LABIATAE. A single species. Germinates in 4 - 6 weeks.
—Cedronella canariensis. CEDRO-4. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50 (880 seeds per gram)
'BALM -OF-GILEAD', 'CANARY BALM'. Abundant showy lilac, purple, or white inch-long flowers in whorls in summer. Shrubby plant to 3 - 5 feet, with scented, trifoliate, 2 - 4" leaves. Canary Islands, Madeira. Zone 9. The leaves have a scent variously described as sweet, musky, or cedar-like, and are used as tea.
CELTIS (SEL-tis or KEL-tis)
ULMACEAE. Elegant, fast-growing, elm-like mostly deciduous trees and shrubs good as shade trees, lawn specimens and for wildlife habitat. Stands wind, drought, heat, alkaline soil, and almost pest free. Some germinate readily, others may take up to 2 years of outdoor treatment.
—Celtis australis. (d,h) CELT-7. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $6.00
'HONEYBERRY', 'LOTE TREE', 'EUROPEAN HACKBERRY'. Large tree to 60 - 80 feet, with greyish green 3 - 6" leaves. Mediterranean to Central Asia. The cherry-sized dark purple fruits are sweet and edible, much eaten in Spain, Greece and Iran. Zone 8. A fine shade tree, good in California and the South. Prechill 2 months to germinate in 3 - 8 weeks.
CENTAUREA (sen-ta-REE-a)
COMPOSITAE. 'CORNFLOWER', 'BACHELOR'S BUTTONS'. A large genus of annuals and perennials, including many old garden favorites, grown for their flowers and foliage. Easily grown from seed in light, well-drained soil in full sun. Rich soil will reduce the number of blooms. Sow annuals where they are to stand in September or March, or early indoors. Biennials and perennials any time from January to September. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at warm temperatures. Sow 1/4" deep as darkness may help germination. Seed viable 5 - 10 years.
Centaurea Cyanus Varieties:
'CORNFLOWER', 'BACHELOR'S BUTTONS'. A favorite garden flower, it is a branching hardy annual to 1 - 3 feet, with large 1 1/2" flowers in a variety of colors. Narrow 6" leaves. Excellent cut flowers. "One of the most popular of garden flowers."—L. H. Bailey, 1906. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
"On Centaurea Cyanus 'Tall Blue Boy' and C. americana 'Jolly Joker' advise that these should be sown thinly, because the germination rate is astounding, and their vivid colors make these stand out beautifully in the border. 'Blue Boy' is especially striking when paired with Dusty Miller 'Silverdust'."—C. Malanowski, South Carolina, 6/2001.
—Centaurea Cyanus Emperor William. CENT-1E. Packet: $2.50
25 grams $7.50, 100 grams: $20.00
'CORNFLOWER'. Clear, dark, marine blue flowers. This variety is the last of the old, tall, single flowered varieties in existence. It is the closest to the wild plant. Hardy annual to 3 feet. One of the best. Long blooming, unlike the modern types. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks. Sometimes needs a prechill.
—Centaurea Cyanus 'Frosty Mixed'. (70) CENT-1FX. Packet: $2.50
25 grams: $7.50, 100 gm: $14.00
Fully double flowers in a wide range of colors, the petals of most tipped white-'frosted'. Blue, maroon, pink, red, and white. Hardy annual to 2 1/2 feet. Good for cut flowers.
—Centaurea Cyanus Dwarf Jubilee Gem. (b,h) CENT-1D. Packet: $1.50
Oz: $5.00, 1/4 lb: $10.00
Blue flowers. To 1 1/2 feet. Good for naturalizing.
—Centaurea Cyanus Tall Blue Boy. (b,h) CENT-1T. Packet: $1.50
Oz: $5.00, 1/4 lb: $10.00 This unit out of stock, ounces and packets still available.
Blue flowers. To 2 1/2 feet. Good for naturalizing.
NEW—Centaurea Cyanus Pink. (500) CENT-1P. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $6.00
Bright pink flowers an a hardy annual.
—Centaurea Cyanus Red Boy. (b,g) CENT-1RB. Packet: $2.50
Bright ruby red flowers on a nice annual to 3 feet.
NEW—Centaurea Cyanus White. (500) CENT-1A. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $6.00
Bright white flowers on a hardy annual.
—Centaurea Cyanus True Wild Form. (b,h) CENT-1W. Packet: $2.50
10 Grams: $10.00
Click for photo »
'CORNFLOWER', 'WITCHES' BELLS'. Beautiful blue flowers from July to September on a hardy annual to 1 - 3 feet, with cottony foliage. Europe. This is the rare true wild ancestor of the common bachelor's buttons. Lovely and worth growing. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks, sometimes with dormancy.
Other Centaurea Species:
—Centaurea Jacea. (c,h) CENT-32. Packet: $2.50
'RADIANT CORNFLOWER'. Rosy-purple 1 1/2" flowers. Perennial. Europe, Himalayas, and N. America. Zone 5. Medicinal, used for bruises. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Centaurea macrocephala. (c,h) CENT-38. Packet: $2.00 OUT OF STOCK
1/4 Oz: $6.00, Oz: $16.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK
'GLOBE CORNFLOWER'. Huge golden yellow egg-shaped flowers up to 4" across. Hardy perennial to 3 feet. Armenia. Zone 3. Excellent, long-lasting cut-flowers. Dries well. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
NEW—Centaurea Moschata Imperialis Mixed. (500) (=Amberboa) CENT-45X. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $7.50
SWEET SULTAN'. Sweet scented, soft, fluffy, white, mauve, or pink 2" flowers. Hardy annual to 2 1/2 feet, with deeply cut leaves. SW Asia. Cultivated since 1629. Excellent cut flower. Space 12". Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Centaurea nigra. (c,h) CENT-52. Packet: $2.50
'BLACK CORNFLOWER', 'SPANISH BUTTONS'. Purple 1 1/2" flowers from black buds. Hardy perennial to 2 feet, with 6" leaves, blooming June to August. Europe. Zone 4. Germinates in 1 - 12 weeks warm.
—Centaurea phrygia. (c,g) CENT-60. Packet: $2.50
Purple 2" wide flowers in summer, on a hardy perennial to 2 - 4 feet, with 6" basal leaves. Europe. Zone 5. The flower buds have long appendages, and have been described as "wig-like" of all peculiar things. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks, some dormant.
CENTRANTHUS (ken-TRAN-thus)
VALERIANACEAE. Attractive, hardy, old-fashioned annuals and perennials grown for their dense heads of showy flowers. Easily grown in most soils in full sun, but standing part shade well. Excellent for naturalizing. Sow seed in March or April. Barely cover, germinates in 2 - 8 weeks at cool temperatures. Space 6 - 12" apart. Seed viable 4 years.
—Centranthus ruber Coccineus. (b,h) CENS-4R. Packet: $2.50
'JUPITER'S BEARD', 'RED VALERIAN', 'PRETTY BETSY', 'DRUNKEN SAILOR'. Dense clusters of fragrant red flowers in early summer. Hardy perennial to 3 feet, with bluish green 4" leaves. Eurasia. Zone 5. Good cut flower, attracts butterflies. Self-sows and stands poor dry soil. Good on rocky slopes and walls. The leaves are eaten in salads in Italy, and are said to be exceedingly good, and the roots were used in French soups. "Hard to beat for long showy bloom in difficult situations."—Sunset. Germinates in 2 - 8 weeks at cool temperatures.
CEPHALOCEREUS (se-fa-lo-SEER-ee-us)
CACTACEAE. Tall columnar cacti blooming from a bristly cephalium.
NEW—Cephalocereus Tetezo (=Neobuxbaumia Tetezo) (25) CEPC-23. Packet: $2.50
Giant grey-green columns to 40 feet or more, and 2 feet thick, with 13 - 17 ribs. White 2" flowers tinged green, from a cephalium. Southern México. Zone 9.
CEPHALOTAXUS (se-fa-lo-TAX-us)
CEPHALOTAXACEAE. Several Asian yew-like trees.
NEW—Cephalotaxus Harringtonia var. drupacea. (10) CETX-6D.
Seed stored moist and refrigerated.
'PLUM YEW'. Shrub or small tree to 10 feet, with dark green yew-like needles. Purple plum-like, edible 1 1/2" fruits in October, taste like sweet plums with a piney flavor. Large edible seed. East Asia. Zone 6. Stands part shade. Leaves produce an anti-cancer compound. Give 3 months prechill.
CERATONIA (ser-a-TOW-nee-a)
LEGUMINOSAE. A single species. Drought resistant, good in desert areas. Needs 12 - 14" rain per year. Strains are hardy to 18 - 22°F, but should be protected for the first few years. Any soil except clay or wet ground. Good in California and the Gulf States. Nick and soak seed until swollen; boiling water may help. Germinates in about 2 - 4 weeks at warm temperatures. Do not injure tap root when transplanting.
—Ceratonia Siliqua. (e,g) CERQ-1. Packet: $2.50
Oz: $7.50
'CAROB', 'ST. JOHN'S BREAD', 'ALGAROBA'. Red flowers followed by thick, fleshy, shiny brown 4 - 12" pods. Evergreen tree to 20 - 50 feet, with attractive shining pinnate leaves. E. Mediterranean region. Zone 8. The large thick pods are rich in protein and sugar, and are a wholesome food for man and beast. Long cultivated in its native land. The pulp is a valuable sweetener and chocolate substitute. The seed and pods are roasted as coffee substitutes. They may be fermented and distilled, the drink retaining the flavor of the pod. The milled seeds alone produce a flour containing 60% protein, and no sugar or starch, suitable for diabetics. As livestock feed the pods are superior to oats and comparable to barley. Average yield is 200 - 450 lbs per tree, up to 3000 lbs has been recorded. The wood is pinkish.
CERCIDIUM (ser-SID-ee-um)
LEGUMINOSAE. 'PALO VERDE'. Small trees or shrubs with green bark, bipinnate leaves and showy 5-petaled yellow flowers. Deserts of the Southwest and México. Good ornamentals in desert areas, they are leafless most of the year, the distinctive green bark presenting a striking appearance. Nick and soak seed.
—Cercidium Torreyanum (=C. floridanum) (e,h) CERD-10. Packet: $2.50 OUT OF STOCK
Seed has been treated with Sevin, then washed.
'PALO VERDE'. Showy bright yellow 3/4" flowers, and grey green foliage for a short time in spring. Distinctive smooth bright green bark. Intricately branched tree to 25 feet. When in bloom it is the most beautiful feature of the Colorado desert of Southern California. Zone 9. The abundant pods furnish stock food and were ground into palatable meal by Indians. Excellent fuelwood. Nick seed to germinate in 2 weeks. The Shoe-Trees of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts.
CERCIS (SER-sis)
LEGUMINOSAE. Handsome N. Hemisphere trees and shrubs noted for their profuse early spring bloom on bare branches before the leaves. Not closely related to any other genus, they may be a Tertiary relic. Attractive foliage, and blooms young. They thrive in fertile sandy loam. The wood is hard, finely veined black and green. Nick seed and give cold if specified.
—Cercis chinensis. (d,h) CERC-2. Packet: $2.50
'CHINESE REDBUD'. Rose to rosy-purple 1/2" flowers in clusters in early spring before the leaves. Shrub or small tree to 12 - 30 feet, with heart-shaped, shiny 5" leaves. Central China. Hardy to zone 6, and does well in western high deserts. Nick and give 8 weeks cold to germinate in 2 - 4 weeks.
CERCOCARPUS (ser-ko-KAR-pus)
ROSACEAE. Small tough shrubs and trees for dry rocky soil. Attractive foliage and plume-like seeds.
—Cercocarpus montanus. (c,g) CERO-6. Packet: $2.50
'MOUNTAIN MAHOGANY'. Dusky pink 1/4" flowers in clusters in spring and summer, followed by attractive, twisted, plume-tailed seeds. Deciduous shrub to 4 - 6 feet, with dark green 1 - 2" leaves. Rocky Mountains. Zone 5. Very hardy and stands dry rocky places. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks.
CEREUS (SEER-ee-us)
CACTACEAE. Strong, vigorous columnar cacti reaching tree-like proportions with age. Good grafting stock. Large, night-blooming, trumpet-shaped, mostly white flowers. Some have edible fruits. Easy from seed; germinates in 2 - 8 weeks.
—Cereus peruvianus. (e,h) CERE-29. Packet: $2.50
'NIGHT-BLOOMING CEREUS', 'PERUVIAN TORCH'. Tall columnar cactus to 10 - 40 feet, branching freely. Bluish to dull green, with 5 - 8 thin ribs. Nocturnal 7" white flowers are slightly fragrant. Argentina to Brazil, not Peru.
—Cereus xanthocarpus. (c,h) CERE-98. Packet: $2.50
Bluish green columnar cactus to 20 feet or so, with 4 - 6 deep wavy ribs and inch-long spines. White 5 - 8" flowers open at night, followed by yellow 3" edible fruits. Paraguay. Zone 9. Germinates in 1 - 8 weeks.
CERINTHE (ker-IN-the or ser-IN-the)
BORAGINACEAE. Easily grown Mediterranean region annuals and perennials grown for ornament. Best in well-drained, moist limey soil in part shade.
—Cerinthe major purpurascens. (e,h) CERI-16P. Packet: $2.50
'HONEYWORT'. Purple-blue nodding tubular 3/4" flowers are yellow at the base, surrounded try striking deep blue bracts. Bushy annual or short-lived perennial to 1 1/2 feet, with oval, grey-green, slightly succulent leaves. Mediterranean. Zone 5. Good bee plant. Germinates readily in 1 - 3 weeks.
CESTRUM (SES-trum)
SOLANACEAE. Tropical American shrubs and trees with usually showy tubular flowers. Excellent in the greenhouse, California and the South.
NEW—Cestrum nocturnum. (25) CEST-30. Packet: $2.50
'NIGHT JESSAMINE', 'QUEEN of the NIGHT', 'PIPILOXIHUITL'. Creamy white tubular 3/4 - 1" flowers in clusters are intensely fragrant at night. Tender evergreen shrub to 12 feet, with narrow 4 - 8" leaves. West Indies, México. Stands some frost. Good in the greenhouse. The flowers attract hummingbirds and the berries are eaten by mockingbirds. Used as an antispasmodic. Germinates in 2 - 6 weeks warm.
CHAEROPHYLLUM: See Reserved Access page.
CHEIRANTHUS (ky-RAN-thus)
CRUCIFERAE. 'WALLFLOWER'. Showy hardy perennials often grown as biennials. They rank among the showiest of flowers. Full sun or part shade, and good drainage- raised beds help. Likes limestone soil. Best in cool-summer areas. The showiest plants are produced from seed sown early in spring, to produce strong plants the first season, but they may be sown up till early fall. Sow up to 1/4" deep to germinate in 5 - 21 days. Space 12" apart. May be grown as hardy annuals in the North. Will flower indoors in a 6" pot. Seed viable 3 - 5 years.
Cheiranthus Cheiri Varieties:
'WALLFLOWER'. An old garden favorite, valued for its very sweetly fragrant inch-wide spring blooms. Showy short-lived perennial to 1 - 2 1/2 feet.
—Cheiranthus Cheiri Fair Lady. (b,h) CHER-1FL. Packet: $2.00 OUT OF STOCK
10 grams: $9.50 BULK OUT OF STOCK
A splendid mixture of pastels, ranging from lemon-yellow through gold, apricot, salmon, rose and mahogany. Fragrant. To 20". Germinates in 1 week.
—Cheiranthus Cheiri Harlequin Mix. (b,h) CHER-1H. Packet: $2.00
5 grams: $7.00, 10 grams: $10.00
A fine, free-flowering variety with rich clear colors, pastels, and bicolors. To 14". Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
CHELIDONIUM (ke-li-DOE-nee-um)
PAPAVERACEAE. A single variable species.
NEW—Chelidonium majus. (200) CHEL-1. Packet: $2.50
'GREATER CELANDINE', 'SWALLOW-WORT.' Bright yellow four-petaled flowers to 1" wide, May to July. Hardy perennial to 2 - 4 feet, with attractive, deeply-lobed foliage. Eurasia. The orange sap was used medicinally. "It is a plant of quiet charm and elegance and I would not be without it somewhere in my own garden."—Grey-Wilson. Good in woodlands, naturalizes well, but never a nuisance. Germinates in 3 - 10 weeks warm.
CHENOPODIUM (ken-o-POE-dee-um)
CHENOPODIACEAE. Wide-ranging genus of mostly herbs with clustered tiny flowers. Many grown for ornament, edible greens or grain, aromatic culinary herbs or medicine. Easily grown and very useful. All germinate in 1 - 3 weeks unless noted otherwise.
—Chenopodium album. CHEN-1. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $18.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
'LAMB'S QUARTERS', 'FAT HEN'. Hardy annual to 8 - 10 feet, producing an abundance of edible greens and seeds. Worldwide. The young plants are cooked for spring greens or added raw to salads, and the mature leaves are also excellent. The seeds are ground for meal in many parts of the world. The greens have a spinach-like flavor, but produce more abundantly and over a longer period. Good poultry food. Rich in vitamin A. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks, best with KNO3 plus light - surface sow. If husk is present, rub out of husk before sowing.
—Chenopodium album Magenta. (a!,f) CHEN-1M. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $9.00, 1/4 lb: $24.00
New growth an attractive fluorescent magenta. Developed for the restaurant trade, with excellent flavor. Hardy annual to 8 - 10 feet—pinch and eat to keep short! Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks, best with KNO3 plus light - surface sow.
NEW—Chenopodium ambrosioides (=Dysphania ambrosioides). (500) CHEN-2. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
'EPAZOTE'. An irreplaceable Mexican herb with a unique flavor. Perennial to 4 feet in warm climates. Dense heads of tiny green flowers in drooping spikes. Very aromatic leaves a soft shade of green; stems tinged red and gold. Always added to beans, best near the beginning, to blend the flavor well. A light touch is added to vegetables, soups, casseroles, corn and fish dishes. Delightful tacos are made by lightly cooking a tortilla on one side, adding sprigs of fresh herb, folding over and pressing the edges together to retain the steam until it is cooked through. This causes the essential oils to blend into the dough, giving an intriguing flavor and aroma. Botanists say that epazote is a single species, yet one well-traveled Mexican cook told me of nine distinct varieties. The seeds yield a valuable anthelmintic oil. Germinates irregularly in 1 - 12 weeks warm.
—Chenopodium Berlandieri: See Huazontle in Specialty Vegetables
—Chenopodium Bonus-Henricus. (b,h) CHEN-4. Packet: $2.50 ORGANIC SEED
'GOOD KING HENRY', 'MERCURY', 'FAT-HEN'. Hardy perennial to 2 1/2 feet, with dark green leaves. A wholesome green vegetable, cooked like spinach. The young stalks can be peeled and eaten like asparagus. Set out 1 foot apart and it will give abundant greens for several years. Very hardy. Seed viable for 5 years. An excellent vegetable. Germinates in 1 - 5 weeks, but some lots dormant and need GA-3.
—Chenopodium giganteum. (a!,h) CHEN-20. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC SEED
Oz: $12.00, 1/4 lb: $36.00
'PURPLE GOOSEFOOT', 'TREE SPINACH'. Young leaves are a striking iridescent magenta-red with crystalline red powder. Long red panicles of flowers. The stem is striped red and is very strong for its light weight due to a spiral twist. Large tall annual to 6 - 8 feet. Birds are fond of the seeds, and the leaves have been used as a spinach in the Mediterranean, by South African Bantu, and here in the U.S. Tender young leaves are good in salads. Germinates best with KNO3 or GA-3.
—Chenopodium Quinoa Brilliant Rainbow. (b,h) CHEN-25BR. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC SEED
1/2 Oz: $5.00, Oz: $8.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
Reselected from Rainbow for the brightest, most brilliant colors. Nice! Germinates in a week.
'QUINOA'. An important high-protein (12 - 19%) grain of the Andes, with good amino acid balance and 58% starch. A staple for millions of Andeans, the development of low-elevation types is helping its spread. Seed washed in water before cooking to remove saponins which protect from pests. Hardy, easily grown annual to 4 - 6 feet, with large seedheads. The leaves, stem-tips and young flowers are excellent in salads, having a mild sweet flavor, and very succulent. Also good cooked like spinach or added to soups. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Chenopodium Quinoa Cochabamba. (400) CHEN-25CB. Packet: $2.50
25 grams: $26.00, 100 gm: $50.00
'COCHABAMBA QUINOA'. A good, high-yield strain from Bolivia, with a yellow panicle.
CHILOPSIS (ki-LOP-sis)
BIGNONIACEAE. A single species.
—Chilopsis linearis. (c,h) CHIL-1. Packet: $2.50 OUT OF STOCK
'DESERT or FLOWERING WILLOW'. Trumpet-shaped 2" lilac flowers with 2 yellow stripes, in clusters from April to August, followed by narrow, foot-long pods. Willow-like tree to 25 feet, with narrow, foot long leaves. Southwestern U.S. deserts. Zone 8. Good arid-region ornamental. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
CHIMONANTHUS (kee-mo-NAN-thus)
CALYCANTHACEAE. Attractive East Asian shrubs with sweetly-scented flowers. Best in full sun, and a sheltered spot.
—Chimonanthus praecox. (e,h) CHIMO-16. Packet: $2.50
Oz: $9.00
'WINTERSWEET', 'JAPANESE ALLSPICE'. Fragrant inch-long, many-petaled flowers in spring on the bare branches, the outer petals sulfur-yellow, the inner petals marked purple-brown. Deciduous shrub to 12 feet with glossy green 6" leaves. China. Zone 6. Germinates readily, improved by a prechill.
CHIRANTHODENDRON
STERCULIACEAE. A single species.
—Chiranthodendron pentadactylon. (10) CHIR-1. Packet: $4.00
'LITTLE HAND OF THE LION', 'MACPALXOCHITL' ('hand-flower'). Peculiar bell-shaped five-lobed 1 1/2 - 2" flowers with a large bright red extended stamen-cluster, which resembles a hand. Large tree to 40 - 60 feet, with a thick trunk to 6 feet thick. Large dark green 4 - 12" rounded 5-lobed leaves, whitish underneath, and with rusty down. Large 4" spindle-shaped pods have a 5-pointed star cross-section. Southern México. Zone 9. Reaches great age, produces few seedlings, and is threatened by deforestation. In demand by yerberos (herb-collectors), as the leaves are highly regarded medicinally. Restricted distribution, and was venerated by the Aztecs. Seed is difficult to germinate; write me your results!
CHRYSANTHEMUM (kri-SAN-the-mum)
COMPOSITAE. A large genus of showy annuals and perennials. Many are remarkably free-flowering, in every shade but blue. Excellent for cutting, lasting well in water. Most like a light, well-drained soil. Full sun. The perennials will last for years in the garden. Some make attractive pot plants. The are easy from seed sown in spring, 1/8 - 1/4" deep, to germinate in 1 - 2 weeks, some kinds up to 5 weeks. Space 1 - 2 feet apart. Well-loved garden favorites for centuries, reaching their peak of cultivation in the Orient. Seed of various kinds viable 1 - 10 years.
—Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium. (c,h) CHRY-14. Packet: $2.50
Click for photo »
Gram: $5.00, 5 grams: $18.00
'DALMATIAN PYRETHRUM'. White inch-wide daisies with a strong spicy scent. Hardy perennial to 12 - 16", with many slender stems and silvery leaves. Dalmatia. Zone 6. Grown on a large scale for the production of the flowers which are powdered for insecticide. Likes dry, sunny, well-drained soil, and lives 6 - 25 years. Pick flowers when fully developed, but just before opening. Well-drained soil. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks, best with KNO3 and light.
—Chrysanthemum coccineum Robinson Giant Mix (=Tanacetum coccineum). (200) CHRY-15RX. Packet: $2.50
'PAINTED DAISY', 'PERSIAN PYRETHRUM'. Showy 3" daisies in shades of red, pink, lilac, and white, with yellow centers. Hardy perennial to 3 feet, with ferny aromatic foliage. S.W. Asia. Zone 3. Good for cutting. Dried flowers a source of pyrethrum. Good insecticide source for areas too cold for C. cinerariifolium.
—Chrysanthemum Parthenium (=Tanacetum Parthenium). (a!,h) CHRY-40. Packet: $2.50 OTC ORGANIC SEED - OUT OF STOCK
Click for photo »
'FEVERFEW'. White 3/4" daisies with yellow centers, abundantly borne June to August. Bushy hardy perennial to 2 - 3 feet, with aromatic, deeply cut foliage. SE Europe. Zone 5. Blooms freely the first year, and is often grown as an annual. A fine old-fashioned garden plant, excellent for cut flowers. A tincture of the leaves is said to be an excellent insect repellant rubbed on the skin. Excellent remedy for migraine—I use it, it works! It made an amazing difference in my life. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Chrysanthemum Parthenium aureum (=Tanacetum Parthenium aureum). (800) CHRY-40A. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
'GOLDEN FEVERFEW'. Stunning variety with golden leaves. Compact plants to 12" tall. Zone 5. Choice!
CIMICIFUGA: See Reserved Access page.
CIPOCEREUS (see-po-SEER-ee-us)
CACTACEAE. Shrubby Brazilian cacti.
NEW—Cipocereus minensis. (25) CIPO-16. Packet: $2.50
Greenish-white 2" nocturnal flowers in summer, followed by blue fruits. Columnar cactus to 3 feet or so, with 12 ribs and inch-long spines. Eastern Brazil.
CITRULLUS (si-TRU-lus)
CUCURBITACEAE. Annual and perennial tendril-climbing or trailing vines of the Old-World tropics. Includes the watermelon. Easy from seed planted outdoors after danger of frost.
—Citrullus lanatus ssp. mucosospermus. (15) CITR-15M. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $10.00
'EGUSI WATERMELON'. Small round fruits with large oil-rich yellow-brown seeds. A favorite in West African cooking, the seeds are used to make soups, oil, and made into a variety of cakes, breads, and spreads. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
"Freedom means you can do and say what you want. It also means people you don't like can say and do things that you dislike. That's part of the deal. Most people are unclear on this very simple concept."—J.L.H.
CLADRASTIS (klad-RAS-tis)
LEGUMINOSAE. 'YELLOW-WOOD'. Beautiful and hardy medium-sized deciduous trees grown for their showy flowers and handsome pinnate foliage. Thrives in almost any soil. Sow in spring. "One of the most beautiful flowering native trees."—L. H. Bailey.
—Cladrastis lutea (=tinctoria) CLAS-2. Packet: $2.50
1/4 Ounce: $7.50, Ounce: $20.00
'YELLOW WOOD'. Fragrant, creamy white, inch-long flowers in showy, drooping, 10 - 20" long panicles in June. Bright green 3 - 4" long leaflets turn bright yellow in fall. To 40 to 60 feet. SE U.S. Hardy to Zone 3. The close-grained, bright yellow wood yields a clear yellow dye. Soak seed, nick hard ones, germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
CLARKIA (KLAR-kee-a)
ONAGRACEAE. Showy, easily grown hardy annuals of western N. America and southern S. America. They make a wonderful display in any sunny place. Best in light soil, and stands part shade. Gives the best display in nitrogen-poor soil. Excellent for borders, bedding, naturalizing in the meadow, and they make good cut-flowers. Sow in March where they are to flower, or in fall in a sheltered place in mild climates. Germinates in 5 - 20 days. Seed half-life over 8 years. Named for Captain Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
—Clarkia amoena Tall Mixed. (a!,h) CLAR-4X. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $18.00
'FAREWELL TO SPRING'. Large brightly colored3 - 5" wide cup-shaped blooms. Showy annual to I - 3 feet. California. Blooms in 14 weeks, and makes nice cut flowers. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Clarkia unguiculata (=elegans). (a!,h) CLAR-24. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $15.00
'MOUNTAIN GARLAND'. Rose and white 1 - 2" flowers in slender spikes. Hardy annual to 3 feet, making a showy display in masses. Individually, the flowers, with their delicately clawed petals, are things of beauty. California. Excellent wildflower for naturalizing. The parched, ground seeds were eaten with acorn mush. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks at cool temperatures.
CLAYTONIA: See Montia.
CLEISTOCACTUS (kli-sto-KAK-tus)
CACTACEAE. Slender columnar South American cacti.
NEW—Cleistocactus angosturensis (=Cleistocactus buchtienii) (25) CLEI-4. Packet: $2.50
Wine-red 2 1/2" flowers. Columnar many-ribbed cactus to 4 or 5 feet, densely covered with pale reddish spines. Bolivia. Zone 9.
NEW—Cleistocactus Strausii. (25) CLEI-42. Packet: $2.50
'SILVER TORCH'. Slender columnar cactus to 3 - 10 feet, densely covered with silvery white spines. Deep carmine-red 3 1/2" flowers. Bolivia. Zone 9.
CLEMATIS (KLEM-a-tis)
RANUNCULACEAE. 'VIRGIN'S BOWER' Prized woody vines and herbs grown for their showy flowers often followed by attractive, silvery, puff-like seed-heads. They do best in a rich, well-drained, light loamy soil on the alkaline side. Add a little lime when planting and give a yearly mulch of manure or compost for best results. Give a cool, shaded root zone. The vine types are good for covering walls, arbors, balconies, etc., and the bushy types in the flower garden. Seed best sown shallowly in October to February, or give 2 - 6 months cold treatment, to germinate in about 25 - 60 days, with some stragglers taking up to 2 years. Seed viable 1 - 3 years or more. Smoke treatment may help germination.
—Clematis Flammula. (35) CLEM-39. Packet: $2.50
Fragrant, pure white inch-wide flowers in large clusters from July to October. Deciduous scrambler to 6 - 15 feet, with attractive divided foliage. Mediterranean to Iran. Zone 5.
—Clematis heracleifolia. (d,h) CLEM-52. Packet: $2.50
Tubular blue inch-long flowers with recurved petal tips and a fragrance resembling sweet violets. Very hardy perennial subshrub to 3 feet. E. China. Zone 3. Blooms in August and September. Easy from seed, which germinates in 2 - 3 weeks warm.
—Clematis macropetala Hybrids. (75) CLEM-80S. Packet: $3.00
'BIG-PETAL' or 'DOWNY CLEMATIS'. Large flowers in shades of light blue, violet, pink, and white, May and June. Clambering shrub to 8 feet. China. Zone 4. Excellent in severe climates.
—Clematis recta purpurea. (e,h) CLEM-100P. Packet: $2.50
New growth of leaves and stems flushed bronze to red. Fragrant white inch-wide starry flowers. Zone 2. A fine variety. Prechill seed, otherwise they will straggle in over 3 - 8 months.
—Clematis terniflora. (d,h) CLEM-108. Packet: $2.50
'SWEET AUTUMN CLEMATIS'. White, very sweetly fragrant flowers in late summer, on a vigorous hardy climber. Japan. Hardy to Zone 5 at least. Germinates in 2 - 5 months warm.
CLEOME (klee-O-mee)
CAPPARIDACEAE. 'SPIDER FLOWER'. Interesting and showy-flowered hardy annuals and tender perennials. The unusual flowers have long dark purple spidery stamens and variously colored showy, long stalked petals. Heat and drought resistant, they are fascinating plants for the sunny border. Prefers sandy soil. Irregular germination. Start indoors in March to flower freely from June to frost. They also make excellent pot plants for the greenhouse, doing well in 6" pots. Outdoors, start in May where they are to grow, and thin to 1 - 2 feet apart.
—Cleome gynandra. (500) CLEO-9. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $10.00
Info on C. gynandra
More info
Nutritional and medicinal properties
Photos: Whole Plant Flower
'SPIDER WISP', 'CAT WHISKERS', 'AFRICAN CABBAGE'. White flowers ranging to pink or purplish, with inch-long petals and striking long purple stamens. Annual to 1 - 4 feet, with divided leaves. Tropics. The leaves are eaten as a spinach in Africa, as they are highly nutritious, and are believed to give energy and improve eyesight. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks, best with KNO3.
—Cleome hirta. (c,h) CLEO-11. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $7.50 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
Info on C. hirta
Photo
Photo
Info on insect-repellent properties
Showy violet flowers with yellow eyes. Annual to 3 feet. Africa. The leaves are eaten as a vegetable. The essential oil is a good insect repellent. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks warm. Aged seed best.
—Cleome serrulata. See Reserved Access page.
Cleome spinosa Varieties: 'Spider Flower'.
The popular half hardy annual to 3 - 4 feet tall. Makes a showy display in the border, their airy heads of powerfully scented spidery flowers with blue or purple 3" long stamens are attractive from June till frost, and the palmate foliage is quite pleasing. Sow on the surface, seed needs light, germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
—Cleome spinosa Cherry Queen. (b,h) CLEO-5C. Packet: $2.00
25 grams: $7.50, 100 grams: $20.00
Deep carmine-rose flowers. Hardy annual to 3 feet.
—Cleome spinosa Helen Campbell. (b,h) CLEO-5H. Packet: $2.00
25 grams: $7.50, 100 grams: $20.00
The best pure white, also called White Queen.
—Cleome spinosa Violet Queen. (b,h) CLEO-5V. Packet: $2.00
25 grams: $7.50, 100 grams: $20.00
Violet purple flowers. Annual to 3 feet.