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 arenarius. (b,h) DIAN-13. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 66% Tested: 9/07, 5 grams: $6.75, 10 grams: $11.25
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.
—Dianthus barbatus Atrosanguineus. (a,h) DIAN-17A. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 78% Tested: 10/07, 10 grams: $5.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
'DUNNETI'S SWEET WILLIAM'. Crimson flowers, single. Hardy annual or biennial to 18".
—Dianthus barbatus Auricula-Eyed Mixed. (b,h) DIAN-17AX. Packet: $2.00
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: $2.00
Germination: 92% Tested: 12/07, Gram: $10.00
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.
NEW—Dianthus barbatus Single Mixed. (a!,h) DIAN-17X. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 72% Tested: 12/07, Oz: $4.00
'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: 96% Tested 10/07, 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.
NEW—Dianthus deltoides Arctic Fire. (b,h) DIAN-45AF. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 96% Tested 12/07, 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: $2.00
'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.
NEW—Dianthus deltoides Nelli. (a,g) DIAN-45N. Packet: $2.00
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: $2.50 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.
—Dianthus gratianipolitanus grandiflorus. (b,h) DIAN-59. Packet: $2.00
'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.
—Dianthus Knappii. (c,h) DIAN-72. Packet: $2.50
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 microlepis ssp. degenii. (c,g) DIAN-80D. Packet: $3.00
Extremely compact alpine cushion-forming species to about 1/2" high and 3 - 6" across, with small 1/2" bright red-pink flowers covering the plant. Mountains of Bulgaria. Choice! Seed dormant when fresh, aged seed germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Dianthus myrtinervius. (b,h) DIAN-84. Packet: $2.00
Bright pink-red to red-purple inch-wide flowers in May to July. Mat-forming hardy perennial with narrow leaves, to 3 - 6" tall. N. Greece. Zone 7.
—Dianthus plumarius Single Mixed. (b,h) DIAN-99S. Packet: $2.00
'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: $2.00 OUT OF STOCK
Germination: 84% Tested: 10/07, 5 grams: $12.00 OUT OF STOCK
'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: $2.00
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.
—Dianthus superbus. (a,h) DIAN-125. Packet: $2.50 OUT OF STOCK
Germination: 99% Tested: 10/07, 5 grams: $9.50 OUT OF STOCK
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.
NEW—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. Seed may be slow to germinate. Sow in fall for spring germination, or give 6 - 8 weeks cold then place in cool (50°F) temperatures for 6 - 8 weeks, then warm. 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
1/4 Oz: $10.00, Oz: $30.00
'PINK BURNING BUSH'. Pink inch-wide flowers. A fine variety. Eurasia.
—Dictamnus albus White. (d,f) DICT-1W. Packet: $2.00
'WHITE BURNING BUSH'. Beautiful white flowered form. Heavy bloom. Rarer than the pink, as it tends to have lower germination.
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: $2.00 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.
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 Click for photo »
Germination: 88% Tested: 10/07, 1870/g, 5 grams: $6.00, 10 grams: $9.00
'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.
—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.
—Digitalis lanata. (b,h) DIG-10. Packet: $2.00 OUT OF STOCK
Gram: $6.00 OUT OF STOCK
'GRECIAN FOXGLOVE'. Creamy yellow to greyish inch-long flowers in dense racemes in July and August. Hardy perennial or biennial to 3 feet. Greece and the Danube. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
—Digitalis lutea. (a,h) DIG-11. Packet: $2.00 Click for photo »
Germination: 99% Tested: 9/07, 5 grams: $6.00
'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: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
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: $2.00
Germination: 92% Tested: 12/07, Gram: $5.00
'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 Gloxinaeflora Varieties:
Excellent showy varieties of the Common Foxglove. More robust, with larger denser spikes with more open flowers in rich shades. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Digitalis purpurea alba. (a!,h) DIG-1A. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 80% Tested: 12/07, Gram: $5.00
Pure white flowers. An excellent variety.
NEW—Digitalis purpurea Apricot Beauty. (a!,h) DIG-1AB. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 88% Tested: 11/07, 5 grams: $6.00, 10 grams: $9.00 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: $2.00
Germination: 82% Tested: 10/07, Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $12.00
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.
—Digitalis purpurea Foxy. (a!,h) DIG-1F. Packet: $2.00
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: $2.50
'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: $2.50
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: $2.00
Germination: 99% Tested: 9/07, 10 grams: $6.00
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.
NEW—Digitalis purpurea Wild Type. (a!,h) DIG-1. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 92% Tested: 12/07, 5 grams: $6.00
'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.
"Sometimes, there are no answers." —J.L.H.
DIOSCOREA SEE PERISHABLE ITEMS
DIOSPYROS (DEE-o-SPEE-ros)
EBENACEAE. Attractive evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs grown for edible fruit and timber. Most tropical, some hardy to New England.
NEW—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.
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 biflorus. (b,h) DOLC-1. Packet: $1.00
Germination: 92% Tested: 10/07, 1/4 lb: $5.00, lb: $10.00
'TWIN FLOWER' or 'HORSE GRAM'. Yellow 1/2 - 3/4" sweet-pea-like flowers in pairs on a rambling, fast growing annual. Pods to 2" long, with flat brown seeds. India. Grown as a valued cattle fodder, green manure and erosion control in India, where the seeds are cooked for food and provide an edible oil and flour. The tuberous root was roasted and eaten by Australian Aborigines.
—Dolichos Lablab. (e,h) DOLC-4. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 83% Tested: 11/07, Oz: $9.00
'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.
NEW—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.
—Dolichos Lablab White. (e,h) DOLC-4W. Packet: $2.00
'WHITE HYACINTH BEAN'. White flowers and red-brown seeds. Climber to 10 feet. This is the true white-flowered vining form, not the white-seeded food form, and will bloom well in the U.S.
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.
DORYCNIUM (dor-EEK-nee-um)
LEGUMINOSAE. Mediterranean-region herbs and sub-shrubs grown for their attractive flowers.
—Dorycnium hirsutum. (e,h) DORYC-11. Packet: $3.00
'CANARY CLOVER'. White to pink flowers with red calyces, in 1 1/2"heads, July to September, followed by starry pod-clusters. Decorative shrubby plant to 16 - 20", with downy, silvery foliage. Mediterranean. Zone 8. Heat and drought resistant. Soak, nick hard, germinates in 1 - 2 weeks warm.
DRACOCEPHALUM (dray-ko-SEF-a-lum)
LABIATAE. Hardy herbs grown for their showy blue, purple or white flowers. Best in moist, partly shady places, but easy in the open border, where their compact grey-green bushes are covered with flowers in summer. Sow indoors as early as February, or outdoors in March or April, 1/8" deep, to germinate in 2 weeks. Plant out 6 - 12" apart. Blooms in 12 weeks, & flowers well in 6" pots. Seed half-life 3 years.
NEW—Dracocephalum argunense Fuji Blue. (e,v) DRPH-4B. Packet: $2.50
Bright blue inch-long flowers in spikes in June to August. Hardy perennial to 1 - 2 feet, with narrow, needle-like, dark green leaves. North Asia. Zone 4. Seed has variable dormancy, irregular, try a prechill and cool temps to germinate.
NEW—Dracocephalum argunense Fuji White. (e,g) DRPH-4W. Packet: $2.50
White inch-long flowers in spikes, June to August. Hardy perennial to 1 - 2 feet, with narrow, needle-like dark green leaves. North Asia. Zone 4. Germinates more quickly than the blue form, in 2 - 12 weeks.
—Dracocephalum Moldavica. (c,g) DRPH-14. Packet: $2.00
'MOLDAVIAN DRAGON'S HEAD'. Bright violet blue inch-long flowers in long, dense, leafy spikes in July and August. Hardy annual to 2 feet, with aromatic, balm-scented, grey-green foliage. Eurasia. The flowers are much-loved by bees, and the open 'mouth' of the dragon is complete with fangs. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.