PLANT DATABASE  This information is for everyone to use to promote dissemination of what we believe to be correct.       We do not grow everything on these lists all of the time but are providing information often difficult to find.       If there are any errors, please email the webmaster at the bottom of the page so that we can correct it for everyone.

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Dalbergia sissoo

Indian Rosewood  Evergreen to semi evergreen tree to 50' by 30'.  Fast growth with water but quite frost tender.  Glossy green compound foliage.  Is a nitrogen fixer so can feed itself.  Luxurious looking but needs some hardening off to survive hard frosts.  Good for erosion control as it has a wide spreading root system.

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Dalea bicolor var. bicolor Monterrey Blue™

When you need a large background shrub with fall flower color, you might consider using Monterrey Blue™. This fast-growing shrub reaches a mature size of 6-8 feet tall by 5-6 feet wide, with a rounded form. In the fall months, delicate deep blue flowers spikes contrast with the fine-textured grey-green foliage. Monterrey Blue™ is deciduous in colder climates, and can be cut back in the late winter or early spring like Red bird of paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima). Plant this shrub in full sun and well-drained soil. It is hardy to 10° F. As with the other daleas, the flowers attract bees. USDA Zone 8.

Dalea capitata Sierra Gold™

This durable, semi-deciduous groundcover grows quickly to about 8 inches tall by 3 feet wide. Because of its compact size and tolerance to reflected heat, Dalea capitata is often used in tight planting areas, such as parking lot planters or street medians. Rabbits seem to avoid the bright green, fine-textured, aromatic foliage. Small yellow flower spikes carpet Sierra Gold™ in the spring and fall. Dalea capitata should be planted in full sun exposures, and well-drained soil. It is native to Mexico, and is root hardy to about 0° F. USDA Zone 6.

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Dalea dorycnioides Cerro Azul™

This evergreen shrub grows to about 5-6 feet tall and wide, with a naturally rounded form. Cerro Azul ™ is a winter bloomer, and was selected from a group of 100 seedlings for its showy spikes of purple-blue flowers. Flowers appear in the fall, and continue through winter and spring. While this plant prefers full sun exposures, it is tolerant of most soil types. Cutting this plant back hard for the first few years will encourage denser growth and more flower production. Cerro Azul ™ is hardy to 15° F. USDA Zone 8.

Dalea frutescens Sierra Negra™

Black Dalea Because it is a rare fall bloomer, Black dalea is an indispensable ingredient for desert landscapes. It the late fall, it is covered with masses of intense purple flowers that provide a striking contrast for our many yellow-flowering plants. Evergreen in the low deserts, this shrub forms a rounded mound of fine-textured grey-green foliage to 4 feet tall by 5 feet wide. Plant Black dalea in full sun, well-drained soil, and be careful not to over-water. It is hardy to 0° F. Bees converge on this shrub during the bloom season. USDA Zone 6. 

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Dalea greggii

Trailing Indigo Bush  If you are looking for a long-lived, durable ground cover that will require almost no maintenance, Dalea greggii is the plant for you. This tough ground cover thrives in full sun and reflected heat locations, forming a dense silvery mound to one foot tall by 4-6 feet wide. The fuzzy purple flower balls produced in the spring and early summer are not overly showy, although the bees seem to like them. Trailing indigo bush is a great choice for steep banks, or other areas where erosion control is needed. Trailing indigo bush is notorious for looking scraggly in nursery containers, but don't let that discourage you from trying it. Once established, it's one of the hardiest ground covers available! Just be careful not to mix this ground cover with water-loving plants, as it is susceptible to rotting out if over-watered. Dalea greggii is hardy to 15° F. USDA Zone 8. 

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Dalea lutea Sierra Moonrise™

When Sierra Moonrise™ blooms in the late fall the contrast between the deep green foliage and the yellow flowers is striking. In warmer areas this shrub is evergreen, but where temperatures drop to the mid-20's, it becomes partly deciduous. Plant Sierra Moonrise™ in full sun or part shade, and allow plenty of room, since this shrub can grow to 6 feet tall and wide. Cut back plants by one half to two thirds in late winter to encourage dense growth and more profuse fall flowering. USDA Zone 9.

Dalea pulchra

Indigo Bush  An Arizona native, Indigo bush thrives in full sun and reflected heat exposures. It also tolerates temperatures as low as 15° F. This evergreen shrub has an open, rounded growth form to 5 feet tall and wide. Its delicate silver foliage provides a striking contrast to the masses of violet flowers produced in the winter and early spring. Indigo bush is quite susceptible to over-watering, so plant it in well-drained soil and be careful not to kill it with kindness. The nectar-rich blossoms attract bees and butterflies. USDA Zone 8b.

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Dalea versicolor var. sessillis Mountain Delight™

This shrub has a long bloom period, beginning in the fall and continuing through early spring. Mountain Delight™ is evergreen, and a nice medium size, growing to 4 feet tall and wide. It thrives in the hot sun and reflected heat of low deserts, and is cold hardy to 10° F. Mountain Delight™ needs good drainage, and is happy in full or filtered sun. A severe pruning in late spring will encourage dense growth. USDA Zone 8. 

Dasylirion acrotriche

Durable accent.  Full sun.  Tolerates reflected heat.  Develops short, thick trunk while reaching mature size 6' tall by 5' wide.  Give room, as spiny leaf margins are sharp.  Resembles Dasylirion wheeleri but acid-green and faster. Bloom stalk to 10'.  The leaves terminate into a wisp of fibers.  Native in north-central Mexico.

Dasylirion quadrangulatum

Mexican Grass Tree  Toothless desert spoon Mexican grass tree is a spectacular accent plant that blends well in either tropical or arid gardens. As plants mature, they slowly form a trunk to 10 feet tall, and are crowned with a 6 to 8 foot rosette of narrow green leaves. The flexible, leathery, unarmed leaves measure approximately 1/4" wide by 4 feet long, and are arranged in whorls around the trunk. Older, established plants produce 10 to 12 foot tall flowers stalks annually. Mexican grass tree is native to Mexico, and is hardy to 15° F. It is adapted to exposures ranging from full sun to shade, provided that drainage is adequate. Mexican grass tree makes an excellent container plant. USDA Zone 8. 

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Dasylirion texanum

Durable, low-maintenance accent plant reaching 6' tall by 6' wide at maturity. Shiny, green leaves armed with stout, curved teeth, so care should be used in locating this plant in a landscape.  Cold tolerant. Not as deserty looking as wheeleri.  Give it room as teeth are sharp, Native in Texas and Chihuahua, Mexico. With age will flower with a slender, densely packed column of flowers. 

Dasylirion wheeleri

Desert Spoon, Sotol   Long-lived and low-maintenance, Desert spoon is a carefree accent for desert gardens. This tough plant is native at elevations from 3000 to 6000 feet in southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, west Texas and Mexico. It grows slowly to form a dense rosette of silver-blue foliage, to 4-5 feet tall and wide. Over time, it develops a stout, short trunk. Its most common form is a rounded, single head, although sometimes multiple heads are produced. The leathery leaves have teeth along the margins, and a spoon-shaped base that gives the plant its name. Desert spoon produces a narrow, 10 to 15 foot-tall spike of small tan flowers. Dasylirion wheeleri thrives in full sun and reflected heat, and even tolerates some shade and humidity if drainage is adequate. Desert spoon is hardy to 0º F. USDA Zone 7. 

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Dicliptera resupinata

Native Dicliptera  This little herbaceous perennial is native to southeastern Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Mexico. In full sun, it has an upright form, growing to 2 feet tall by 2-3 feet wide. In shady exposures, it becomes more open and spreading. Delicate light purple flowers grace the stems from April to October. After flowering, small papery bracts enclose the seeds. This plant freezes easily, but recovers quickly from the roots. Mass-plant this shrub under the filtered shade of desert trees for a natural look. This delicate-looking plant should be used near sitting areas or buildings, where its charms can be appreciated up-close and personal. It re-seeds quite readily. USDA Zone 9. 

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Dicliptera suberecta

South American native. Perennial to about 2'. Leaves are soft fuzzy light green about 3" long. Flowers occur in clusters in summer and are bright orange. Hummer attractor. Part shade in low desert. Frost sensitive so heavy pruning in late winter or early spring will make room for regrowth.

Diospyros texana

Large shrub to small evergreen tree. Bark is dappled silver gray, leaves dark green leathery, 15' x 15', Slow unless additional water, Fruit is purple and edible, Bark is one of the best features, Full sun, drought tolerant, some fruit litter some years It is one of the best of the small Texas native trees. Will grow best in shallow, rocky limestone soils but seems tolerant of most soils as long as placed in a sunny and well drained site.

Dodonaea viscosa

Hopseed can vary from green to purple leaves. Screen. Small tree. Evergreen 12-15' x 12'. Green forms from Arizona hardier. Green forms have varied leaf forms. Short lived. Suffers from chlorosis. Full sun. Drought Tolerant. Purple forms more colorful in cold. Do not overwater.  Moderate growth rate.  Will tolerate partial shade.  Susceptible to Texas root rot.

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Dodonaea viscosa purpurea

Purple Hopseed is a fast-growing shrub has an upright, branching habit that reaches a  height of 12-15', with willow-like leaves that are 4" in length. Its foliage is bronzy-green in color, which turns a reddish-purple shade in the fall and winter. It has compact growth and requires full sun for the best results.  

Drosanthemum hispidum

Iceplant  Gets larger than some to 2' and not as good as erosion control being that it is not a good root downer. Flowers are dark purple and nice.

Drosanthemum speciosum rosea

Iceplant  Durable groundcover well-suited to growing under desert trees and in other partial shade areas. Rosea iceplant will stay under 1' tall and spread to about 3'. Pink-purple blooms will cover this plant from spring to summer.

Duranta erecta

Brazilian Sky Flower, Golden Dew Drop  This vining shrub grows from 15-25' tall by 8-12' wide usually multi-stemmed. This plant blooms profusely with clusters of blue tubular flowers through the summer till frost. Orange-yellow berries follow the flowers.  Full sun and regular water are necessary to keep this shub looking its best.  South Florida, Central and South America. Some forms are armed with spines some not.  Berries are usually present 1/2" wide and bright orange and showy.

Duranta erecta ‘Sweet Memory’

Golden Dew Drops is usually a multi-stemmed vining shrub that grows from 15-25' tall by 8-12' wide. This plant blooms profusely with clusters of violet - purple tubular flowers that are fringed with white. It will bloom from summer till frost. Attractive orange-yellow 1/2" berries follow the flowers. Full sun and regular water are necessary to keep this shrub looking its best.  It is native to south Florida, Central and South America.  Some forms are armed with spines while some not.  Hardy to 10 ° F. USDA Zone 8.

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