TRACHYCARPUS (tra-kee-KAR-pus)
PALMAE. Himalayan region fan palms, among the hardiest palms known. Slow growing and long-lived, they make nice houseplants in cold regions.
—Trachycarpus Fortunei. (e,g) TRCY -6. Packet: $2.50
Oz: $6.00
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'WINDMILL PALM', 'CHINESE FAN PALM'. Tall slender fan palm to 40 feet, with 3 foot fronds. Clustered fragrant flowers followed by blue 1/2" fruits. Trunk covered with dark fibers, and is thinner at the base than the top. One of the hardiest palms, standing to 10°F, and mature ones have survived –2°F. Commonly grown in Vancouver, B.C., and specimens growing in Sitka, Alaska and southern Norway vie for the record northernmost outdoor palms on the planet. Young flower-stalks eaten. Germinates in 2 - 3 months warm.
TRICHOCEREUS (trik-o-SEER-ee-us)
CACTACEAE. Tree-like to prostrate columnar cacti valued for their large, showy, night-blooming flowers. Fast growing and easy from seed, they take rich soil and plenty of water in the growing season, making them ideal cacti for beginners. Several of them will stand considerable frost, probably down to 10°F. Sow on the surface of a sandy, well-drained mix. Gibberellic acid may double germination.
—Trichocereus Bridgesii. (d,g) TRCH-6. Packet: $2.50
1000 seeds: $12.00
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Pale green, frosted 4 - 8-ribbed columns to 18 feet or so, branched from the base. Dark yellow 4" spines. White 7" flowers bloom at night, but last well into the next day, and are strongly jasmine scented. Bolivia. One of the hardiest. Germinates in 2 - 5 weeks.
—Trichocereus grandiflorus. (d,g) TRCH-16. Packet: $2.50
Brilliant red 3 - 4" flowers with contrasting yellow stigma. Small thick columns to 14" tall, with about 14 ribs and short yellow spines. Argentina. Day blooming and flowers young, often when only 4" tall. A nice species.
—Trichocereus peruvianus. (c,g) TRCH-42. Packet: $2.50
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'PERUVIAN TORCH'. Stout, often bluish-green columns to 6 - 15 feet and 6 - 8" thick, with 6 - 8 ribs and stout 1 1/2" spines. Large, showy, white, sweet-scented 10" flowers bloom at night. Peruvian Andes to 7000 feet or more. Easy and fast-growing, standing some frost. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks with GA-3.
—Trichocereus Terscheckii. (d,g) TRCH-80. Packet: $2.50
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'CARDON GRANDE'. Huge candelabra-like cactus to 40 feet, with 1 1/2 foot thick trunk, and 8 - 14-ribbed branches. Large areoles with yellow 3 - 4" spines. Large white nocturnal 6 - 8" flowers. North Argentina. Fast growing, massive and free-flowering. Germinates in 2 - 8 weeks. GA-3 may improve germination percent.
"Live as if you are going to die tomorrow. Garden as if you are going to live forever."—J. Kipling.
TRICHOSANTHES: See Reserved Access page.
TRICHOSTEMA (tri-ko-STEM-a)
LABIATAE. Elegant North American herbs sometimes planted in wild or rock gardens for the curious flowers or scent. Prefers light sandy soil in an open, sunny position. Sow in April where they are to flower, 1/8" deep. Thin to 6" apart. Blooms July to September.
—Trichostemma lanatum. TRICH-15. Packet: $2.50
'WOOLY BLUE CURLS', 'ROMERO'. Lovely blue 1/2 - 1" long flowers in spikes, with long curved stamens, and densely covered with purple wool. Shrubby perennial to 2 - 5 feet with narrow aromatic leaves. California. Zone 6. Hispanic Californians considered the plant almost a panacea for many ailments. "The inflorescence is an exquisite thing, more like the production of a Paris milliner than a guileless creation of nature."—Parsons.
TROCHOMERIOPSIS: See Reserved Access page.
TROPAEOLUM (tro-pee-O-lum)
TROPAEOLACEAE. 'NASTURTIUM'. Hardy and half-hardy annual and perennial South American herbs. Their brilliant flowers, abundant foliage, and easy culture have made them garden favorites. Good for covering walls or fences, or as prolific, quick-growing ground cover. In mild climates, they may grow and bloom almost year round, making a striking display. Excellent, long-lasting cut flowers. Easily grown, thriving in any warm, sunny place. In rich, moist soil they tend to produce mostly foliage and few flowers, so a poor, dry soil is preferred. Germinates in 1 - 5 weeks warm. Seed viable 5 years.
Tropaeolum majus Varieties:
'GARDEN NASTURTIUM'. The common hardy annual, with sweetly fragrant flowers in a range of vivid colors. Also called 'Indian Cress', as the flowers and leaves have a spicy taste and are added to salads. The flower buds and unripe, tender seeds are pickled in vinegar and used as a piquant seasoning, like capers. The leaves and flowers make a delicious, fragrant tea. Stuff the large blooms with nut butter, cheese, etc, for a tasty and visually stunning addition to summer meals. Blooms in 2 - 3 months, and makes long-lasting cut flowers. Easily grown in any well-drained sunny spot, poor soil encouraging bloom. Most seed germinates in 1 - 2 weeks, with stragglers up to 5 weeks.
—Tropaeolum majus nanum Alaska Mix. (d,h) TROP-5A. Packet: $2.50
Oz: $8.00, 1/4 lb: $16.00
Variegated foliage, conspicuously marked with creamy white. Bright single flowers in a good range of reds, oranges and yellows. Non-trailing.
—Tropaeolum majus Empress of India. (c,h) TROP-5E. Packet: $2.50
Oz: $8.00, 1/4 lb: $16.00
Single deep crimson-scarlet flowers on compact plants with dark bluish green foliage. Hardy annual to 9". A traditional favorite, over 100 years old.
—Tropaeolum majus Strawberry Ice. (e,h) TROP-5S. Packet: $3.00
10 grams: $7.50, 50 grams: $28.00
Bright yellow flowers splashed red, and blue-green leaves on a compact plant. Nice.
—Tropaeolum majus 'Sunset Pink'. (20) TROP-5P. Packet: $3.00 OUT OF STOCK
Salmon-pink flowers on a compact plant.
—Tropaeolum majus 'Whirlybird Mahogany Red'. (25) TROP-5WM. Packet: $2.50
25 grams: $9.00
Rich mahogany-red single and semi-double upward-facing flowers held well above the foliage.
—Tropaeolum majus Tall Single Blend. (c,h) TROP-5X. Packet: $1.50 OUT OF STOCK
Oz: $5.00, 1/4 lb: $10.00 OUT OF STOCK
Prolific hardy annual climber to 6 feet, with large single flowers in a blend of brilliant reds, oranges and yellows. Add leaves and flowers to salads.
—Tropaeolum peregrinum. (d,h) TROP-7. Packet: $2.00
10 grams: $6.00
'CANARY BIRD FLOWER'. Delicate, bright canary-yellow flowers, with curiously fringed upper petals, and narrow lower petals. Five-lobed, light green leaves. Graceful hardy annual vine. A lovely, fast-growing screen, fence cover, etc. Produces a vivid display of the feathery yellow flowers in summer. Reaches 10 - 15 feet. Best in moist soil and light shade. Zone 9. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks warm.
TULIPA (TOO-li-pa)
LILIACEAE. Popular hardy spring-blooming bulbs ranging from the Mediterranean to Japan. The wild species tulips will stand poor rocky soil and adverse conditions better than the garden types, and they will bloom for many years without disturbance. May bloom in 3 years from seed. Germination usually occurs at cold (40°F) temperatures.
—Tulipa Sprengeri. (d,g) TULP-46. Packet: $2.50
Brilliant scarlet-red 2" long flowers with pointed petals. Very late flowering, May and June. Hardy bulb to 12 - 18", with narrow 10" leaves. NW Turkey. Zone 4. Self-sows, and adaptable to sun or part shade. Said to be extinct in the wild—a good candidate for naturalizing! Germinates in 6 - 24 weeks at cold temperatures.
TUNICA (TOO-ni-ka)
CARYOPHYLLACEAE. 'TUNIC FLOWER'. Hardy herbaceous annuals and perennials with wiry stems, narrow leaves, and tiny Dianthus-like flowers in clusters. Good for edging in the border or the rock garden. Easy from seed which usually germinates in 4 - 13 days at warm temperatures, and gives high germination for at least 10 years. Some species may require cold, and take up to 2 months to sprout.
—Tunica Saxifraga. (=Petrorhagia Saxifraga) (b,h) TUNI-22. Packet: $2.00
Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $20.00
'COAT FLOWER'. Pale pink 1/4" flowers with notched petals, borne profusely on a tufted spreading perennial to 8 - 10", with narrow grass-like 1/2" leaves. Southern Europe. Zone 4. A fine little plant, easy from seed, and hardy. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks warm.
TURBINA: See Rivea corymbosa.
TYLECODON (ti-le-KO-don)
CRASSULACEAE. Succulent South African perennials.
NEW—Tylecodon paniculatus. (25) TYLE-34. Packet: $2.50
'BOTTERBOOM'. Thick trunk and branches with yellow peeling bark, leafless in the dry season. Nodding dark red 1/2" flowers with green stripes, in 1 - 2 foot branched clusters. Light green 6" leaves. Namibia and S. Africa. Resembles a miniature baobab with age.