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. All are Zone 3 unless noted otherwise.
Alpine Dianthus seed like a brief chill, just a few days is enough to produce the best healthy seedlings.
—Dianthus amurensis. (50) 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. Zone 3. Give good drainage. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Dianthus arenarius 'Little Maiden'. (75) DIAN-13N. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $10.00
Dwarf form to only 6" tall, with pure white fragrant deeply fringed inch-wide flowers in summer. Hardy perennial forming compact mounds of blue-green foliage. Zone 3. Choice! Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Dianthus barbatus nigrescens 'Sooty'. (50) DIAN-17S. Packet: $2.50
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.
—Dianthus carthusianorum. (100) DIAN-28. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $8.00, 10 grams: $12.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - packets are still available
'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. Zone 3. Blooms continuously from June to frost. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks warm.
Dianthus Caryophyllus Varieties:
'CARNATIONS', 'CLOVE PINKS'. Well known and easily grown perennial, fairly hardy with protection. Grown in greenhouses commercially, but many types are adapted to the border, and the following are among the hardiest and best. The petals have been eaten candied. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
NEW—Dianthus Caryophyllus Chabaud Mix'. (250) DIAN-30CH. Packet $2.50
1/4 Ounce: $7.50, Ounce: $14.00
The Chabaud strain of carnations originated over a century ago, and this strain is reselected for large, long-stemmed, fragrant, fully double fringed flowers in red, pink, purple, white, and yellow. To 18 - 24". tall. Zone 5.
—Dianthus deltoides 'Arctic Fire'. (100) DIAN-45AF. Packet: $2.50
White flowers with a brilliant red eye and toothed petals, on 8" stems. Hardy mat- forming perennial with green turf-like foliage. Zone 3. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Dianthus deltoides 'Maiden Pink'. (500) 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. Zone 3. "One of the prettiest border pinks."—Bailey.
—Dianthus gratianopolitanus grandiflorus. (100) DIAN-59. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $8.00
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'CHEDDAR PINKS'. Very fragrant fringed flowers in showy shades of rose, in May and June. Mat-forming hardy perennial to 8", with cushiony mounds of blue-grey foliage. W. Europe. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks warm.
—Dianthus Knappii. (50) 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.
—Dianthus plumarius 'Spring Beauty'. (100) DIAN-99B. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.00
'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. (25) 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.
—Dianthus superbus. (1000) DIAN-125. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $7.50, 1/4 Pound: $16.00
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.
—Dianthus superbus 'Rainbow Loveliness'. (300) DIAN-125R. Packet: $2.50
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Rare mixture with deeply fringed petals in shades of pink, white, and lavender with a green eye. Long lasting cut flowers. Developed by the famous carnation specialists, the Allwood brothers. Taller than superbus and blooms continuously till heavy frost. (D. superbus var. speciosus X D. Sweet Wivelsfield)
"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. (25) DICT-1R. Packet: $2.50
1/4 Ounce: $7.50, Ounce: $12.00, 1/4 Pound: $25.00, Pound: $90.00
'PINK BURNING BUSH'. Pink inch-wide flowers. A fine variety. Eurasia. Zone 3.
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 pucherrimum 'Dark Cerise'. (10) DIER-19D. Packet: $3.50
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'FAIRY WANDS'. Dark purple bell-shaped 1 1/2" flowers in spikes, on arching stems to 5 - 8 feet tall. Stiff sword-shaped leaves. South Africa. Zone 7. Germinates in 4 - 6 weeks warm.
—Dierama pulcherrimum 'Slieve Donard Hybrids'. (10) DIER-19S. Packet: $2.50
Nodding bell-shaped 1 1/2" flowers in shades of red, pink, purple, and lavender, held on long arching stems. Compact plants to 3 feet. South Africa. Zone 7.
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 are Zone 3 unless noted otherwise. All germinate 2 - 3 weeks warm unless noted otherwise.
—Digitalis ferruginea. (=Digitalis aurea) (100) DIG-5. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $20.00
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'RUSTY FOXGLOVE'. Rusty-red, downy flowers in long dense spikes. A striking hardy biennial or perennial to 3 - 6 feet. S. Europe. Zone 3. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
—Digitalis ferruginea 'Gigantea Gelber Herold'. (100) DIG-5GH. Packet: $2.50
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 grandiflora. (=ambigua) (200) DIG-7. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $6.00
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'YELLOW FOXGLOVE'. Light yellow 2" flowers marked brown, in spikes. Hardy perennial or biennial to 3 feet. Eurasia. Zone 3. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
—Digitalis lanata. (400) DIG-10. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
'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. (500) DIG-11. Packet: $2.50
Gram: 6.00
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'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 and N. Africa. Zone 4. "A noteworthy, graceful, long-lived, lime-loving species."—Jelitto and Schacht.
—Digitalis X mertonensis. (100) DIG-16. Packet: $3.00
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. Zone 3. A stable hybrid from D. grandiflora X purpurea.
—Digitalis obscura. (100) DIG-18. Packet: $2.50
'WILLOW-LEAVED FOXGLOVE'. Yellow, red-veined or orange-red flowers. Slightly woody perennial to 2 feet, with narrow, willow-like foliage. Spain. Zone 4. Dry, well-drained areas. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
—Digitalis purpurea alba. (1000) DIG-1A. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
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Pure white flowers with spots. An excellent variety.
—Digitalis purpurea 'Apricot Beauty'. (1000) DIG-1AB. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50, 5 grams: $20.00
Unique apricot-pink-orange flowers in long spikes. To 4 feet. Good for cutting. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Digitalis purpurea 'Foxy'. (1000) DIG-1F. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
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 'Pam's Choice'. (500) 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'. (1000) DIG-1S. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $9.00
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.
—Digitalis purpurea 'Snow Thimble'. (1000) 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. (1000) DIG-1. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $25.00
'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. Zone 4. Good in moist shady places. Used medicinally as a cardiac tonic and stimulant. Bees like it. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—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. Zone 6. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks warm.
"Sometimes, there are no answers."—J.L.H.
DIOSPYROS (dee-os-PEE-ros)
EBENACEAE. A large and wide-ranging genus of trees and shrubs, grown for ornament, fruit, timber.
—Diospyros Lotus. (25) DIOS-48. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $7.50, 1/4 Pound: $20.00
'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.
NEW—Diospyros virginiana. (10) DIOS-128. Packet: $2.50
'AMERICAN PERSIMMON'. Round yellow or orange 1 - 2" edible fruits. Deciduous tree to 40 - 100 feet, with dark green shiny 6" leaves that give good fall color. Connecticut to Texas. Zone 4. Ripe fruit eaten fresh or dried, made into molasses, beer, and bread, and seeds roasted for a coffee substitute.
DIPLOTAXIS (dip-lo-TAX-is)
CRUCIFERAE. Eurasian annuals and perennials.
—Diplotaxis tenuifolia. (=muralis) (500) DIPL-24. Packet: $2.50 EU ORGANIC
Gram: $7.50
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'WILD ARUGULA', 'SYLVETTA'. Yellow flowers on a hardy perennial to 12", with aromatic leaves. Mediterranean. Zone 5. Young leaves and flowers eaten raw in salads, or cooked in dishes for for flavoring. Heat-resistant, a good arugula substitute in warm climates. Organic.
DODECATHEON (do-DEK-a-THEE-on)
PRIMULACEAE. 'SHOOTING STARS'. Beautiful N. American and 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'. (100) 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. Zone 3. Prechill seed 8 weeks.
DODONAEA (do-do-NEE-a)
SAPINDACEAE. Widespread warm-region evergreen trees and shrubs with ornamental foliage and winged pods. Good in arid regions. Seed long-lived.
NEW—Dodonaea viscosa 'Purpurea'. (25) DODO-12P. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50, 5 grams: $20.00
A nice form with attractive purple-red foliage and bright pods.
'GIANT HOP BUSH'. Shrub or small tree to 15 - 30 feet, with small greenish flowers followed by attractive winged pods. Tropics. Zone 8. Fast growing and easy almost anywhere, good sand binder and fire resistant. The hard heartwood is almost black. Leaves used medicinally, as a fish poison, and as a coca adulterant in Peru. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks, with stragglers. Nicking may help some lots.
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 'Red Leaved'. (20) DOLC-4RL. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $7.50
Striking variety with red leaves. Unusual! Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
'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 and 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 'Ruby Moon'. (20) DOLC-4RU. Packet: $4.00
25 grams: $17.00, 100 grams: $50.00
An improved red-leaved form, with dark green and red leaves, purple flowers, & glossy purple pods.
DOROTHEANTHUS (do-ro-thee-AN-thus)
AIZOACEAE. Annual succulents grown for their showy white, red, yellow or pink flowers and curious, crystalline leaves. Excellent for bedding and borders, thriving in poor dry soil and full sun. Sow in March, barely cover seed. Germinates in about 1 - 2 weeks. Plant out in May. Flowers in 3 months.
—Dorotheanthus bellidiformis. (1000) DORT-2. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $7.50, 1/4 Pound: $15.00
Showy inch-wide flowers in various shades of pink, red and white, in summer. Oval, glistening green leaves. South Africa. (=Mesembryanthemum criniflorum)
DRACAENA (dra-SAY-na or dra-KAY-na)
AGAVACEAE. Tropical, mostly African Yucca-like trees and shrubs. Good in California.
—Dracaena Draco. (10) DRAC-16. Packet: $2.50
100 seed: $7.50, 1000 seed: $50.00
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'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. Zone 10. Reaches great age. Endangered in habitat, but cultivated and naturalized elsewhere—preservation through dissemination. Germinates in 1 - 3 months.
DYSPHANIA: See Chenopodium ambrosioides