LEGUMINOSAE. Showy tropical and sub-tropical trees, shrubs and climbers grown for their spectacular flowers and feathery foliage. They are favorites in warm regions and as greenhouse subjects in the North. Easily grown from seed which is best soaked 12 - 24 hours in hot water, and those that do not swell lightly filed. Sow in sandy soil, keep warm, and pot off when the first true leaf shows. Germinates in 2 weeks to 4 months or more. Ordinary well-drained soil is best, and not too rich. They grow rapidly, and in cold climates will often flower in fairly small pots; the dwarf species are best for this. Warm, sunny, dry places are best. Some can survive down to 10 - 20°F, and are hardy to Washington D.C. The seed of some can float for years in seawater, being carried thousands of miles, to even arctic beaches.
—Caesalpinia cacalaco. (5,h) CAES-6. Packet: $3.00
Treated with Sevin, and then washed.
'CASCALOTE', 'HUISACHE BOLA'. Large yellow or red flowers in long racemes. Grey-barked tree or shrub with pinnate leaves and 4 - 6" reddish pods. México. The pods contain considerable tannin & are used for dyeing. The seeds are eaten, the wood gives good charcoal, and the bark is used as a toothache remedy. Nick seed, germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
NEW—Caesalpinia mexicana. (e,h) CAES-16. Packet: $2.00
'RETAMILLA', 'TABACHIN DEL MONTE'. Showy yellow flowers in long racemes, followed by flat pods. Shrub to 6 feet, occasionally becoming a small tree to 30 feet. México. An excellent ornamental for the greenhouse. Nick seed to germinate in 2 - 4 weeks.
CALAMINTHA (ka-la-MIN-tha)
LABIATAE. Eurasian perennials grown for their tubular flowers or as flavoring and tea.
—Calamintha grandiflora. (c,v) CALA-10. Packet: $2.00
'ELFIN PURPLE CALAMINT'. Purple-rose 1 1/2" tubular flowers from May to July. Hardy aromatic perennial to 8", forming a nice mound of foliage. S. Europe. Zone 5. Good in part shade under trees.
CALENDULA (ka-LEN-du-la)
COMPOSITAE. Showy hardy annuals and perennials with large yellow & orange daisies. Easily grown, thriving in the poorest soils and harsh conditions. Sow where they are to stand in early spring, or in July to September for winter flowering pot plants. Cool weather plants which should be sown in fall in California and the South. Self sows and good for naturalizing. Long-lasting cut flowers. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks, best in the dark, so cover 1/4" deep. Keep out of burning summer sun. Nearly everblooming in mild climates. Seed viable 8 - 10 years.
Calendula officinalis Varieties:
'POT MARIGOLD'. Hardy annual to 1 - 2 feet. Cultivated since before 1573 for the showy flowers which are used in broths, soups, conserves and for coloring butter. Also had many medicinal uses, and was mentioned in herbals as early as Albertus Magnus' 13th century work. The petals were said to 'comfort the heart and spirits'. "No broths are well made without dried marigold." —Stevens, 1699. The fresh petals are colorful in salads. The single flowered varieties are closest to the wild ancestor, and the doubles produce an abundance of petals for the kitchen. Should be in every cook's garden.
—Calendula officinalis Black-Centered Golden Princess. (b,h) CALN-7GP. Packet: $2.00
Long-stemmed quilled flowers. Specially selected for commercial cut-flower production. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Calendula officinalis Black-Centered Orange Princess. (b,h) CALN-7BOP. Packet: $2.00
Long-stemmed quilled flowers. Specially selected for commercial cut-flower production. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Calendula officinalis Indian Prince. (b,h) CALN-7PR. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 80% Tested: 9/07, 4260/Oz, 1/2 Oz: $6.00, Oz: $8.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
Deep orange double flowers with red petal-backs. Tall plants to 2 feet with long stems, bred for cutflower production. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Calendula officinalis Pacific Beauty Mix. (b,h) CALN-7PX. Packet: $1.50
Germination: 73% Tested: 12/07, Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $10.00
Excellent cut-flower strain, with uniform long straight stems to 2 feet. Shades of apricot, creamy yellow, golden yellow, lemon yellow with dark eye, and deep orange with eye. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Calendula officinalis Pot Marigold. (b,h) CALN-7W. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 76% Tested: 11/07, 10 grams: $6.00, 25 grams: 10.00
'POT MARIGOLD', 'SOLIS SPONSA'. The wild form from Europe. Germinates in 1 - 5 weeks, sometimes part dormant, so 4 weeks prechill helps.
NEW—Calendula officinalis Triangle Flashback. (d,h) CALN-7TF. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC SEED
Striking fully double flowers with maroon petal-backs and faces in pastel pink shading to yellow in the center. Also called 'Zeolights'. Organically grown.
"Mathematics has no existence on its own. It is merely an arbitrary code devised to describe physical observations or philosophical concepts." —Asimov.
CALLA (KAL-la)
ARACEAE. A single species.
—Calla palustris. (c,v) CALLA-4. Packet: $3.00
'WILD CALLA', 'WATER DRAGON'. Miniature white 2" calla lilies in midsummer. Very hardy creeping perennial to 12", with shiny green oval to heart-shaped leaves. Red berries in fall. North Temperate regions. Zone 4. Good in shallow water or at pondside. The roots were processed for flour. Seed germinates in 3 weeks and up.
CALLIANDRA (ka-lee-AN-dra)
LEGUMINOSAE. Showy tropical shrubs and trees grown for their striking flowers and feathery foliage. The name means 'beautiful stamen', aptly describing the long, plume-like stamens. Easily grown in the greenhouse and warm regions. Soak seed overnight, nick unswollen ones, germinates in 2 - 4 weeks.
—Calliandra eriophylla. (e,g) CALLI-32. Packet: $2.00
Seed has been treated with Sevin, then washed.
'FAIRY DUSTER'. Showy red-purple puff-like 3/4" flowers, followed by 2" pods. Small shrub to 1 - 3 feet tall & 5 feet wide, with feathery pinnate foliage. California to Texas & México. The northernmost Calliandra, standing harsh desert conditions & much frost. Probably hardy to minus 10 degrees F.
—Calliandra surinamensis. (5,g) CALLI-146. Packet: $3.00
Large, showy, puff-like red to pink and white flowerheads to 3" across. Large shrub or small tree with feathery pinnate leaves. Northern South America. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks. Does not need nicking.
CALLICARPA (kal-li-KAR-pa)
VERBENACEAE. Nice shrubs & trees with clustered small flowers followed by bright fruits. Mostly tropical, but some hardy to Zone 5, where they renew from the roots. Tender kinds are good in the greenhouse.
—Callicarpa dichotoma. (b,h) CALI-8. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 99% GA-3 Tested: 1/08, Gram: $5.00, 5 grams: $12.00
Clustered pink flowers in July and August, followed by edible lilac-violet fruits. Compact shrub to 4 - 5 feet, with 3" leaves. Japan, China. Hardier than most, to Zone 5. Use GA-3 to germinate in 2 - 4 weeks. Six weeks cold treatment also works.
CALLIRHOE (ka-LIR-o-ee)
MALVACEAE. Hardy N. American annuals & perennials grown for their profusion of showy flowers & attractive foliage. Easily grown in sunny areas & thriving in poor dry soils, giving a long period of summer bloom. Sow in early spring to germinate in about 3 weeks. They "...are of easiest culture, and deserving of much greater popularity." —Taylor.
—Callirhoe involucrata. (c,g) CAL-20. Packet: $2.00
Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $20.00
'WINE CUPS', 'POPPY MALLOW'. Bright red 1 1/2" wide flowers produced in profusion. Hardy trailing perennial to 1 foot or so, with deeply divided leaves. N. Dakota to Texas. Good in dry soil. The sweet starchy roots are cooked & eaten, and the leaves used to thicken soups. For best germination, give a hot water soak, then rub husks off, to germinate in 1 - 4 weeks. Well worth the effort!
CALLISTEMON (ka-li-STE-mon)
MYRTACEAE. Among the showiest of Australian shrubs, with profuse bottlebrush-like flowers. Good landscaping material in California.
NEW—Callistemon species. (a,g) CALST-S. Packet: $2.00
'RED BOTTLEBRUSH'. Bright red bottlebrush flowers in spring. Drought tolerant shrub to 7 - 12 feet, with narrow, pointed 1 - 2" leaves. Stands some frost. Excellent landscape plant for California. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
CALLISTEPHUS (kal-li-STEF-US)
COMPOSITAE. A single species. Easily grown garden annual, sown in spring where they are to grow.
—Callistephus chinensis Crego Mix. (a!,h) CAPH-CX. Packet: $1.50
Germination: 88% Tested: 9/07, Oz: $5.00
'CREGO ASTER'. Old fashioned robust type with 4" wide chrysanthemum-like blooms in various colors. Annual to 2 feet. Wilt resistant. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
CALOCEDRUS (kal-o-SED-rus)
CUPRESSACEAE. Several ornamental conifers from E. Asia and W. N. America, formerly classed as Libocedrus. Easily grown and highly ornamental.
—Calocedrus decurrens. (c,g) CACD-7. Packet: $2.00 OUT OF STOCK
Oz: $7.00, 1/4 lb: $20.00 OUT OF STOCK
PERISHABLE. AVAILABLE DECEMBER to MAY ONLY!
'INCENSE CEDAR', 'YULIL' (Cauhilla name), 'SPO KA-LA' (Yokia name). Beautiful dark green shining foliage in flat sprays. Neat, conical tree 50 - 150 feet, with reddish brown bark. Oregon & California. The fragrant foliage is used in Indian smudge mixtures. Slabs of bark used for making conical houses, & the rot-resistant wood used for bows. Hardy to Zone 3 or 4 at least. Easy from seed. Germinates in 3 - 6 weeks, & 1 - 2 months cold helps.
CALOCHORTUS (kal-o-KOR-tus)
LILIACEAE. Attractive bulbous plants from W. N. America. The flowers of many are of extraordinary beauty. Best in light soil with good drainage, excessive moisture being detrimental. Most do well in pots. Cold desert species need cool (40 - 50°F) temps. for germination; sowing a. 70°F may be harmful.
—Calochortus albus. (d,v) CALOC-4. Packet: $2.00 Click for photo »
'FAIRY LANTERN', 'GLOBE LILY', 'SNOW DROPS', 'INDIAN BELLS'. Nodding white globular 1 1/4" flowers on stems to 2 1/2 feet, in April to June. Bulb with strap-like basal leaf to 1 - 2 feet long. Wooded slopes of central California. "Never was a flower more exquisite in texture and fringing—never one more graceful in habit." —Parsons. "With this plant the whole world would seem rich, though none other existed." —John Muir. Needs well-drained soil in part shade. One of my earliest botanical memories is of examining the odd, dark green, strap-like single basal leaf of these bulbs, as they lay upon the bare ground. Rest dry in summer.
—Calochortus macrocarpus. (b,v) CALOC-76. Packet: $2.50
1/4 Oz: $10.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
'NOONA', 'GREEN - BANDED MARIPOSA'. Large purple-lilac 2" bell-shaped flowers with green bands and pointed petals. Hardy bulb to 20 Deserts, from B.C. to California. The large bulbs were eaten by Indians and are said to be "The acme of all that is delicious", and the flowers are "The finest and most elegant of all..." —Parsons.
"Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is the best." —Frank Zappa.
CALONYCTION (kal-o-NIK-tee-on)
CONVOLVULACEAE. Large twining half hardy perennials grown as annuals for their large and showy, fragrant, trumpet-shaped, night-blooming flowers. They are beautiful free-flowering vines, their night-scented blooms make them excellent for covering trellis work by summer porches and bedroom windows. Nick seed or soak overnight in warm water till swollen. Germinates in about 2 weeks. Sow early and plant out in May. Easy.
—Calonyction aculeatum (=Ipomoea alba). (e,h) CALON-1. Packet: $1.25
Germination: 90% Tested: 9/07, Oz: $5.00, 1/4 lb: $10.00, lb: $20.00
'GIANT MOONFLOWER'. Large, white, sweetly scented 3 - 6" wide trumpet shaped flowers which open rapidly in the evening, and sometimes stay open till noon the next day. Fast growing twiner to 10 - 20 feet, with handsome heart-shaped leaves. Tropical America. In Panama, the leaves and calyces are eaten as a vegetable, as are the young seeds.
CALOSCORDUM (kal-o-SKOR-dum)
LILIACEAE. A single species.
NEW—Caloscordum neriniflorum. (e,g) CALOS-4. Packet: $3.00
Bright pink Nerine-like flowers in clusters of 10 - 20 on stems to 8" in late summer. Hardy perennial Allium relative from Pakistan to N. China. Zone 4 at least. Germinates at warm temperatures.
CALYCANTHUS (ka-lee-KAN-thus)
CALYCANTHACEAE. Easily grown aromatic shrubs from North America and east Asia. Valued for their fragrant summer & fall flowers. Best in well-drained somewhat rich soil in sun or shade. Sow in spring.
NEW—Calycanthus chinensis. (d,h) CALY-1. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $8.00
'CHINESE SWEETSHRUB'. Nodding white to cream Camellia-like 2 1/2 - 3" wide flowers with pink-tinted yellow centers, sometimes with maroon markings, in spring and summer. Hardy deciduous shrub to 6 - 12 feet, with 6" glossy, dark green, oval leaves with a spicy aroma. E. China. Zone 5 - 9. Best in part shade in hot climates. Nick seed to germinate in 4 - 8 weeks or so. (=Sinocalycanthus chinensis)
NEW—Calycanthus floridus. (d,h) CALY-4. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $6.00
'CAROLINA ALLSPICE'. Fragrant, many-petaled dark reddish brown 2" flowers. Deciduous shrub to 3 - 10 feet with 5" leaves. Virginia to Florida. The hardiest, to Zone 5. Much valued for the fragrant flowers. Bark was used as a cinnamon substitute. Nick seed to germinate in 3 - 6 weeks warm.
CALYLOPHUS (kal-ee-LO-fus)
ONAGRACEAE. North American perennials and annuals with large, evening-primrose-like flowers.
—Calylophus hartwegii. (b,f) CALYL-11. Packet: $2.00
'LAVENDER-LEAF PRIMROSE'. Bright yellow inch-wide flowers on a hardy perennial to 8" tall and 2 feet across, spreading by rhizomes. Rockies. Very hardy, stands drought, sun, and part shade. Germinates in 1 - 8 weeks warm.
CAMPANULA (kam-PAN-you-la or kam-pa-NU-la)
CAMPANULACEAE. 'BELLFLOWER', 'BLUEBELL', 'HAREBELL'. Many annual, biennial and perennial herbs prized for their showy, bell-shaped flowers. Adapted to the flower garden, rock garden and pot culture. The cascading species are especially good in hanging baskets. Flower garden kinds do best in deep moist loam, and rock garden kinds are best in sandy humus with a little lime. Part shade is beneficial in hot summer areas, and a light straw mulch in cold winter areas. Sow annuals early, in February to March, and plant out in May, biennials & perennials from June to September. Sow on the surface or barely cover as light is beneficial to some. Most germinate in 5 - 30 days, some up to 74 days. Cool temperatures (50 - 60°F) help some, and a few will hold over a year if sown in warm summer weather. Give flats mid-day shade and avoid overwatering. Liquid manure while flowering is helpful. They make long lasting cut flowers. Seed viable 4 - 10 years.
—Campanula barbata. (a,v) CAMP-13. Packet: $2.50
'BEARDED BELLFLOWER'. Distinct, pretty, porcelain-blue, nodding inch-long flowers. Hardy perennial to 8" or so, with dense, soft white down on the stem, and 5" leaves. Mountains of Europe.
—Campanula carpatica. (a!,h) CAMP-20. Packet: $2.00 Click for photo »
Germination: 88% Tested: 9/07, 13,000/g, 10 grams: $5.00, 25 grams: $7.50
'TUSSOCK BELLFLOWER'. Bright blue, upright 1 1/2 - 2" wide cup-shaped flowers. Hardy perennial to 12", forming tussocks. E. Europe. Blooms all summer. Good in the rock garden. Hardy to Zone 3. Germinates in about 1 - 4 weeks.
—Campanula cochlearifolia. (a,v) CAMP-24. Packet: $3.00
Little, nodding, 1/2" blue bells held on delicate stems over the grassy, low growing 2 - 8" plant. Hardy perennial. Leaves begin kidney-shaped, and become grass-like with maturity. Mountains of Europe. An excellent pot or rock garden plant, quickly forming a dense mat. My favorite. Germinates irregularly at cool temperatures.
—Campanula glomerata superba. (a!,h) CAMP-40S. Packet: $2.00 Click for photo »
Large clusters of rich, deep violet flowers in 3" across, globe-shaped clusters. Hardy perennial to 20". Hardy to Zone 2. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
—Campanula Kemulariae. (b,h) CAMP-46. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 99% Tested: 9/07, Gram: $6.00 (about 4300 seeds per gram)
Violet inch-long wide-mouthed bells in summer. Hardy perennial to 3 feet, with somewhat shiny leaves. Transcaucasus. Zone 4. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Campanula latifolia macrantha. (a,h) CAMP-51M. Packet: $2.00 Click for photo »
Germination: 94% Tested: 12/07, 5 grams: $12.00
GIANT BELLFLOWER'. Very large blue 2 1/2" flowers in 8" spikes of about 6 - 15 blooms. Large hardy perennial to 3 - 4 feet, covered with soft down. Eurasia. Nice ornamental. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
NEW—Campanula Medium Single Mixed. (a!,h) CAMP-1X. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 99% Tested: 1/08, 10 grams: $5.00, 25 grams: $7.50, 100 grams: $20.00 (about 3700 seeds per gram)
'CANTERBURY BELLS'. Large single flowers in mixed shades of white, blue, rose, and lilac, in loose racemes on stems to 2 - 3 feet or more; excellent for late spring and summer bloom. Beautiful and easily grown garden plants, these sturdy flowers can be sown in late summer for bloom in spring, or started in March for bloom the same season. If the flowers are cut they may bloom again the following spring. The beautiful bell-shaped flowers are about 2" long and an inch wide. They last well when cut. Sow on the surface, keep moist, germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Campanula Medium calycanthema Mix. (a,h) CAMP-3X. Packet: $1.50
Germination: 98% Tested: 9/07, 4160/g, 10 grams: $6.00, 100 grams: $26.00
'CUP & SAUCER'. In these the calyx is large and wheel-shaped, the same color as the flower, which sits on it like a cup on a saucer. Shades of blue, rose, white, and lilac. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Campanula persicifolia. (a!,g) CAMP-71. Packet: $2.00
'PEACHLEAF' or 'WILLOW BELLFLOWER'. Large blue 1 1/2 - 2" flowers. Hardy perennial to 3 feet, with narrow 4 - 8" leaves. Europe. Hardy to Zone 3. Very pretty. Once used as food in England. "One of the best of all perennial bellflowers." —L.H. Bailey. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks warm.
—Campanula persicifolia Telham Beauty. (a!,h) CAMP-71T. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 72% Tested: 10/07, 5 grams: $6.00
Fine china-blue variety. Due to chromosome doubling, this is larger and more vigorous.
—Campanula persicifolia White. (a!,h) CAMP-71W. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 96% Tested: 10/07, 5 grams: $6.00, 10 grams: $9.00
'WHITE PEACH LEAF BELLFLOWER'. Large white flowers, good for cutting. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
—Campanula punctata. (b,h) CAMP-85. Packet: $2.00
Creamy to pink 2 - 3" long tubular bell-shaped flowers spotted crimson inside. Hardy perennial to 1 - 2 feet, with heart-shaped 3" leaves. Siberia & Japan. Germinates best in light, in 1 - 3 weeks.
NEW—Campanula punctata rubriflora. (b,h) CAMP-85R. Packet: $2.50
Large, narrow, cream to purple 2" bells with intense crimson spots. Choice! Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
—Campanula pyramidalis. (a,h) CAMP-87. Packet: $2.00
'CHIMNEY BELLFLOWER'. Pale blue, inch-long, saucer-shaped flowers in long, leafy panicles. Hardy perennial to 3 - 5 feet, usually grown as a biennial. Southern Europe. Can be flowered in a 10" pot. Can reach 9 feet tall in the greenhouse. Start early. Fine border plant. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
—Campanula pyramidalis alba. (a!,h) CAMP-87A. Packet: $2.00
'WHITE CHIMNEY BELLFLOWER'. This is the spectacular white-flowered form, with 4 foot tall leafy pyramidal clusters of inch-long flowers. "Stunning in arrangements. My favorite." —S. Calkins.
—Campanula rotundifolia. (a,h) CAMP-99. Packet: $2.50
'BLUE-BELLS-OF-SCOTLAND', 'HAREBELL'. Large, deep lavender, inch-long flowers on slender stalks. Dainty hardy perennial to 12", with round root-leaves in spring. Eurasia. Hardy to Zone 2. The true 'bluebell' of literature. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
—Campanula Speculum: see Specularia Speculum-veneris
—Campanula thyrsoides. (a,g) CAMP-121. Packet: $2.50
'YELLOW-SPIKE BELLFLOWER'. Dense 6" spikes of 40 - 50 sulfur or creamy yellow flowers. Leafy, upright hardy biennial to 6 - 30" tall. Alps, to 6000 feet. An attractive and unusual species. Space 12". "Glorious." —Bowden. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
NEW—Campanula Trachelium. (a,v) CAMP-134. Packet: $2.00
Gram: $5.00, 5 grams: $10.00
'COVENTRY BELLS'. Blue-purple 1 1/2" open bells on a hardy perennial to 2 - 3 feet, with fuzzy 5" leaves. Eurasia. Very hardy. Naturalizes well. Germination variable, 1 week and up.
CAMPSIS (KAMP-sis)
BIGNONIACEAE. 'TRUMPET VINE'. Striking ornamentals with brilliant clusters of showy scarlet or orange flowers. Fast growing robust vining shrubs climbing by aerial roots. Easily grown in sunny fertile places with something to climb on. Good erosion control and wildlife food. Some are root hardy to minus 30°F. Germinates in 1 - 4 months warm, and is often improved by 4 - 8 weeks cold.
—Campsis radicans. (d,h) CAM-4. Packet: $2.00
'TRUMPET VINE'. Brilliant orange trumpet-shaped 3" flowers with a scarlet mouth 2" wide, in clusters of 6 - 12 all summer. Bold dark green pinnate foliage. Hardy deciduous climbing shrub to 30 feet. E. US. Well adapted to covering walls.
"Having obtained the difficult-to-obtain, free, and endowed human body, it would be a cause of regret to fritter life away." —Tantric Precept.
CAPPARIS (KAP-ar-is)
CAPPARIDACEAE. Beautiful warm region trees and shrubs with large, long-stemmed white flowers. Best in warm sunny spots and well drained, dry, rocky soil. Said to survive to Zone 4 or 5 if grown against a south-facing wall. Sometimes grown as an annual in the North if started early indoors. Good in the greenhouse. Germinates irregularly, most in 5 - 7 weeks, some up to a year. Lightly scratching the seed can help, as does GA-3 pretreatment and KNO3 pretreatment, and germinating at warm temperatures - 70 - 85 degrees F.
—Capparis spinosa. (c,g) CAPP-22. Packet: $2.00
1/4 Oz: $14.00, Oz: $28.00
'CAPER-BUSH' . Large beautiful white flowers with four round, crinkled petals, each 2" long, topped with a puff of up to 100 prominent long violet stamens "...the chief beauty of the plant." —L.H. Bailey. Trailing, half-hardy spiny shrub to 3 - 5 feet, with round leaves. Blooms June to September, followed by 1 1/2" oval fruits. Grown extensively in the Mediterranean for the unopened flower buds which are pickled forming the 'capers' of commerce. Known to the ancient Greeks. The young shoots have been eaten like asparagus. The Arabs eat the fruit, which is also pickled in the Punjab.
CARAGANA (ka-ra-GA-na)
LEGUMINOSAE. Hardy ornamental shrubs from Central Asia, valued for their showy flowers. Very hardy & adapted to harsh conditions, sandy alkaline soil, etc. Good for wildlife habitat, erosion control, riparian restoration, windbreaks, etc. Soak seed overnight. Cold treatment helps some kinds.
—Caragana arborescens. (c,h) CARA-2. Packet: $1.50
Germination: 88% Tested: 9/07, Oz: $5.00, 1/4 lb: $15.00
'SIBERIAN PEATREE'. Showy bright yellow 3/4" long pea-like flowers in May & June. Very hardy small tree to 20 feet, with feathery foliage. Siberia & Manchuria. Good windbreak or hedge, good deer browse and fuelwood. Bark used for rope. Young green pods eaten as a vegetable in Siberia, ripe dry seeds eaten like beans and contain 36% protein, and they are good poultry feed. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
CARDAMINE (kar-DA-my-nee)
CRUCIFERAE. Annuals, biennials, & perennials with white to purple flowers. Most are dainty little plants and are easily grown. Excellent for moist shady places and heavy soil where other plants will not grow. Germination variable
—Cardamine pratensis. (b,v) CARDA-64. Packet: $2.00
'CUCKOO FLOWER', 'LADY'S SMOCK', 'SPINKS'. Delicate white to pink or lilac 1/2" flowers in clusters in early spring. Hardy perennial to 12 - 20", with pinnate, cress-like leaves. North Hemisphere. The leaves and flowers make a piquant cress, good in salads or on sandwiches.
CARDIOCRINUM: See Reserved Access page.
CAREX: See Reserved Access page.
CARICA (KAR-i-ka)
CARICACEAE. Small, fast-growing tropical 'trees' (actually giant herbs) prized for their delicious fruits. Forms a single trunk topped with striking, deeply cut palmate leaves, and are sometimes grown as annual bedding plants for the unusual, bold foliage display. Grow outdoors in Southern California and the warm South, or in the greenhouse in the North. Germination irregular, keep warm and they will pop up in 2 - 24 weeks or so.
C. Papaya Varieties:
'PAPAYA'. Fast growing small trees to 5 - 25 feet, bearing melon-like fruits ranging from a pound to over 35 pounds. Can bear in 12 - 18 months from seed in warm climates, giving their best crops in 3 or 4 years. Usually dioecious, needing both male and female trees to give fruit, but bisexual kinds exist. The luscious fruits contain the enzyme papain, which aids digestion, many digestive disorders having been cured by their regular consumption. The fruits and leaves are added to meat while cooking as a tenderizer. The seeds have a hot, mustard-like flavor, are sometimes ground as a spice, and have medicinal uses. Rope has been made from the bark. The leaves have been smoked as a tobacco substitute.
Easy from seed which germinates best when at least 6 months old or so - fresh seed is dormant. Soak in warm water 1 - 2 days, plant 1/4 - 1/2" deep in light, sandy soil, to sprout in 1 - 4 months at warm temperatures. Give plenty of air to prevent damping off. Plant in well-drained rich soil. Dwarf kinds can be grown in large tubs in the greenhouse. Warm soil is a must if grown outdoors. Can withstand a few degrees of frost, but hates cold, wet soil.
—Carica Papaya Honeydew. (c,g) CARI-3H. Packet: $2.00
10 grams: $9.00 (about 640 seed)
A nice selection from India, with high fruit production. One of the most popular varieties in north India. Large oval fruit with yellow-orange flesh with very good flavor. Germinates in 2 weeks and up.
CARLINA (kar-LEE-na)
COMPOSITAE. Stunning thistle tribe plants valued in the border or rock garden and for dried flowers. Best in not too rich soil. Sow on the surface; seed needs light, germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Carlina acaulis. (c,h) CARL-2. Packet: $3.00
Huge white to reddish thistle-like head to 5" across on short stems to 12", August to September, borne singly in the center of a rosette of spiny glossy leaves. Very dwarf hardy perennial. Europe. Common in the Alps, the flower heads are striking and much valued in dried arrangements. Once eaten like artichokes. Some forms stemless. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
CARNEGIA (KAR-ne-gee-a)
CACTACEAE. A single species. Sow on the surface as light helps. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks warm. Slow growth (1" per year) when young, give part shade.
—Carnegia gigantea. (c,h) CARN-1. Packet: $2.00 Click for photo »
'SAGUARO'. The well-known giant cactus of the Sonoran Desert. Massive columns to 20 - 60 feet and 2 feet thick. White 4" flowers followed by sweet, edible fruits, which are gathered in large quantities by Indians, who eat the pulp, rind, and grind the seeds for flour. It is said to combine the flavors of peach, strawberry and fig. They are made into conserves, syrup, or fermented into a beverage. Wood used for fences and construction of hogans.
CARTHAMUS (KAR-tham-us)
COMPOSITAE. Yellow, purple or white flowered annuals grown in the border or wild garden. They make nice clumps and are good in heavy soil and full sun. Drought resistant. Easy from seed sown in early spring where they are to flower. Cover 1/4", germinates in 3 - 18 days depending on temperature. Thin to 6" apart. Flowers in about 12 weeks.
—Carthamus tinctorius. (c,h) CART-3. Packet: $1.00
Germination: 96% Tested: 9/07, 1/4 lb: $5.00, lb: $16.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
'SAFFLOWER', 'FALSE SAFFRON'. Bright orange-yellow flowers with leafy bracts, on a thistle-like annual to 1 - 4 feet. Asia. Makes durable cut flowers, either fresh or dried. Ornamental & useful, it is widely grown for the seed oil used in cooking. The dried flowers are used like true saffron to color food, dye cloth, especially silks, and are powdered as a rouge-like cosmetic. It produces shades of pink, scarlet, purple, violet, etc. Needs cool temperatures (50 - 65°F) to germinate in 1 - 2 weeks. Warmth fatal.
CARUM (KAR-um)
UMBELLIFERAE. Aromatic annuals and perennials with thick roots, grown for food and flavoring. Umbels of small white or pinkish flowers and pinnate leaves. Seed viable 3 - 5 years.
—Carum Carvi. (a,h) CARU-3. Packet: $1.50 OTC ORGANIC
Germination: 84% Tested: 12/07, Oz: $6.00 OTC ORGANIC
'CARAWAY'. Tiny white flowers in umbels held above the feathery, finely divided leaves. Hardy slender biennial to 1 1/2 - 2 feet. Eurasia. Grown since ancient times for its brown aromatic seed which are used to flavor breads, cheeses, baked fruit, liqueurs, and medicinally. The yellow roots are edible boiled like parsnips, and were mixed with milk to make a bread eaten by the Roman soldiers. The young, fresh, aromatic leaves are good in salads and mature leaves are boiled with vegetables. The seeds have been found in prehistoric Swiss lake dwellings, and are mentioned by writers from Dioscorides to the present. Sow in fall or in early spring in full sun where they are to grow, as they do not transplant well. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks or so. Thin to 8 - 12" apart. Will ripen seed the second season. Harvest when ripe and dry in the sun. They are an aid to digestion, and were an ingredient in love potions.
CASSIA (KASS-ee-a)
LEGUMINOSAE. Showy herbs, shrubs & trees with pinnate leaves and large clusters of regular (not pea-like) flowers. A large genus from the tropics and temperate zones, with many highly ornamental species grown for their showy bloom and finely cut foliage. Prefers full sun, sandy loam and warm areas. The herbaceous species are hardy in the North, the woody kinds in warm areas or the greenhouse. Hard shelled seed - nick and soak to germinate in 1 - 12 weeks. Keep warm. The seed is very long lived; 158 years has been recorded.
—Cassia alata. (d,h) CASS-10. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 80% Tested: 9/07, Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $12.00
'CANDLE-BUSH', 'KING OF THE FOREST'. Brilliant yellow 1 1/2" wide 5-petaled fragrant flowers in 4 - 12" spikes. Huge dark green, glossy, pinnate leaves up to 3 feet long. Interesting winged pods. Shrub to 3 - 15 feet. Tropics. Cut back after flowering. Fast growing and short-lived. The leaves are used throughout the Tropics for skin ailments, due to their chrysophanic acid content. The bark is used for tattooing in Africa. Zone 6. Soak, nick hard ones, to germinate in 1 - 4 weeks or so.
—Cassia marilandica. (c,h) CASS-210. Packet: $2.00
'WILD SENNA'. Bright yellow, wide-open flowers in dense clusters covering the plant in July to September. Hardy perennial to 3 - 5 feet, with attractive light green pinnate foliage. New England and southward. Likes wet soil. Sow in early spring with heat. Protect with a straw mulch in severe climates. A fine native perennial. Used medicinally by the Indians and settlers, especially the Shakers.
CATANANCHE (kat-a-NAN-she)
COMPOSITAE. 'CUPID'S DART'. Pretty annuals and perennials with blue or yellow long-stalked flowers which are good for cutting, and can be dried for everlastings. Good in any ordinary soil. The common name refers to the ancient use of the plant in love-philters.
—Catananche caerulea. (c,h) CATA-12. Packet: $2.00
'BLUE CUPID'S DART'. Showy lavender-blue flowers to 2" across from June to August. Hardy perennial to 2 feet, with downy narrow leaves. S. Europe. Start in early spring for bloom the first year. Space 1 foot apart. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.