Dalea 'purpurea'

One of the coolest flowers on the farm! This North American prairie native intrigues with upright magenta-purple flowers emerging from a central cylinder of blue-grey buds atop stiff, wiry stems and dainty pinnate foliage. Flowers are great for attracting all of the pollinators, while leftover seeds and foliage are an excellent source of protein for foraging mammals and birds.

H: 26 Inches  ·   S: 16 Inches  ·   Zone: 3

Daphniphyllum macropodum

The large shiny evergreen leaves of False Daphne give a tropical effect, often augmented by distinct reddish color on the petioles and young stems. Also known by the colorful common name of 'Redneck Rhododendron' in the South because the foliage looks similar to Rhododendron maximum, only more showy. Plants are dioecious, so you need several plants to get the glaucous blue summer fruit.

H: 15 Feet  ·   S: 8 Feet  ·   Zone: 6

Darmera peltata

Delicate pink flower clusters above very large round green leaves, blooms in April. An excellent stream and pond edge stabilizer.

H: 36 Inches  ·   S: 36 Inches  ·   Zone: 5

Delosperma cooperi

Cooper Hardy Ice Plant has magenta flowers over silvery evergreen succulent foliage. Delosperma cooperi needs full sun and a dry site. We are impresses with its cold hardiness in our display beds, and it blooms throughout the summer starting in late June into fall.

H: 4 Inches  ·   S: 8 Inches  ·   Zone: 6

Delosperma dyeri Fire Spinner™

Fire Spinner™ Ice Plant has truly amazing flowers, with multiple flat petals that start orange at the outer edges and end up magenta at the base. Starting in early June, Fire Spinner™ blooms for a month on every sunny day over the attractive fleshy green succulent foliage. Found at high altitudes in southern South Africa, Delosperma dyeri Fire Spinner™ was brought to the US by Panayoti Kelaidis of the Denver Botanic Garden. Rock gardens and green roofs are great places to use this eye opener.

H: 2 Inches  ·   S: 12 Inches  ·   Zone: 5

Delphinium exaltatum

Tall Blue Larkspur is a Delphinium that actually thrives on the East Coast! This native woodland plant blooms in mid summer, with tall spikes of deep bluish purple flowers which are an important source of nectar for hummingbirds. Rich, well drained soil and partial shade are what Delphinium exaltatum likes best, and deer will leave it alone.

H: 36 Inches  ·   S: 18 Inches  ·   Zone: 4

Delphinium x 'Red Lark'

Zone: 5

Dennstaedtia punctilobula

Hay-scented Fern has lacy green foliage that will take somewhat dry, relatively sunny sites. Dennstaedtia punctilobula is a deciduous spreader that can handle poor soils well. When the fronds are brushed against, they release the smell of fresh cut hay.

H: 18 Inches  ·   S: 36 Inches  ·   Zone: 3

Deschampsia cespitosa

Deschampsia cespitosa has delicate green foliage topped by airy panicles in fall. Shade and wet site tolerant, clump-forming, semi-evergreen.

H: 24 Inches  ·   S: 12 Inches  ·   Zone: 4

Deschampsia cespitosa 'Goldtau'

Golden yellow inflorescences bloom from July to September, topping dark green fine blades. Semi-evergreen and clump forming. Seedheads are attractive through the winter.

H: 18 Inches  ·   S: 24 Inches  ·   Zone: 4

Deschampsia flexuosa

Deutzia gracilis 'Nikko'

'Nikko' Slender Deutzia has delicate white flowers in April and May. The low growing neat green leaves turn purple in fall. Deutzia gracilis 'Nikko' makes an excellent flowering groundcover for sun and shade. A wonderful National Arboretum introduction.

H: 2 Feet  ·   S: 5 Feet  ·   Zone: 4

Deutzia x Yuki Cherry Blossom® PP28347

Yuki Cherry Blossom® ('NCDX2') Slender Deutzia is a color breakthrough by Dr. Tom Ranney of NCSU. Normally a white flowered groundcover shrub, Yuki Cherry Blossom® is covered with delicate soft pink flowers in April and May. The small green leaves are borne on graceful arching branches which root where they touch the ground, making Deutzia x Yuki Cherry Blossom® an excellent low maintenance groundcover. The fall color is bronzy purple, which adds another season of beauty.

H: 2 Feet  ·   S: 3 Feet  ·   Zone: 5

Deutzia x rosea 'Nikko Blush'

'Nikko Blush' Slender Deutzia is a cross made by the US National Arboretum between Deutzia gracilis 'Nikko' and Deutzia x rosea 'Carminea'. The result is a plant long sought by plant lovers, with bright pink buds opening in April and May to abundant soft pink flowers on arching low growing branches. Like 'Nikko', 'Nikko Blush' makes an excellent groundcover, and would be particularly attractive growing down a wall. The fall color is shades of burgundy.

H: 3 Feet  ·   S: 4 Feet  ·   Zone: 5

Dianthus carthusianorum

Low mounding foliage typical of the genus produces ludicrously tall flower stems adorned with brilliant pink flowers that we associate with Carnations.

H: 30 Inches  ·   S: 10 Inches  ·   Zone: 5

Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Firewitch'

'Firewitch' ('Feuerhexe') Cheddar Pinks has shocking pink fragrant flowers, low growing blue foliage, and is an excellent repeat bloomer. The fragrance is wonderful, like so many of the Carnation family. 2006 Perennial Plant of the Year.

H: 6 Inches  ·   S: 8 Inches  ·   Zone: 5

Dianthus hybrida Mountain Frost™ 'Ruby Garnet' PP32362

From June to November, velvety, deep red flowers bloom continuously, in contrast with the silvery blue-green foliage of this low mounding perennial. Drought tolerant and easy to grow.

H: 6 Inches  ·   S: 10 Inches  ·   Zone: 5

Dianthus hybrida Mountain Frost™ 'Ruby Glitter' PP33461

Low maintenance mounding perennial with characteristic blue-green foliage and deep red flowers with creamy pink splotches, known to rebloom consistently from early June to late November.

H: 6 Inches  ·   S: 10 Inches  ·   Zone: 5

Dianthus hybrida Mountain Frost™ 'Ruby Snow' PP33460

Creamy white flowers with ruby red eyes rebloom consistently from June to November above silvery blue-green foliage. Drought tolerant once established.

H: 6 Inches  ·   S: 10 Inches  ·   Zone: 5

Dianthus x Beauties® 'Kahori' PP21016

A true repeat flowering Dianthus for our climate. Deep pink, fragrant flowers start in late spring and run all the way through summer.

H: 10 Inches  ·   S: 10 Inches  ·   Zone: 5

Dianthus x 'Paint the Town Fuchsia'

Dicentra eximia

Pink heart-shaped blossoms arch over ferny grey-green foliage starting in late spring, blooming intermittently throughout the summer. Needs shade, consistent moisture and good drainage.

H: 12 Inches  ·   S: 18 Inches  ·   Zone: 5

Dicentra spectabilis

The pink and white flowers of Bleeding Heart have a long bloom period in late spring. Foliage fades away by late summer. This is the classic Bleeding Heart we all remember from our childhoods. New name is Lamprocapnos spectabilis.

H: 24 Inches  ·   S: 18 Inches  ·   Zone: 4

Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba'

White Bleeding Heart has white flowers for a long bloom period in late spring. The large pendant flowering stems light up shade gardens beautifully. Foliage fades away by late summer. New name is Lamprocapnos spectabilis 'Alba'.

H: 24 Inches  ·   S: 18 Inches  ·   Zone: 4