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Dahlia (Dahlia)
We thought it would be cool to offer some of the more unusual species and garden-worthy hybrids often overlooked by the dahlia societies. Many of the purple-foliaged dahlias are truly stunning in the garden, as are the lesser-known, wild-collected plants. We think you'll see dahlias in a whole new light after you try these. For us, dahlias are hardy in Zone 7b, but a light mulch is always helpful in case of a severe winter. Dry soil in the winter is also essential for success. In colder zones, dahlias can be dug and stored in peat moss for the winter.
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Dahlia 'Bednall Beauty' (Dahlia)
Sun Zone: 7b-8, at least 24" tall Origin: Hybrid
Open House/Web-Only!
If you have been looking for a nice companion to D. 'Bishop of Llandaff', look no longer. This delightful dahlia has cut-leaf, dark purple foliage on a well-formed 2' tall clump. Dahlia 'Bednall Beauty' flowers throughout late spring and summer, and again in late summer and fall. In areas with oppressively hot summers, don't expect many flowers until the weather cools. Dahlias will also perform wonderfully well in those Zone 9 and 10 regions that are blessed with cool, high summer temperatures. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04623
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Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury' (Dahlia)
SunZone: 7b-8, at least 36" tall Origin: Hybrid
Open House/Web-Only!
This new addition to the "Bishop" series boasts the same wonderful dark-purple foliage, topped with 3' tall spikes of 2" dark, fluorescent wine-purple flowers. We tried to find an RHS color code, but this is obviously a new color for the RHS unless they are boycotting fluorescent purple. This plant is also unique since there is no such thing as a Bishop of Canterbury. There is an Archbishop of Canterbury, but that's several pay grades higher. For us, it flowers from June until frost...perfect for a touch of purple in the border. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06369
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Dahlia 'Bishop of Leicester' (Bishop of Leicester Dahlia)
SunZone: 7b-8, at least 24" tall Origin: Hybrid
Open House/Web-Only!
Dahlia 'Bishop of Leicester' is another in the wonderful Gardening Diocese series of dark foliage dahlias. This particular "Bishop" makes a 2' tall x 18" wide clump of dark purple foliage, topped starting in late June with light lavender (RHS 78C) flowers, often streaked with a lighter shade. The flowers are highlighted by a contrasting center cone of orange with a dark center...praise Jeeesus. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07010
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Dahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff' (Bishop of Llandaff Dahlia)
SunZone: 7b-8, at least 50" tall Origin: Hybrid
We have wanted to offer this gem for years but never could quite propagate enough to meet the demand, which always outstrips the supply. The bronzy-black foliage makes a stunning feature in the border, even before it is topped with wow-red flowers (RHS color 45A) held above the foliage. For us, "The Bishop" flowers in late June and July and then takes a break from flowering until nights cool in early September, when it resumes its floral show. For trivia buffs, this dahlia was named for Bishop Hughes of Llandaff (now Cardiff), Wales, UK, in 1924 and won the prestigious Award of Merit from the RHS in 1928. In 2004, it made the RHS list of the top plants of the last 200 years...quite an honor. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #03719
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Dahlia 'David Howard' (David Howard Dahlia)
SunZone: 7b-8, at least 24" tall Origin: Hybrid
If single-flowered dahlias just don't have enough "oomph" for your garden, then Dahlia 'David Howard' is for you. The dark black-purple foliage composes a 2' clump, topped for most of the summer with large, 4", fully double flowers. Each flower is light orange at the base of the petals and bright orange in the center. The orange flower color in front of the dark purple foliage is a real screamer of a combination. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04744
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Dahlia 'Flame' (Flame Dahlia)
SunZone: 7b-8 28" tall Origin: Hybrid
Open House/Web-Only!
This horticultural libido-rising dahlia from the Happy series is hotter than a night in Bangkok's Phat Phong district. The dark purple leaves adorn the 28" stalks (a dwarf...how kinky), which serve as a foil for the 5" flaming orange flowers with bright golden centers. Hide the straight kids and grandparents...this is one sexy dahlia! You can dig it figuratively all summer, but also do so literally in the fall if you garden north of Zone 7b. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07480
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Dahlia imperialis (Giant Tree Dahlia)
SunZone: 7-9 108" tall Origin: Central America alternate image
I have this fetish for growing peculiar things, and the giant tree dahlia is at the top of my list. In the wild, Dahlia imperialis can reach 30', but our garden plants only reach a meager 9' in height. The bamboo-looking stalks easily grow to a massive 3" in diameter and are topped with oversized but typical dahlia foliage. If you are in Zone 7, you can forget flowers, which are single pink and always manage to open the day we have our first killing frost. Nevertheless, this tropical-looking gem is worth growing just for its stature and texture in the garden...and to fool all your neighbors with its identity. Have someone take your photo standing alongside your dahlia, and you're a sure-fire winner for the next Miracle-Gro commercial. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04724
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Dahlia imperialis 'California Angel' (Double White Tree Dahlia)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7-9 96" tall Origin: Central America
Open House/Web-Only!
(aka: D. i. Double White) From the late California plantsman Wayne Roderick comes this unusual form of tree dahlia that we named in 2005. Just like the more commonly grown forms, this selection of the giant tree dahlia makes a clump of bamboo-like stems to 8' tall, topped with typical dahlia foliage on the top half. In mid-November, the clumps are topped with large double white flowers...just about the time of our first frost. Although we love the plant for its form in the garden, those of you with later first frost dates would even get to enjoy the flowers. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05935
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Dahlia imperialis 'Double or Nothing' (Double Lavender Tree Dahlia)
SunZone: 7-9 108" tall Origin: Central America
Open House/Web-Only!
(syn: D. i. Double Purple) Thanks to customer Larry Depuy for sharing this wonderful lavender double-flowered form of the giant tree dahlia. We eventually tracked these back to the late California plantsman extraordinaire Wayne Roderick, who introduced a plethora of great garden plants. Since it had no valid cultivar name, we have given it one. The 9' bamboo-like stalks are topped in late October with sprays of 3" anemone-like, lavender double flowers...very spectacular if you can hold off the frosts long enough to enjoy the flowers. If not, the stalks are a great structural element in the garden anyway. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05926
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Dahlia 'Juliet' (Juliet Dahlia)
SunZone: 7b-8, at least 24" tall Origin: Hybrid
Open House/Web-Only!
Dahlia 'Juliet' is one of the stunning new series of black-foliaged Happy Dahlias. D. 'Juliet' makes a compact 2' tall clump of nearly black foliage, topped starting in late June and continuing until fall with 4" lilac-pink (RHS 78A) flowers. Warning...D. 'Juliet' should be kept at a distance from D. 'Romeo' due to a lethal allelopathic reaction when the two are grown close together.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07016
SOLD OUT
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Dahlia 'Party' (Party Dahlia)
SunZone: 7b-8, at least 28" tall Origin: Hybrid
Open House/Web-Only!
If you thought your partying days were over, think again. Imagine a stunning display of bright yellow against shiny black and you get the picture. No, it's not the re-emergence of disco days, it's Dahlia 'Party'. This hot little number from the Happy Dahlia Series makes a 28" tall clump of black foliage, topped from late June until frost with 4" bright yellow flowers, each highlighted by a light brown center. It's time to boogie down....I mean, dig down and plant your Dahlia 'Party'.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07018
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Danae
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Danae racemosa (Poet's Laurel)
Part Sun to ShadeZone: 7-8, at least 36" tall Origin: Iran, Caucasus
From Iran and other nearby "axis of evil" countries comes one of our favorite garden plants. This highly coveted plant will never be found at Wal-Mart...due to its slow propagation. From seed, it takes 5-7 years to become a saleable plant! Prized by florists and gardeners alike, the 3' green stems that arch outward from a central clump are clothed with thick, waxy-green leaves that remain evergreen all winter. After establishment, the clumps are laden with marble-sized, reddish-orange berries in fall...incredibly easy, durable, and drought-tolerant for even the deepest of shady areas! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #02614
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Dasylirion (Sotol)
These little-known yucca relatives are among the most beautiful natives of the southwest US and northern Mexico. Their structural form, wonderful foliage colors, heat and drought tolerance, and surprising hardiness make them a great choice for blending into a variety of garden settings. Like the agaves, some of our offerings here are from wild-collected seed sources, but unlike agaves, they don't expire after flowering.
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Dasylirion longissimum var. treleasei (Trelease's Sotol)
SunZone: 8-10, guessing 96" tall Origin: Mexico
Open House/Web-Only!
We purchased this seed as D. hidalgense, which unfortunately doesn't exist, but when we keyed it out, our plants turned out to be the rare D. longissimum var. treleasei. This species hails from the Mexico states of San Luis Potosi, Hidalgo, and Queretaro between 4,000' and 6,000' elevation where they form stunning 6' tall trunks. The trunk is topped with a large symmetrical 2' tall head of narrow, rigid flat green, virtually spineless foliage...very close to D. quadrangulatum except for the tiny teeth and the much narrower inflorescence. Looks like we'll be testing hardiness together if you get one while they last.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07647
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Dasylirion michiquanensis (Trunked Sotol)
SunZone: 7b-10, guessing 96" tall Origin: Mexico
Open House/Web-Only!
The late plant explorer Lyn Lowrey was one of the first to recognize this dasylirion he called an arborescent form of D. texanum. Finally the Dasylirion monograph revealed this is, indeed, the rare, newly named D. michiquanensis from the Michiquana region of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, around 6000' elevation. D. michiquanensis boasts a massive 6' tall trunk, topped with lovely twisting 4' long green foliage...a dazzling tree rosette. A star is born! Thanks to the folks at Peckerwood Gardens and Yucca Do Nursery for sharing seed from their expedition. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04466
SOLD OUT
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Dasylirion quadrangulatum (Square-leaf Sotol)
Sun to Light ShadeZone: 8-10 72" tall Origin: Mexico
Open House/Web-Only!
(syn: D. longissimum) Dasylirion quadrangulatum is the most spectacular of the Mexican sotols, and without the typical spiny leaves. This magnificent specimen (6' tall x 6' wide in 10 years) forms a fountain of thin clothesline-like arching leaves to 3'...looking sort of like a car antenna after getting caught in a cheap carwash. D. quadrangulatum is somewhat shade tolerant compared with most of the other sotols.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07658
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| <Cypripedium - Cyrtomium] | [Delosperma - Dianthus> |
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