PERENNIALS
D-G
Dalea greggii \ Gregg Dalea, Trailing Indigo Bush
µTexas Nativeµ Grows 6" high and spreads 4-6' in a dense, trailing manner. Insignificant purple flowers appear in spring on a plant covered with more impressive tiny, pearly-gray leaves. Young plants are light gray-green turning a darker gray with maturity or stress from drought. Older plants are also rabbit resistant. Does not tolerate foot traffic. Zone 7.
Datura \ Angel’s Trumpet
Generally nocturnal, with blooms lasting only one day. Finely gray pubescent foliage. Large stately flowers are trumpet shaped and measure 6-9” long and 4-6” wide. Plants can reach 5-8’. Place in sun or part sun in most any well-drained soil. Although a fragrant plant, it is also toxic. Blooms constantly from spring to fall, then dies back in the winter. Zone 9.
D. metel ‘Flore Pleno’ \ Purple Angel’s Trumpet
Delightful, double blooms of pale purple face up for an evening display.
D. wrightii \ White Angel’s Trumpet
µTexas Nativeµ This native provides heralding white blossoms. Dies down each winter, but comes back bigger and shrubbier. Root hardy to Zone 7.
Delosperma cooperi \ Hardy Ice Plant
(del-oh-SPERM-a)
Unique succulent with cylindrical foliage. One inch, daisy-like, rich purple blooms provide lasting color from summer to frost. Manages full sun or shade quite nicely. Height 2-2˝”. Excellent ground cover. Zones 6-9.
Delosperma brunnthaleri 'Yellow' \ Hardy Ice Plant
Thick succulent cylindrical leaves, with yellow flowers in summer. Grows 6-16" tall with a shrubby habit. Full sun. Zone 6.
Delphinium grandiflorum ‘Blue Butterfly’ \ Larkspur
A bushy, dwarf plant that can reach 3’ tall. Cut foliage and multiple branched stems set the stage of brilliant blue flower spikes blooming in early summer. Needs full sun, deep rich soil. Zones 3-7.
Dendranthema ‘Clara Curtis’
Lobed leaves and fragrant flowers make a pleasant addition to any garden bouquet. Deep, 3” pink flowers with yellow raised centers. Fall bloomer growing 2-3’ tall. Zones 5-9.
Dianella tasmanica 'Variegata' \ Variegated Flax Lily
Grass-like foliage with yellow stripes of variegation on green leaves. Moderate growing to 4', spreads by rhizomes. Pale blue nodding flowers appear in summer. Prefers acidic, well-drained soil, in full sun, part shade. Zone 9.
Dianthus \ Hardy Carnations, Pinks
Easy to grow. Bushy rosettes of narrow foliage ending with 5 petaled flowers, singly or in loose clusters on wiry stems. The petals are often fringed or deeply cut, giving an attractive ragged look to the blooms. Give Pinks a sunny location, well-drained soil. Removing spent flowers will give a longer summer bloom period. Zones 3-8.
D. ‘First Love’
Blooms spring through fall. Individual flowers start white, change to pink, and then to red. Deadhead for better reblooming.
D. gratianopolitanus ‘Bath’s Pink’ \ Cheddar Pinks
(grah-tee-ah-no-po-li-TAY-nus)
Spring brings soft-pink fringed flowers on this 6-8” tall plant. Very heat tolerant and easy to grow.
D. gratianopolitanus ‘Firewitch’ \ Cheddar Pinks
Spreading, low-growing form to 6” in height with deep blue-green foliage and magenta blooms most all year.
Dicentra formosa ‘Luxuriant’ \ Bleeding Heart
The apt name describes the flower’s resemblance to hearts. Ferny, blue-green foliage and cherry red flowers. Grows 12-15” and blooms continuously from spring until frost. Plant in evenly moist, humus rich soil in light to full shade. In warmer zones, plants need shade from hot afternoon sun. Great with Hostas. Zones 3-9.
Dietes bicolor \ Fortnight Lily, Bicolor Iris
Clumps of narrow, stiff, iris-like leaves that grow fan-shaped. Flowers are 2” wide, yellow with maroon blotches. Bloom bursts seem to come at 2 week intervals, hence the name, Fortnight Lily. To increase flower production, break off seed pods. Established plants are tolerant of drought. Plant in fairly good soil in sun or part sun. Grows to 2’ tall. Zones 8-9.
Dietes iridioides \ African Iris
Plant grows in a 2-2 ˝’ fan shaped form. Flowers are waxy white with yellow and purplish blue markings. During the bloom season, do not remove flower stalks, as new flowers should soon appear on the same stalk. Dead head flowers. Zone 8.
Digitalis purpurea Foxy Hybrids \ Foxglove
Old fashioned charm of 2”, multi-colored, bell-shaped flowers which face down and are usually spotted. Prefers partly shaded areas in fertile, well-drained soil. Useful as border accent or in mass plantings. Plant is poisonous if consumed, but makes a good cut flower. Grows 2-3’ tall. Low maintenance. Zones 4-8.
Digitalis ‘Mertonensis’ \ Strawberry Foxglove
Beautiful, raspberry colored, tubular, bell-shaped flowers bloom in late spring and early summer. Grows to 3’ tall in most any soil. Needs light shade in the south. Zone 4.
Echinacea \ Cone Flower
(ek-i-NA-see-a)
Easy, dependable, and showy for the border and for naturalizing. Large daisy-like blooms with a raised central cone. Excellent cut flowers. Any well-drained soil in full sun. Especially fine when mixed with Gloriosa daisy (Rudbeckia spp.). Zones 3-8
E. purpurea \ Purple Cone Flower
µTexas Nativeµ Purple flowers on a plant growing 3-4’ tall and 2’ wide. Withstands heat and drought once established.
E. purpurea ‘Magnus’
Stiff, rosy-purple petals that bloom in summer, does not droop as much as species. Grows 2-3’ and is hardy to Zone 3. 1998 Perennial Plant of the Year
E. purpurea ‘Ruby Star’ (‘Rubinstern’)
True to its name, with carmine-red blooms on 34-40” stems. Terrific summer blooms on 24” wide plants. Zone 4.
E. purpurea ‘White Swan’
White daisy-like flowers on 2-3’ stems. Blooms all summer
Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’ \ Wallflower
(Herb of the mustard family.) Produces fragrant purple spikes. Needs good drainage and will benefit from the addition of lime to the soil. Should be cut back hard after flowering. Grows 12-15” in height with a 12” spread. Place in shade in the south. Can also be used in rock gardens or planted with fall pansies. Evergreen where winters are not severe. Zones 5-8.
Eupatorium greggii \ Blue Mist Flower
µTexas Nativeµ Puffy, 2” cushions of blue flowers bloom from spring to fall. Can tolerate full sun and poor drainage. Professes the longest bloom period of all the Mist flowers. Usual spread is 18” tall by 36” wide. Zone 7.
Eupatorum maculatum ‘Gateway’ \ Joe Pye Weed
Good for background planting, displaying enormous umbrella-like heads of rosy-purple flowers in late summer. Coarse green leaves complete this 4-6’ tall impressive clump forming specimen. Spreads to 48” wide. Prefers moist to wet soils in full sun to part shade locations. Zone 4.
Gaillardia \ Blanket Flower
(gay-LARD-ee-uh)
Gaillardia is becoming more popular due to its ease of care, tolerance to heat and long blooming season. Plants need full sun, well-drained soil, and occasional removal of spent flowers.
G. ‘Baby Cole’
Red flowers with yellow margins bloom in summer on the dwarf, 8” compact growing plant. Attracts butterflies. Full sun, well-drained soil. Zone 4.
G. ‘Burgundy’
Large, 3” wide, wine-red, daisy-like flowers bloom all summer. Plant in light, well-drained soil in full sun. Reaches a height of 30”. Zones 3-9.
G. ‘Goblin’ (Now ‘Kobold’)
Yellow edged, red petals create flowers 4” in diameter. Some consider this selection the best cultivar available. Grows 9-12” in height. Zones 2-10.
G. ‘Golden Goblin’ (Now ‘Goldkobold’)
Compact, easy to grow perennial reaches a height of 9-12” and a spread of 24”. Blooms are bright golden yellow. Although fairly drought tolerant, regular watering produces best blooming. Zones 3-9.
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Pink Butterfly’ \ Gaura
Gaura grows in a vase shaped fashion, 1-2’ tall, with wand-like flowering stalks up to 5’ tall. Blooms early summer to frost in full sun and well-drained soil. Gaura has a long taproot so watering is usually needed only in the driest parts of the summer. This gaura has deep maroon buds that open to glowing pink flowers. Zone 6.
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’
This dwarf selection of the Southwest native grows to 2’ with a spread of 3’. Thriving in full sun, it produces more white flowers than the species, resembling little butterflies from spring through summer. Zone 6.
Gazania linearis ‘Colorado Gold’ ™ \ Treasure Flower
Shiny, yellow, 3" flowers bloom continuously over deep green leaves. Plants grow 3-5" tall and 10" wide. Full sun, part shade, ordinary garden soil. Hardy cousin to annual Gazania. Zone 4.
Geranium x cantabrigiense ‘Karmina’ \ Geranium
Darker pink-white blooms with red foliage in the fall. Good for ground cover or rockery. Prefers fertile loam and full sun to part shade. Zone 5.
Geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’ \ Geranium
Excellent hybrid between G. himalayense and G. pratense. Grows 15-18" tall and 1 to 2' wide with clear blue flowers. Well-drained garden soil, in full to partial sun. Zone 4-8.
Gladiolus communis ssp. byzantinus \ Byzantine Gladiolus
Magenta flowers on long spikes bloom up through deep green, sword-like leaves. Blooms in late spring, early summer in full sun. (In Latin, gladiolus means “little sword”). Grows 16-20” tall, even in lime and heavy clay soil. Also known as Hardy Gladiolus. Zone 8.
