listed, with the proper ranges marked, and identified as native, naturalized, or invasive. Could be useful if you want to look up a lot of trees at once and aren't looking for native trees to a particular area, like I usually am.
February 3, 2023
A wonderful comprehensive and definitive guide to Trees of North America. This is a full colored reference that is easy to read with beautiful and descriptive full color photos as well as regional maps. As someone who owns a landscaping company, this is a must have for every owner's reference shelf. Easy to read, and identification statistics as well as conservation status, habitat, and uses. The attention to detail is remarkable and well thought out to make this as easy to use as possible.
March 13, 2023
This obviously isn't the type of book you sit down & read all at once. It is, however, a lovely reference with beautiful photographs. The photos are a bit small in some instances and I'm not certain that it would be easy to search for a specific tree without already knowing the type. That said, it's a lovely book to browse through with quite a bit of info that should appeal to any outdoorsy person on your list.
November 8, 2022
I received this book free through Goodreads First Read.
A really nice book about the different types of trees in North America. I really liked the written description and all the different photos about the tree, leaves, flower, and fruits.
I was able to take the book out and identify different trees around my house based off of the photos and description given.
A really nice book about the different types of trees in North America. I really liked the written description and all the different photos about the tree, leaves, flower, and fruits.
I was able to take the book out and identify different trees around my house based off of the photos and description given.
January 12, 2023
This book is beautifully done and easy to use. I will be using this more times than I can count. My child in college was impressed also. We will probably have to share it until I buy her one of her own. A must-have for anyone who wants to know more about the trees in their backyard and beyond in North America.
April 4, 2023
Excellent book. Clear pictures, height and width estimates. Soil, light, and watering requirements… this book is a wonderful resource. It has definitely helped us to choose the best type of tree for our small yard. I highly recommend it for anyone looking tomidentify a tree, or to find the right tree for their needs.
November 17, 2024
its a good reference, it has a page for every type of tree but it doesnt have good descriptions of every tree family (oak, ash, etc). so i went through it and came out not really having learned much about the different types of trees. nor am i able to use this book to identify the trees even in my yard.
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