Looking for some new greenery to add to your garden or home? Let’s look at plants that start with d – dazzling and diverse. This group offers everything from dramatic flowers to durable shrubs, ensuring there’s a perfect ‘D’ plant for every gardener.
You’ll find options for sun and shade, wet soil and dry. Whether you need a groundcover, a tree, or a stunning bloomer, this list has you covered. Get ready to meet some fantastic plants that will bring year-round interest to your space.
Plants That Start With D – Dazzling And Diverse
This collection highlights the true range of ‘D’ plants. They come from all over the world and suit many garden styles. You can plan a whole garden theme just using plants beginning with this one letter.
Flowering Favorites
These plants are chosen primarily for their beautiful blooms. They provide color and often lovely scent.
- Dahlia: A summer and fall superstar, dahlias offer incredible variety. Their flowers range from tiny pompoms to giant dinner-plate sizes in almost every color except blue.
- Delphinium: Known for their tall spikes of blue, purple, or white flowers, delphiniums add vertical interest to cottage gardens. They prefer cooler summers.
- Dianthus: This group includes pinks, carnations, and sweet william. They often have a spicy, clove-like fragrance and frilly petals in pink, red, or white.
- Daffodil (Narcissus): A classic spring bulb, daffodils are one of the first signs of the season. They are deer-resistant and naturalize easily, coming back year after year.
Foliage & Structural Plants
Not all impact comes from flowers. These plants have remarkable leaves, forms, or bark.
- Dracaena: Popular as a houseplant, many dracaena species have striking, often variegated, sword-shaped leaves. They are very tolerant of indoor conditions.
- Dogwood (Cornus): While some dogwoods are grown for flowers, others are prized for their brilliant red or yellow winter stems, like the Red Twig Dogwood.
- Dusty Miller (Jacobaea maritima): Valued for its silvery-white, felt-like foliage, it’s a fantastic contrast plant in containers and borders, brightening up dark green leaves.
- Dicksonia antarctica (Tree Fern): This plant adds a prehistoric, tropical feel with its large, arching fronds. It needs a sheltered, moist spot to thrive.
Edible & Useful Plants
Some ‘D’ plants are as practical as they are pretty, offering food or other uses.
- Dill: An essential herb for pickling, dill has feathery leaves and attractive yellow flower umbels. It’s easy to grow from seed and attracts beneficial insects.
- Daylily (Hemerocallis): While admired for their flowers, many daylily buds and petals are edible, often used in stir-fries or salads. Note: only consume if you are certain of the variety and it hasn’t been treated with chemicals.
- Damson Plum: A small, tart plum perfect for jams, jellies, and baking. The trees are hardy and produce beautiful white spring blossoms.
How to Choose the Right ‘D’ Plant for You
With so many choices, picking one can be tricky. Follow these simple steps to narrow it down.
- Check Your Hardiness Zone: First, know your USDA plant hardiness zone. A tropical Dracaena won’t survive a snowy winter outdoors, and some perennials need a cold period.
- Assess Your Light: Watch your garden for a full day. How many hours of direct sun does the area get? Full sun (6+ hours) is needed for Dahlias, while Hostas (also starting with H!) prefer shade, unlike many D plants.
- Test Your Soil: Is it sandy and fast-draining or heavy clay? Most plants on this list prefer well-drained soil, but some, like Dogwoods, can tolerate wetter feet.
- Consider Maintenance: Be honest about how much time you have. Low-maintenance options like Daffodils or Dwarf Conifers are better for busy gardeners than high-need plants like some hybrid Dahlias.
Planting Tips for Success
Once you’ve chosen your plant, giving it a good start is key. Here’s a basic guide.
- Timing is Everything: Plant perennials and shrubs in spring or early fall. Plant summer bulbs like Dahlias after the last frost. Plant spring bulbs like Daffodils in the fall.
- Dig the Right Hole: The hole should be twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper. This encourages roots to spread out easily into the surrounding soil.
- Water Wisely: Water deeply immediately after planting. Then, establish a regular watering schedule, keeping the soil moist but not soggy for the first growing season.
- Add Mulch: Apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch around the base. This helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Keep mulch away from direct contact with stems.
Common Issues and Solutions
Even the best gardeners face problems. Here are a few common ones with ‘D’ plants.
- Dahlias and Slugs: Young dahlia shoots are a favorite of slugs. Use organic slug bait, copper tape, or beer traps to protect them in the spring.
- Yellowing Leaves on Dracaena: This is often caused by overwatering or fluoride in tap water. Allow the soil to dry out more between waterings and consider using filtered or rainwater.
- Delphiniums Falling Over: Their tall flower spikes can topple in wind or rain. Stake them early in the season with bamboo canes and soft ties to provide support.
- Poor Bloom on Daffodils: If they have lots of leaves but few flowers, they may be too crowded. Dig up and divide the clumps after the foliage has yellowed in late spring.
Design Ideas Using ‘D’ Plants
Think about how these plants can work together in your landscape.
- A Dramatic Container: Combine a spiky Dracaena marginata with trailing Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ and a central flowering Dahlia for a pot with height, texture, and color.
- A Spring Border: Plant a drift of Daffodils in front of a Forsythia (not a D, but a great partner) for a burst of early yellow. Underplant with Dianthus for later color.
- A Foliage Focus: Mix the silver of Dusty Miller with the dark green of Dogwood shrubs and the architectural form of a Dwarf Alberta Spruce for a textural, year-round display.
FAQ
What is a good shade plant that starts with D?
The Dead Nettle (Lamium) is an excellent groundcover for shade. It has variegated leaves and produces small flowers. Hostas are the classic shade plant, but they start with H, of course.
Are there any drought-tolerant plants that start with D?
Yes! Delosperma (Ice Plant) is a superb, flowering succulent groundcover for hot, dry spots. Sedum (Stonecrop) is another great drought-tolerant option, though it starts with S.
Which D plant is easiest for beginners?
Daffodils are incredibly easy. You plant the bulbs in fall, and they reliably come up every spring with little care. Dill is also very simple to grow from seed directly in the garden.
Is there a tree that starts with D?
Absolutely. The Dogwood tree (like the Flowering Dogwood, Cornus florida) is a beautiful small ornamental tree. The Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is a famous tree, though it’s only grown outdoors in very warm climates.
From the dependable Daffodil to the dazzling Dahlia, plants that start with d offer endless possibilities. Their diversity means you can fill almost any garden niche. By considering your conditions and following basic planting care, you can enjoy these wonderful plants for seasons to come. Why not try adding one or two to your garden this year?