CARYOPHYLLACEAE. 'PINK'. A large genus of mostly hardy perennial herbs prized for their rich, showy, often fragrant flowers. Favorites among old-fashioned flowers, they are easily grown, mostly tufted or mat-forming evergreens. Excellent in the border, pots, rock garden, and glasshouse. Some are good for cutting. They like warm, rich, well-drained soil. The species often self-sow. The annuals should be sown as early as possible, but the perennials may be sown anytime up to August for a good show of bloom the following season. Full sun or part shade. Shear after bloom, and never cover the tops with mulch; snow is the best protection. Likes lime, use limestone freely, but not very high-magnesia lime. Sow shallowly, the annuals sprout in 5 - 10 days, the perennials up to 3 weeks or so. Seed viable up to 5 - 10 years or more.
Alpine Dianthus seed like a brief chill, just a few days is enough to produce the best healthy seedlings.
—Dianthus amurensis. (c,h) DIAN-9. Packet: $2.50
'AMUR PINK'. Unusual lavender-blue fringed flowers borne over a long season. Hardy perennial to 10". Narrow leaves. Amur region of Siberia. Give good drainage. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Dianthus arenarius. (b,h) DIAN-13. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 99% Tested: 8/09, 5 grams: $8.00
White, fragrant, deeply fringed, inch-wide flowers on 3" stems in summer. Hardy perennial with grey-green foliage in 12 - 18" mounds. Eastern Europe to Finland & W. Asia. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
NEW—Dianthus barbatus Auricula-Eyed Mixed. (b,h) DIAN-17AX. Packet: $2.50
Mix of shades of red, pink, and white with red rings, and all with a large white eye. Hardy annual or biennial to 20". Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Dianthus barbatus nigrescens Sooty. (c,h) DIAN-17S. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 88% Tested: 10/09, Gram: $10.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
The darkest of all, with fragrant deep maroon, nearly black petals and scarlet throats, in dense clusters in summer. Upper foliage marked purple. Hardy perennial to 14". Zone 4. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Dianthus barbatus Single Mixed. (a!,h) DIAN-17X. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 99% Tested: 10/09, Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $15.00
'SWEET WILLIAMS'. A nice blend of white, crimson, salmon, violet and white, with dark-eyed and edged forms. Hardy annual or biennial to 20".
—Dianthus carthusianorum. (b,h) DIAN-28. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 80% Tested 8/09, 5 grams: $8.00, 10 grams: $12.00
'CLUSTERHEAD PINK'. Magenta flowers in clusters of up to 50 blooms, on upright stems to 2 - 3 1/2 feet. Hardy, wind-resistant perennial with narrow, grass-like leaves. Europe. Blooms continuously from June to frost. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks warm.
—Dianthus deltoides Arctic Fire. (b,h) DIAN-45AF. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $10.00
White flowers with a brilliant red eye and toothed petals, on 8" stems. Hardy mat- forming perennial with green turf-like foliage. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Dianthus deltoides Maiden Pink. (a,h) DIAN-45. Packet: $2.50
'MAIDEN PINK'. Clear pink 3/4" fragrant flowers with toothed petals and 8" stems. Mat-forming hardy perennial with light green turf-like foliage. Eurasia. "One of the prettiest border pinks."—Bailey.
—Dianthus deltoides Nelli. (a,g) DIAN-45N. Packet: $2.50
Dark red flowers with a blood-red eye, on 8" stems. Hardy mat-forming perennial with dark, turf-like foliage. Nice effect. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
NEW—Dianthus Freyni. (d,g) DIAN-48. Packet: $3.00 Click for photo »
Sweet scented 1" pink flowers on short stems in summer. Hardy perennial with grassy leaves forming a compact blue-green cushion to 3" tall and spreading to 2 feet across. Balkan Mountains. "Tough as nails."—Bertrand. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
NEW—Dianthus glacialis. (c,g) DIAN-54. Packet: $3.50
Large, almost stemless 3/4" red-pink flowers almost embedded in the foliage, and practically covering the plant in May and June. Forms dense cushions of grassy foliage about 1 1/2" high and 6" across. Alps. Best in gravelly, well-drained soil. Germinates in 1 - 36 months, so hold pots several years.
—Dianthus gratianipolitanus grandiflorus. (b,h) DIAN-59. Packet: $2.50
'CHEDDAR PINKS'. Very fragrant fringed flowers in showy shades of rose, in May & June. Mat-forming hardy perennial to 8", with cushiony mounds of blue-grey foliage. W. Europe. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks warm.
NEW—Dianthus japonicus. (50) DIAN-70. Packet: $3.00
Gram: $16.00
Rosy 1/2" flowers in dense clusters, July to October. Hardy perennial to 6 - 20", with thick leathery leaves 3" long and an inch wide. Seashores, Japan.
—Dianthus Knappii. (c,h) DIAN-72. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $20.00
Rich sulfur-yellow flowers in clusters above the downy, grey-green foliage. Hardy perennial to 16". W. Yugoslavia. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
NEW—Dianthus plumarius Single Mixed. (b,h) DIAN-99S. Packet: $2.50
'SINGLE COTTAGE PINKS'. The charming old-fashioned single-flowered form with very fragrant flowers in spring and summer. "A universal favorite."—L.H. Bailey. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks warm.
—Dianthus plumarius Spring Beauty. (b,h) DIAN-99B. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 84% Tested: 8/09, 5 grams: $12.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
'COTTAGE PINKS'. Large, double, spicily fragrant flowers in varied shades. Old fashioned hardy perennial to about 18", forming mats of blue-green grass-like foliage. Blooms June to October. Austria to Siberia. "Charming, almost legendary plant, cultivated for hundreds of years."—Sunset.
—Dianthus spiculifolius. (d,h) DIAN-120. Packet: $2.50
Fragrant, beautifully fringed 3/4" white flowers in May to August, with a red central ring. Hardy perennial to 6", forming dense green cushions. E. Europe. Zone 6. Lime-lover. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
NEW—Dianthus superbus. (1000) DIAN-125. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 99% Tested: 10/09, Oz: $7.50, 1/4 lb: $22.00
Stunning lilac to rosy purplish 1 1/2 - 2" wide highly fragrant flowers, the petals deeply fringed, in lax clusters to 1 - 3 feet tall. Hardy perennial. N. Eurasia. Wonderful and extremely hardy. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
DIASCIA (dee-AS-ee-a)
SCROPHULARIACEAE. South African annuals and perennials grown for their attractive, delicate, two-spurred flowers. Best in sunny sheltered spots.
—Diascia Barbarae Apricot Queen. (d,h) DIAS-6A. Packet: $3.00
Beautiful apricot-salmon 3/4" wide flowers in slender 6" spikes. Tender perennial to 10", with small, glossy, dark green leaves. S. Africa. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
"Things are not always what they seem."—Phaedrus.
DICTAMNUS (dik-TAM-nus)
RUTACEAE. 'DITTANY', 'BURNING BUSH', 'GAS PLANT'. An old garden favorite, grown for its showy flowers and the strongly lemon-scented foliage. Good cut flower. Makes bold upright clumps to 2 - 3 feet, with glossy foliage. Best in rich soil and full sun or part shade. Drought resistant. Dislikes transplanting. Sow in fall or give 3 months cold treatment for high germination. Plant 1" deep, as seed 'floats'. "Established plants will bloom in their third year from seed. By the fifth year they are heavy bloomers... Will live over 100 years, and is geared for tough conditions. It is rabbit and deer proof. Cut flowers last 2 weeks."—P. Pinnow. May cause rash in sensitive people.
The name comes from the peculiar property of giving a flash of light if a match is held under the flower cluster, near the stem, on hot, still summer evenings. Very long lived— "Instances are known in which it has outlived father, son and grandson in the same spot."—L. H. Bailey.
—Dictamnus albus var. rubra. (d,g) DICT-1R. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 92% Tested: 10/09, 1/4 Oz: $10.00, Oz: $30.00
'PINK BURNING BUSH'. Pink inch-wide flowers. A fine variety. Eurasia.
DIERAMA (di-er-AM-a)
IRIDACEAE. Several South African cormous herbs, grown in warm areas for their beautiful flowers. Similar to Sparaxis and Ixia.
—Dierama pulcherrimum. (e,h) DIER-19. Packet: $2.50
1/4 Oz: $10.00
Click for photo »
'FAIRY WANDS'. Dark purple bell-shaped 1 1/2" flowers in spikes, on arching stems to 5 - 8 feet tall. Stiff sword-shaped leaves. S. Africa. Germinates in 4 - 6 weeks warm.
NEW —Dierama pulcherrimum Queen of the Night. (25) DIER-19Q. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 84% Tested: 5/09, 5 grams: $10.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
A superior selection with deep purple nodding flowers in delicate arching sprays to 4 - 5 feet.
DIGITALIS (di-ji-TA-lis)
SCROPHULARIACEAE. Showy old-fashioned Eurasian biennials and perennials, grown for their attractive spikes of bell-like flowers. Attracts hummingbirds. Easily grown, self-sowing. Cut main spikes after flowering to prolong bloom. All germinate 2 - 3 weeks warm unless noted otherwise.
—Digitalis ferruginea. (=aurea) (b,h) DIG-5. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 68% Tested: 8/09, 1870/g, 5 grams: $6.00, 10 grams: $9.00
Click for photo »
'RUSTY FOXGLOVE'. Rusty-red, downy flowers in long dense spikes. A striking hardy biennial or perennial to 3 - 6 feet. S. Europe. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
NEW —Digitalis ferruginea Gigantea Gelber Herold. (b,h) DIG-5GH. Packet: $2.00
Exceptionally large pure yellow flowers from June to August. Hardy biennial or perennial to 5 feet. Zone 7. A very nice form. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
NEW —Digitalis grandiflora (=ambigua). (200) DIG-7. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 76% Tested: 10/09, Gram: $6.00
Click for photo »
'YELLOW FOXGLOVE'. Light yellow 2" flowers marked brown, in spikes. Hardy perennial or biennial to 3 feet. Eurasia. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
NEW —Digitalis laevigata. (100) DIG-9. Packet: $2.50
Yellow 1 1/4" flowers spotted & streaked bronze-purple, with a spotted & streaked white lip, in open spikes. Hardy perennial to 2 1/2 feet, with narrow leaves. Southern Europe. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks.
—Digitalis lutea. (a,h) DIG-11. Packet: $2.00
5 grams: $10.00
Click for photo »
'STRAW FOXGLOVE'. Yellow to white inch-long bells in spikes to 2 - 3 feet tall, summer and fall. Hardy perennial with dark green leaves. Europe & N. Africa. Zone 4. "A noteworthy, graceful, long-lived, lime-loving species."—Jelitto & Schacht.
—Digitalis X mertonensis. (b,h) DIG-16. Packet: $3.00
Germination: 88% Tested: 8/09, Gram: $12.00
Very large crushed-strawberry colored 2" flowers in May and June. Showy hardy perennial to 2 - 3 feet, with glossy dark green leaves. Europe. A stable hybrid from D. grandiflora X purpurea.
—Digitalis obscura. (b,g) DIG-18. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
'WILLOW-LEAVED FOXGLOVE'. Yellow, red-veined or orange-red flowers. Slightly woody perennial to 2 feet, with narrow, willow-like foliage. Spain. Dry, well-drained areas. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Digitalis purpurea alba. (a!,h) DIG-1A. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
Click for photo »
Pure white flowers. An excellent variety.
—Digitalis purpurea Apricot Beauty. (a!,h) DIG-1AB. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 72% Tested: 8/09, 5 grams: $7.50, 10 grams: $12.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
Unique apricot-pink-orange flowers in long spikes. To 4 feet. Good for cutting. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Digitalis purpurea Excelsior. (a!,h) DIG-1E. Packet: $2.50 OUT OF STOCK
Germination: 96% Tested: 8/09, Oz: $7.50, 1/4 lb: $22.50 OUT OF STOCK
Outward facing flowers all around the stem makes for a nice display of the inner markings. Various shades of purple, pink, carmine, creamy, etc. Long spikes.
NEW—Digitalis purpurea Foxy. (a!,h) DIG-1F. Packet: $2.50
The first annual foxglove developed, a Silver Medal winner in the 1966 A. A. trials. Blooms in just 5 months from seed, with large, spotted, red, rose, white or yellow flowers in dense spikes. Start early for June bloom at 18" tall, reaching 3 feet.
—Digitalis purpurea ssp. Heywoodii. (a!,h) DIG-1H. Packet: $3.00
'SILVER FOX', 'PINK CHAMPAGNE'. Creamy white flowers flushed pink, in May to July. Foliage covered with silvery down. Hardy biennial to 30". South Portugal. Zone 7. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Digitalis purpurea Pam's Choice. (a!,h) DIG-1P. Packet: $3.00
Creamy white flowers with deep burgundy throats in June to August. Hardy biennial to 4 feet. Zone 5.
—Digitalis purpurea The Shirley. (a!,h) DIG-1S. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 96% Tested: 7/09, 10 grams: $8.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
One of the finest, a giant variety to 5 feet, sometimes towering to 9 feet, with long, dense spikes of richly spotted and blotched flowers in rich shades. Developed by Rev. Wilkes, the Shirley poppy man.
—Digitalis purpurea Snow Thimble. (a!,g) DIG-1ST. Packet: $2.50
A stunning foxglove with spikes of large pure white, unspotted flowers, May to July. To 3 feet. Good for cutting.
—Digitalis purpurea Wild Type. (a!,h) DIG-1. Packet: $2.50 OUT OF STOCK
5 grams: $8.00 OUT OF STOCK
'COMMON FOXGLOVE'. Purple, mottled 3" tubular flowers in one-sided spikes to 2 feet long. Spectacular hardy biennial to 4 - 7 feet, with a large basal rosette of downy, foot-long leaves the first year. Europe, naturalized in North America. Good in moist shady places. Used medicinally as a cardiac tonic & stimulant. Bees like it. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
NEW—Digitalis trojana. (200) DIG-36. Packet: $2.50
'HELEN of TROY'. Yellow to amber-brown flowers with white lip and brown and gold-netted throat. Dark green narrow leaves. Biennial to 3 feet. Turkey.
—Digitalis viridiflora. (b,h) DIG-28. Packet: $2.50
Greenish yellow inch-long flowers in dense spikes. June to August. Hardy perennial to 2 - 4 feet. Balkans. Moist soil. Sow in fall. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
"Sometimes, there are no answers."—J.L.H.
DIOSCOREA: See PERISHABLE ITEMS
DIOSPYROS (dee-os-PEE-ros)
EBENACEAE. A large and wide-ranging genus of trees and shrubs, grown for ornament, fruit, timber.
NEW —Diospyros cathayensis. (5) DIOS-12. Packet: $3.00
'WU SHI'. Yellow 1" fruits in August to October, with attractive large calyx. Evergreen tree to 30 feet, with 4" shining dark green leaves. S.E. China. Germinates in 4 - 8 weeks warm.
—Diospyros Lotus. (d,h) DIOS-48. Packet: $2.50 OUT OF STOCK
Oz: $8.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK
'DATE PLUM'. Small round cherry-sized yellow fruits turn blue-black when ripe. Eaten fresh, dried, or bletted like medlars. When dried they taste a bit like dates. Handsome deciduous tree to 25 - 40 feet, with 5" leaves. Asia. Zone 5. Germinates in 1 - 3 months with no prechill needed.
—Diospyros texana. (5,h) DIOS-120. Packet: $3.00
'CHAPOTE', 'BLACK PERSIMMON'. Creamy white urn-shaped flowers in clusters followed by round edible black 1/2 - 1" fruits. Tree to 50 feet, with heavy black heartwood. S. Texas and northern México, growing in moist soil, canyons, and dry rocky mesas. The black cherry-like fruit has been described as 'melting and very sweet'. An excellent food tree for arid regions. Germinates in 1 - 2 months warm.
DISPORUM (di-SPOR-um)
LILIACEAE. Ornamental woodland perennials of N. America and E. Asia. Valued in the wild garden for their attractive foliage in part shade. Some of the Asian species are eaten.
NEW —Disporum smithii. DISP-22. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $10.00
'FAIRY LANTERN'. Whitish inch long drooping bells in clusters of 1 - 5 at the branch tips, followed by golden yellow berries. Attractive foliage. Perennial to 1 - 3 feet. Moist coastal Pacific woods.
DODECATHEON (do-DEK-a-THEE-on)
PRIMULACEAE. 'SHOOTING STARS'. Beautiful N. American & Siberian perennials with attractive flowers. Grown in well drained soil in the wild or rock garden. Name means 'twelve gods'. It is said that the 30 species may all be a single, variable species. Most germinate readily after 6 - 8 weeks cold treatment, some without cold. Seed half-life 6 years.
—Dodecatheon Meadia Deluxe Mix. (b,g) DODE-17D. Packet: $2.50
'SHOOTING STARS'. Beautiful small nodding flowers in clusters, in shades of white, pink, red, and lilac, May to June, on stems to 16". Hardy perennial woodland plant. N. America. Prechill seed.
DOLICHOS (DOLL-i-kos)
LEGUMINOSAE. Fast growing tropical annual and perennial twiners with attractive Wisteria-like flowers and pods. Blooms freely from July to October. Grown for food, forage, ornament, and analytical work. Likes warm, rich, moist soil. In the greenhouse, they can be flowered three to an 8" pot. Soak seed till swollen, hot water may help. Sow indoors in pots in March to germinate in about 1 - 3 weeks. Plant out in warm weather. Seed viable 4 - 10 years.
—Dolichos Lablab. (e,h) DOLC-4. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 85% Tested: 3/10, Oz: $9.00, 1/4 lb: $27.00
'HYACINTH BEAN'. Showy large purple Wisteria-like 3/4" flowers in upright 6" spikes, followed by 2 1/2 - 5" pods filled with dark seeds. Large broad leaves. Tender perennial to 10 - 20 feet, grown as an annual in the U.S. Eagerly grazed by cattle, sheep, pigs & goats, excellent green manure and erosion control. Adapted to 8 - 100" precipitation, many soil types, and is nitrogen fixing. The ripe seeds contain 20 - 28% protein, and are boiled for food (the water discarded), or sprouted like mung. Young green seeds eaten cooked, and immature pods are an excellent table vegetable. Young leaves cooked like spinach, and the flowers are eaten raw, steamed, or added to soups. The large, starchy root is said to be edible. Soak, nick unswollen, to germinate in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Dolichos Lablab Antaque Rouge. (e,h) DOLC-4R. Packet: $3.00
A rare variety from the Mascarene Islands in the Indian Ocean. Purple flowers and pods. Choice! Soak, nick unswollen ones, to germinate in 1 - 3 weeks.
DORONICUM (do-RO-ni-kum)
COMPOSITAE. 'LEOPARD'S BANE' Hardy perennials grown for their bright yellow, daisy-like flowers held above mounds of heart-shaped leaves. Good in the border and rock garden, valued for their early spring bloom. Best in sun or part shade and average rich soil. Sow from February to late summer, best on the surface for light, to germinate in 2 - 3 weeks. Space a foot apart. Good cut flowers.
—Doronicum caucasicum magnificum. (b,h) DORO-2M. Packet: $2.50
'LEOPARD'S BANE'. Large yellow daisies in early spring. Hardy perennial to 20", with heart shaped leaves. East Mediterranean. A good perennial for under trees. Good, long-stemmed cut flowers.
DRACAENA (dra-SEE-na or dra-KAY-na)
AGAVACEAE. Tropical, mostly African Yucca-like trees and shrubs. Good in California.
—Dracaena Draco. (e,g) DRAC-16. Packet: $2.50 OUT OF STOCK
Germination: 60% Tested: 9/09, 100 seed: $8.00 OUT OF STOCK
'DRAGON -TREE', 'DRAGON'S-BLOOD TREE'. Narrow sword-like 2 foot grey-green leaves in large round heads. Slow-growing tree to 70 feet, with a broad crown and clusters of flowers followed by red berries. Thick trunk. Canary Islands. Reaches great age. Endangered in habitat, but cultivated and naturalized elsewhere—preservation through dissemination. Germinates in 1 - 2 months.
DUDLEYA (DUD-lee-a)
CRASSULACEAE. Rosette-forming succulents from SW North America. Good in mild dry climates.
—Dudleya pulverulenta ssp. pulverulenta. (a,g) DUDL-34P. Packet: $2.50
'CHALK LETTUCE'. Powdery white succulent leaves in large rosettes to 2 feet across. Nodding red 3/4" flowers in large clusters on stems to 5 feet tall. S. California to Baja. Stands some frost and needs no summer water. Easy from seed, germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.