AMARANTH
—Amaranth Hopi Red Dye. (500) VAMA-HO. Packet: $2.50 ORGANIC
10 grams: $7.50
Deep purple-red plants to 4 - 6 feet tall, large and vigorous. Leaves are good greens when young, and the black seeds as grain. The Hopi use the plants to make a ceremonial red dye. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks, GA-3 helps.
BEANS
—Bean Mrs. T's Ukrainian. (20) VBEA-MT. Packet: $2.50
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Beautiful shiny round beans are bicolored, half deep maroon, almost black, half white with a few tiny speckles, produced abundantly on tall vines. Brought to Canada from the Ukraine and shared around the Ukrainian community in Alberta by Mrs. T., where they are valued for their delicious flavor as a soup bean, eaten at the traditional Christmas Eve dinner.
—Bean Roma Improved Bush. (50) VBEA-RB. Packet: $2.50
1/4 pound: $5.00
Favorite Italian bush bean, reselected for early harvest, more flavor, and slow seed development for an extended crop. Bushy 2 foot plants with heavy yields of wide, flat, 5" long pods.
—Bean Sunset Runner. (20) VBEA-SUN. Packet: $3.50
This unusual runner bean is grown as much for the lovely peach-colored flowers as for the tasty pods. Vines reach 6 feet, bearing abundant short pods. Great fresh, frozen, or canned, and also used for dry shell beans.
CHICORY
—Chicory Rouge De Verona. (1000) VCHI-RV. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 pound: $12.00
The classic round, red and white radicchio, an heirloom from Verona, Italy. Lettuce-like red-green leaves can be eaten at any stage, but a bit of care is needed to form the tight burgundy and white heads. Sow in summer and before first frost trim plants to 1 - 2" above ground. The round red and white heads will form for harvest over winter and spring. After cutting back, the plants can be dug and stored in a cool dark place. Flavor becomes milder and sweeter in cold weather.
—Chicory Treviso. (1000) VCHI-TR. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 pound: $12.00
Striking tall non-heading radicchio, grown for decades near Treviso, Italy. Long tapering red-green leaves with white mid-ribs, crisp, tender, and slightly bitter. Turns deep red in cold weather. Flavor sweetens with cooking, popular for grilling, roasting, or braising. Sow in summer for harvest over winter and spring.
CORN
—Corn Painted Hills. (50) VCOR-PH. Packet: $3.00 ORGANIC
1/4 pound: $12.00
Beautiful sweet corn bred by Alan Kapuler from a cross of Painted Mountain flour corn with Luther Hill heirloom sweet corn. Multi-colored kernels of red, yellow, purple, blue, and white. Color is pale at the fresh-eating stage, turning darker as the ears mature and dry. Organically grown by Alan Adesse.
CRESS
—Cress Wrinkled Crinkled. (500) VCRE-WC. Packet: $2.50 ORGANIC
1/4 ounce: $7.50
Crinkled, curled, and savoyed leaves add spice and body to salads and stir-fries. Holds up better than other cress, with the same peppery tang. Nice addition to salad and braising mixes. Organically-grown.
CUCUMBER
—Cucumber Spacemaster 80. (40) VCUC-SP. Packet: $2.50 ORGANIC
Ounce: $6.00
The perfect cucumber for small areas or containers. Compact plants need 1/3 of the space of other varieties, and adapted to a wide range of conditions. Produces abundant crops of 7 - 8" dark green fruits. Organically-grown.
GARLIC
—Garlic Mezz's Pink Blush Hardneck. (20 bulblets) VGAR-MP. Packet: $2.50
Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon. Found in a Pennsylvania garden that had been abandoned for more than 20 years, named for the old store that used to stand on the site. Mildly hot when raw, good flavor. To 3 feet with 2 1/2" bulbs.
KALE
—Kale Portuguese. (400) VKAL-PT. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $8.00
'COUVE TRONCHUDA'. One of the finest kales, tender, sweet, and rich-flavored. Large loose heads of big rounded blue-green leaves with white veins. In Portugal it is made into Caldo Verde, a thick delicious soup with potatoes and sausage.
KOHLRABI
—Kohlrabi White Vienna. (500) VKOH-WV. Packet: $1.50
Ounce: $5.00, 1/4 pound: $10.00
Forms pale green globes with mild flavor, tender and crisp. The darker green leaves are eaten like kale.
LEEKS
—Leeks Belgian Breeder's Winter Mix. (200) VLEE-BEL. Packet: $3.00 ORGANIC
1/4 ounce: $12.00
Amazing blend of leek types, in a range of diverse sizes, heights, and colors—shades of green to slate blue, some blushed purple. An excellent mix for selecting out new varieties to suit your area, crucial at this time when open-pollinated leeks are disappearing. Organically-grown.
LETTUCE
—Lettuce Jack Ice. (200) VLET-JI. Packet: $2.50 ORGANIC
Unusual dark green crisp-leaf variety, with striking deeply-toothed edges. Open, upright heads, crunchy, juicy, and sweet. Nice hefty plants, resistant to downy mildew and tip burn. Organically-grown.
—Lettuce Lava Lamp Romaine. (200) VLET-LLR. Packet: $2.50 ORGANIC
1/4 ounce: $20.00
Tall heads are colorful all the way to the hearts, brightly marbled and streaked with red, yellow, green, and white. Thick and crunchy, stays sweet and tasty even when near bolting. Another beauty from Frank Morton. Organically-grown.
—Lettuce Really Red Deer Tongue. (200) VLET-RRD. Packet: $2.50 ORGANIC
Long pointed triangular leaves are a deep, dark burgundy-red with white mid-ribs. Gives dark red leaves for cutting, plus a tender, buttery heart. Yet another fantastic variety from Frank Morton, selected for color, heat tolerance, and vigor. Organically-grown.
MELON
—Melon Eindor. (50) VMEL-EN. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $5.00, 1/4 pound: $10.00
Sweet juicy pale green flesh, highly fragrant. Mid-sized oval netted melons turn gold when ripe. Needs a long hot season.
ONION
—Onion Tokyo Long White. (300) VONI-TLB. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $6.00
Heirloom bunching onion from Tokyo, known for its sweet and mild flavor, Tall slender green tops can reach 20 - 30". Best in mild climates, won't tolerate extreme heat or cold.
ORACH
—Orach Ruby Gold. (50) ATRI-RG. Packet: $2.50 ORGANIC
Leaves are gold blushed red, with magenta stems. Brilliant color from seedlings to the gold and ruby seedheads, which can be cut for dried arrangements. Organically-grown.
PARSNIP
—Parsnip Turga. (250) VPAS-TR. Packet: $3.00 ORGANIC
Ounce: $12.00
Hungarian heirloom with thick roots and smooth white skin. Crisp, sweet, and rich-flavored. Does well even in clay soil, and can be stored in the ground until the soil freezes, and cold temperatures sweeten the roots. Organically-grown.
PEA
—Pea British Wonder. (100) VPEA-BW. Packet: $2.00
1/4 pound: $5.00
A large-podded dwarf variety from England in 1890. Vines grow only 3 feet tall and need a short trellis. Productive and tasty, an excellent shelling pea for limited space.
PEPPER
—Pepper Aconcagua. (75) VPEP-ACO. Packet: $2.50
1/4 ounce: $9.00, Ounce: $25.00
Giant sweet pepper from Argentina, named for the highest mountain in the Andes. Tapered peppers reach 10 - 12" long and 2 - 3" wide. Sweetest when red ripe, but delicious raw or cooked at any stage. Needs a fairly long season to fully ripen, so start early in northern climates. Grows 3 feet tall, and may need support with heavy fruit set.
—Pepper Biquinho Yellow. VPEP-BQY. Packet: $3.00
1/4 ounce: $15.00
Capsicum chinense. Small semi-hot peppers from Brazil. The name means "little beak", as the fruits are round with a pointed tip like a bird's beak. This is the unusual yellow type. In Brazil these peppers are popular pickled in vinegar, but are good in any recipe, fresh or dried. Has the smoky, fruity flavor of Habaneros, but is only mildly hot.
—Pepper Diamond. (100) VPEP-DI. Packet: $2.50
1/4 ounce: $8.00, Ounce: $21.00
Unique sweet peppers are a luminous white, ripening to pale yellow. Thick and succulent, mild and crisp, great stuffed, fried, grilled, or fresh.
—Pepper Emerald Giant. (75) VPEP-EM. Packet: $2.00
1/4 ounce: $5.00, Ounce: $12.00
Big, thick, juicy bell peppers, sweet and crunchy. Dark green turning red when ripe. A classic stuffing pepper. Selected for disease resistance and high yields.
PUMPKIN
—Pumpkin Butternut X Seminole. (20) VPUM-BXS. Packet: $3.00
Cucurbita moschata. From a butternut crossed with the famous Seminole pumpkin, large vigorous vines produce fruits that vary in shape, size, and color, ranging from 1 - 6 pounds. All have thick, dark orange flesh with excellent sweet flavor. Will keep for months. The original Seminole pumpkin has been cultivated since the 1500s in Florida. The Seminole had the large vines grow up into trees, harvesting the hanging pumpkins. Excellent baked, steamed, stuffed, or made into soups or pies. "Keeping quality is excellent. We ate our last fruit in June."—Sue Turtle.
—Pumpkin Cherokee Bush. (25) VPUM-CH. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $9.00, 1/4 pound: $22.00
The perfect pumpkin for small gardens or limited space. Compact bushes produce round 5 - 8 pound pumpkins that are a deep Halloween-orange with yellow flesh. Great for Jack 'O Lanterns, and makes delicious pies, breads, and soup.
RHUBARB
—Rhubarb Victoria. (25) VRHU-V. Packet: $2.00
One of the finest rhubarbs, first grown in England in 1837. Large, hardy, productive plants have deep red stalks and superb flavor. Best in northern areas, needing temperatures below 40°F to stimulate spring growth. Space plants 2 feet apart. First harvest the second or third year, after plants are well established. Old farm houses often have rhubarb plants that still produce abundantly with no care, having been planted up to 60 years earlier.
SQUASH
—Squash Delicata Honeyboat. (25) VSQU-DH. Packet: $3.00 ORGANIC
Ounce: $10.00
Well known for its sweet rich flavor. Oblong fruits have a coppery-buff skin with green stripes, to 6 - 8" long. Stores well. Bred by James Baggett at Oregon State University. Organic.
—Squash Blanco Lungo Cylindrico. (25) VSQU-BL. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $5.00, 1/4 pound: $10.00
Italian zucchini-like summer squash with fruits that are white or the palest green. Tender and mild flavor, best harvested when 8" long or less. Bushy compact plants, good for small gardens.
SWISS CHARD
—Swiss Chard Rainbow. (250) VSWI-RA. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $5.00, 1/4 pound: $12.00
Dark green rumpled leaves with colorful stems in red, gold, orange, white, pink, purple, and some striped pink and white. Nice for baby salad greens. One of the most colorful Swiss chard mixes.
TOMATO
—Tomato Berkeley Tie Dye. (100) VTOM-BER. Packet: $2.50
1/4 ounce: $12.00, Ounce: $30.00
Large deep pink fruits with silvery-green stripes outside, and inside striped pink, yellow, and green. Outstanding flavor, sweet, tart, rich, and full-bodied. People love it for both the appearance and taste. Indeterminate.
—Tomato Hartman's Yellow Gooseberry. (100) VTOM-HYG. Packet: $3.00 ORGANIC
Bright lemon-yellow cherry tomatoes growing in long clusters. Small to medium-size, with delicious sweet, mild flavor. Grown since the 1800s. Indeterminate. Organic.
—Tomato Powers Heirloom. (100) VTOM-PH. Packet: $3.50
1/4 ounce: $20.00
Bright yellow oval to pear-shaped fruits. Medium-sized, meaty, juicy, and sweet. An excellent paste tomato, but delicious fresh, or in sauces and salsas. Heavy yields. First known in Virginia over 100 years ago. Indeterminate.
WATERMELON
—Early Yellow Moonbeam. (25) VWAT-EYM. Packet: $2.50 ORGANIC
Ounce: $12.00
Wonderful small melons developed by Alan Kapuler. Melons are 3 - 8 pounds, with a thin striped rind and pale yellow, sweet, crisp flesh. Not a shipping melon because of the thin rind, but a superb home garden type. Does well in northern areas. Organic.
2020 Supplement Seedlist - A - Z
AGASTACHE
—Agastache rugosa. (1000) AGAS-12. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $10.00
'KOREAN MINT'. Whole plant highly anise scented and flavored. Hardy bushy perennial to 3 - 4 feet, with spikes of purple-violet flowers and 2" leaves. Korea to Vietnam. Easy from seed, and thrives in the temperate U.S. Sunny places. Zone 4 or 5. Fresh or dried it makes an excellent tea, which was used in China as a mouthwash and hangover remedy. Also good for seasoning meat and other dishes. Fresh leaves good on sandwiches. Good cut flowers and an excellent bee plant. Fresh seed dormant, needs cold or GA-3, aged seed germinates in 2 - 3 weeks. "Another one to sow thinly due to very high germination, with slightly spicier and more exotic scent than traditional Anise Hyssop."—C. Malanowski, South Carolina, 6/2001.
ALLIUM
—Allium angulosum. (75) ALUM-6. Packet: $2.50
'MOUSE GARLIC'. White to purple flowers in 1 - 2" rounded umbels. Hardy perennial bulb to 8 - 18". Europe and Siberia, where the bulbs are eaten fresh, dried or salted. Zone 3. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
—Allium canadense 'Spring Valley Purple'. (20 bulblets) ALUM-21S. Packet: $2.50
'CANADA GARLIC'. Purple-magenta 3/8" flowers on stalks to 24 - 34", which are coiled before rising. Pennsylvania. Zone 4. An excellent garlic, very pungent raw, but very mild when cooked.
—Allium jesdianum. (20) ALUM-46. Packet: $2.50
Lilac-rose flowers in dense balls on stems to 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 feet, in May and June. Hardy bulb with strap-like leaves. Iraq to Afghanistan. Zone 6, some say Zone 3. Prechill seed.
—Allium Rosenbachianum. (25) ALUM-80. Packet: $2.50
Rose-violet flowers in large, airy 4" balls on 3 foot stems in May and June. Hardy bulb with strap-like leaves. Central Asia. Zone 6. Prechill seed.
—Allium senescens. (50) ALUM-86. Packet: $2.50
'GERMAN GARLIC'. Pink flowers in 2" balls on 16" stems, abundantly produced in July and August. Hardy bulb forming clumps from rhizomes. Eurasia. Zone 4. Bulbs and leaves eaten. Short prechill helps germination.
AQUILEGIA
—Aquilegia flavescens. (25) AQUI-17. Packet: $2.50
Nodding yellow flowers, often tinged pink, in May and June. Hardy perennial to 2 feet. Rocky Mountains. Zone 3. Short prechill helps germination.
ARISAEMA
—Arisaema flavum. (25) ARIS-9. Packet: $2.50
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Neat little yellow hoods under 2" long, purple inside, in early summer. Hardy species (Zone 4) to 9 - 12" tall, with pedately divided 5" leaves. Yemen to the Himalayas and China. Colonizes well. Hardy to zone 5 at least. Germinates in 1 - 8 weeks warm, shade flat.
ARTEMISIA
—Artemisia chamaemelifolia. (250) ARTE-14. Packet: $2.50
Aromatic shrublet to 8 - 24", with small yellow flowers in summer and fall, and finely divided leaves. Mountains of Eurasia. Zone 3. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
ASTILBE (a-STIL-be)
SAXIFRAGACEAE. Asian and North American perennials for rich moist soil, sun or part shade. Sow on the surface of a fine soil. The plume-like sprays of flowers are good for cutting.
—Astilbe chinensis var. pumila. (250) ASTI-6P. Packet: $2.50
True dwarf to only 9 - 15" tall, with large, feathery pink flower-clusters in summer. Divided leaves. China. Zone 3. Surface sow to germinate in 2 - 3 weeks warm.
BORAGO
—Borago officinalis var. alba. (25) BORA-3A. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $12.00
'WHITE-FLOWERED BORAGE'. The lovely white-flowered form, so rarely seen. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
BULBINE (bul-BEE-nay)
LILIACEAE. Star-like yellow or white six-petaled flowers on annuals or half-hardy perennials, often with tuberous roots. Africa and Australia. They like full sun and well-drained soil, and bloom in spring and summer. Sow in pots in early spring, to germinate in about 2 weeks. Plant out in May. Some may flower in 3 months or so. Good outdoors in warm areas, or in pots in the greenhouse.
—Bulbine frutescens. (50) BUL-16. Packet: $2.50
'BURN JELLY PLANT'. Bright yellow orange flowers in dense foot-long spikes. Shrubby succulent to 2 feet, with narrow, foot-long leaves. South Africa. Zone 9. Leaves used like Aloe vera for burns. Germinates in a week.
BUNIAS (BOO-nee-as)
CRUCIFERAE. White or yellow flowered annual and perennial herbs, occasionally grown for their edible leaves. Easily grown in most soils. Sow any time, spring to fall. Seed viable 3 - 6 years.
—Bunias orientalis. (50) BUNS-18. Packet: $2.50
'TURKISH ROCKET'. Yellow, mustard-like flowers held above a basal rosette of leaves. Hardy perennial to 2 - 4 feet. Europe to Siberia. Zone 5. Grown for the young and tender leaves and sterns, eaten either in salads or boiled. Called 'dikaia retka' on the Volga, where the stems are eaten raw. Also valued for forage. Sprouts very early in spring, when other greens are scarce, and stands cold and drought well. "Highly spoken of as a kitchen-garden plant."—Vilmorin. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks.
BUPHTHALMUM (buf-THAL-mum)
COMPOSITAE. Showy, easily grown Eurasian hardy perennials with large yellow daisies, resembling elecampane. Bold plants, blooming the first year.
—Buphthalmum salicifolium. (250) BUPH-22. Packet: $2.50
'SUNWHEEL'. Golden yellow 2" flowers abundantly borne June to August. Hardy perennial to 2 feet. Central Europe. Zone 3. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
CACHRYS (KAK-rees)
UMBELLIFERAE. Mediterranean to central Asia.
—Cachrys alpina. (20) CACH-4. Packet: $2.50
Umbels of yellow flowers in July and August. Hardy perennial to 4 feet, with feathery foliage. Zone 5. Prechill seed.
CALENDULA
—Calendula officinalis 'Solar Flashback Mix'. (25) CALN-7SF. Packet: $2.50 ORGANIC
Distinctive mix of bright light yellows, pinks, and solid red and maroon. Selected for high contrast in colors. Organic.
CALOCHORTUS
—Calochortus Tolmiei. (20) CALOC-80. Packet: $2.50
'PUSSY EARS'. White or cream inch-long bell-shaped fringed and fuzzy flowers, often tinged rose or purple. Bulb with narrow blue green leaves. W. US. Zone 5 or 6. Bulb edible. Germinates at cold temperatures.
CAMPANULA
—Campanula patula. (1000) CAMP-64. Packet: $2.50
Large purple-blue inch-wide flowers in June and July. Hardy biennial to 16". Central Europe. Zone 4. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Campanula sarmatica. (100) CAMP-100. Packet: $2.50
Light blue inch-long flowers with flaring petals, in spikes in June and July. Hardy perennial to 16", with grey-green felty foliage. Caucasus. Zone 4. Germinates in a week.
CENTAUREA
—Centaurea Cyanus 'Black'. (50) CENT-1BK. Packet: $2.50
Very deep dark flowers.
CENTRATHERUM
COMPOSITAE. Two species.
—Centratherum intermedium. (100) CENR-12. Packet: $2.50
'MANAOS BEAUTY'. Lavender-blue flowers on a tender perennial to 2 feet, with strongly-scented foliage. Root hardy to at least 21°F. Good in sandy soil. Germinates irregularly, beginning in a week, and GA-3 helps.
CEPHALARIA (se-fa-LA-ree-a)
DIPSACEAE. Easily grown annuals and perennials resembling Scabiosa. Striking summer bloom. Good for cut flowers. They do well in heavy soils, and stand up to wind and rain.
—Cephalaria gigantea. (25) CEPH-10. Packet: $3.00
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'GIANT YELLOW SCABIOSE', 'GOLDEN SCABIOSE'. Giant herb to 6 - 10 feet, with sulfur-yellow 2" flower heads on 2 - 3 foot stems, June and July. Pinnately divided leaves. Caucasus. Full sun. Zone 4 or more. Highly ornamental and striking. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks warm, some dormant.
CHIRANTHODENDRON
STERCULIACEAE. A single species.
—Chiranthodendron pentadactylon. (5) CHIR-1. Packet: $5.00
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'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. Nick seed then germinate on damp paper towels. Any that don't swell, re-nick. Plant as root shows, in 1 - 10 weeks.
COOPERIA (KOO-per-EE-a)
LILIACEAE. Several tender bulbs, sometimes classed in Zephyranthes. Good in dry areas, coming up and blooming a few days after a rain. Easily grown, seed germinates readily. Lift bulbs in the North.
—Cooperia Drummondii. (=Zephyranthes Drummondii and Z. brazoensis) (10) COOP-7. Packet: $2.50
Flower Photo
Info and pictures
'RAIN LILY', 'FAIRY LILY'. Fragrant white 1 - 2" wide flowers open at dusk and stay open a day or two. To 9 - 12", with narrow, grass-like leaves. Blooms spring through fall after rainfall. Texas. Zone 7. Does well in gardens. Germinates in a week.
CORIANDRUM
—Coriandrum sativum 'Typ Dwarf Lemon'. (50) CORI-5T. Packet: $2.50 ORGANIC
10 grams: $7.50
'LEMON CORIANDER'. Lemony scent in both leaves and seed. Compact, early blooming, fast fruiting. White to soft pink flowers. EU Organic.
CYCLAMEN (SIK-la-men)
PRIMULACEAE. Tuberous-rooted herbs with heart-shaped leaves and beautiful flowers. Popular florist subjects. Most are grown in the greenhouse; some of the species are hardy in the North. They do best in a rich moist soil with plenty of leaf-mold and sand. Seed is variable in germination, so space them widely in flats so that the seedlings can be pricked out singly. Cover seed well. Seed sown in fall and carried over in a protected place will flower in 6 - 18 months. An important point is to keep them growing when young. Hardy species are good in shady, woodsy spots. Cyclamens may live 100 years.
—Cyclamen hederifolium. (25) CYCL-11. Packet: $2.50
'IVY-LEAF CYCLAMEN'. Soft rose-pink inch-long flowers on 3 - 4" stems. Large, ivy-like, heart-shaped, silver-mottled 5" leaves. S. Europe to Turkey. One of the most reliably hardy species, to Zone 5 at least. Blooms late summer and fall, after the leaves die back. Germinates irregularly, the roots forming in 3 - 16 weeks, the leaves show 1 - 2 months later.
CYCLANTHERA
—Cyclanthera pedata. (20) CYCN-19. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $9.00
'ACCOCHA'. South American vegetable grown for the small edible cucumber-like fruits. Quick-growing vine to 10 feet, with palmate leaves. Spindle-shaped fruits 4 1/2" long, and are eaten raw or cooked like cucumbers when young. When mature, remove seeds and cook or bake with stuffing, when it is said to have an artichoke-like flavor. Also pickled. Andean favorite. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
DARLINGTONIA (dar-ling-ton-EE-a)
SARRACENIACEAE. A single species. Best grown in fibrous sphagnum and sand. Likes a cool root.
—Darlingtonia californica. (100) DARL-1. $5.00
'CALIFORNIA PITCHER-PLANT', 'COBRA LILY'. Rosettes of odd yellow-green tubular pitcher-plant-like hollow leaves, hooded and with a forked 'tongue'. Insectivorous hardy perennial to 12 - 18", with nodding, 2 - 4" wide flowers with yellow-green sepals and deep purple-veined petals. California mountains. Zone 6. Sow on peatmoss and keep cool, to germinate in 3 months or so. Prechill helps some lots.
DATURA
—Datura Tatula. (50) DATU-28. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $7.50
Needs cold treatment, GA-3 or ageing to germinate.
—Datura Tatula GA-3. (50) DATU-28G. Packet: $3.00
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Pale lavender 4 - 5" trumpets with five darker stripes in the throat. Hardy annual to 4 - 6 feet, with purplish stems and spiny, egg-shaped pods. Southern North America. Often considered a Stramonium variety. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks warm.
DIOSPYROS
—Diospyros Kaki Selection. (5) DIOS-44S. Packet: $2.50 OUT OF STOCK
'JAPANESE PERSIMMON'. Delicious orange fruits on a small tree to 40 feet. Pale yellow flowers. E. Asia. Zone 7. "From our own seedling trees that have done well in Tennessee, and that we selected from over 1000 seedlings. In 2007 in full leaf with new growth evident, we went to 16°F, which killed a 4" diameter trunk to the ground. We cut it off and it regenerated, missed a year of fruiting, and fruited the following year."—Sue Turt1e.
DRACUNCULUS (dra-kun-ku-lus)
ARACEAE. Several tuberous perennials with large ornamental spathes and hand-like leaves. Good in mild dry climates.
—Dracunculus vulgaris. (10) DRCU-12. Packet: $2.50
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'DRAGON ARUM'. Long, narrow, lurid purple spathe to 2 - 3 feet long, with ruffled edges, and a deep purple-red spadix, almost as long, in early summer. Half hardy perennial to 3 feet, with large hand-like leaves. E. Mediterranean. Zone 8 or so. Gives sporadic germination with warm/cold cycles.
DURANTA
VERBENACEAE. Warm region ornamental shrubs and trees.
—Duranta repens. (25) DURA-3. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $10.00
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'SKY FLOWER', 'GOLDEN-DEWDROP'. Lilac-blue 1/2" flowers in 6" clusters, followed by yellow 1/2" fruits. Small tree to 18 feet, with drooping branches. Florida to Brazil. Zone 9. Attracts butterflies, fast growing, likes moisture. Germinates in 4 - 8 weeks or so.
ELYMUS (e-LEE-mus)
GRAMINEAE. Tall perennial grasses grown for ornament and grain.
—Elymus glaucus. (100) ELYM-14. Packet: $2.50
'BLUE WILD RYE'. Variable bunch grass with dense 4 - 8" spikes on long stems. W. N. America. Zone 5. This northern California form makes nice green clumps to 3 - 5 feet, good to naturalize in oak woodlands. The seeds were eaten. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
EPIPACTIS
—Epipactis Helleborine. EPIP-12. Packet: $2.50
'HELLEBORINE'. Dense spikes of purple and green 1/2" flowers in summer. Hardy perennial orchid to 3 - 4 feet. Europe, naturalized in the US. Zone 6. Sow on the surface, keep moist. One of the easiest hardy wild orchids to grow from seed.
ERYNGIUM
—Eryngium agavifolium. (100) ERYN-1. Packet: $2.50
Blue-green 2" flower heads on a hardy perennial to 5 feet, with sword-shaped, spine-edged leaves, resembling Agave. Argentina. Zone 7. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
FRAGARIA
—Fragaria moschata. (50) FRAG-8. Packet: $2.50
'HAUTBOIS', 'MUSK STRAWBERRY'. Violet-red berries with a strong musky flavor, likened to raspberries, held well above the foliage. Hardy perennial to 1 foot, with large white flowers in May to July. Eurasia. Zone 4. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
—Fragaria virginiana. (75) FRAG-16. Packet: $2.50
'VIRGINIA STRAWBERRY'. Aromatic red berries and white flowers in April to June. Hardy perennial to 6 - 10". E. North America. Zone 3. Leaves used as tea. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
GALIUM (GAL-ee-um)
RUBIACEAE. 'BEDSTRAW'. Slender herbs with wheel-like flowers, whorled leaves and square stems. Some produce good cut flowers, others are important dye and medicinal herbs.
—Galium aparine. (100) GALI-2. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $7.50
'CLEAVERS', 'ROBIN-RUN-IN-THE-GRASS'. Scrambling annual to 2 - 6 feet, with whorled leaves and tiny white flowers. North temperate regions. The tops were made into tea, the seeds roasted for a coffee substitute, and the roots used as a substitute for madder to produce a red dye. Used as a vegetable rennet. Germinates in 3 - 4 weeks.
—Galium odoratum (=Asperula odorata) (50) GALI-18. Packet: $3.00
'SWEET WOODRUFF'. Sprawling perennial to 6 - 8", with whorled leaves and white flowers in clusters in May. Eurasia. Zone 3. Useful ground cover for shady places under trees, as it spreads rapidly and smothers itself with bloom. The herbage is not scented when fresh, but on drying it becomes perfumed with a delightful scent which is retained for years. The fresh shoots are steeped in wine and beer, including the famous 'May Wine' drunk on May first in Germany. They are also added to tobacco and snuff, and are placed among clothing. Germinates best sown in fall, or prechill. May be prolonged, 7 months or more, and hold pots over 2 - 3 years for stragglers.
GENISTA (je-NIS-ta)
LEGUMINOSAE. 'WOAD - WAXEN', 'BROOM'. Showy shrubs giving a profusion of yellow or white bloom in spring and summer. A number of species are hardy in the North in sheltered positions, but are at their best in full sun and dry, well-drained soil in a mild climate. Many are good ground covers for dry slopes. Easy from seed and fast growing. Rub seed on sandpaper for quick germination. Sow in pots as they resent transplanting. Seed grown plants are best as they are longer-lived.
—Genista tinctoria. (100) GENS-38. Packet: $3.00
'DYER'S GREENWOOD'. Bright yellow 1/2" flowers in long racemes, covering the shrub in June and July. Bright green shrub to 2 - 3 feet. Europe to W. Asia. Zone 3. A good soil binder and ground cover on dry slopes, becoming a sheet of yellow in summer. The flowers burst open when visited by insects as an aid to pollination. The flowering tops give a good yellow dye which has been used since ancient times. In combination with woad, it produces a fine green. Nick seed to germinate in 1 - 2 weeks.
GENTIANA
—Gentiana gracilipes. (250) GENT-42. Packet: $2.50
Blue-purple 1 1/2" flowers are greenish outside, in July to September. Hardy perennial with 10" rosettes of narrow leaves, flower stems to 1 foot. NW China. Germinates easily with GA-3 plus 4 weeks cold.
—Gentiana tibetica. (100) GENT-116. Packet: $2.50
Yellow-white 1 1/4" tubular flowers clustered at the to of the stem, in late summer. Hardy perennial to 2 feet, with a rosette of foot-long leaves. Tibet. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks warm.
HELIANTHELLA (he-lee-an-THEL-la)
COMPOSITAE. Yellow-flowered perennials native to the Western states. Most are hardy and easily grown in a variety of soils, and are valued for their showy fall display.
—Helianthella quinquenervis. (100) HELT-20. Packet: $2.50
'ASPEN SUNFLOWER'. Large nodding yellow sunflower-like 3 - 5" wide blooms on long stems. Hardy perennial to 2 - 5 feet, with narrow leaves up to 20" long. Rocky Mountain meadows. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks, and GA-3 helps some.
HELIANTHUS
—Helianthus annuus 'Earthwalker'. (100) HELA-6EW. Packet: $2.50
25 grams: $7.50
Shades of terracotta through brown with dark centers. Side-branching habit to 6 - 9 feet. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Helianthus pumilus. (50) HELA-66. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $12.00
Click for photo »
Info and photos: http://www.easterncoloradowildflowers.com/Helianthus%20pumilus.htm
'DWARF SUNFLOWER'. Bright yellow 1- 3" sunflowers in June to August, on a hardy perennial to 1 - 2 feet or so, with ash-green leaves. Eastern Rockies and plains. Zone 3. Give seed 4- 8 weeks prechill or GA-3 to germinate.
HIBISCUS
—Hibiscus dasycalyx. (10) HIBS-11. $5.00
'NECHES RIVER ROSE MALLOW'. Rare perennial with large white 3 - 6" wide flowers with deep red centers, and narrow T-shaped leaves. Reaches 3 - 7 feet. Known only from a few seasonally-wet areas in east Texas, listed as Federally Threatened. Zone 6 or 7. Nick seed to germinate in 1 - 4 weeks. Isolate from other Hibiscus, or hand pollinate to save seed.
HIERACIUM (hee-er-RAY-see-um)
COMPOSITAE. 'HAWKWEED'. Easily grown perennials with red, orange or yellow flowers on spikes held above a rosette of leaves. Good in the rock garden and in poor soil. Easy from seed, which germinates in 1 - 3 weeks, sometimes much longer. The name comes from the belief that hawks eat the plant to sharpen their sight. They have a sweet honey-like scent and give much nectar. Used medicinally.
—Hieracium Pilosella. (b,h) HIER-34. Packet: $2.50
'MOUSE-EAR HAWKWEED'. Lemon-yellow 1" wide flowers, striped purple on the back, from May to September, held above the felty grey foliage. Hardy stoloniferous perennial to 1 foot. Europe. Nice groundcover. Medicinal. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
IPOMOEA
—Ipomoea magnusiana. (10) IPOM-51. Packet: $2.50
Click for photos »
Abundant dainty white 3/4" starry trumpets. Vigorous vine with divided leaves. Rarely-seen South African species. Nick seed.
—Ipomoea Nil 'Kikyo-Zaki Mix'. (10) IPOM-56K. Packet: $3.50
10 grams: $20.00
Stunning morning glory mix from Japan. Masses of vivid star-shaped blooms in red, violet, and white, many semi-double, edged with white. Large flowers, 5 - 6" across. Hardy annual climber, flowering early and throughout the summer, a striking on any fence, wall, or trellis. Soak, nick hard ones, to germinate in 1 - 2 weeks.
IRIS
—Iris graminea. (10) IRIS-96. Packet: $2.50
Fragrant violet-purple 3" flowers in early summer, with a fruity scent. Hardy perennial to 16", forming dense clumps of narrow, grass-like leaves. Spain to Russia. Zone 5. Nick and prechill.
—Iris pumila Wild Form. (20) IRIS-182. Packet: $2.50
Click for photos »
'DWARF IRIS'. Deep blue fragrant flowers ranging to yellow, in spring, on tiny plants to only 8" tall. Europe to Russia. Zone 4. Nice!
LEONTOPODIUM (le-on-to-PO-de-um)
COMPOSITAE. Low woolly hardy alpine perennials of Eurasia and the Andes, with star-like floral bracts. Best in light, well-drained soil and full sun.
—Leonotpodium alpinum. (250) LEOT-1. Packet: $2.50
'EDELWEISS'. White woolly flowers on a creeping hardy perennial to 12". High Alps. Zone 4. Germinates in 2 - 8 weeks.
LILIUM
—Lilium Western Hybrids. (25) LILY-WH. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $15.00
Hybrids of Lilium columbianum, Kellogii, pardalinum, Parryi, and parvum.
LIQUIDAMBAR
—Liquidambar Styraciflua. (50) LIQU-2. Packet: $2.50
'SWEET GUM'. Large, star-shaped 5 - 7 lobed 7" leaves turn brilliant crimson in fall. Tall tree to 50 - 150 feet. Inch wide spiky fruit balls. Connecticut to Nicaragua. Valued street and shade tree. Germinates readily in 2 - 4 weeks, stragglers up to 10 weeks. The sweet aromatic gum is chewed and used medicinally. Produces a fine wood and the seeds are eaten by birds. "Unsurpassed in the brilliancy of autumnal colors..."—Sargent. Zone 5.
MADIA (MAD-ee-a)
COMPOSITAE. Aromatic yellow daisies of dry habitats. Germinates in 3 weeks; some up to 3 months. Easy in warm dry soil in sun or shade, the flowers remaining open all day in. the shade. Their scent is familiar to all California hill-wanderers.
—Madia sativa. (250) MADI-22. Packet: $2.50
'MADI'. Small yellow flowers borne in profusion on a sticky, aromatic annual to 4 feet. California and Chile. The seeds are rich in protein and oil, and were used for food and oil by both California and Chilean Indians. The Araucanians crushed them and pressed or boiled them for the oil. The plant was cultivated in Europe as an olive-oil substitute, as it is sweet and of high quality. Germinates in 1 - 5 weeks.
MATRICARIA
—Matricaria Chamomilla 'Zloty Lan'. (1000) MATI-2Z. Packet: $2.50
'GERMAN CHAMOMILE'. High-yielding tetraploid cultivar with large white flowers. Excellent for herb production. Germinates in a week or two.
MICROMERIA
LABIATAE. Aromatic perennial herbs.
—Micromeria thymifolia. (100) MICO-24. Packet: $2.50
'MOUNTAIN MINT'. White flowers with violet in dense clusters in summer and fall. Perennial to 10" or so, with aromatic foliage. South Europe. Zone 5 or 6. Germinates best with a prechill.
MONARDA
—Monarda pectinata. (100) MOND-14. Packet: $2.50
1/4 ounce: $12.00
'PLAINS LEMON BEEBALM'. White 1/2" flowers in whorls in June and July. Hardy annual to 6 - 12", with narrow 1 - 2" aromatic leaves. Dry sandy soils, Great Plains. The leaves have been used as tea, and the flowers for perfume. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
NICOTIANA
—Nicotiana Hopi Tobacco. (1000) NICO-H. Packet: $2.50
1/4 ounce: $12.00
A tobacco from the Hopi. I haven't grown it out yet to determine the species.
—Nicotiana rustica 'Rapa Nui'. (500) NICO-29RN. Packet: $2.50
Click for photos »
'AVA-AVA', 'EASTER ISLAND TOBACCO'. Yellow flowers and 15" long leaves, on a plant to 3 - 4 feet. Originally collected on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), where the local indigenous cowboys call it 'ava-ava' and smoke it mixed with milder commercial tobacco or with Can nabis. They say it has always been on the island (not introduced). They say it is very strong-flavored. Curiously, 'ava-ava' is used elsewhere in the South Pacific to refer to the intoxicating drink 'kava'. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
PAEONIA
—Paeonia Single Garden Peonies. (20) PAEO-GX. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $7.50
Seed from plants with large white, pink, and red single flowers. Sow in summer for top growth next spring.
PAPAVER
—Papaver orientale 'Beauty of Livermere'. (=P. bracteatum) (100) PAPA-30L. Packet: $2.50
Large, deep glowing crimson-red flowers. To 3 feet. Zone 3. Said to be a good choice for thebaine production. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
PASSIFLORA
—Passiflora caerulea. (25) PASS-8. Packet: $2.50
1/4 ounce: $10.00
Click for photo»
'BLUE PASSIONFLOWER'. Showy 3 - 4" lightly fragrant flowers with blue corona and white or pinkish petals, blooming summer till frost, followed by yellow to orange 2 1/2" egg-shaped edible fruits. Vigorous climber with divided leaves. Brazil to Argentina. Root hardy to about Zone 6 or 7. Germinates in 2 - 8 weeks warm, GA-3 helps.
—Passiflora laurifolia. (20) PASS-20. Packet: $2.50
Pictures: http://www.natureloveyou.sg/Passiflora%20laurifolia/Main.html
'YELLOW GRANADILLA', 'JAMAICA HONEYSUCKLE'. Extremely fragrant purple-red 2 - 3" flowers banded with blue, purple, and rose. Orange-yellow 3" fruits filled with sweet-tart fragrant pulp. Vigorous vine in 30 feet, with oval 4" leaves. Tropical America. Zone 8. Seeds used as a sedative. This lot dormant.
PELARGONIUM (pe-lar-GO-nee-um)
GERANIACEAE. Widely distributed herbs and succulents grown for their showy flowers or scented leaves. Excellent for bedding or house plants. Easily grown in well-drained soil, in full sun outdoors, or in cool part of the greenhouse. Keep on the dry side in winter. Blooms best when pot bound, and many are good in hanging baskets. Germinates best with a light nicking, in 1 - 8 weeks. Seed viable about 3 years.
—Pelargonium mollicomum. (10) PELA-99. Packet: $2.50
Click for photo»
Creamy white flowers with pink or red veining. Tender perennial with aromatic fuzzy leaves. Forms small tubers. S. Africa. Zone 9. Said to have a 'fruity' scent. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
PENTHORUM (pen-THOR-um)
PENTHORACEAE. Several species.
—Penthorum sedoides. (1000) PENH-8. Packet: $2.50
'VIRGINIA STONECROP'. Small starry white to yellow-green flowers in clusters. Hardy perennial to 2 feet, with good fall color. E. US. Zone 5. Prechill seed.
PETUNIA
—Petunia exserta. (500) PET-8. Packet: $2.50
Star-shaped coral-red trumpet flowers, summer to fall. Tender perennial to 2 feet. Discovered in 1987, only 14 plants were found, growing in shaded cracks in limestone outcrops in southern Brazil. Pollinated by hummingbirds. Crosses easily with other Petunias, so needs to be isolated to come true. Germinates in a week.
PHACELIA
—Phacelia nemoralis. (100) PHAC-60. Packet: $2.50
'SHADE PHACELIA'. White flowers in dense, curved, fiddleneck spikes, April to July. Perennial to 3 - 6 feet, thriving in shady spots. West coast US. Zone 5 or 6. Attracts bees.
PHUOPSIS (foo-OP-sis)
RUBIACEAE. Small rock garden plants valued for their heads of starry flowers. Easily grown, attractive and fairly hardy. Most germinate readily.
—Phuopsis stylosa. (=Crucianella stylosa). (50) PHUO-4. Packet: $2.50
Tiny starry rose-pink flowers in 1/2" heads from June to August. Trailing and mat forming half-hardy perennial grown as an annual. Whorled needle-like leaves. Iran. Zone 5. The foliage is vanilla scented, and the flowers are spicy-sweet scented. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
PINELLIA
—Pinellia tripartia 'Atropurpurea'. (20) PINE-24A. Packet: $2.50
'PURPLE DRAGON'. Purple 4" spathes in spring and summer, with long green tails. Bulb to 18", with shiny three-parted leaves. Japan. Zone 5. Stands shade.
PITHECELLOBIUM (pi-the-se-LO-be-um)
LEGUMINOSAE. Ornamental broad-headed tropical and subtropical trees with puff-like flowers and pinnate leaves. Easily grown in warm regions. Nick seed to germinate in 2 - 4 weeks.
—Pithecellobium dulce. (20) PITH-4. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $7.50
'GUAMUCHIL'. Yellow puff-like flowers on a broad-crowned tree to 45 feet or more, with oval leaves. Mexico. Zone 8 - 10. The pods turn red when ripe, and the pulp is sweet and eaten with salt, chile, and lemon, or made into a lemonade. Good firewood crop, and the seeds produce an oil. Drought resistant, likes heat, and good in low desert areas. Nick seed to germinate in 1 - 2 weeks.
POTENTILLA
—Potentilla atrosanguinea Red. (100) POTL-9. Packet: $2.50
Red inch-wide flowers in much-branched clusters in summer. Hardy perennial forming a mound to 18" tall. Himalayas. Germinates in 2 - 6 weeks.
PRUNUS
—Prunus tomentosa. (20) PRUN-135. Packet: $2.50
'NANKING CHERRY'. Abundant inch-wide white flowers followed by small red edible fruit. Very hardy shrub to 8 feet. N. China, Tibet. Zone 2. Early flowering. Fruits eaten raw or made into pies or jelly. Can bear in 2 - 3 years from seed. Sow in fall or give 3 months prechill.
PSOPHOCARPUS
LEGUMINOSAE. Tropical eastern hemisphere plants.
—Psophocarpus tetragonolobus Day Neutral. (10) PSOP-12D. Packet: $2.50
Tropical perennial vine with winged, four-sided pods and protein-rich seeds. Young pods eaten raw, or cooked like snap beans. The leaves, flowers and roots are all eaten, and the light blue flowers are used for food coloring. Usually this plant can't be grown north of southern Florida because of day-length restrictions, but this variety blooms regardless of day length. The immature tuberous roots are eaten like potatoes, and are said to be quite tasty. They contain 20% protein dry weight, some 10 - 20 times the protein of other root crops. Nick seed to germinate in 2 weeks.
PSORALEA (so-RA-lee-a)
LEGUMINOSAE. Many attractive ornamental scented herbs and shrubs. Valuable in the border. Blue, purple or white flowers in racemes or spikes. Some are hardy, others are greenhouse plants.
—Psoralea physodes. (25) PSOR-64. Packet: $3.00
'CALIFORNIA TEA'. Clover-like heads of greenish-hite, purple tipped 1/2" flowers. Sprawling rhizomatous perennial to 10 - 23" tall, with attractive light green trifoliate leaves. California hills. The fragrant leaves are used as tea. Nick seed to germinate in 2 - 12 weeks.
PUNICA (POO-ni-ka)
PUNICACEAE. Two species of trees and shrubs widely grown in warm regions for ornament and their beautiful flowers and edible fruit. Popular in the greenhouse in the North. Can stand to 0°F with protection, hardy to D.C. against a south wall, but likes hot sun and good drainage. Fruits in 3 or 4 years from seed, and best in hot arid regions. Stands alkaline soil. Good for hedges. Soak overnight to germinate in 2 - 10 weeks warm.
—Punica Granatum 'Afganski R26'. (20) PUNI-1A. Packet: $2.50
'HARDY POMEGRANATE'. The 'Russia 26' variety, stands down to Zone 6. Delicious sweet-tart fruits.
RIBES
—Ribes cereum. (250) RIBE-8. Packet: $2.50
1/4 ounce: $9.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - packets are available
'WAX CURRANT'. Small white flowers followed by shiny bright red berries. Shrub to 4 feet, with small rounded downy leaves. W. N. America. Zone 5. Berries eaten fresh or dried, and young leaves and flowers eaten. Use GA-3 250ppm, hold pots.
RICINUS
—Ricinus communis 'New Zealand Purple'. (10) RIC-1NZ. Packet: $3.00
25 grams: $20.00, 100 grams: $60.00
Click for photos »
'NEW ZEALAND PURPLE CASTOR BEAN'. A showy variety with large deep purple leaves and stems. To 8 feet. Choice! Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
ROLLINIA
ANNONACEAE. Tropical American trees. Grow like Annona.
—Rollinia deliciosa. (5) ROLL-16. Packet: $3.00
'BIRIBA', 'AMAZON CUSTARD APPLE'. Large knobby yellow fruits with sweet pulp likened to lemon meringue pie. Fast-growing tree to 15 to 50 feet, with foot-long leaves. Brazil. Zone 10. Can bear fruit in 3 years from seed. Germinates in a month.
RUDBECKIA
—Rudbeckia triloba 'Prairie Glow'. (50) RUD-22P. Packet: $4.00
Beautiful large flowers with yellow-tipped orange petals and a dark eye. Hardy, late-blooming perennial to 3 feet, with dark stems. Zone 3. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
SALVIA
—Salvia miltiorrhiza. (75) SALV-51. Packet: $2.50
'DAN SHEN', 'CHINESE SAGE'. Blue-purple flowers in large spikes, June to September. Hardy perennial with wrinkled leaves. N. China. Zone 6. The root is an important traditional Chinese medicine, acting on the blood and heart. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Salvia transsylvanica. (25) SALV-98. Packet: $2.50
'TRANSYVANIAN SAGE'. Deep indigo-blue flowers in dense spikes. Hardy perennial to 1 1/2 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Transylvania. Zone 3. "Makes S. grandiflora look sloppy and boring by comparison."—Bertrand. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks warm.
SAMBUCUS (sam-BU-kus)
CAPRIFOLIACEAE. Handsome ornamental trees, shrubs and perennials grown for their stately pinnate foliage, showy white flowers, and attractive red or black berries. The berries of some species are edible, and many have valuable medicinal properties, and are good wildlife food. Most are hardy and like a moist soil. Seed sown in fall to January germinates readily, though warm then cold helps.
—Sambucus caerulea. (250) SAMS-12. Packet: $2.50
'BLUE ELDERBERRY'. Creamy-white flowers in dense 6" clusters in early summer, followed by edible blue-black berries. Shrub or tree to 50 feet, with divided leaves. Western US. Zone 5. The fruit is made into jellies, juices, wine, pies, and the flowers are eaten in fritters and for tea. Valuable medicinal against many ailments, elderberry syrup being an excellent remedy for flu. Sow in late summer to fall, or prechill plus GA-3. (=S. mexicana and nigra ssp. cerulea)
—Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa. (250) SAMS-21R. Packet: $2.50
'PACIFIC RED ELDERBERRY'. Clustered white flowers in spring, followed by shiny red edible berries. Shrub to 12 feet, with pinnate leaves. Pacific states. Zone 3. Cooked berries eaten. Medicinal. Sow in late summer to fall, or prechill plus GA-3.
SAPOSHNIKOVIA (sa-po-shni-ko-vee-a)
UMBELLIFERAE. Two central Asian species.
—Saposhnikovia divaricata. (25) SAPS-4. Packet: $2.50
'FANG FENG'. White flowers in umbels in July and August. Hardy perennial to 3 feet, with divided leaves. Siberia, N. China. Zone 5. Young leaves eaten raw and in soups. The root is highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks, and a prechill may help.
SMILACINA (smi-la-SEE-na)
LILIACEAE. Rhizomatous perennials for moist shady places.
—Smilacina racemosa var. amplexicaulis. (50) SMIL-4A. Packet: $2.50
25 grams: $7.50
Click for photo »
This is moist seed, stored refrigerated, and is sprouting - no need for prolonged pretreatment.
'FALSE SOLOMON'S SEAL', 'FAT SOLOMON'. Fragrant small starry flowers in clusters, followed by attractive red berries in late summer. Hardy perennial with arching stems to 3 feet, forming nice clumps. W. N. America. Zone 4.
TANACETUM
—Tanacetum Balsamita. (=Chrysanthemum Balsamita) (100) TANA-2. Packet: $2.50
'COSTMARY', 'ALECOST'. Sweet, minty-balsamic scented leaves and tiny white and yellow daisies. Hardy perennial to 2 - 3 feet. W. Asia. Zone 3 or 4. Easy in a dry, warm place. The sweet balsamic leaves are put into salads, made into a pleasant tea, were used to flavor ale, and were placed among linens and in potpourris. Medicinal. Germinates in a week.
THUNBERGIA
—Thunbergia alata White. (25) THUN-1W. Packet: $3.00
10 grams: $20.00, 100 grams: $150.00
'WHITE BLACK-EYED SUSAN'. Large white flowers with a dark eye.
THYMUS
—Thymus longiflorus. (100) THYM-15. Packet: $2.50
Purple-pink tubular flowers in heads. Hardy perennial to 8", with aromatic, narrow grey foliage. Spain. Zone 5. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Thymus praecox. (250) THYM-18. Packet: $2.50
'CREEPING THYME'. Dense heads of pink flowers in summer, held above low mats of tiny leaves. Europe. Zone 4. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Thymus Zygis. (250) THYM-28. Packet: $2.50
'SPANISH THYME'. White flowers on a low shrublet to a foot tall, with aromatic evergreen foliage. Spain. Zone 7. Much used in cooking. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
TRICYRTIS (tri-SIR-tis)
LILIACEAE. About a dozen Asian half-hardy perennials valued for their beautiful flowers and attractive foliage. Good in pots, rock gardens and woodland. Hardy to Zone 5 - 7.
—Tricyrtis hirta var. alba. (100) TRIC-4A. Packet: $2.50
'WHITE TOAD-LILY'. White, orchid-like inch-wide flowers flushed green, in late summer. Hardy perennial to 30", with downy leaves. Japan. Zone 4. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks.
TRITICUM (TRI-ti-kum)
GRAMINEAE. 'WHEAT'. About 20 species of annual grasses, including the most important temperate region cereals. Complex ancestry. Ornamental varieties for wreath-making and dried arrangements are listed here, and may include ancestral types. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Triticum turgidum 'Rivet'. (100) TRIT-24. Packet: $2.50
'RIVET WHEAT'. An ancient wheat variety, rarely seen. The rivet wheats almost disappeared from cultivation in the 20th century. Large long grains, good for pasta.
TULIPA
—Tulipa tarda. (25) TULP-50. Packet: $3.50
Starry yellow 2" fragrant flowers with white-tipped petals. Hardy bulb to 6" tall, with narrow leaves. Central Asia. Zone 4. Prechill seed.
TUSSILAGO
COMPOSITAE. North hemisphere medicinal herbs.
—Tussilago farfara. (100) TUSS-9. Packet: $2.50 EU ORGANIC
'COLTSFOOT', 'KUAN DONG HUA'. Light yellow 1 1/3" flowers in March to May, rising before the leaves in spring. Rounded 4 - 8" leaves. Hardy perennial to 1 foot. Eurasia. Zone 4. Young leaves and flowers eaten, and all parts are medicinal, leaves smoked for coughs and asthma. Germinates in a week or two.
VACCINIUM (vac-SIN-ee-um)
ERICACEAE. Mostly hardy shrubs and trees grown for ornament and their edible berries. Evergreen or deciduous, with bell or urn-shaped flowers, ranging from the arctic to mountains in the tropics. Good in the shrubbery, border and wild garden. Bright autumn foliage. Sow on the surface. Some germinate readily, others need 2 weeks to 3 months cold. Begins to germinate in a month, and some come up for a year. Fall sowing is good.
—Vaccinium ovatum. (500) VACC-20. Packet: $2.50
'BOX BLUEBERRY', 'EVERGREEN HUCKLEBERRY'. Abundant black 1/3" berries on a spreading evergreen shrub to 3 - 8 feet. Pink and white waxen bell-shaped flowers and leathery dark green shining leaves. B.C. to California. Zone 7. The berries are juicy and delicious, excellent for pies. The foliage is popular winter decoration. Give 3 months cold.
—Vaccinium parvifolium. (500) VACC-25. Packet: $2.50
'RED HUCKLEBERRY'. Showy bright red berries on a spreading, slow-growing shrub to 6 - 18 feet. Small pinkish white 1/4" flowers in April and May. Alaska to California. Zone 6. The tart, delicious fruit are fine for jams, pies, etc. They were dried for winter use by the Indians. Sow in fall or give 3 months cold. Both flowering and fruiting branches good for indoor decoration.
—Vaccinium Vitis-idaea. (200) VACC-40. Packet: $2.50
'LINGON-BERRY', 'MOUNTAIN CRANBERRY', 'FOX-BERRY'. Dark red berries on a creeping evergreen to 10" tall. Shining leaves and white or rose bell-shaped flowers in nodding clusters. Arctic regions. Zone 2. Handsome groundcover for acid soil in part shade. Give constant moisture in hot summer areas. The tiny cranberries turn sour after frost, and are esteemed for preserves and syrups. Highly valued in the far north. Surface sow, germinates in 4 - 7 weeks.
VANCOUVERIA (van-koo-ver-EE-a)
BERBERIDACEAE. Several species of rhizomatous woodland perennials from W N. America. Grow in shady moist places.
—Vancouveria hexandra. (20) VANC-8. Packet: $2.50
'INSIDE-OUT FLOWER'. Peculiar nodding white 1/2" flowers in airy clusters, each opening so that they resemble a typical trumpet-shaped flower, but with the stem in the throat. Hardy perennial to 18", with Thalictrum-like foliage. Moist shady forests, Washington to California. Give warm/cold/warm.
VERBASCUM
—Verbascum nigrum Wild Type. (1000) VERS-32. Packet: $2.50
'BLACK MULLIEN'. Yellow flowers with dark centers in spikes in summer. Hardy biennial or perennial to 4 feet, with rosettes of basal leaves. Eurasia. Zone 4.
VERONICASTRUM
—Veronicastrum sibiricum. (500) VERU-2. Packet: $2.50
Long graceful spikes of lilac-blue flowers in August and September. Hardy perennial to 5 feet, with whorls of narrow leaves. E. Siberia. Zone 3.
VIOLA
—Viola cornuta 'Bowles Black'. (100) VIOL-27B. Packet: $3.00
BLACK PANSY'. Small velvety black-violet flowers with yellow eyes, abundantly produced May to September. Compact 6" plants. Zone 5. Self-sows. Also called V. nigra, and V. tricolor E. A. Bowles. Rich soil and part shade best. Germinates readily in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Viola glabella. (25) VIOL-84. Packet: $2.50
'STREAM VIOLET'. Bright yellow 1/2"flowers veined violet, in spring. Hardy perennial to 16", with inch-wide heart-shaped leaves. Western N. America and east Asia. Zone 5.
—Viola tricolor Wild Type. (250) VIOL-132W. Packet: $2.50
'HEARTSEASE', 'WILD PANSY'. Tiny 1/2" three-colored flowers, purple, yellow, and white. Free-branching annual or short-lived perennial to 8", with heart shaped leaves. N. Hemisphere. Zone 3. The wild ancestor of garden pansies. Was much used in love charms; this is mentioned in Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
YUCCA
—Yucca baccata. (10) YUCC-4. Packet: $3.00
'DATIL', 'BANANA YUCCA', 'BLUE YUCCA'. Pale blue-green sword-shaped 2 foot leaves, 2 1/4" wide, with curly fibers on the edges. Large, nodding, 3" bell-shaped creamy flowers, sometimes tinged purple, in large 2 foot spikes up to 5 feet tall, May and June. Fruits to almost 10" long, banana-like. California to Texas. Very hardy. Zone 5. The fleshy fruits have sweet edible pulp, eaten by the Indians and made into pies. Flowers also eaten. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
—Yucca brevifolia. (25) YUCC-5. Packet: $2.50
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'JOSHUA-TREE'. Striking peculiar tree to 16 - 30 feet, with bent arm-like branches ending in rosettes of narrow 9" leaves. Greenish-white 2" flowers with thick fleshy petals, crowded in heavy, foot-long panicles followed by spongy 2 - 4" fruits. Mojave desert, California. Zone 6. May live we 1000 years or more. Soak seed 24 hours. Can germinate in 3 days at 80 - 90°F; usually in 1 - 2 weeks in the open. Some will hold over and come up each year for 3 years or so. The flower buds were roasted on coals and eaten, and the seeds ground and eaten raw or in mush.
—Yucca glauca. (50) YUCC-14. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $7.50
'SPANISH BAYONET', 'ADAM'S NEEDLE', 'PLAINS YUCCA'. Fragrant greenish white 2 1/2" globose flowers often tinged purple, in large spikes to 3 - 5 feet long, May to July. Stemless clump-forming shrub with narrow grey green sword-shaped white margined leaves. Very hardy, ranging from South Dakota to New Mexico. Zone 4. Stands dense, clayey and saline soils. May flower in 5 years. The leaves produce a strong fiber. The young spikes have been eaten like cabbage, the flowers eaten raw or cooked, and the pods boiled for food. Valuable landscape material. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
ZINNIA
SPECIALTY EUROPEAN ZINNIAS
—Zinnia elegans 'Queeny Lime with Blush'. (25) ZIN-4QLB. Packet: $3.50
5 grams: $25.00 (about 750 seed)
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Fleuroselect Novelty. Remarkable color combination, dusky lime green with a rosy-purple center, most double or semi-double, with long stems. Beautiful and unusual cut flower. Also called 'Raspberry Limeade' and 'Lime with Blotch'.
—Zinnia elegans 'Queeny Lime Red'. (25) ZIN-4QLR. Packet: $3.50
5 grams: $25.00 (about 750 seed)
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Fleuroselect Novelty. Beautiful colors, each flower slightly different, but all variations of soft wine-red lower petals, leading to pale green centers. Double or semi-double, with long stems for striking cut flowers.
GARDEN ZINNIAS
—Zinnia elegans 'Blueberry Cheesecake Mix'. (200) ZIN-4BCX. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 pound: $10.00
Rich color mix of white, rosy-lavender, and deep purple. Large double flowers, long stems good for cutting.
—Zinnia elegans 'Ice Queen'. (200) ZIN-4ICE. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 pound: $10.00
Pretty bicolored flowers, the inner petals bright rose-pink with white tips, double and semi-double. Excellent cut flowers.
—Zinnia elegans 'Lemon Meringue Mix'. (200) ZIN-4LMX. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 pound: $10.00
Delicious mix of colors, soft lime green, deep canary yellow, and pure white. Big double blooms, excellent for cutting.
—Zinnia elegans 'Mardi Gras Mix'. (200) ZIN-4MG. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 pound: $10.00
Brilliant colorful mix of sunny yellow, rosy purple, and bright white. Large double flowers with long stems, striking for cutting or in the border.
—Zinnia elegans 'South of the Border Mix'. (200) ZIN-4SB. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 pound: $10.00
Warm rich mix of deep yellow, scarlet, and bicolored gold with red centers. Large double blooms, good in the border or for cutting.
—Zinnia elegans 'Under the Sea Mix'. (200) ZIN-4US. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 pound: $10.00
Like colors from a tropical reef, a mix of shades of coral pink, rosy purple, and soft white. Big double flowers on long stems, stunning in the border or for cutting.