Dahlia hybrids    fields of flowers    bouquet at Becky's    deciduous tubers. Plants vary in height from 1’ to 4-5’ with equal spread. The varieties we raise are strictly from TC and cuttings, offering much longer lasting flowers and longer blooming season than seedling strains. They're also very obviously blessedly free of all the obnoxious, nefarious and strongly debilitating viruses that thoroughly infest every field-divided plant we've ever grown. We offer both compact border types as well as the taller, medium and large flowering garden and cutting types. In fact, almost all can make good cut flowers, the rare exceptions are those that  aren't used for such. The secret for cut dahlias is to put the stem bases into the hottest water that comes out of your tap immediately after cutting. That's the tip we got from our local Dahlia society show. Central and South America. Compositae/Asteraceae. rev 5/2018

'Eternal Fragrance' PP18361    fragrance boquet  here it is! Small pink buds open to clusters of dainty white flowers and a heavenly, sweet fragrance, not only in spring but throughout the year! "We can't grow enough of it, people are just crazy for it," says our ex-intern Joe Kerin, the Tassie Hunk, now back in an almost identical climate at his family's nursery near Hobarth, Tasmania. This hybrid shows steady, bushy growth to 2-3' makes it an ideal subject for containers, hedges, or any sunny to part shade location. Not fussy about soil, average watering. Hardy to USDA 6. rev 5/2018

odora ‘Leucanthe’    PINK DAPHNE    flowers    habit    non-variegated leaves and the usual, powerfully fragrant light pink flowers. A strong grower to 4’ tall, 6’ wide, very old plants can be even bigger, up to 8' tall and wide. Occurring naturally as an understory shrub of hilly forest areas, it is best in part shade though it can take full sun with infrequent summer watering, even without where summers are cool. In the severe, then-record California drought of 1976-77 many gardeners were surprised that large established plants did fine with no little or no supplemental summer watering at all. It does need at least average drainage but it also will tolerate clay soils. Hardy to around 10°F, USDA zone 7/Sunset zones 4-10, 14-24. China. rev 5/201

 acrotrichum  (not currently in production)  UC Berkeley Botanic Garden    Huntington Botanic Gardens? Strybing?   Monterey?    Rome   recognized by its toothed margins and wispy leaf tips, this is essentially a green version of the familiar D. wheelerii. This is a great plant, a vastly underutilized species. It is a reliable performer and a much better choice for many cool-summer or coastal planting situations than D. wheelerii since it doesn't seem plagued by black sooty mold under typical cold, foggy or rainy conditions. It gets about 4-6' across with bright green leaves that are only about 1/2" wide. The marginal spines are golden yellow, and it can form an outer layer of perfectly curled tip fibers when well sited and well grown. With lots of time single or multiple trunks will develop, sometimes at least partially decumbent but also often stoutly vertical and reaching 6' below its crown of foliage. Full sun with hot, dry conditions through full shade, very little watering required but will tolerate regular irrigation with good drainage. I've seen nice examples in wet-winter, very cold-summer climates (think Strybing Arboretum in SF,or the "brisk and refreshing" Monterey Peninsula). A natural container plant. It doesn't seem demanding for soil conditions as long as drainage is average or better and you don't plant it in a wet spot. I found it extensively used as such when we spent a Christmas in Rome. USDA zone 9?/Sunset zones 8-16, 18-24. Northern and Central Mexico. rev 6/2021

treleasei    (not currently in production)  a slightly greyer, more gracile, greyer and slightly prickly species close to D. acrotriche. It was originally treated as a subspecies and is still considered as such by some authorities. Almost all qualities, features and growing parameters are the same. Northern and Central Mexico. rev 2/2011

quadrangulatum (longissimum)     concave center   Santa Cruz garden    Huntington Botanic Garden    UC Berkeley Botanic Gardens    according to our seed source, this "D. quandrangulatum form" represents most of what is sold in the trade as D. "longissimum," being relatively more robust and greener than its rarer, slimmer, greyer "D. treleasei form." Both these very similar varieties grow into solitary, very grassy, yucca-like plants that very slowly form a trunk and may someday, possibly in your lifetime, reach 10’ tall. Usually it is seen as a rounded, trunkless rosette of arching, wiry, dark green leaves 1/4" wide by 3-6’ long or more. It makes a stunning, impressive, interesting focal point plant that greatly resembles  Xanthorrhoea, the Australian Grass Trees. (If the youngest central leaves are shorter than those just outside, forming a small, narrow indented cone at the top, it is Dasylirion. If the youngest leaves in the center are full length like all the rest, it is Xanthorrhoea.) You can use this in place of a fountain, in any breeze it provides most of same eye-attracting motion effect of water. Sun to part shade, little or no summer watering, probably hardy to at least 10°F. USDA zone 7/Sunset zones 11-24. Northeastern Mexico. rev 3/2019

wheelerii    DESERT SPOON, SPOON FLOWER    Huntington Botanic Gardens    coastal commercial landscape    old flower spike    one of the most dramatic succulents, receiving in fact an Award of Garden Merit from the RHS. It forms a captivating dome of thin powdery blue leaves edged in recurved yellow spines, each one ending in a curl of wispy white tip-fibers, perhaps its best feature. Usually seen as a compact rosette but with age forming a trunk to 2-3' in areas where well adapted (i.e., real hot, real dry, mostly sunny), also clumping to from large clusters. Mature plants will also flower, irregularly, producing a narrow 15' tall cloud of small whitish male or rosy female blossoms. There is quite a bit of variation between seedlings, demonstrating differences in overall plant size and scale, leaf width, blue or whitish coloration, and marginal spine details, which can vary from rich burgundy orange through light golden yellow. Winter leaf color can tend towards smoky purple or remain bluish, the leaves can either remain flat or show a pronounced twist, while the rosette itself can even show a strong propeller-like spiral pattern in some or be stiffly vertical in others. You can never have too many, collect one, collect 'em all! Needs at least half sun, as much warmth as possible, and excellent drainage. Survives on very little watering looks best with late summer watering, which is what it receives in nature over most of its range. Needs either lean, dry soils or excellent chemical or mechanical weed control: you don't want to try reach into this one - those backward hooking spines may not let you pull your hand back out. It makes a wonderful and striking container plant if away from traffic areas. USDA zone 7b/Sunset zones 10-24. Southwestern US, northern Mexico. rev 3/2019

uses:  this must be one of the most useful plants in North America. You can roast or steam the heart of a mature plant (~15 years?), then chop or shred it and let it ferment 5-7 days into a pulque-like brew, or further distill it into sotol, similar to mescal and tequila. When cooked the leaf bases can be eaten like artichoke leaves. After stripping the spines off the edges the leaves can also be used for weaving baskets. The flower stalk is possibly the best fire-trough friction fire-starter material of all, with beginners regularly succeeding the first time. The stalk can also be used for a light, very strong spear, or atl-atl dart, or walking stick.

Davallia trichomanoides    SQUIRREL’S FOOT FERN    nursery containers    a somewhat tender evergreen fern for patios, containers, or as house plants. Furry rhizomes creep slowly outward bearing small, dark green, triangular fronds to 6" long. Fronds are are tripinnate (cut three times) and appear finely divided). Excellent in hanging baskets where it can show those roots loud and show them proud. Shade, ample watering, no frost. This Eastern Asian native is also sometimes classified as D. mariesii v. stenolepis. Malaysia. Davalliaceae.  rev 3/2019

Delosperma  HARDY ICEPLANT   about 100 species of succulents, closely related to Mesembryanthemum but acting as perennials instead of annuals. East and South Africa. Aizoaceae/Mesembryanthemaceae. rev 7/2017

cooperi   HARDY PURPLE ICEPLANT,  PINK CARPET (not currently in production)   shield your eyes     long-lasting, eye-straining, violet purple flowers, with small, contrasting white centers, provide months of titillating,  scintillating, iridescent color, blooming from mid-spring through early to mid-fall. Grows as a compact, eventually shortly mounding, spreading evergreen groundcover, dense enough to exclude weeds. Sun to some shade, average to good drainage, modest to very little summer watering when established. Foliage becomes reddish or burgundy-tinted with cold, foliage is evergreen to about 20F. However this was originally collected from high elevation in the Drakensburg Mountains of the Cape Region and there are reports of it coming back from the roots after -20F (USDA zone 4). South Africa. To about 6" tall, sometime mounding higher with age. Previously commonly known as Mesembramthemum cooperi. rev 11/2019

davyi   WHITE HARDY ICEPLANT   (not currently in production)    tiny leaves   minute foliage, just as minute white flowers during long days. Very frost hardy, a good specimen for small containers or between stepping stones, etc. With cool weather it picks up burgundy tones on the leaves, becoming almost completely burgundy in cold, sunny positions. This is a high elevation plant from South Africa. Sunset all zones/USDA zone 5. Mesembryanthemaceae/Aizoaceae. rev 11/2019

'Jewels of the Desert' series  (not currently in production)   Amethyst    Garnet    Grenade    Moonstone    Ruby    Topaz   trailing plants, described as "carpeting" in trade publications, reach only 4-6" tall by 8-10" across and produce their dazzling, intensely colored flowers from spring until frost (obligate, or facultative long-day?). They like a slightly acidic, well-drained soil, moderate to very little watering, and full to half-day sun. Best suited for containers, indoors or out. Hardy to USDA zone 5, but probably only in the ground. rev 11/2019

nubigenum  ALPINE ICEPLANT    foliage mat   dense, tight, creeping mat just an inch or two high, mounding a little with age. Leaves are tiny, rotund and green, forming a nice backdrop for a heavy show of lemon yellow flowers in spring to summer, depending on climate and site. In late fall the foliage changes to a burgundy-copper. Good drainage, growing system water, of course plenty cold hardy. rev 2/2021

Dendrobium kingianum  outdoor plant, Watsonville    flower detail   this is a smaller species of orchid that can be grown outside in the warmer parts of Northern California. They need approximately the same amount of sun, water, fertilizer, and protection from frost as Cymbidiums, and can easily be grown anywhere you see those being raised. They flower in midwinter, bearing short spikes of rosy pink flowers that have an intensely sweet fragrance at night. A single large container plant can scent a backyard, or drive you out of your house if you bring it inside. They don't like any direct frost, but our plants are progeny from a single, very large plant in a 10" container that survived (barely), unprotected, the Great 19F Freeze in Santa Cruz in December, 1990. It grows happily with at least half a day of direct sunlight, monthly feeding with soluble fertilizer (full strength Miracle-Gro or equivalent) and watering a couple to several times a week. Shen it outgrows its container, which it will do in a year or two, repot into Cymbidium bark (finest grind) if possible, else the finest orchid-blend mix available. Pull young plantlets off the tips of the older growths, or divide your clump up after flowering, and spread them around to friends. Along with Cymbidiums and the reed-stemmed Epidendrums, this is one if the easiest orchids for Californians to grow. Orchidaceae. rev 5/2018

Dendrocalamus   (not currently in production) a genus of tropical to subtropical, mostly enormous, spectacular clumping timber bamboos, and the genus to which the largest species in the world belong (D. sinicus, D. giganteus). Except for some hardier strains of D. asper, these are all for Southern California only, unless they have extraordinarily good winter protection. Graminae/Poaceae. rev 11/2010

hamiltonii  (not currently in production)  fuzzy young clump at Quail Botanic Garden, Encinitas   young buds    culm detail   luxuriant foliage   a proper giant, to 50-80', culms to 7", and leaves to 15". Wants sun, overall warmth, moisture, rich soil, and space. Culms have a modest powdery white coating when young. Can be used for timber, can be used for food. This plant is so rare, selling them makes me want to cry. Limited to areas where winter temps stay above 27F. Sunset zones 21-24/USDA zone 10. rev 11/2010

jianshuiensis  YUNNAN TIMBER BAMBOO (not currently in production) best Quail BG clump    Maya, Armita and Cecep with another at Quail    more Quail    culm detail    joint roots   new bud   leaves   not too difficult, just "jian - shwee - ensis." Much like D. hamiltonii, but with closely furry new culms when young, more conspicuous aerial roots at the nodes, and a broader spreading habit. In particular the outer culms quickly head off at a distinct angle, whereas in D. hamiltonii they are more strictly vertical. It is also a smaller plant, to about 50' and with culms to 5". I'm crying over this one too. It is even rarer. Limited to areas where winter temps stay above 27F. Sunset zones 21-24/USDA zone 10. rev 11/2010

Deschampsia flexuosa 'Tatra Gold' (not currently in production)  what it does   fine blades, bright gold most of the year, stays under 2' tall and clumps. Beautiful texture for a part shade to shady spot with moist, well drained soil. Soft bronze flowers in summer. Evergreen. Nice in mixed containers, with water features, and interesting rocks. Sunset zones 1-24/USDA 4. rev 1/2014-Suzy Brooks 

Dianella  grassy, clumping to slow running rhizomatous perennials. Native to Australia and New Zealand, they range from little, cute and compact to big (3') robust and spreading. They are evergreen and mostly drought tolerant. Some have really showy flowers or striking berries. Generally these need either part or full shade except along the foggy coastal areas where they will do fine in full sun. Asphodelaceae, Liliaceae or Phormiaceae. rev 3/2019

'Blutopia' PP27348P3   BLUE FLAX LILY   our first plants     a new and improved, very blue Flax Lily (D. caerulea 'Casa Blue' x D. prunina 'Utopia'), with broader, bluer, more persistently broad (juvenile) foliage than the older 'Casa Blue,' and better vigor and performance than 'Utopia.' Supposedly it's quite tough, with very good ratings in Australia for drought tolerance and landscape performance so it should do about as well here. Mass it for large scale ground covering, feature it as an accent or focal point, combine it to take advantage of its foliage color and texture or keep it as a container plant. Sun, good to average drainage, occasional to very infrequent watering, frost to ~20F or less. This is the same plant as 'Clarity Blue,' but missing the Sunset Program marketing program. USDA zone 9 (8 too?)/Sunset zones 5-7 (?), 8-9, 13-24. rev 11/2018

caerulea  BLUE FLAX LILY  flowers   usually thin-leaved and grassy, some very upright some more lax in habit. Light blue flowers, often held in massed stalks, then dark blue to purple blue berries. Eastern Australia, Tasmania. rev 11/2018

'Becca'  PP18505  a clumping to slowly running species, distinguished by moderately broad green leaves to 2-3' tall and a truly nice display of clouds of blue flowers above the foliage in early summer. Shiny blue berries follow and are quite noticeable and attractive, they are sold commercially for use in arrangements. This selection is greener and less vertical in habit than a species form we received from Huntington Botanic Gardens. It will take intermittent winter saturation, clay or sandy soils, and is evergreen down to about 25F. Sun to part shade, average to infrequent watering. Sunset zones 5, 8-9, 14-24/USDA zones 8b. rev 2/2013

'Cassa Blue' PP17998   why you want it   young foliage   drone's-eye view, mature leaf color   wider leaves and better color than the species. Upright foliage to 16" tall is a wonderful, powdery turqouise blue. I like blue. This is a great accent plant, but remember it stays mostly upright, so large scale groundcover plantings will need to be done tightly. It looks really awesome in quantity, though, and might represent the mythical "drought tolerant blue Carex." rev 10/2011

'Little Becca' PP18452    young foliage  a great little low maintenance plant, forming a dense clump of green, grassy leaves, with an attractive, glossy, bluish cast, to about 1-2' tall and wide. The main feature is the foliage effect, backed up by the late spring wands of starry blue flowers, which form a very showy display 2' above the leaves. These mature to very nice, showy, bright blue berries. Takes heat, sun, shade, clay or sandy soils, and not much but some watering once established. Spreads slowly by underground rhizomes. Effective as an accent plant but also terrific massed as a very tall lawn sub, in parkways or strips, pots, or especially used as a mostly dry shade groundcover. Evergreen to about 25F but capable of taking colder temps by going deciduous. /USDA 7 or 8b/Sunset zones 5-9, 14-24. rev 2/2013

tasmanica    flowers    courtyard planting    dense groundcover at Quail Botanic Garden    commercial planting    striking blue berries    a clumping grass-like plant to 30" tall with rather broad, very dark green foliage. Spreads slowly by underground stolons, usually acting as a clump although I have received one complaint from a gardener who said it took over a well watered area of a garden in Southern California, and another from a customer with a similar situation in my Santa Cruz area. Limit either resource and growth seems to be much more limited. Spikes of light blue flowers produce dark, metallic blue berries which are retained through summer and fall. The fruits are quite noticeable and showy, the flowers are small, muted in color, and open scattered over a long period of time and so are not. They have variously been reported as being edible and are used as “bush tucker” in small quantities mixed with other wild foods (D. caerulea and three other species), as being mildly toxic (D. tasmanica, irritant, as well as other unnamed species responsible for dizziness in humans and more severe poisoning in livestock), and as being blamed for one fatality in New Zealand (D. intermedia). Until more is known the fruit should be avoided, but do not appear to be highly toxic. Sun to part shade, little or no summer watering when established, hardy to around 20°F. This is a very tough plant that Dick Dunmire of Sunset pointed out has excellent application in dry, dark shade, and I have seen it growing as a Eucalyptus understory plant in its native southeastern Australia. The leaves, flowers, and berries can all be used in cut arrangements. It blooms under short days and begins in November. Reported grown as cold as USDA zone 7 (North Carolina, Washington), where it is a deciduous perennial. It makes a tough, durable container plant if you are looking for linear blue green foliage in a difficult shady situation. Evergreen USDA zone 9, Sunset zones 8-9, 14-24. rev 11/2010

'Destiny' PP19338   young plants    U2 spy-camera shot    this is a very nicely variegated form of the honest, true D. tasmanica, as opposed to the more common variegated form, D. ensifolia, which can masquerade under that name. They each have their strengths, this one's is cold hardiness, drought tolerance and higher green/white contrast. This is a great dry-shade plant to light up dark areas. To about 14" tall, takes coastal sun or part shade, needs/tolerates average to very little summer watering. USDA 9/Sunset 8-9, 14-24. rev 2/2019 

'Tasred' PP18,737  (not currently in production)  nursery plants    a form selected and offered by Versascapes that has redder leaf bases and is much more compact than the regular species. The foliage also has a more horizontal habit. To about 18-20" tall. rev 2/2010
 
"Variegata"   what's currently sold in the trade here under this name is either  D. ensifolia 'Variegata' or D. tasminica 'Destiny,' both listed above. rev 2/2021

'Yellow Stripe'    foliage    flowers    bright golden yellow against green. Another superior variegated subject for diverse use. In contrast to many other variegated forms this one has quite showy blue berries, which are a knockout against the yellow toned leaves. It shows more much more green than its white-striped cousins, and is a correspondingly more vigorous grower. rev 2/2021

Dianthus  CARNATIONS, PINKS   compact, usually blue to grey foliaged, often long blooming, mostly easy. They are light on watering needs but like good drainage. Lots to like in this group, especially if you have a favorite rock they can display against, or a classy container to hold them. Caryophyllaceae. rev 5/2012

There are hundreds, quite possibly thousands of Dianthus and carnation hybrids. It is easy to be completely overwhelmed by the variety, or to just give up and consider them to be mostly the same, and just pick based on color. But as professional growers, gardeners and plant enthusiasts we have come to recognize a few critical points that separate the varieties, and we strive to hit as many of the Six Heavenly Pearls of Quality as possible:

flower color - better be good, zoning is always nice.
fragrance - pretty much a must-have nowadays. Stronger is better, can always be stronger.
foliage color - so many excellent blue-greys and grey-greens, not much reason to settle for simple green unless that is exactly the color you want.
foliage quality - has to be disease free. With our foggy climate and commercial watering schedule, we sort most of this out for you. If a variety is prone to mildew or leaf spot you won't even see us offering it. And it will be compact and attractive unless it is redeemed by a wildly attractive or novel flower.
repeat bloom - harder to find,  lots of room for improvement here. Many showy, fragrant selections want to bloom just once. We prefer to see color through the growing season, or at least repeat in fall.
forgiving to grow - who has time for picky plants? Also should not require really long, cold winters to vernalize properly. Should cut back gracefully and resprout easily.

allwoodi 'Streakin' Helen' (not currently in production) flowers   the original 'Helen' is one of the best Dianthus ever invented (1948), with classic, fully double salmon pink flowers, intense clove-allspice fragrance, clean blue foliage, and repeat blooming performance. I first learned about it from epic plantsman, expert grower and former Piedmnot retail nurseryman Bob Barnhart, a real rock garden perennial expert and first class mentor. I have found over the years that most of Bob's favorites have become my favorites as well, and for the same reasons. This is a variant with dark red streaks punctuating the normal, pure salmon, double flowers. Makes a good cut flower and is outstanding in containers. Forms a tidy mound 10-12" tall and wide. All Sunset zones/USDA 4. rev 5/2012

allwoodii 'Frosty Fire'  (not currently in production)   flower close up   small, compact, evergreen blue grey to grey green foliage, fragrant single ruby red flowers that can rebloom through fall. Has a good reputation for heat resistance. Sunset all zone/USDA zone 4. rev 11/2012

barbatus 'Heart Attack'  (not currently in production) flower cluster   a Sweet William that proves to be reliably perennial with very dark, "black"red flowers. Forms a basal clump of pointy green leaves that become so dark burgundy in full sun they appear alomst black, with flower stems bearing those incredible flowers rising above in spring and summer. Long lasting in bouquets. Sun or part shade, average water. Sunset zones 1-11, 14-24/USDA 5.  rev 4/2012

barbatus Sweet series  (not currently in production)  Sweet Red    Sweet Scarlet   Sweet Purple Bicolor   strong stems on fragrant, brightly colored flowers, adding some height to the garden and long lasting blooms for bouquets. 18-36" tall, they are cut-and-come-again wonders. Now available are Scarlet and Red. Easy to grow, low maintenance. For sun with average watering. Nice in containers too. Sunset zones 1-24/USDA 6. rev 4/2013-Suzy Brooks 

'Blushing Maiden' (not currently in production) blush pink   see Devon Cottage

'Butterfly Dark Red' (not currently in production) flower  another in that fabulous series of non-stop SuperTrouper bloomers, loaded with fragrance and charm. Dark red flowers have even darker red mottling in the petals. 8-10" of greenish blue leaves make an evergreen mound until you cut it back to give it a breather in the winter. Sun or part shade. Average water. Sunset zones 1-24/USDA 5. rev 5/2011

'Can Can Scarlet' (not currently in production)  nice red flower!   welcome the long stemmed carnation back to the garden! Cast off because of untidy habits and floppiness, this one comes in a compact habit but with strong, cut-flower-quality stems to 18-20" lnog. The flowers are double, intense scarlet red, with old fashioned, spicy fragrance. Grassy grey green foliage is evergreen. Winner of the Fleuroselect Gold Medal and a 2003 AAS award winner too! Sunset zones 1-24/USDA 5. rev 8/2011-Suzy Brooks

caryophyllus 'Chomley Farran'   (not currently in production)   amazing flower   double, dark lavender and red, tie-dyed flowers on 15" stems make a unique and fragrant bouquet. Long blue grey to grey green leaves form a tidy clump. Sun or part shade. Average water. Sunset zones 1-24/USDA 5. rev 10/2010

'Coconut Surprise'  PP18828   (not currently in production)  flowers  a beautiful little form, short and stout, with double 'coconut' white flowers with a red 'surprise' center. Fragrant and long blooming, way into fall, with grassy, blue green foliage. Grows to 8-12" tall and wide. Sun or part shade. A delight just about anywhere in the garden. Sunset zones 1-24/USDA 5. rev 4/2011

'Cosmic Swirl Pink'   (not currently in production)  tie-dyed   double flowers streaked with pink and white rise from a tidy mound of grey green leaves to 16" tall. Charming addition to the garden or pots, in groups or as accents. Attracts butterflies, makes a  lovely cut flower, and has a slight fragrance. Sun or part shade, average watering. All Sunset zones/USDA 6. rev 4/2014-Suzy Brooks 

'Cosmic Swirl Red'   (not currently in production)    cosmicly swirling tie-dye flowers   swirls and streaks of red and white dance across the face of these flowers and make sparkling bouquets, dazzling container plants and add fragrance to the garden. About 16" tall and reblooming, they are at home in sun or part shade with average watering. Foliage makes a clump of blue grey leaves. Easy to grow, trim off faded flowers for more blooms. Sunset zones 1-24/USDA 5. rev 3/2012-Suzy Brooks

'Cranberry Ice' PP18342   (not currently in production)   flower    single petals, fimbriated at the edge and trimmed in cranberry red, then pink then cranberry again in the center. Tall flower stalks, to about 6-8", produce clouds of flowers above blue grey to grey white leaves. Daylength neutral, so very long blooming if cut back after bloom. Sunset zones 3-9, 14-24/ USDA zone 5. rev 3/2010

'Dainty Dame'   (not currently in production)  flowers  a single white, with a clean burgundy red zone in the center, blooming heavily and with a strong scent of cloves. Late spring to early summer bloom and will repeat if groomed. Low growing, with blue grey foliage to about 6" tall. A winner. Sunset zones 1-24/USDA zone 5?  rev 11/2009

Devon Cottage Series   compact growth to roughly a foot or so tall and wide, disease-resistant silvery blue to grey green foliage, double flowers, highly fragrant, superior garden durability and flowering performance. Flowers lean towards and face the sun, especially noticeable in winter. Hardy to USDA zone 5. rev 2/2019

'Blushing Maiden' (not currently in production)  blush pink   fragrant light salmon pink fading to blush. rev 2/2019
'Bright Eyes'  close   fragrant double pure white flowers, with a maroon band near the center. rev 2/2019
'Fancy Knickers'   (not currently in production)  elegant   large flowers up to 2" across, loaded with fragrance, and stems long enough for cutting. Starts blooming in spring and doesn't quit until the weather gets cold in the fall. Grows into a nice, tidy mound about 10-12" tall and wide. A carefree, evergreen perennial for sun or part shade with average watering. Sunset zones 1-24/USDA 5.  rev 3/2011
'Pinball Wizard'  closeup  peppermint striped fragrant double flowers, red on a background of light pink. rev 2/2019
'Rosie Cheeks'  flowers   large fragrant pink double flowers all over an evergreen mound of silvery green foliage, 10-14" tall.  rev 3/2011
'Ruby's Tuesday'  gorgeous   dark red fragrant double flowers in copious amounts, blue-grey foliage, 10-14" tall.  rev 3/2011
salmon    closeup    we're not sure what this is yet, and can't match it up on the main Devon Cottage Series website. They were mistakenly mixed in with our order of regular varieties somewhere along the line. It's a nice one, a rich, very orange salmon-pink, full double flower, fragrant, wonderful color change as it ages. rev 2/2019
'Waterloo Sunset'   low-light   full sunlight   large, fragrant, double deep rose red flowers displayed against the wonderful, disease-resistant blue-grey foliage of this series. rev 2/2019

'Eastern Star'   (not currently in production)  flowers   a tight, compact grower to 4-8" tall, bearing 1" wide single flowers, intense clear red with a maroon band at the center, and with a strong clove/carnation fragrance. This is a great rebloomer, going from March through October and still offering its great grey green foliage over winter. Sunset zones 2-9, 14-17, 21-24/USDA zone 4 rev 5/2010

'Everlast' series    (not currently in production)  colors   Burgundy Blush    a new (2013 intro) series from Selecta/Ball with fragrant double flowers blooming spring into early summer, then again late summer into fall as night temperatures fall. In coastal California, including the Bay Area and Delta, and close to the water in Southern California you can assume these will continue budding right through long days. To about 12" tall and wide, glaucous grey-green foliage. The current four colors include lavender and lilac, both with dark eyes, white with a pink center, and orchid. Perennial, for borders and containers. Sun, average watering, far more cold hardy than we will ever need. Sunset zones 1-24/USDA 4. rev 4/2013

'Fancy Knickers'  elegant   see Devon Cottage

'Fire Star' PP14895   (not currently in production)  flowers  a perky little compact tuft of blue white foliage with very large, single deep true red flowers held about 4" above the foliage. Flowers can reach 1 1/2" across and feature a darker maroon zone in the center. It is part of the 'Star' series and besides a great, intense carnation scent it is truly daylength neutral and can bloom all year. Flower production will be strongest spring and fall and ebb somewhat during cold, short days though. Typical growing conditions. Wonderful in small pots or with other elements. Sunset zones 3-9, 14-24/ USDA zone 5. rev 3/2010

'Kahori'   why you grow it    nice Pack Trials planters   we see these every year at Spring Trials and we're impressed every time. This original form has striking neon pink flowers, a great habit, and flowers from spring right through until fall. That color is so hot your eye is repeatedly drawn back to it. What's not to like? About 8-10" high, maybe a foot across, dense green foliage, almost constant bloom, just really easy and really showy. Full sun, average watering, makes a really good small container subject too. All are hardy to USDA zone 4. They do really well here in our cool-summer USDA zone 9, and tend to bloom all year. rev 2/2019

'Kahori Pink'   retina-damaging intensity   closeup - sunglasses recommended!   circles of color   not new in a strict sense, but we've only had trial crops previously so this is their big hurrah. A very intense "blue pink," mauve, whatever you think is more appropriate. It is really, really intense, you just can't ignore it. I really like it! rev. 2/2019

'Kahori Scarlet'  closeup   a deep, striking scarlet red, darker as it ages, almost as electric as the two pinks. In full sun it appears mostly brilliant rose pink, in lower light the darker, richer red components dominate. Same habit, bloom vigor and everything else. rev 2/2019

'Neon Star'   (not currently in production)  flowers  another compact little gem, with neon pink flowers against grey green leaves. Short, to about 5-6" tall. rev 3/2010

'Olivia'   (not currently in production)   wow   like the porcine storybook character (???), this little perennial is lively and charming. Red and white flowers cover the green foliage in a mound 6-8" tall wide. Cool season bloomer. A bold sparkle in containers or dotted in the garden. Sun or part shade, average watering. Sunset zones 1-24/USDA 5. 10/2013-Suzy Brooks 

'Peppermint Star' PP20369   (not currently in production)   flowers   add sparkle to your pots or flower beds with this bright, single lavender flower with a dark pink eye. Vigorous and reblooming, it also has a spicy fragrance. About 8" tall and twice as wide, give it sun or part shade and average watering. An evergreen mound of grey foliage that looks great in groups, containers or lining a walk. All Sunset zones/USDA 5. rev 1/2013-Suzy Brooks 

'Pop Star' PP18222   (not currently in production)  fine foliage and a compact plant, only 7" tall with flowers, which are very frilly edged, lavender pink with a dark eye and spicy scented. A beauty in groups, containers, along a path, or in a border. Repeat bloomer, into fall with deadheading. Makes the cutest little bouquets! Needs well drained soil and can get along with little watering once established. Sun or part shade. Sunset zones 1-24/USDA 5. rev 5/2012-Suzy Brooks 

'Raspberry Surprise' PP16029   (not currently in production)  flowers  compact, blue grey foliage, double pink flowers are salmon pink with a darker raspberry zone in the center. Has a strong carnation scent, really nice! Great in containers, in with rocks, wherever you like it. rev 2/2010

'Raspberry Swirl'   (not currently in production)  first flowers  a relatively compact clumper, blue grey leaves, with arching sprays of single flowers, light pink with a stark, broad black maroon zone in the middle. Wonderful fragrance! To about 12" tall.  rev 2/2010

'Red Beauty'   (not currently in production)  flowers  small, very compact, silvery leaves and appropriately proportioned, deep red, zoned flowers with a spicy fragrance. Only 5-7" tall, adorable in groups or a masses. Sunset zones 1-24/USDA 4. rev 4/2012-Suzy Brooks 

'Rosie Cheeks'  flowers   see Devon Cottage

'Ruby's Tuesday'  gorgeous   see Devon Cottage

'Scent First Tickled Pink'  PP14919   (not currently in production)   powerfully fragrant flowers  a noseful of spicy fragrance and dark lavender, semi-double flowers on strong stems attract butterflies to your garden and make nice bouquets. Long blooming if old flowers are trimmed off, spring through fall. About 12" tall and wide. Just right for containers, edging, in the herb or vegetable garden or planted in groups in the border. Sun or part shade, average to little watering once established. Sunset zones 1-24/USDA 5. rev 3/2012-Suzy Brooks

'Shooting Star'  PP16431   (not currently in production)  cute little rose pink flowers  another new variety that just keeps blooming and blooming. Magenta pink flowers are displayed above grey green foliage that reaches about 7" tall. Easy to grow and fragrant. Sun or part shade. Use it in pots, along walkways, and in the herb garden. Sunset zones 1-24/USDA 5. rev 4/2011

'Starlette'   (not currently in production)   can you smell the vanilla and cinnamon fragrance?  from England comes a real beauty with frilly double raspberry pink flowers with a darker center. A repeat bloomer with terrific spicy fragrance and blue green leaves growing about 6-7" tall and wide. Use it in borders, along walkways, in pots, and as a cut flower. Sun or part shade, good drainage, and average watering. All Sunset zones/USDA 4. rev 3/2012-Suzy Brooks

Diascia 'Flirtation'®  TWINSPUR, BRIDE'S SADDLE   (not currently in production)  Flirtation Pink  typical compact growth (12" tall), typical endless clouds of bloom. Bicolor flowers are dark rose pink on the reverse, light pink on the face. Cute! Sun to part shade, average watering, best used as a very long annual, short perennial, or very best used as a somewhat longer lived container or combo element plant. Sunset zones 5-9, 14-24/USDA zone 7 (or annual). Genus is native to South Africa. rev 10/2009

Dicentra  BLEEDING HEARTS  deciduous or evergreen perennials grown for their pendant flowers and often striking foliage. Domesticated varieties prefer part shade. Fumariaceae. rev 6/2011

'Burning Hearts' PP 20797   (not currently in production) flowering  this spectacular sterile hybrid is finally available at a reasonable cost. It bears dark, intense rosy red flowers on short stalks against almost blue grey to almost blue white foliage. In addition it produces a modestly strong fragrance somewhere between Grape Crush and bubble bath. And if it never flowered it would still be be worth growing for its frosty blue foliage alone. It is not a tall grower in our climate, certainly under 8" total height, and spreads a little wider. Mature plants begin flowering about April and will continue sporadically through summer. Better and more vigorous with a reasonable amount of chill (500 hours?) but will survive on less. USDA zone 3/Sunset zones 1-8, 14-17, 23-24. rev 4/2012

eximia  (not currently in production) FRINGED BLEEDING HEART, EASTERN BLEEDING HEART   an Eastern species, restricted to the northern Appalachians, growing less than a foot tall. Plants we've purchased and sold in the past as D. eximia have on recent examination turned out to be D. formosa, and according to one source this is true for almost all of what's sold under this name. Key features separating the two  are that this species is smaller and most importantly solitary (vs. clumping/spreading) , and the tips of its inner petals extend beyond those of the outer petals whereas in D. formosa they do not. rev 4/2019

formosa   WESTERN BLEEDING HEART   mounds of delicate, ferny leaves, light green to blue green in color, with spikes bearing 8-12 flowers ranging from red through pale pink and white. Flowers most heavily in spring but new basal shoots can initiate with chill once they achieve seasonal maturity, yielding flowers through fall in some areas. Native from the Transverse Ranges north through British Columbia. rev 4/2019

‘Luxuriant’  (not currently in production)   closeup    a wonderful D. formosa hybrid, which hath been the recipient of an RHS Award of Garden Merit. Compact, low blue-green foliage with spikes bearing dark coral rose rose red flowers, well separated from the leaves. Flowers heavily in early spring then intermittently until fall on any new, mature shoots that experience chill. A most choice selection, performing well in mild winters or areas with heavy freezes, hot-summer areas or cool and worth growing for those wonderful blue green leaves alone. Did I mention I like it? rev 4/2019

spectabilis    closeup    very closeup    mature clump in a good climate (Walla Walla, WA), May   very tall in bloom (2'), very large leaves and very large, very looooooong horizontal flower spikes in spring which are held well above the foliage, less so later on. Deep rose pink and white flowers are also somewhat larger than other varieties, spikes are much longer. This species needs a good, long chill to be successful in the garden, but if it gets that good vernalization mature plants can reach 2-3' tall by 3-5' across, easily. Japan. rev 4/2019

‘Alba’ (not currently in production)    closeup    pure white flowers and lighter green foliage, otherwise the same as the pink form. rev 5/2019

Dichondra  PONYSFOOT small creeping herbaceous perennials grown for their foliage or as landscape ground-covers and lawn substitutes. Flowers are just a fraction of an inch across and are often not noticed. From two to ten species are recognized by various authors, all are native to warm areas of the world. When I was growing up Dichondra micrantha (Asian Ponyfoot) was used as a low-care lawn substitute, more so in Southern California than locally in the Bay Area, but eventually faded in popularity due to ubiquitous Dichondra Flea Beetle damage, which usually required replacement with grass. Two species are recognized as native to California, D. occidentalis in Southern California and D. donelliana in Central and Northern California. Randy Morgan showed me the latter growing in the meadow near the horse showgrounds along Graham Hill Rd. above Santa Cruz, it is humble but looks just like its domesticated cousin. Convolvulaceae (Morning Glory Family). rev 2/2019

argentea 'Silver Falls'    SILVER PONYFOOT, ALUMINUM VINE, SILVER NICKEL VINE   at Evelyn Weidener's    at Blue Bamboo Nursery    at Luis'  house   a better-than-average silvery form of this creeping, trailing perennial groundcover from the American Southwest desert (Western Texas, Arizona, etc.). It is almost completely flat, just mounding up several inches where thick, and will cascade vertically and with alacrity over walls or container edges. It is always at least somewhat deciduous in winter, even in our unheated greenhouses. It makes a striking specimen used by itself (as a featured container plant or hanging basket) and is of course a natural for mixed combos. It receives little water in its natural habitat and can get many feet across in the ground, rooting in as it goes, but it is going to want good drainage, full sun, and some degree of heat. In containers it needs average watering or less. It only grows under long-day conditions. USDA zone 9/Sunset zone 5-9, 14-24. rev 2/2019

sericea   SILVERLEAF PONYFOOT    Spring Trials HB specimen     a more southerly-distributed relative of D. argentea, differentiated by leaves which are noticeably larger and more luxuriant but not quite as silvery. The growth habit is also quite distinct, being compact, rounded and definitely not running or trailing in our experience, along with other small taxonomic differences. Use this form as a spot of silver for contrast with nearby flowers or foliage, or just to light up a cluster of rocks. At least part sun, average watering, most soils, great in baskets or anywhere it can let it all hang out. Cold hardy to around 25F before burning back completely to the soil surface. Neither this nor D. argentea will persist anywhere soils regularly freeze hard much below the surface.USDA zone 9a/Sunset 8-9, 14-24. Central and South America. rev 4/2019

Dichroa febrifuga    (not currently in production)   commercial landscape    closeup    winter foliage    striking blue berries   a Hydrangea relative that has smaller harder, more formal looking deep blue green and evergreen foliage, and rather modest fertile flower heads whose flower color changes according to soil conditions (pink-violet-blue). It likes part sun to shade, rich soil, regular to infrequent watering, and mulch. It looks especially good in formal, woodsy landscapes but it can be used almost anywhere. Under the right conditions the flowers can be quite a striking blue. They set very showy iridescent dark blue berries that are held from late summer through winter. It even continues blooming well through winter in our climate, with blue flowers set against foliage turned a healthy purple black by near-freezing night temperatures, a most attractive combination. To about 4' tall and wide. USDA zone 8/Sunset zones 8-9, 14-24. Apparently most plants in cultivation derive from a single collection from China. Southeast Asia. Hydrangeaceae. rev 3/2006

Dicksonia    TREE FERN    one of two common encountered species of tree ferns in California (the other is Cyathea), this genus tends to retain its stipe bases against the trunks. Dicksonia antarctica is the hardiest tree fern commonly available. See additional notes under Cyathea. Cyatheaceae. rev 8/2020

antarctica    SOFT TREE FERN, TASMANIAN TREE FERN    soft fronds    cleaned and naturally skirted, UC Berkeley Botanic Garden    commercial planting    row planting    natural stand under Eucalyptus    fine brown fur on croziers    the Fern Dell at Golden Gate Park    another fine commercial example    new fronds    happy, Paradise Park   to 15’ tall in cultivation, to about 40' tall and 400 years old in the wild in very protected situations. Bears a dense crown of light to medium green tripinnate (finely divided) fronds to 10’ long. The scientific name is misleading since it isn't found in Antarctica, and as far as the “Tasmanian” common name is concerned it is actually found throughout southeastern Australia, not just island of Tasmania. A short, tough segment of stipe (frond stem) remains attached to the robust, almost black trunk after the fronds dehisce, probably the easiest way for beginning tree fern enthusiasts to distinguish this species from the more gracile C. cooperi (see notes there, especially on cultural tips), which drops its fronds cleanly to leave an oval scar. The trunks are substantially thicker than  C. cooperi, up to a foot thick. This is the hardiest of the tree ferns commonly found in the trade in California, surviving 20°F often without damage, except that the fronds may be deciduous. This species is often encountered growing in thick  Eucalyptus groves in Australia, including heavily littered stands of E. globulus, and will tolerate the secondary compounds that usually stunt other plants. It grows best in shade to part sun, with regular watering, although plants will take relatively dry conditions when established. It is at its best growing under trees, with even diffuse light coming in from all directions and some wind protection from the trunks and overhead canopies. The fuzz from the frond stems is particularly obnoxious in this species and care should be taken to avoid getting it on sensitive skin and especially from getting into the eyes, where it can be quite dangerous. Australia. rev 8/2020

     The fronds of this species are held in a relatively upright position, especially if planted against a building or when supplied with light from predominately one direction. When growing in forests in nature it often has a much more horizontal habit, and dead fronds are often retained as a very ornamental skirt below the current season's growth. At higher elevations, populations often show many individuals whose fronds droop substantially with the onset of winter, probably as an adaptation to shedding snow. Some variation of frond habit can be seen in mixed plantings in cultivation. Some individuals are also of considerably smaller stature than others, a feature that would be quite a useful trait if it could be selected for.

     This is one of the very few species of tree ferns which will reroot if cut off above ground level. The cut trunks can be potted up in a nice, moist potting soil and if generously watered along the stem as well in the soil, and kept in a protected, shady, moist site, they will establish and grow with a reasonable degree of success. No guarantees, however. The cut trunk base WILL NOT begin growing again and if you landscaper tells you it will, fire him or her, hopefully BEFORE he or she has sawed it off to “shorten” it, as I have sadly seen done many, many times.

     Like most tree ferns, the growth cycle is rather seasonal. The previous year's fronds are retained until new growth pushes and hardens in spring, although some fronds can be produced at almost any time, and fronds can last more than one year. While mature  C. cooperi crowns often have no more than seven to ten fronds, large specimens of  D. antarctica can have in excess of eighty. For more information on tree ferns in general, see Ian Barclay's The Cold Hardy Tree Fern Web Page (link is here). Ian's excellent work and general tree fern enthusiasm has inspired me to attempt to expand our inventory of species, no easy task since there are no ready commercial sources of young plants. rev 3/2004

Didelta 'Dawn'  container  this is probably just a selection of the species carnea, which grows across a range of habitats in the form of various subspecies. One form grows as a a tight, silvery, hummocky mound to about 12-15" tall by 2-3' across or more, along the coastal strand of South Africa. Others are smaller, and inhabit the Namib Desert or Namaqualand. In many ways it acts like Osteospermum as far as flowering cycle, initiating buds under cool conditions. It needs little or no summer water, tolerates heat and light well with its furry white, leathery, semi-succulent foliage, and bears single, dark golden yellow flowers to about 2" across from late winter through early summer, or whenever it starts to get hot. It makes a nice silvery-cottony white statement even with no flowers. Figure frost to about 20-25F, likes at least average drainage, and likes its summers on the dry side. Expect it to go green in any amount of shade. Compositae/Asteraceae. rev 5/2010

Dietes vegeta    FORTNIGHT LILY    closeup    mature clump    clumping evergreen rhizomatous perennial bears dark green, iris-like foliage to 30" tall. Bears white flowers marked purple in the center on stalks to 3’ tall. This plant appears to be completely resistant to gophers, from my experience. Upright and evergreen, forming a clump to 2' tall and increasing slowly but inexorably outwards unless pick-axed and shoveled back into bounds. Can live happily in a container for many years if you take the time to rogue out the old, bloomed-out fans and dead flower stalks. Sun to part shade, little or no summer watering when established, damaged below 20°F. USDA zone 8/Sunset zones 8, 9, 12-24. South Africa. Iridaceae. rev 10/2017

'Sunstripe'   flowers against foliage  closeup, drizzly fog   backlight   a different look for Fortnight Lily, with yellow stripes running up the leaf plus the usual white and purple flowers. Heavy bloomer. rev 7/2019

'Variegated'    flowers    nicely used    leaves striped creamy white. Slower growing. rev 10/2017

Digiplexis 'Illumination Flame'   (not currently in production)    sunset colors at sunset   a hybrid between Digitalis and Isoplexis, this is a shrubby perennial foxglove with lipstick! Tall spikes of yellow orange flowers with violet red lips grow to 3' tall, and with side branching, blooms from late winter through fall. Large, textured, dark green leaves form a robust clump, a beauty in sun or part shade. Average to regular watering in well drained soil. Great in containers, beds, and borders. Sunset zones 8, 9, 12-24/USDA 8. rev 2/2014-Suzy Brooks 

'Illumination Raspberry'   (not currently in production)    strong color   strong stems of ruby colored flowers with speckled orange throats bloom and rebloom into fall. rev 4/2015-Suzy Brooks 

Digitalis   (not currently in production) perennial to biennial herbaceous plants, producing central stalks of flowers. Everything we've grown has acted as either chill-initiated at maturity or facultative short day plus chill. Plantaginaceae, previously Scrophulariaceae. rev 8/2016

dubia   (not currently in production)   softly felty, grey green leaves, upright stalks of light pink, spotted flowers produced almost all year in cool-summer climates, spring and fall in others. To about 18-30" tall by 24" across at most. rev 8/2016

Digitalis hybrid    (not currently in production) anything Digitalis x Isoplexus but not belonging to Cultivaris, who owns "Digiplexus©". rev 8/2020

'Foxlight Plum'     (not currently in production)   flower spike   a new cross from Ball Darwin Perennials, this perennial produces a 3' tall flower spike bearing tubular, bright rosy pink, outward-facing flowers, with throats speckled deeper maroon. It grows as a rosette of large, dark green leaves, and spikes seem to initiate during or close to short-day conditions, with the initiated stalks extending One of the stars of the summer garden, according to the hummingbirds I asked. Sun, average soil and watering, frost hardy to USDA zone 7/Sunset 5-9, 14-24. rev 10/2015

'Foxlight Rose Ivory'   (not currently in production)   check it out - pollinator and beneficial in the same shot!  another Ball Darwin Perennials introduction, this with dark green, slightly felty foliage and typical upright stalks of light rose flowers with warm, pale golden orange throats. Good for cutting, good for honeybees and other pollinators, good for beneficals, good for the Earth. Good for your conscience, good for your eyes and good for your garden too! Probably facultative short day initiation, without chill modification, as far as I can tell. Sun to half shade, average drainage, showing acceptable drought tolerance on established plants. USDA zone 9/Sunset zones 8-9. 14-17, 21-24. rev 9/2015

'Foxlight Ruby Glow'   (not currently in production)  glowing flowers   the third in Ball/Darwin Plant's series, this variety features glowing, ruby magenta, tubular flowers with rich orange-gold throats. Like the rest it will continue to initiate throughout fall, winter and early spring, and develop flowers from those buds right through most of summer. Sun, average soil/drainage, average to infrequent watering. This should be a good cut item but I'm having trouble getting them to reliably condition, as sometimes they wilt after cutting and sometimes not. rev 10/2015

Dioon edule  CHESTNUT DIOON   (not currently in production) first crop    a strong, tough cycad growing to over 12' tall in nature but rarely seen with trunks over 5' tall in collections. It has rather fine, blue green to grey green leaves to 6' long, forming a crown that spreads up to 10' across at maturity. The new leaves emerge with tiny, fuzzy hairs and a faint coppery color. It is very slow except under optimal conditions, and you should expect to use this plant for its wonderfully perfect rosette of foliage only. Growing an honest trunk takes patience, to say the least, with 5-40 years required for a foot of height. I have had palm/cycad enthusiasts tell me this plant is substantially more cold hardy than most realize. Although it drops its fronds at temperatures much below 28F, it reportedly simply acts as a deciduous plant down to about 20F, regrowing its crown in spring. I have seen it listed as surviving as low as 15F but I don't have any personal experience with it in hard freezes. It likes part shade, warm summer temperatures, and need some watering, though it is very drought tolerant. Like all cycads, this gymnosperm (cone-bearing, as opposed to flowering plants or angiosperms) is dioecious (Latin, "two houses," meaning male and female cones on separate plants). The female cones can be as large as your head. The seeds it produces are edible, but the skin of the seed is poisonous, carcinogenic by one report. Grow it in part shade in coarse soil if possible. It makes a superb container plant and even a good house plant with enough light. Mexico. Zamiaceae.  rev 9/2008

Diplacus (Mimulus) 'Jelly Bean' series   Dark Pink    Fiesta Marigold   Lemon closeup   Lemon against a clear blue sky!    Gold    Orange   Red    mix    this is the late, great Rich Pershoff's mind-blowing Jelly Bean Diplacus/Mimulus series, improved in many ways over the wild types as far as flower size and adaptability to nursery production and garden culture. Flowers are freely produced all year in our climate, from spring well into fall in areas with colder winters. Pacific Plug and Liner, a local plug source and Spring Trials host, maintained a few very large combo pots containing many of Rich's varieties near their entrance for several years. They performed spectacularly as commercial-situation container plants. None ever dropped out from disease or old age, or as far as I can remember, or even stopped blooming. In fact they all just got bigger and better every year until those pots were replaced. I think a few might still be there. Rich's breeding results are a great example of what can happen with carefully-directed, well-thought-out domestication selection. Simply by breeding successive generations of his last few remaining plants in each seedling block he was able to progressively to reduce or eliminate most production and garden problems, such as rotting out, sticky leaves that hold onto debris, extreme branch brittleness, foliage problems from overhead watering, seasonal flowering etc. These Jelly Beans are all really friendly and easy for wholesale growers, retailers, landscapers and gardeners They are reliably showy, and hummingbirds, pollinators and beneficials adore them. About 18" tall and wide, give them sun, good to average drainage, and average to very little summer watering. USDA zone 8/Sunset zones 7-9, 14-24. California native species alone were used to create these hybrids. Phyrmaceae, formerly Scrophulariaceae. rev 6/2019

grandiflorus 'Ray Collett' BIG SUR MONKEYFLOWER, STICKY MONKEY FLOWER   apricot flowers    compact habit    wild species form, Santa Lucia Mtns.   my personal favorite of all the Monkeyflowers. Large apricot orange flowers with long, frilly lower petals mature to intense orange. Foliage is dense, hard and glossy against burgundy stems, growth habit is mostly erect but very compact. This unnamed seedling was the only one of a few I got from UCSC to survive our wholesale growing environment. In fact it's thrived here, as well as in the ground at my mostly neglected property. It brings a very compact habit, those famously big, deeply cut, light apricot flowers along on a surprisingly tough, resilient and forgiving plant. It isn't sticky and so doesn't collect debris, it's reasonably forgiving of rough handling, it will cuts back as nicely or probably better than the Jelly Beans and it's tough as nails either in containers or where I forgot about it in the ground. My winter-spring plantings get one settling-in watering then nothing. Often they drop their leaves by mid-summer but come back in winter, sit still the next summer then start putting on growth the third after they've reached deeper soil moisture. I've grown it in dense, sandy clay, open mineral soils and very fine, deep, powdery black topsoil with no bottom and towering introduced weeds. In all situations it's a survivor. It needed a better handle than "UCSC orange" and since this was Ray's favorite monkeyflower I've named it after him. The species under this name is as now considered to have a split distribution, Big Sur and the Feather River area. Brett Hall of UCSC says this form may represent the latter population. Sun to mostly shade but always best with a few hours of direct sunlight, probably capable of surviving without irrigation, when established, anywhere native species are found growing close by. rev 6/2019

Distictus buccinatoria    RED TRUMPET VINE    closeup    small plant    one of the most glorious of perhaps the most gloriously showy families in the plant world. This is a fast, robust evergreen vine, ultimately to a very large size in favored locations, that bears 4-6" long, trumpet shaped, brilliant scarlet red flowers to over 3" across at the face, against medium yellow tubes, from mid spring through early fall. Bright yellow throats age to gold, then eventually dark rose pink just before the flowers fall. Flowers age to orange red and eventually lighter rose red. When new, the flowers look like they have been painted, the colors are so strong. They have a thick, heavy texture, almost like thin leather. The flower spikes have one flower per branchlet, 6-15 in a normal spike. Full sun, average to little summer watering when established. It often fails to bloom for one to three years after planting, especially with generous conditions (sun, water, fertilizer, good soil, ROOM TO SPREAD), as it channels energy to vegetative growth. Juvenile grown has small, compact foliage and relatively close internodes. Three to five fingered claw-like tendrils will attach it to any wall, even “smooth” concrete. Mature, flowering wood has larger leaves and slower growth. Damaged below 25°F but survived below 20°F all over Santa Cruz, resprouting easily from the tuberous roots. Mexico. Bignoniaceae.

     One of the most impressive plantings of this plant in the US, in fact one of the most impressive plantings of ANY plant in the United states, was the specimen which formerly completely covered the south face of the “A” Dorm at Merrill College at UC Santa Cruz. It formed a solid wall of flowers five stories tall by a couple of hundred feet long. It would have gotten bigger but it ran out of building. It lived from the late 1960's until some unknown point in the late 1980's or early 1990's when it was apparently either killed by frost (1990) or was removed by dain bramaged idiots. rev 5/2005

laxiflora    LAVENDER TRUMPET VINE, VANILLA TRUMPET VINE    closeup    habit    more flowers    a tender evergreen vine, very fast under most conditions but never ultimately anywhere near as large or vigorous as  D. buccinatoria. The leaves are rounder than  D. buccinatoria, glossier, and lack the wavy edge. Reportedly it can't take as much frost. The buds are ivory white with lavender purple tips, they open to deep, luxuriant, lavender purple to light royal purple flowers against the same ivory white tube, with white throats brushed with pale yellow. They grow to 3-4" long, 2" across the face, in branched clusters of over 20, often to 30-40, with three flowers per branchlet. They age to almost white before they fall, for a mixture of purple and white flowers. They have the strong fragrance of white jelly beans (mostly vanilla). Bloom time is more restricted than D. buccinatoria or 'Rivers,' being from mid-summer on. It clings by three-clawed tendrils. For protected spots in Northern and Central California, or a wider range of conditions in Southern California, it is probably severely damaged or killed below 20°F rev 1/2006

‘Rivers’    ROYAL TRUMPET VINE    closeup    a hybrid of D. buccinatoria and D. laxiflora, with flowers emerging deep violet purple against cream tubes flushed with pink, aging to rosy magenta, and eventually pale pink. The brilliant yellow throats age to rose pink before the flowers fall. Flowers from mid spring through late fall.  Leaves are half way in between the two parents, but it has the three to five-clawed tendrils of D. buccinatoria, the solitary flower branchlets like  D. buccinatoria, and the faint black lines on the twigs like  D. laxiflora. It seems a little more tender than  D. buccinatoria, but all the plants in Santa Cruz survived the sub-20°F temps of 1990 and quickly regrew. It is slightly less vigorous than D. buccinatoria. Several selections of this cross have reportedly been sold in the trade in the past, but material sold now is probably uniform. rev 5/2005

Dodonea viscosa v. purpurea   PURPLE HOPSEED BUSH    big bush, old image    compact, pruned specimen, Capitola     leaf detail     tiny flowers     greener juvenile foliage    have you noticed we're re-introducing plants from very early in our nursery history? Usually they're tough, drought tolerant varieties that have found new respectability and appeal in today's more water-conscious environment. This is still a great plant for hedges, screens or even use as a small tree, growing quickly to 10-15' (but images show, easily maintained much lower). The tough, raspy, willowy foliage takes considerable heat, dry wind, almost any soil, and needs little or no summer watering when established. Dark bronze leaf color is of course strongest in full sun and with minimal irrigation. It drops a small amount of litter: dry, easy-to-sweep leaves and in summer, seed heads from insignificant winter flowers. Bark is usually quite attractive on old plants, being stringy and often hanging in long shreds. This California-trade form was sourced from Australia but the species is much more widely distributed. It has survived 20F with minimal damage. USDA zone 8/Sunset 7-24. Australia. Sapindaceae. rev 7/2015

Doodia media   RASP FERNS  D. media and D. aspera fronds compared   clumping and slowly creeping ferns native to Australia and New Zealand. Some are quite drought tolerant, for ferns. Blechnaceae. rev 2/2018

aspera 'Rough Ruby'  PRICKLY RASP FERN   brilliant new growth    with older fronds  a more highly colored selection, with strikingly orange red, shiny new growth. Fronds are a little shorter, wider and more compact than in D. media, texture is a little rougher. Found in rocky soils in Eastern Australia. rev 2/2018

media   COMMON RASP FERN    new frond    at Blue Bamboo Nursery, Santa Cruz    at Strybing Arboretum    this clumping fern spreads slowly by short stolons, and bears rough-textured, slighty hairy, narrow, pinnate fronds to 16" tall. New growth emerges very coppery red in winter and spring, the fronds age to dark green. Part sun to full shade, average watering. Plants are found over a large area of Eastern and Southeastern Australia, some forms should be hardy to about 20°F without damage. To keep this species looking good, it can be given an occasional haircut in late January or February, just as the new fronds show signs of starting to push. Remove all old growth and it will be a much nicer, cleaner plant. rev 2/2012

Dorycnium hirsutum   CANARY CLOVER   nice small garden groundcover in Soquel    flowers   closer   wonderful seed pods    a soft-looking but surprisingly tough and robust evergreen groundcover perennial or subshrub. It grows as a low, dense mat of silvery, velvety foliage to about 6" tall, dense enough to smother weeds, eventually mounding to reach 12-20" or so and 3' or more across. A heavy show of white flowers aging to light rose or salmon pink is produced from late spring through fall, followed by small, quite ornamental mahogany-colored seed pods. This Mediterranean-climate plant can be used as a groundcover for moderate-sized areas in full to half sun. Needs at least average drainage and moderate to little watering when established. Based on recent genetic evidence this is probably better classified as Lotus hirsutus. USDA zone 8. Southern Europe, Asia Minor, North Africa. Leguminosae/Fabaceae. rev 6/2021

Doryopteris   a genus of small, clumping ferns, all bearing fronds that are roughly triangular in shape but cut into different interesting patterns. Sterile and fertile fronds tend to be almost identical. These are really best as house or patio plants and will need protection from hard freezes but they are so intriguing and rewarding they are worth that special spot. This genus is a good example of the amazing variety of form and habit that is out there in the natural fern world but is so poorly represented in cultivation. Widely distributed but mostly tropical, mostly New World and mostly small to medium size. Polypodiaceae. rev 6/2021

nobilis  uplifting  deeply cut light green fronds and wiry black stems, growing to 2' long with maturity (largest in the genus) and a warm, humid, protected situation. Smaller with more light, heat, and lower humidity. Can creep slowly but mostly clumping habit. Best in a container with rich, moist, drained soil, regular moisture, and bright indirect light. Sunset zones 21-24/USDA 10 or as house/patio/frost protected everywhere. South America. rev 7/2012

pedata    form    HAND FERN    a small clumping species with an attractive hand-like frond, to about 12" tall and 2' wide. Looks a lot like a heavily divided maple leaf, with nice black petioles. Striking and very nice in a container. Part sun to full shade, regular watering, I doubt it will take much if any frost. Tropical America. rev 8/2007

Draceana draco      DRAGON TREE, DRAGO    young Santa Barbara specimen   commercial landscape, Santa Barbara   Santa Cruz City Hall    a very stout trunk and thick branches support a dome of thick, pointy. grey green leaves. Very dramatic! Grows slowly to 25', with the trunk and stems branching after they flower. Cut stems exude the legendary, mythical "dragon's blood," a deep burgundy red resin, which dries to a hard, translucent, crystal-like material. It's quite useful if you decide you want to be mummified. The flowers resemble those of closely related Cordylines and other Dracaenas, being small, not showy and held in branched terminal spikes. Plant in sun or part shade, or use as a houseplant/patio plant where it gets cold in the winter. Needs really good drainage, little watering. For thick trunks it must be grown very dry. Makes a good large container specimen. Excellent large examples can be see at Lotusland in Santa Barbara. USDA 9. Canary Islands. Asparagaceae. rev 2/2021

Dragon Fruit    (Hylocereus hybrids) PITAHAYA, NIGHT BLOOMING CEREUS   fruit   another color   another color    exterior  another exterior   another exterior   typical flower    more   UC South Coast growing system   large, semiving to scandent cacti grown for their fruit and enormous flowers. Stems are usually three-ribbed, with weak marginal spines. The large fruits have a wonderful flavor and are increasing rapidly in popularity. Colors now vary due to hybridization efforts, with yellow, orange, pink and red fruits available and flesh varying from pure white through light pink, magenta, various shades of red and even very dark purple. Flavor varies but has been variously compared to plums, blackberries, kiwi fruit and even melon. They're always sweet, fragrant and mild and almost universally liked. Flesh is firm but spongy, slightly dry, softly grainy and almost Slurpee-like. Tiny black seeds contrast nicely and they're pleasantly crunchy, but never objectionable. Young plants grow quickly and usually start bearing the second year on horizontal or pendant branches. Best production comes in full sun but plants will tolerate some shade. They will take almost any soil and only need infrequent watering. Dragon Fruit are seen as a new high-value agricultural crop for Southern California by Romero Lobo of the UC South Coast Research and Extension Station, who is evaluating a range of varieties there. Romero says besides being drought tolerant they are cold hardy enough to be grown "anywhere you can grow a Hass avocado." In our more northerly areas they will of course need freeze protection (overhead protection, hoop houses, winter double frost cloth during freezes, etc.). Plants at the Field Station are grown on 18" high mounded rows with main trunks tied upright to 4" x 4" posts set 5-6' tall and spaced 4-6' apart in rows about 8' apart. Some systems in the tropics use no support at all, some here use just a post, some use T-posts with strong top wires running down the rows and some use hogwire fencing similarly, or even as just a large square above each post. For even more info check Romero's Dragon Fruit info page. rev 10/2018

'American Beauty'  (H. guatemalensis)   dramatic fruit    exterior is intense rose red with long, soft scales in contrasting bright green, interior is dazzling, fluorescent mauve pink. One of the highest brix ratings at the UC South Coast trials, moderate chill sensitivity, average fruit size, average production per plant, 43 days to harvest from flowering. rev 10/2018

'Delight'  red outside, pink inside. A Paul Thompson (CRFG co-founder) hybrid, reportedly his favorite according to a Cal State Pomona Nursery web page for this variety. They report fruit 3/4-1 pound, less than other online sites. I trust their numbers. rev 2/2021

'Edgar's Baby'    exterior is deep pink with green-tipped scales, interior is dark magenta pink to almost purple. rev 10/2018

'Vietnamese Jaina'    deep orange red exterior, scales tipped light yellow. Pure white interior shows off the tiny black seeds. Also sometimes spelled "Gaina." rev 10/2018

'Yellow Dragon'   (H. megalanthus)   calling all gardening-dreamers, braggarts and one-uppers!! Outstanding for its greatly superior flavor, sweetness and rarity, this variety is the only one currently available that bears bright yellow fruit, with small spines that are removed before eating. Flesh is white-translucent, delicious and with crunchy black seeds. Developed from a different species than most, this is the smallest fruit of all, with most maturing under 7 ounces. In SoCal California field trials this has been the latest to flower, resulting in fruit setting and ripening over winter (November - February) like cherimoyas and most other subtropical fruits. With the lowest tolerance to extremes of heat and cold as well success at either end of the state will likely depend on good siting, frost protection and attention to feeding plus adequate sunlight. rev 11/2019 - Alex Lucio

Drimys lanceolata    PEPPER TREE    small female flowers    at Strybing Arboretum   a neat, cone shaped to columnar shrub or tree to 10' (in cultivation), with very attractive, dark, almost holly-blue-green, tight, fine textured foliage which emerges coppery red. It makes a very good, tough, outstandingly dense clipped hedge of intermediate height. The new growth emerges dark red, and dark red twigs and stems offset the leaves nicely. Tiny flowers are ivory white, noticeable but not highly showy. Plants are dioecious (separate sexes) and currently ours are all females. If you are one of the very few with both sexes you will see enjoy small, purple black berries, which taste sweet then peppery. A small bite of the leaf (meaning just crush it, don't chew it all up!) will reveal the origin of its name. Those and the fruits are currently popular as for seasoning and bush tucker, and both have a range of culinary and medicinal applications. Sun to mostly shade, infrequent to generous watering, average to good drainage. Hardy to at least 15°F and probably lower. Southeastern Australia, Tasmania. Winteraceae. rev 6/2016

Drosanthemum bicolor  DEW FLOWER  shocking bicolor  you want to get really, really close to this one when it goes off in spring, the flowers are so intensely and perfeclty colored. To about 2' tall with an ope growth habit, it thrives in sun and heat without much water when established. Sunset zones 14-24/USDA 9. South Africa. Mesembryanthemaceae/Aizoaceae. rev 5/2018

Drosera   a genus of carnivorous sundews, catching insects with sticky hairs on its leaves as a source of nutrients. In fall some species develop growths called hibernacula (singular hibernaculum), a small, green, tight ball of partially developed leaf buds that serves as an overwintering form  usually associated with truly aquatic plants. Droseraceae. rev 11/2018

spatulata 'Fraser Island'  a small form native to an island just off the northeastern coast of Australia near Brisbane. Single plants grow to just 1", with beautiful chartreuse to golden leaves that turn bright coppery orange or red under warm daytime conditions (60-80F) plus high light. A mist of reddish sticky hairs traps insects until they die and act as fertilizer. Tall, thin, wiry flower stalks uncurl to about 6" in height and produce up to 20-30 small, 5-petaled white flowers per stalk which open 1-2 at a time. They are self-fertile and drop seed below to eventually form dense colonies up to several inches across. This form can dry out completely then sprout back from the roots, other forms can resprout after freezing as well. It is a widely distributed species, with populations ranging from China and Japan through the Philippines, Borneo, Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. Often listed a D. *spathulata*, a transcription typo that dates back to the 1820's. rev 11/2018

Dryopteris   about 300-400 species depending on the author or classification system, distributed on all continents except for Australia and Antarctica and centered in Eastern Asia. Twelve recognized North American species and eight hybrid species appear to have arisen through alloploidy and backcrossing. As a rule I avoid Dryopteris unless they do "something different." Back East this genus is valued just because many species are winter-hardy, evergreen or mostly so and form neat, circular rosettes. Here in California we have many more choices in that direction (Polystichum, Woodwardia, etc.), and we don't need yet another fern that looks like Western Sword Fern, or Japanese Tassle Fern. Though we'll "try anything" the varieties we continue to grow all do something distinctive and wonderful, so you should own them all, and multiple copies. rev 9/2020

cycadina (atrata)    BLACK WOOD FERN, SHAGGY SHIELD FERN    foliage    young plant    an evergreen species that bears rather broad sword-like fronds to 2’ long, pinnate, dark green, and with undivided pinnae. The trailing edges are finely toothed. The fronds are held in circular rosettes resembling  Polystichum polyblepharum (Japanese Lace Fern), but with dense black hairs (instead of brown) covering the crown and base and undersides of the fronds. This fern makes a great substitute for Western Sword Fern,  Polystichum munitum, which can be hard to establish or maintain in nice condition. This will need more summer watering, but is still reasonably tough and drought tolerant for a fern. It is also a little more formal looking, and very distinctive with its sophisticated black fur. Cut off all old fronds in February as the new ones just emerge to keep it looking especially nice. Shade, regular watering. Survived 20°F without damage in containers. USDA zone 5. China, southern Asia. rev 6/2016

erythrosora    AUTUMN FERN    new frond    Strybing Arboretum    why you grow it    just emerging    an evergreen fern with relatively small, dark green, shiny, bipinnate (twice divided) fronds to 18" long. New fronds appear glossy, bright rosy red, age to copper, then turn green by summer. Can push new growth in late summer as well. Part sun to shade, regular watering but somewhat drought tolerant when established. Frost hardy. China, Japan. Polypodiaceae. rev 8/2020