Trees of Eastern North America - (Princeton Field Guides) by Gil Nelson & Christopher J Earle & Richard Spellenberg (Paperback)

About the Book

Covers 825 species, including all the native and naturalized trees of the United States and Canada as far west as the Great Plains. Descriptions present details of size, shape, growth habit, bark, leaves, flowers, fruit, flowering and fruiting times, habitat, and range maps for native species, as well as specially commissioned artwork, up-to-date taxonomy and names, information on the most recently naturalized species, keys to leaves and twigs, and an introduction to tree identification, forest ecology, and plant classification and structure.

Book Synopsis

The most comprehensive and user-friendly field guide to the trees of eastern North America

Covering 825 species, more than any comparable field guide, Trees of Eastern North America is the most comprehensive, best illustrated, and easiest-to-use book of its kind. Presenting all the native and naturalized trees of the eastern United States and Canada as far west as the Great Plains--including those species found only in tropical and subtropical Florida and northernmost Canada--the book features superior descriptions; thousands of meticulous color paintings by David More that illustrate important visual details; range maps that provide a thumbnail view of distribution for each native species; "Quick ID" summaries; a user-friendly layout; scientific and common names; the latest taxonomy; information on the most recently naturalized species; keys to leaves and twigs; and an introduction to tree identification, forest ecology, and plant classification and structure. The easy-to-read descriptions present details of size, shape, growth habit, bark, leaves, flowers, fruit, flowering and fruiting times, habitat, and range. Using a broad definition of a tree, the book covers many small, overlooked species normally thought of as shrubs. With its unmatched combination of breadth and depth, this is an essential guide for every tree lover.

• The most comprehensive, best illustrated, and easiest-to-use field guide to the trees of eastern North America
• Covers 825 species, more than any comparable guide, including all the native and naturalized trees of the United States and Canada as far west as the Great Plains
• Features specially commissioned artwork, detailed descriptions, range maps for native species, up-to-date taxonomy and names, and much, much more
• An essential guide for every tree lover

From the Back Cover

"This is a very well-organized, well-written, and thorough guide. The illustrations--lovely paintings by a talented artist--are beautiful and very appealing, and the introductory material is extremely informative. And I really like the format for the entries: names, Quick ID, habitat range, notes, map, illustration."--William T. Maple, Bard College

Review Quotes

"[I]f someone gave you these two companion books, the Princeton Field Guides' Trees of Eastern North America and Trees of Western North America, you would perform an internal cartwheel of glee over adding to your flourishing tree ID book collection. The cartwheeling would significantly increase once you then began to use these books and grasped their simple, informative layout. . . . This will be the one tree ID book that really does not sit on your shelves as much as it rides around from jobsite to jobsite with you, ready to serve."---Tchukki Andersen, Tree Care Industry

"A great book. . . . Similar to a bird guide, trees are broken down by families with detailed descriptions of each. Habitat and ranges are listed for each as well as great illustrations of the tree, its bark, leaves and fruit."---David Lewis, Birds from Behind

"Astonishing. . . . The illustrations in the Princeton tree volume are superb: colorful, accurate, and appealing."---Ed Kanze, Adirondack Explorer

"Covering more species (630 in the West, 825 in the East) than any comparable field guides, Trees of Western North America and Trees of Eastern North America are the most comprehensive, best illustrated, and easiest-to-use books of their kind. The book features thousands of meticulous color paintings by David More and easy-to-read descriptions present details of size, shape, growth habit, bark, leaves, flowers, fruit, habitat, and range. With an unmatched combination of breadth and depth, these are essential guides for every tree lover."---James A. Baggett, Better Homes and Gardens

"Each volume on its own would serve you well in getting to know the trees around you better. Both together certainly provide a more complete understanding of the diversity of North American trees. I already treasure my two-volume set and expect to wear it out quickly."---Guy Sternberg, American Gardener

"Even if you don't love trees, you'll love these books."---Devorah Bennu, GrrlScientist

"Everyone who ventures into the outdoors should have a copy in their backpack."---Frank Sousa, MassLive

"Excellent additions to any botanical library."---Steve Whysall, Vancouver Sun

"For anyone interested in tree-like plants in the West, the Trees of Western North America is it, . . . proclaiming itself to be the most comprehensive, best illustrated, and easiest-to-use book of its kind. . . . Overall, this book makes the grade 'A' in nearly every aspect of presentation; it is tremendously useful, navigable, readable, highly accurate and immensely informative."---George M. Ferguson, Arizona Native Plant Society

"Help! I need a good tree book . . . and again Princeton has come to my rescue. This newest book on the trees of eastern North America is a life-saver. Covering 825 species of trees, it is by far the most inclusive of all guides on the market today. . . . Wish I had found this great book sooner!"-- "North Durham Nature Newsletter"

"Highly recommended for botany reference shelves!"---James A. Cox, Midwest Book Review

"The book is attractively designed, and each species description provides scientific and common names; a handy 'Quick ID' sentence; detailed, terse physical description; sections titled 'Habitat/Range' and 'Similar Species'; and a range map. . . . [An] excellent reference."-- "Choice"

"These new references offer up-to-date information as well as a treasure trove of specially commissioned drawings showcasing trees both in their majestic entirety as well as in stunning, separate close-ups detailing their bark, leaves, flowers, and fruit. Such comprehensive works are impressive scholarly achievements, providing lay users with helpful assistance via 'Quick ID' summaries and range maps within entries. These are lush botanical resources from an esteemed source guaranteed to please all audiences."---Judy Quinn, Library Journal

"These two volumes contain so much information; I would be happy to add them to my reference library. . . . The combined effort of the three authors and the illustrator has produced an excellent reference."---Beverly Duncan, Botanical Artist

"These volumes are masterfully designed, and More's exquisitely detailed renderings will ensure that weekend botanists never mistake their Hercules' club for a common hoptree."---Bill Cannon, Scientist's Bookshelf

"This is a must have tree guide for naturalists, environmental educators, foresters, and individuals who want to learn more about the trees in our region."---DRK, Wildlife Activist

"Whether you're faced with a saguaro or a sequoia, a hawthorn or a hemlock, this easy guide will surely get you to the birch in time."---Matthew Bettelheim, (bio)accumulation blog

"Winner of the 2015 PROSE Award in Outstanding Work by a Trade Publisher, Association of American"

"With the publication of Trees of Western North America and its companion volume, Trees of Eastern North America, we have a reference set that will serve us well for generations."-- "Acorn"

"Without a doubt, this is a book that should be on the library shelf of every person interested in Georgia trees. Even better, it should be in all of our packs, right next to the hiking stick, ready to go!"---Hal Massie, BotSoc News

About the Author

Gil Nelson is a botanist and the coauthor of the National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America and the National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Southeastern States. Christopher J. Earle is an ecologist whose specialties include forest ecology and conifer biology. Richard Spellenberg, a botanist and specialist in plant taxonomy, is the author of the National Audubon Society Field Guide to Wildflowers, Western Region. David More is regarded as one of the finest botanical illustrators in the world. He has illustrated a number of tree guides, including the acclaimed Collins Tree Guide and The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Trees (Princeton).