J.
L. HUDSON, SEEDSMAN,
BOX 337, LA
HONDA, CALIFORNIA
94020-0337 USA
2021 SEEDLIST - Ca
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CACHRYS (KAK-rees)
UMBELLIFERAE. Mediterranean to central Asia.
NEW—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.
CALAMINTHA (ka-la-MIN-tha)
LABIATAE. Eurasian perennials grown for their tubular flowers or as
flavoring and tea.
—Calamintha nepeta. (100) CALA-17. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
'CALAMINT'. Lilac flowers in whorls in July and August. Hardy perennial to 1
foot tall, with downy leaves. Creeping rootstocks. Europe. Zone 5. The whole
plant has a sweet aromatic scent, and was made into a pleasant cordial tea. Was
used medicinally and the ancients believed it had the power to drive away
serpents. Germinates in 1 - 5 weeks warm. "We are beekeepers and native
pollinator supporters, and this Calamintha is one of the very best bee plants we
have experienced! Very long blooming period (usually 12 weeks or so!) and the
bees go there from morning till sundown."—Alex Tuchman, Spikenard
Farm, Virginia.
CALANDRINIA (ka-lan-DREE-nee-a)
PORTULACACEAE. Attractive, often trailing, somewhat succulent plants grown
for their profusion of brilliant 3 - 7 petaled flowers. Easily grown from seed.
Germinates in about 5 - 15 days. Best in sunny, dry, well-drained soil, and
blooms best in hot sun. Blooms in about 15 weeks from seed.
—Calandrinia umbellata. (500) CALD-84. Packet: $2.50
Large, glowing, crimson-violet cup-shaped flowers in clusters from June to
November. Mat-forming tender perennial forming tufts of grey-green narrow leaves
to 3" tall, and flower stems to 6" tall. Peru and Chile. Zone
7. "Full exposure to sun, and light sandy soil, are needed to bring out
the rare beauty of these plants."—L. H. Bailey. Germinates in 1 - 2
weeks.
CALCEOLARIA (kal-see-o-LAR-ee-a)
SCROPHULARIACEAE. Showy plants valued for their slipper-like flowers. Best in
the cool greenhouse in finely sifted, peaty soil. Sow thinly on the surface and
water by absorption from below.
—Calceolaria luxurians. (250) CALC-48. Packet: $3.00
Dozens of bright yellow pouched flowers in branched clusters to 18"
tall. Large rosettes of crinkly leaves. From 11,200 feet elevation, streamside,
Aconcagua, Argentina. Possible hardy to Zone 7. Surface sow to germinate in 1 -
8 weeks.
CALENDULA (ka-LEN-du-la)
COMPOSITAE. Showy hardy annuals and perennials with large yellow and orange
daisies. Easily grown, thriving in the poorest soils and harsh conditions. Sow
where they are to stand in early spring, or in July to September for winter
flowering pot plants. Cool weather plants which should be sown in fall in
California and the South. Self sows and good for naturalizing. Long-lasting cut
flowers. Nearly everblooming in mild climates. Seed viable 8 - 10 years.
Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks, best in the dark, so cover 1/4" deep. Cool
temperatures best, and 1 week prechill helps some kinds.
Calendula officinalis Varieties:
'POT MARIGOLD'. Hardy annual to 1 - 2 feet. Cultivated since before 1573 for
the showy flowers which are used in broths, soups, conserves and for coloring
butter. Also had many medicinal uses, and was mentioned in herbals as early as
Albertus Magnus' 13th century work. The petals were said to 'comfort the heart
and spirits'. "No broths are well made without dried marigold."—Stevens,
1699. The fresh petals are colorful in salads. The single flowered varieties are
closest to the wild ancestor, and the doubles produce an abundance of petals for
the kitchen. Should be in every cook's garden.
—Calendula officinalis 'Pacific Beauty Mix'. (100) CALN-7PX. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 Pound: $10.00
Excellent cut-flower strain, with uniform long straight stems to 2 feet.
Shades of apricot, creamy yellow, golden yellow, lemon yellow with dark eye, and
deep orange with eye. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Calendula officinalis 'Pot Marigold'. (100) CALN-7W. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $7.50
'POT MARIGOLD', 'SOLIS SPONSA'. The wild form from Europe. Germinates in 1 -
5 weeks, sometimes part dormant, so 4 weeks prechill helps.
NEW—Calendula officinalis '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.
—Calendula officinalis 'Triangle Flashback'. (25) CALN-7TF. Packet: $2.50 OTC
ORGANIC SEED
1/2 Ounce: $12.00
Striking fully double flowers with maroon petal-backs and faces in pastel
pink shading to yellow in the center. Also called 'Zeolights'. Organically
grown. Prechill 1 week.
"Mathematics has no existence on its own. It is merely an arbitrary code
devised to describe physical observations or philosophical concepts."—Asimov.
CALLICARPA (kal-li-KAR-pa)
VERBENACEAE. Nice shrubs and trees with clustered small flowers followed by
bright fruits. Mostly tropical, but some hardy to Zone 5, where they renew from
the roots. Tender kinds are good in the greenhouse.
—Callicarpa americana. (100) CALI-4.
Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $9.00, 50 grams: $30.00
Click for photo »
'FRENCH MULBERRY', 'BEAUTY BERRY'. Bluish white four-petaled flowers in
dense clusters, with prominent stamens, May to July, followed by violet-blue
berries. Attractive shrub to 6 feet, with 6" leaves. Virginia to Texas.
Zone 6. Good ornamental for the South. Moist soil. Good deer browse. Prechill 12
weeks to germinate in 1 - 6 months.
—Callicarpa americana var. lactea. (100)
CALI-4A. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $9.00, 50 grams: $30.00
'WHITE BEAUTY BERRY'. Very attractive form with abundant white berries loved
by birds. To 6 - 8 feet, with slightly cascading branches. Blooms mid-spring.
Choice and rarely seen. Prechill 12 weeks.
CALLIRHOE (ka-LEE-ro-ay)
MALVACEAE. Hardy N. American annuals and perennials grown for their
profusion of showy flowers and attractive foliage. Easily grown in sunny areas
and thriving in poor dry soils, giving a long period of summer bloom. Sow in
early spring to germinate in about 3 weeks. They "...are of easiest
culture, and deserving of much greater popularity."—Taylor.
—Callirhoe involucrata. (100) CAL-20. Packet: $2.50
'WINE CUPS', 'POPPY MALLOW'. Bright red 1 1/2" wide flowers produced in
profusion. Hardy trailing perennial to 1 foot or so, with deeply divided leaves.
N. Dakota to Texas. Good in dry soil. The sweet starchy roots are cooked and
eaten, and the leaves used to thicken soups. For best germination, give a hot
water soak, then rub husks off, to germinate in 1 - 4 weeks. Well worth the
effort!
CALLISTACHYS (ka-lee-STA-kees)
LEGUMINOSAE. Australian shrubs and trees.
—Callistachys lanceolata. (25) CALLS-15. Packet: $2.50
https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/10861
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/116572/
'WONNICH', 'AUSTRALIAN WILLOW'. Yellow-orange flowers in dense spikes. Shrub or
small tree to 23 feet, with willow-like leaves. Along water-courses in SW
Australia. Zone 9. Nick seed to germinate in 2 weeks.
CALOCHORTUS (kal-o-KOR-tus)
LILIACEAE. Attractive bulbous plants from western North America. The flowers
of many are of extraordinary beauty. Best in light soil with good drainage,
excessive moisture being detrimental. Most do well in pots. Cold desert species
need cool (40 - 50°F) temperatures for germination—sowing at 70°F may be
harmful.
—Calochortus luteus BK091028.1. (25) CALOC-70.
Packet: $2.50
'GOLDEN MARIPOSA LILY'. Deep yellow cup-shaped 2" flowers in April to
June, with variable red-brown markings. Bulb to 6 - 18", with narrow grassy
leaves. Endemic to central California. Zone 9. Best in summer-dry areas. Bulbs
edible, and were eaten by the Indians. Germinates at cold temperatures.
—Calochortus Lyallii. (10) CALOC-74. Packet: $3.50
'STAR TULIP'. White or purple-tinged flowers with fringed petals and purple and
yellow markings in the center. Grassy areas of B.C. and Washington. Zone 6.
Bulbs edible. Prechill 4 weeks or more.
—Calochortus Nuttallii. (50) CALOC-82. Packet: $2.50
Click for photo »
'SEGO LILY'. Delicate white bell-shaped 1 3/4" long flowers tinged lilac,
with a yellow base, followed by interesting pods. Ashy green foliage, Stems to 1
1/2 feet. Dakota to California; the Utah state flower. The bulbs are edible raw.
boiled or roasted. "There are no more exquisitely beautiful flowers than
these sego lilies..."—Purdy. Germinates in 2 - 4 months at cold
temperatures.
NEW—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.
"Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not
truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is the
best."—Frank Zappa.
CALONYCTION (kal-o-NIK-tee-on)
CONVOLVULACEAE. Large twining half hardy perennials grown as annuals for
their large and showy, fragrant, trumpet-shaped, night-blooming flowers. They
are beautiful free-flowering vines, their night-scented blooms make them
excellent for covering trellis work by summer porches and bedroom windows. Nick
seed or soak overnight in warm water till swollen. Germinates in about 2 weeks.
Sow early and plant out in May. Easy.
—Calonyction aculeatum. (=Ipomoea alba) (10) CALON-1. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $6.00, Pound: $36.00
Click for photo »
'GIANT MOONFLOWER'. Large, white, sweetly scented 3 - 6" wide trumpet
shaped flowers which open rapidly in the evening, and sometimes stay open till
noon the next day. Fast growing twiner to 10 - 20 feet, with handsome
heart-shaped leaves. Tropical America. In Panama, the leaves and calyces are
eaten as a vegetable, as are the young seeds.
CALOSCORDUM (kal-o-SKOR-dum)
LILIACEAE. A single species.
—Caloscordum neriniflorum. (25) CALOS-4. Packet: $2.50
Click for photo »
Bright pink Nerine-like flowers in clusters of 10 - 20 on stems to
8" in late summer. Hardy perennial Allium relative from Pakistan to
N. China. Zone 4 at least. Germinates in 4 - 8 weeks warm.
CALOTHAMNUS (kal-o-THAM-nus)
MYRTACEAE. Showy Australian shrubs with red flowers and narrow leaves. Easily
grown in warm regions or in the cool greenhouse. Not particular as to soil. Seed
germinates in 10 - 30 days.
—Calothamnus quadrifidus. (50) CALH-20. Packet: $2.50
http://www.anpsa.org.au/c-qua.html
https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2011/calothamnus-quadrifidus.html
'NET BUSH'. Bright red stamens in one-sided bottlebrush spikes to 8" long.
Showy shrub to 8 feet, with needle-like leaves. W. Australia. Zone 9. Very
adaptable. Surface sow, germinates in 1 - 28 weeks.
—Calothamnus rupestris. (50) CALH-24. Packet: $2.50
'CLIFF NET BRUSH'. Bright red flowers with long stamens tipped golden-yellow.
Low shrub to 5 feet, with dense, needle-like foliage. W. Australia. Zone 9. Good
in the greenhouse. Surface sow to germinate over 1 - 10 months.
—Calothamnus sanguineus. (100) CALH-26. Packet: $2.50
'BLOOD-RED NET BUSH'. Brilliant red flowers over a long period. Shrub to 2 - 6
feet, with narrow silky leaves. W. Australia. Zone 8. Surface sow to germinate
over 1 - 10 months.
CALYCANTHUS (ka-lee-KAN-thus)
CALYCANTHACEAE. Easily grown aromatic shrubs from North America and east
Asia. Valued for their fragrant summer and fall flowers. Best in well-drained
somewhat rich soil in sun or shade. Sow in spring.
—Calycanthus floridus. (25) CALY-4. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $7.50, 1/4 Pound: $15.00
'CAROLINA ALLSPICE'. Fragrant, many-petaled dark reddish brown 2" flowers.
Deciduous shrub to 3 - 10 feet with 5" leaves. Virginia to Florida. The
hardiest, to Zone 5. Much valued for the fragrant flowers. Bark was used as a
cinnamon substitute. Nick seed to germinate in 3 - 6 weeks warm.
CALYDOREA (ka-lee-DOR-ee-a)
IRIDACEAE. Iris-like plants from the warm Americas.
—Calydorea xiphioides. (25) CALYD-24.
Packet: $3.50
'TAHAY'. Showy violet-blue 1 - 2" flowers with yellow centers. Bulb to
10", with narrow 3 - 6" leaves. Dry parts of central Chile, where it
is considered threatened. Zone 8. Well-drained soil, and rest dry in summer.
Bulbs edible, said to be tasty. Give GA-3 to germinate in 7 - 12 months.
CALYSTEGIA (kal-ee-STEJ-ee-a)
CONVOLVULACEAE. Twining or scrambling perennial vines with morning
glory-like flowers.
—Calystegia occidentalis ssp. occidentalis. (25) CALYS-18. Packet: $2.50
'CHAPARRAL MORNING GLORY'. White funnel-shaped 1 - 2" flowers borne in
profusion from April to July. Caudex-forming woody vine with arrow-head leaves.
California. Allow it to clamber over a bush in a sunny corner. Nick seed to
germinate in 1 - 6 weeks.
CAMASSIA (ka-MAS-ee-a)
LILIACEAE. North and South American hardy bulbs with blue and white flowers
in graceful racemes, and grass-like leaves. Best in rich soil kept moist in
spring. Needs cool temperatures to germinate, and may be slow otherwise.
—Camassia angusta. (25) CAMA-4. Packet: $3.00
'PRAIRIE CAMAS'. Starry purple flowers on spikes to 2 1/2 feet tall in spring.
Rosettes of strap-like leaves. Central US prairies, endangered in some areas.
Zone 4. Bulbs edible. Prechill seed 8 - 12 weeks. For more seeds and plants grown by
plant-explorer Ben Kamm, including many Andean rarities, see his website at www.sacredsucculents.com
—Camassia Leichtlinii. (25) CAMA-15. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $10.00
'GREAT CAMAS'. Starry white six-petaled inch-wide flowers in tall spikes to
3 - 4 feet, May and June. Hardy bulb with strap-like 2 foot leaves. B.C. to N.
California. Moist areas. Zone 3. Bulbs prized by Indians as food, raw or cooked.
Prechill 8 weeks. Keep cool after germination.
—Camassia Quamash. (25) CAMA-20. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $20.00
'CAMAS' 'QUAMASH'. Dark blue to white inch long flowers in spikes. Hardy
bulb to 3 feet. Pacific Northwest. Zone 4. The bulbs were an important part of
the diet of the Indians, and it was gathered in large quantities and eaten
roasted or boiled. The cooking is said to develop the sweetness of the bulb.
Prechill 8 weeks to germinate in 1 - 4 weeks.
—Camassia scilloides. (25) CAMA-24. Packet: $3.00
Gram: $8.00
'EASTERN CAMAS', 'WILD HYACINTH'. White to pale violet inch-wide starry flowers
on stems to 2 1/2 feet, above a rosette of bright green leaves. E. N. America.
Zone 4. Bulbs eaten raw or cooked by many tribes. Prechill seed 8 -12 weeks. For more seeds
and plants grown by plant-explorer Ben Kamm, including many Andean rarities, see
his website at www.sacredsucculents.com
CAMPANULA (kam-PAN-you-la or kam-pa-NU-la)
CAMPANULACEAE. 'BELLFLOWER', 'BLUEBELL', 'HAREBELL'. Many annual, biennial
and perennial herbs prized for their showy, bell-shaped flowers. Adapted to the
flower garden, rock garden and pot culture. The cascading species are especially
good in hanging baskets. Flower garden kinds do best in deep moist loam, and
rock garden kinds are best in sandy humus with a little lime. Part shade is
beneficial in hot summer areas, and a light straw mulch in cold winter areas.
Sow annuals early, in February to March, and plant out in May, biennials and
perennials from June to September. Sow on the surface or barely cover as light
is beneficial to some. Most germinate in 5 - 30 days, some up to 74 days. Cool
temperatures (50 - 60°F) help some, and a few will hold over a year if sown in
warm summer weather. Give flats mid-day shade and avoid overwatering. Liquid
manure while flowering is helpful. They make long lasting cut flowers. Seed
viable 4 - 10 years.
—Campanula cochlearifolia. (500) CAMP-24. Packet: $3.00
Little, nodding, 1/2" blue bells held on delicate stems over the
grassy, low growing 2 - 8" plant. Hardy perennial. Leaves begin
kidney-shaped, and become grass-like with maturity. Mountains of Europe. Zone 3.
An excellent pot or rock garden plant, quickly forming a dense mat. My favorite.
Prechill 8 - 12 weeks or use GA-3 to germinate in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Campanula latifolia macrantha. (500) CAMP-51M. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
Click for photos »
GIANT BELLFLOWER'. Very large blue 2 1/2" flowers in 8" spikes of
about 6 - 15 blooms. Large hardy perennial to 3 - 4 feet, covered with soft
down. Eurasia. Zone 3. Nice ornamental. Some lots germinate readily in 2 - 3
weeks, other lots need GA-3 and light.
—Campanula Medium 'Calycanthema Mix'. (1000) CAMP-3X. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $7.50, 50 grams: $20.00
'CUP and SAUCER'. In these the calyx is large and wheel-shaped, the same color
as the flower, which sits on it like a cup on a saucer. Shades of blue, rose,
white, and lilac. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
NEW—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 persicifolia. (1000) CAMP-71. Packet: $2.50
'PEACHLEAF' or 'WILLOW BELLFLOWER'. Large blue 1 1/2 - 2" flowers.
Hardy perennial to 3 feet, with narrow 4 - 8" leaves. Europe. Hardy to Zone
3. Very pretty. Once used as food in England. "One of the best of all
perennial bellflowers."—L.H. Bailey. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks warm.
—Campanula persicifolia 'Telham Beauty'. (1000) CAMP-71T. Packet: $2.50
Fine china-blue variety. Due to chromosome doubling, this is larger and more
vigorous.
—Campanula punctata ssp. hondoensis. (1000)
CAMP-85H. Packet: $2.50
Click for photo »
Larger than the Siberian form, with purple to creamy 2 - 3" speckled
pendulous bells produced abundantly in summer. Hardy perennial to 1 - 2 feet.
Japan. Zone 4. The flowers are eaten raw in salads, and the leaves as a potherb.
Germinates in a week. For more seeds and plants grown by plant-explorer Ben Kamm,
including many Andean rarities, see his website at www.sacredsucculents.com
—Campanula punctata rubriflora. (100) CAMP-85R. Packet: $2.50
Large, narrow, cream to purple 2" bells with intense crimson spots.
Choice! Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
—Campanula pyramidalis alba. (1000) CAMP-87A. Packet: $2.50
'WHITE CHIMNEY BELLFLOWER'. This is the spectacular white-flowered form,
with 4 foot tall leafy pyramidal clusters of inch-long flowers. "Stunning
in arrangements. My favorite."—S. Calkins.
—Campanula Rapunculus. (3000) CAMP-96. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
Click for photo »
'RAPUNZEL', 'RAMPION'. Sky blue 3/4" bells in summer. Hardy biennial to
3 feet. Eurasia. Zone 4. The young roots are eaten raw or cooked, and the leaves
and flowers are good in salads. This is the famous plant featured in the fairy
tale 'Rapunzel', involving the theft of rapunzels from a witch's garden. There
were formerly cultivated varieties with large roots, but these are extinct, and
an interesting project would be reselection. Germinates in a week.
—Campanula rotundifolia. (500) CAMP-99. Packet: $2.50
'BLUE-BELLS-OF-SCOTLAND', 'HAREBELL'. Large, deep lavender, inch-long
flowers on slender stalks. Dainty hardy perennial to 12", with round
root-leaves in spring. Eurasia. Hardy to Zone 2. The true 'bluebell' of
literature. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
NEW—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.
CANNA (KAN-na)
CANNACEAE. Showy tropicals valued for their brilliant flowers, stately habit
and bold foliage. Easy in a deep, warm, rich, moist soil. Water and fertilize
freely. Lift roots in fall after frost. Start early and plant out after all
danger of frost. The hard seed are very long lived, having germinated when 600
years old, found in a pre-Columbian rattle. Nick and soak seed till swollen, and
keep warm, to germinate in 1 - 8 weeks.
—Canna edulis. (=Canna indica Anchiras) (10) CANA-8. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $7.50, 25 grams: $14.00
Info
on C. edulis
Photo
'ACHIRA', 'QUEENSLAND ARROWROOT'. Brilliant red narrow-petaled 2 1/2"
flowers followed by fuzzy red seedpods. Large tropical perennial to 4 feet or
more, with striking purple stems and large banana-like leaves. Tropical America.
Zone 8. The large rhizomes are baked and eaten, and made into starch. The young
shoots and immature seeds also eaten.
CAPPARIS (KAP-ar-is)
CAPPARIDACEAE. Beautiful warm region trees and shrubs with large,
long-stemmed white flowers. Best in warm sunny spots and well drained, dry,
rocky soil. Said to survive to Zone 4 or 5 if grown against a south-facing wall.
Sometimes grown as an annual in the North if started early indoors. Good in the
greenhouse. Germinates irregularly, most in 5 - 7 weeks, some up to a year.
Lightly scratching the seed can help, as does GA-3 pretreatment and KNO3
pretreatment, and germinating at warm temperatures - 70 - 85°F. Light may also
help.
—Capparis spinosa. (50) CAPP-22. Packet: $2.50
Purdue
University Caper info page
Capers:
A New Crop for California?
Article
abstract on Caper germination
CaperInfo.com
'CAPER-BUSH' . Large beautiful white flowers with four round, crinkled
petals, each 2" long, topped with a puff of up to 100 prominent long violet
stamens "...the chief beauty of the plant."—L.H. Bailey.
Trailing, half-hardy spiny shrub to 3 - 5 feet, with round leaves. Blooms June
to September, followed by 1 1/2" oval fruits. Grown extensively in the
Mediterranean for the unopened flower buds which are pickled forming the
'capers' of commerce. Known to the ancient Greeks. The young shoots have been
eaten like asparagus. The Arabs eat the fruit, which is also pickled in the
Punjab.
"Having obtained the difficult-to-obtain, free, and endowed human body, it
would be a cause of regret to fritter life away."—Tantric Precept.
CAPSICUM (KAP-si-kum)
SOLANACEAE. 'CHILI-PEPPER'. Shrubs and small trees usually grown as annuals
in cold climates. Grow for their attractive edible fruits which vary widely in
size, shape, color, flavor and pungency. They prefer a warm, rich soil.
Germinates in about 2 - 4 weeks and this will be improved by soaking 4 hours in
a 0.2% solution of potassium nitrate (saltpeter). Chilies have been cultivated
for at least 9000 years.
—Capsicum chacoense. (10) CAPS-6. Packet: $3.50
Gram: $18.00,
'TOVA', 'COVINCHA PEPPER'. Rare wild chile pepper with upright triangular
inch-long fruits. Medium heat and good flavor. Shrub to 2 feet, with white
flowers. Southern Bolivia. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks. For more seeds and plants
grown by plant-explorer Ben Kamm, including many Andean rarities, see his
website at www.sacredsucculents.com
CARAGANA (ka-ra-GA-na)
LEGUMINOSAE. Hardy ornamental shrubs from Central Asia, valued for their
showy flowers. Very hardy and adapted to harsh conditions, sandy alkaline soil,
etc. Good for wildlife habitat, erosion control, riparian restoration,
windbreaks, etc. Soak seed overnight. Cold treatment helps some kinds.
—Caragana arborescens. (50) CARA-2. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 Pound: $18.00
'SIBERIAN PEATREE'. Showy bright yellow 3/4" long pea-like flowers in
May and June. Very hardy small tree to 20 feet, with feathery foliage. Siberia
and Manchuria. Zone 2. Good windbreak or hedge, good deer browse and fuelwood.
Bark used for rope. Young green pods eaten as a vegetable in Siberia, ripe dry
seeds eaten like beans and contain 36% protein, and they are good poultry feed.
Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
—Caragana korshinskii. (25) CARA-26. Packet:
$3.00
'KORSHINSK PEASHRUB'. Yellow 3/4" flowers in May and June. Shrub or
small tree to 3 - 12 feet, with pinnate leaves and attractive red pods. Sand
dunes of Mongolia. Zone 2. Good for dune stabilization in cold dry deserts,
improving the soil and providing forage. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks warm.
—Caragana microphylla. (25) CARA-28. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $9.00
Covered with 1" yellow flowers in clusters in spring. Very hardy shrub
to 8 feet or so, with beautiful grey-green foliage of tiny leaflets. Siberia.
Zone 3. "It is the only one that seems to resist spider mites out here
in the Midwest."—Bertrand. Soak, nick hard ones, to germinate in 1 -
2 weeks warm.
—Caragana pygmaea. (25) CARA-34. Packet:
$2.50
'PYGMY PEASHRUB'. A pretty little shrub to about 4 feet, with bright orange
yellow flowers and dense fine foliage. Central Asia. Zone 3. Germinates in 1 - 3
weeks warm.
CARDAMINE (kar-DA-mee-nay)
CRUCIFERAE. Annuals, biennials, and perennials with white to purple flowers.
Most are dainty little plants and are easily grown. Excellent for moist shady
places and heavy soil where other plants will not grow. Germination variable.
—Cardamine pratensis. (100) CARDA-64. Packet: $2.50
'CUCKOO FLOWER', 'LADY'S SMOCK', 'SPINKS'. Delicate white to pink or lilac
1/2" flowers in clusters in early spring. Hardy perennial to 12 - 20",
with pinnate, cress-like leaves. North Hemisphere. Zone 3. The leaves and
flowers make a piquant cress, good in salads or on sandwiches. Give seed 4 - 8
weeks prechill to germinate in 1 - 2 weeks.
CARLINA (kar-LEE-na)
COMPOSITAE. Stunning thistle tribe plants valued in the border or rock
garden and for dried flowers. Best in not too rich soil. Sow on the surface;
seed needs light, germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Carlina acaulis ssp. simplex. (50) CARL-2S. Packet: $3.00
Huge white to reddish thistle-like head to 5" across on short stems to
12", August to September, borne singly in the center of a rosette of spiny
glossy leaves. Very dwarf hardy perennial. Europe. Zone 3. Common in the Alps,
the flower heads are striking and much valued in dried arrangements. Once eaten
like artichokes. Some forms stemless. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
CARTHAMUS (KAR-tham-us)
COMPOSITAE. Yellow, purple or white flowered annuals grown in the border or
wild garden. They make nice clumps and are good in heavy soil and full sun.
Drought resistant. Easy from seed sown in early spring where they are to flower.
Cover 1/4", germinates in 3 - 18 days depending on temperature. Thin to
6" apart. Flowers in about 12 weeks.
—Carthamus tinctorius. (50) CART-3. Packet: $1.50
1/4 Pound: $5.00, Pound: $16.00
'SAFFLOWER', 'FALSE SAFFRON'. Bright orange-yellow flowers with leafy
bracts, on a thistle-like annual to 1 - 4 feet. Asia. Makes durable cut flowers,
either fresh or dried. Ornamental and useful, it is widely grown for the seed
oil used in cooking. The dried flowers are used like true saffron to color food,
dye cloth, especially silks, and are powdered as a rouge-like cosmetic. It
produces shades of pink, scarlet, purple, violet, etc. Needs cool temperatures
(50 - 65°F) to germinate in 1 - 2 weeks. Warmth fatal.
CARUM (KAR-um)
UMBELLIFERAE. Aromatic annuals and perennials with thick roots, grown for
food and flavoring. Umbels of small white or pinkish flowers and pinnate leaves.
Seed viable 3 - 5 years.
—Carum Carvi. (500) CARU-3. Packet: $2.50
'CARAWAY'. Tiny white flowers in umbels held above the feathery, finely
divided leaves. Hardy slender biennial to 1 1/2 - 2 feet. Eurasia. Grown since
ancient times for its brown aromatic seed which are used to flavor breads,
cheeses, baked fruit, liqueurs, and medicinally. The yellow roots are edible
boiled like parsnips, and were mixed with milk to make a bread eaten by the
Roman soldiers. The young, fresh, aromatic leaves are good in salads and mature
leaves are boiled with vegetables. The seeds have been found in prehistoric
Swiss lake dwellings, and are mentioned by writers from Dioscorides to the
present. Sow in fall or in early spring in full sun where they are to grow, as
they do not transplant well. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks or so. Thin to 8 -
12" apart. Will ripen seed the second season. Harvest when ripe and dry in
the sun. They are an aid to digestion, and were an ingredient in love potions.
CASSIA (KASS-ee-a)
LEGUMINOSAE. Showy herbs, shrubs and trees with pinnate leaves and large
clusters of regular (not pea-like) flowers. A large genus from the tropics and
temperate zones, with many highly ornamental species grown for their showy bloom
and finely cut foliage. Prefers full sun, sandy loam and warm areas. The
herbaceous species are hardy in the North, the woody kinds in warm areas or the
greenhouse. Hard shelled seed - nick and soak to germinate in 1 - 12 weeks. Keep
warm. The seed is very long lived; 158 years has been recorded.
—Cassia alata. (25) CASS-10. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $7.50, 1/4 Pound: $20.00
'CANDLE-BUSH', 'KING OF THE FOREST'. Brilliant yellow 1 1/2" wide
5-petaled fragrant flowers in 4 - 12" spikes. Huge dark green, glossy,
pinnate leaves up to 3 feet long. Interesting winged pods. Shrub to 3 - 15 feet.
Tropics. Cut back after flowering. Fast growing and short-lived. The leaves are
used throughout the Tropics for skin ailments, due to their chrysophanic acid
content. The bark is used for tattooing in Africa. Zone 6. Soak, nick hard ones,
to germinate in 1 - 4 weeks or so.
—Cassia marilandica. (50) CASS-210. Packet: $2.50 OUT
OF STOCK
1/4 Ounce: $7.50, Ounce: $15.00 OUT OF STOCK
'WILD SENNA'. Bright yellow, wide-open flowers in dense clusters covering
the plant in July to September. Hardy perennial to 3 - 5 feet, with attractive
light green pinnate foliage. New England and southward. Zone 4. Likes wet soil.
Sow in early spring with heat. Protect with a straw mulch in severe climates. A
fine native perennial. Used medicinally by the Indians and settlers, especially
the Shakers.
—Cassia phyllodinea. (100) CASS-290. Packet: $2.50
Info: http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Fabaceae/Cassia_phyllodinea.html
http://www.snwa.com/apps/plant/detail.cfml?current_page=9&type=84&id=16146
Pictures: http://www.online-utility.org/image/gallery.jsp?title=Senna+artemisioides
'SILVER CASSIA'. Yellow flowers in summer and fall, on a small shrub to 6
feet, with silvery-downy young growth and narrow leaves, Australia. Zone 9, to
20°F. Tough and drought-resistant, good landscaping for warm deserts. Nick seed
to germinate in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Cassia Sturtii. (50) CASS-420. Packet: $2.50
'DENSE CASSIA'. Beautiful yellow flowers on an upright bushy shrub to 3 - 6
feet, South Australia. One of the most promising forage shrubs for desert areas,
it is being widely planted in the Negev and elsewhere. Highly palatable to
stock, the leaves contain 12% protein, and gives yields of 1000 kilos of dry
matter per hectare per year in 8" annual rainfall. Nick seed to germinate
in 1 - 3 weeks.
CATANANCHE (kat-a-NAN-she)
COMPOSITAE. Pretty annuals and perennials with blue or yellow long-stalked
flowers which are good for cutting, and can be dried for everlastings. Good in
any ordinary soil.
—Catananche caerulea. (50) CATA-12. Packet: $2.50
'BLUE CUPID'S DART'. Showy lavender-blue flowers to 2" across from June
to August. Hardy perennial to 2 feet, with downy narrow leaves. South Europe.
Zone 4. The common name refers to the ancient use of the plant in love-philters.
Start in early spring for bloom the first year. Space 1 foot apart. Germinates
in 1 - 4 weeks.