KY Garden Flowers - Dahlia to Dyssodia

*Dahlia*	*Dendranthema*	*Dicentra*	*Dolichos*
*Delphinium*	*Dianthus*	*Digitalis*	*Dyssodia*

Dahlia Hybrids - Garden Dahlia

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
pink, yellow, orange, white, lavender, red	12"- 60"	midsummer to frost	aphids, Japanese beetles, spider mites, thrips	bedding plant, cut flower, specimen, containers	seeds, cuttings, tubers

Performance – Dahlias are great garden flowers because they have large flowers with many clear sharp colors. These plants prefer moderate temperatures, somewhat cooler than Kentucky conditions. The plants produce large, thick tubers that can be dug and stored over winter and replanted in the spring. They prefer full sun to partial shade in a well drained soil. Dahlias can be a high maintenance garden flower that requires regular fertilization and pesticide applications.

Comments - Large dahlias are generally grown from tubers. Seed propagated dahlias may not tolerate the hot Kentucky summer and are often smaller and inconsistent bloomers. New bedding type cultivars are available from cuttings and perform more consistently than those from seed.

Varieties -
seed - 'Caruso' series, 'Figaro' series, 'Sunny Yellow', 'Redskin', 'Rigoletto'
cuttings - 'Dahlietta' series, 'Dahlinova' series, 'Gallery' series, 'Jackpot' series, 'Longlife' series

Delphinium x cultorum - Delphinium, Larkspur, Hybrid Bee Delphinium

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
blue, white, violet and pink	4 - 6 ft.	midsummer	powdery mildew, fungal blight, aphids, slugs	background, specimen, cut flower	seeds, cuttings, careful division

Few flowers are more impressive than delphiniums.

Performance - Delphiniums are a cool season perennial that generally lasts only 1-2 years in Kentucky. They require an excellent garden site and should be protected from the winter wind. Seeds are easy to start indoors and will bloom the first year. If seeds are sown outdoors they will flower the second year of growth. Cut back the plants after flowering to promote new growth.

Comments – Many beautiful cultivars are available, but none are reliable in Kentucky. Delphiniums are susceptible to many diseases, so it is important to plant in disease free soil and plant no contaminated plants within its vicinity. The seeds and seedlings are poisonous if eaten.

Varieties 'Giant Pacific Hybrid' series, 'Dwarf Pacific Hybrid' series, 'Magic Fountains' series.

Dendranthema x grandiflorum - Garden Mum, Hardy Chrysanthemum

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
yellow, orange, red, bronze, white, lavender	12"- 36"	late summer to frost	spider mites, thrips, leafhoppers, aphids	border, fall display, cut flower	division, cuttings

Performance - Garden mums are not reliably perennial in Kentucky gardens. Some gardeners have good luck - their plants will perform well for years, while others never have good luck with these plants. Garden mums should be grown in full sun in moist, well drained soil. Regular fertilization will increase the growth and flowering of this plant. Flowers may form in late spring and early summer; in general, these flowers need to be removed in order to have good flowering in the fall and to promote a bushy habit. More information is available at:

More information and photos in HortFacts 50.11 06 – Mums and Daisies.

Dianthus - Pinks

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
pink, purple, rose, red, white	6"- 18"	spring, early summer	leaf spot diseases	rock gardens, edging, borders	seed, cuttings, division

Performance - Pinks are a close relative of carnation. They are cool season plants that are reliable perennials in Kentucky. Most flower in spring, but a few will flower sporadically in the summer and fall. Although they prefer a full sun location, some will deteriorate in the dry, hot summers of Kentucky. It is best to remove all flower stems after flowering, on some types this will stimulate more flower production.

Comments - Division is best done in the spring. Plants do best when spaced to provide air circulation. Pinks prefers well drained soil.

Dianthus x allwoodii - Allwood Pinks - 'Frostfire'
Dianthus barbatus - Sweet William
Dianthus caryophyllus - Garden Carnation - 'Grenadine'
Dianthus chinensis - Dianthus, Garden Pinks - Common at garden centers in the spring. 'Charm' series, 'Super Parfait' series, 'Carpet' series
Dianthus gratianapolitanus - Cheddar Pink - 'Bath's Pink'. Bath's Pink performs very well in Kentucky. It may be the first type of dianthus that you plant in your garden.
Dianthus hybridus - Dianthus, Garden Pinks - (D. chinensis x D. barbatus) - These pinks are the most commonly available at garden stores. 'Floral Lace' series, 'Diamond' series, 'Ideal' series, 'Melody' series, 'Princess' series, 'Telstar' series
Dianthus plumarius - Cottage Pink, Garden Pink - 'Itsaul White', 'Aqua'


Dianthus deltoides ‘Brilliant’	Dianthus hybridus ‘Neon Cherry’	Dianthus chinensis ‘Charm’

Dicentra eximia - Fringed Bleeding Heart, Plume Bleeding Heart, Staggerweed

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
pink or purple	12" - 18"	early summer	aphids	wild flower garden, shaded bed, cut flower	division, root cuttings, seed

Performance - Fringed bleeding hearts is a reliable perennial in Kentucky. It grows best in partial shade with a well drained humus rich soil. The foliage does not die back in the winter, but it will not tolerate dry conditions in the summer or wet conditions in the winter.

Comments - Native to Kentucky, the plant is excellent to grow in woodland settings or in formal beds. It is best propagated by division in the Spring. Seeds should be fresh if germinated.

Dicentra spectabilis - Bleeding Heart, Lyre Flower, Japanese Bleeding Heart

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
rose and white	15"- 36"	late spring	aphids, stem rot, wilt	shaded border, cut flower	seeds, stem or root cuttings

Performance - Bleeding Heart grows best in partial shade with adequate moisture, especially during hot summer months. This spring plant will often go dormant during the summer if it is too dry. In the right garden location, it is a reliable perennial in Kentucky.

Comments - The foliage often dies back after it has bloomed so a filler plant is often needed to fill the void in the garden. This is considered an old fashioned flower and is considered a strong grower.

Digitalis purpurea - Common Foxglove

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
rose, violet, white or pink	24"- 48"	late spring	few	borders, specimen plant	seed, division

Performance - Foxglove is a traditional garden flower that is not reliably hardy in Kentucky. It can be grown in full sun or a garden that receives some afternoon shade.

Comments - The long, hot, dry Kentucky summer usually prevents this plant from being a good garden perennial.

Varieties - 'Foxy', 'Alba', 'Excelsior', 'Apricot'

Dolichos lablab - Hyacinth Bean, Lablab Bean, Bonavista Bean

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
lavender purple	8 - 20 ft.	late summer, fall	few	fences	seeds

Performance - Hyacinth bean is an aggressive, fast growing warm season vine that can make quite a garden specimen. Although it is an annual in Kentucky, it usually self sows or a gardener can save seeds from year to year. Plant seeds after all chance of frost is past, this plant likes the hot days of summer.

Comments - Flowers generally appear in late July followed by striking purple seed pods. These pods make a striking addition to summer cut flower arrangements.

Dyssodia tenuiloba - Dahlberg Daisy, Golden-Fleece

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
golden yellow or orange	6" - 8"	summer	few	edging, bedding or hanging baskets	seed

Performance - Dahlberg Daisy is an annual which grows best in full sun with well drained soil and is very heat tolerant.

Comments - It is not a very well known annual, but is excellent in the garden for its long bloom time, delicate nature, and consistent performance.

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