COMPOSITAE. 'CORNFLOWER', 'BACHELOR'S BUTTONS'. A large genus of annuals and perennials, including many old garden favorites, grown for their flowers and foliage. Easily grown from seed in light, well-drained soil in full sun. Rich soil will reduce the number of blooms. Sow annuals where they are to stand in September or March, or early indoors. Biennials and perennials any time from January to September. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at warm temperatures. Sow 1/4" deep as darkness may help germination. Seed viable 5 - 10 years.
Centaurea Cyanus Varieties:
'CORNFLOWER', 'BACHELOR'S BUTTONS'. A favorite garden flower, it is a branching hardy annual to 1 - 3 feet, with large 1 1/2" flowers in a variety of colors. Narrow 6" leaves. Excellent cut flowers. "One of the most popular of garden flowers."—L. H. Bailey, 1906. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
"On Centaurea Cyanus 'Tall Blue Boy' and C. americana 'Jolly Joker' advise that these should be sown thinly, because the germination rate is astounding, and their vivid colors make these stand out beautifully in the border. 'Blue Boy' is especially striking when paired with Dusty Miller 'Silverdust'."—C. Malanowski, South Carolina, 6/2001.
—Centaurea Cyanus 'Emperor William'. (100) CENT-1E. Packet: $2.50
25 grams $7.50, 100 grams: $20.00
'CORNFLOWER'. Clear, dark, marine blue flowers. This variety is the last of the old, tall, single flowered varieties in existence. It is the closest to the wild plant. Hardy annual to 3 feet. One of the best. Long blooming, unlike the modern types. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks. Two weeks prechill helps germination.
—Centaurea Cyanus 'Frosty Mixed'. (400) CENT-1FX. Packet: $2.50
25 grams: $7.50, 100 grams: $14.00
Fully double flowers in a wide range of colors, the petals of most tipped white-'frosted'. Blue, maroon, pink, red, and white. Hardy annual to 2 1/2 feet. Good for cut flowers.
—Centaurea Cyanus 'Dwarf Jubilee Gem'. (500) CENT-1D. Packet: $1.50
Ounce: $5.00, 1/4 Pound: $10.00
Blue flowers. To 1 1/2 feet. Good for naturalizing.
—Centaurea Cyanus 'Tall Blue Boy'. (500) CENT-1T. Packet: $1.50
Ounce: $5.00, 1/4 Pound: $10.00
Blue flowers. To 2 1/2 feet. Good for naturalizing.
—Centaurea Cyanus 'Red Boy'. (500) CENT-1RB. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 Pound: $10.00
Bright ruby red flowers on a nice annual to 3 feet.
—Centaurea Cyanus White. (500) CENT-1A. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 Pound: $10.00
Bright white flowers on a hardy annual.
—Centaurea Cyanus True Wild Form. (100) CENT-1W. Packet: $2.50
10 Grams: $8.00, 25 g: $15.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - packets are available
Click for photo »
'CORNFLOWER', 'WITCHES' BELLS'. Beautiful blue flowers from July to September on a hardy annual to 1 - 3 feet, with cottony foliage. Europe. This is the rare true wild ancestor of the common bachelor's buttons. Lovely and worth growing. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks, prechill or GA-3 helps.
CENTELLA (sen-TEL-la)
UMBELLIFERAE. Creeping perennials of worldwide distribution, grown for groundcover and medicine.
—Centella asiatica. (75) CENTL-4. Packet: $3.00 OUT OF STOCK
(=Hydrocotyle asiatica)
Click for photo »
Review of uses: http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/7855/1/NPR%206%282%29%20158-170.pdf
Pharmacological Review on Centella asiatica: A Potential Herbal Cure-all Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3116297/
'GOTU KOLA', 'MANDUKAPARNI'. Creeping perennial to 6", with round, kidney-shaped 2" leaves. Inconspicuous reddish-purple flowers. Pantropical. Zone 9. Best in rich moist soil. Famous Ayurvedic panacea, said to promote mental clarity, improve memory, and give long life. Research shows it is anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-ulcer, is cardioprotective, radiation-protective, helps dermatitis, wound healing, venous insufficiency (swollen ankles), depression, epilepsy, anxiety, decreases stretch-marks in pregnancy, and improves cognitive function in the elderly and retarded children. Germinates in 6 - 12 weeks at very warm temperatures (90°F), and light, surface sow. Best with 500 - 1000 ppm GA-3.
CENTRANTHUS (ken-TRAN-thus)
VALERIANACEAE. Attractive, hardy, old-fashioned annuals and perennials grown for their dense heads of showy flowers. Easily grown in most soils in full sun, but standing part shade well. Excellent for naturalizing. Sow seed in March or April. Barely cover, germinates in 2 - 8 weeks at cool temperatures. Space 6 - 12" apart. Seed viable 4 years.
—Centranthus ruber 'Coccineus'. (100) CENS-4R. Packet: $2.50
'JUPITER'S BEARD', 'RED VALERIAN', 'PRETTY BETSY', 'DRUNKEN SAILOR'. Dense clusters of fragrant red flowers in early summer. Hardy perennial to 3 feet, with bluish green 4" leaves. Eurasia. Zone 5. Good cut flower, attracts butterflies. Self-sows and stands poor dry soil. Good on rocky slopes and walls. The leaves are eaten in salads in Italy, and are said to be exceedingly good, and the roots were used in French soups. "Hard to beat for long showy bloom in difficult situations."—Sunset. Germinates in 2 - 8 weeks at cool temperatures.
CEPHALOTAXUS (se-fa-lo-TAX-us)
CEPHALOTAXACEAE. Several Asian yew-like trees.
—Cephalotaxus Harringtonia var. drupacea. (10) CETX-6D. Packet: $2.50 OUT OF STOCK
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 Pound: $22.00 (35 seeds per ounce) OUT OF STOCK
Seed stored moist and refrigerated.
'PLUM YEW'. Shrub or small tree to 10 feet, with dark green yew-like needles. Purple plum-like, edible 1 1/2" fruits in October, taste like sweet plums with a piney flavor. Large edible seed. East Asia. Zone 6. Stands part shade. Leaves produce an anti-cancer compound. Give 3 months prechill.
CERATONIA (ser-a-TOW-nee-a)
LEGUMINOSAE. A single species. Drought resistant, good in desert areas. Needs 12 - 14" rain per year. Strains are hardy to 18 - 22°F, but should be protected for the first few years. Any soil except clay or wet ground. Good in California and the Gulf States. Nick and soak seed until swollen; boiling water may help. Germinates in about 2 - 4 weeks at warm temperatures. Do not injure tap root when transplanting.
—Ceratonia Siliqua. (10) CERQ-1. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $7.50
'CAROB', 'ST. JOHN'S BREAD', 'ALGAROBA'. Red flowers followed by thick, fleshy, shiny brown 4 - 12" pods. Evergreen tree to 20 - 50 feet, with attractive shining pinnate leaves. E. Mediterranean region. Zone 8. The large thick pods are rich in protein and sugar, and are a wholesome food for man and beast. Long cultivated in its native land. The pulp is a valuable sweetener and chocolate substitute. The seed and pods are roasted as coffee substitutes. They may be fermented and distilled, the drink retaining the flavor of the pod. The milled seeds alone produce a flour containing 60% protein, and no sugar or starch, suitable for diabetics. As livestock feed the pods are superior to oats and comparable to barley. Average yield is 200 - 450 pounds per tree, up to 3000 pounds has been recorded. The wood is pinkish.
CERATOTHECA (ser-a-to-THEE-ka)
PEDALIACEAE. Ornamental African herbs grown for their attractive foxglove-like flowers. Best in rich sandy soil and full sun, outdoors in warm areas or in the greenhouse in the North. Sow in March, keep warm, germinates in 8 - 12 days. Plant out in June, flowers in 5 months from sowing.
—Ceratotheca triloba. (100) CERA-18. Packet: $2.50
Click for photos »
'ZIMBABWE FOXGLOVE', 'UDONQA' (Zulu name). Large showy 3" long mauve or lilac foxglove-like flowers in slender spikes, the throats often striped purple. Tender annual to 6 feet, with ovate to 3-lobed leaves. South Africa. Choice. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
CERCIDIUM (ser-SID-ee-um)
LEGUMINOSAE. 'PALO VERDE'. Small trees or shrubs with green bark, bipinnate leaves and showy 5-petaled yellow flowers. Deserts of the Southwest and México. Good ornamentals in desert areas, they are leafless most of the year, the distinctive green bark presenting a striking appearance. Nick and soak seed.
—Cercidium Torreyanum. (=C. floridanum) (10) CERD-10. Packet: $2.50
Seed has been treated with Sevin, then washed.
'PALO VERDE'. Showy bright yellow 3/4" flowers, and grey green foliage for a short time in spring. Distinctive smooth bright green bark. Intricately branched tree to 25 feet. When in bloom it is the most beautiful feature of the Colorado desert of Southern California. Zone 9. The abundant pods furnish stock food and were ground into palatable meal by Indians. Excellent fuelwood. Nick seed to germinate in 2 weeks. The Shoe-Trees of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts.
CERCIS (SER-sis)
LEGUMINOSAE. Handsome N. Hemisphere trees and shrubs noted for their profuse early spring bloom on bare branches before the leaves. Not closely related to any other genus, they may be a Tertiary relic. Attractive foliage, and blooms young. They thrive in fertile sandy loam. The wood is hard, finely veined black and green. Nick seed and give cold if specified.
—Cercis gigantea. (25) CERC-16. Packet: $2.50
'GIANT REDBUD',' HU BEI ZI JING'. Magenta flowers in early spring on a rounded deciduous shrub or tree to 10 - 40 feet, with huge 8" glossy leaves. China. Zone 6 or 7. Foliage turns bright yellow in fall, and covers itself with bloom in spring.
CERINTHE (ker-IN-the or ser-IN-the)
BORAGINACEAE. Easily grown Mediterranean region annuals and perennials grown for ornament. Best in well-drained, moist limey soil in part shade.
—Cerinthe major purpurascens. (20) CERI-16P. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $15.00, 50 grams: $50.00
'HONEYWORT'. Purple-blue nodding tubular 3/4" flowers are yellow at the base, surrounded by striking deep blue bracts. Bushy annual or short-lived perennial to 1 1/2 feet, with oval, grey-green, slightly succulent leaves. Mediterranean. Zone 5. Good bee plant. Germinates readily in 1 - 3 weeks.
CEROPEGIA (ser-o-PE-jee-a)
APOCYNACEAE. Tropical succulent twiners and shrubs.
—Ceropegia Woodii. (20) CEROP-92. Packet: $2.50
'HEART VINE', ROSARY VINE'. Heart-shaped inch-long leaves marbled white above and purple below. Peculiar inch-long flowers. Long-lived vine (over 100 years) from a tuber. S. Africa. Zone 10. Popular houseplant, good in hanging baskets. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
CESTRUM (SES-trum)
SOLANACEAE. Tropical American shrubs and trees with usually showy tubular flowers. Excellent in the greenhouse, California and the South.
NEW—Cestrum nocturnum. (25) CEST-30. Packet: $2.50
Click for photo of seedlings »
'NIGHT JESSAMINE', 'QUEEN of the NIGHT', 'PIPILOXIHUITL'. Creamy white tubular 3/4 - 1" flowers in clusters are intensely fragrant at night. Tender evergreen shrub to 12 feet, with narrow 4 - 8" leaves. West Indies, México. Zone 9. Stands some frost. Good in the greenhouse. The flowers attract hummingbirds and the berries are eaten by mockingbirds. Used as an antispasmodic. Germinates in 2 - 6 weeks warm.
CHAENOMELES (kay-NO-me-leez)
ROSACEAE. Showy spring flowering shrubs.
—Chaenomeles Species and Hybrids Mix. (25) CHAE-X. Packet: $2.50
Fresh seed stored in cold storage.
FLOWERING QUINCE'. A nice mix from over 30 parents. Flowers in shades of white, pink, peach, red, and occasional variegated bloom. Shrub to 2 - 10 feet, usually 4 - 5 feet. The small fruits are made into jelly or canned, with a quince-like flavor, and containing similar nutraceuticals. Prechill seed 8 - 12 weeks to germinate in 1 - 4 weeks.
CHASMANTHE (chas-MAN-the)
IRIDACEAE. Spring and summer flowering South African cormous plants. Grow like gladiolus. Full sun or part shade.
NEW—Chasmanthe floribunda. (d,h) CHAS-12. Packet: $2.50
Click for photo »
Bright orange-red, curved, tubular 2" flowers in long spikes in early spring. Light green iris-like leaves in fans. Tender perennial to 4 feet. South Africa. Drought-resistant. Good to naturalize in California. Germinates in 3 - 7 weeks warm. Fresh seed partly dormant, year-old seed best.
CHEIRANTHUS (ky-RAN-thus)
CRUCIFERAE. 'WALLFLOWER'. Showy hardy perennials often grown as biennials. They rank among the showiest of flowers. Full sun or part shade, and good drainage—raised beds help. Likes limestone soil. Best in cool-summer areas. The showiest plants are produced from seed sown early in spring, to produce strong plants the first season, but they may be sown up till early fall. Sow up to 1/4" deep to germinate in 5 - 21 days. Space 12" apart. May be grown as hardy annuals in the North. Will flower indoors in a 6" pot. Seed viable 3 - 5 years.
NEW—Cheiranthus Cheiri Mix. (500) CHER-1X. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 pound: $18.00
'WALLFLOWER'. Sweetly fragrant inch-wide flowers in spring. Nice mix of orange, pink, and red. Showy short-lived perennial to 2 feet. Southern Europe. Zone 7. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
CHELIDONIUM (ke-li-DOE-nee-um)
PAPAVERACEAE. A single variable species.
—Chelidonium majus. (200) CHEL-1. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $5.00, 5 grams: $9.50
Click for photo »
'GREATER CELANDINE', 'SWALLOW-WORT.' Bright yellow four-petaled flowers to 1" wide, May to July. Hardy perennial to 2 - 4 feet, with attractive, deeply-lobed foliage. Eurasia. The orange sap was used medicinally. "It is a plant of quiet charm and elegance and I would not be without it somewhere in my own garden."—Grey-Wilson. Good in woodlands, naturalizes well, but never a nuisance. Germinates in 3 - 10 weeks warm.
CHENOPODIUM (ken-o-POE-dee-um)
CHENOPODIACEAE. Wide-ranging genus of mostly herbs with clustered tiny flowers. Many grown for ornament, edible greens or grain, aromatic culinary herbs or medicine. Easily grown and very useful. All germinate in 1 - 3 weeks unless noted otherwise.
—Chenopodium album. (1000) CHEN-1. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 Pound: $18.00
'LAMB'S QUARTERS', 'FAT HEN'. Hardy annual to 8 - 10 feet, producing an abundance of edible greens and seeds. Worldwide. The young plants are cooked for spring greens or added raw to salads, and the mature leaves are also excellent. The seeds are ground for meal in many parts of the world. The greens have a spinach-like flavor, but produce more abundantly and over a longer period. Good poultry food. Rich in vitamin A. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks, best with KNO3 plus light - surface sow. If husk is present, rub out of husk before sowing.
—Chenopodium ambrosioides. (=Dysphania ambrosioides). (500) CHEN-2. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
'EPAZOTE'. An irreplaceable Mexican herb with a unique flavor. Perennial to 4 feet in warm climates. Dense heads of tiny green flowers in drooping spikes. Very aromatic leaves a soft shade of green; stems tinged red and gold. Always added to beans, best near the beginning, to blend the flavor well. A light touch is added to vegetables, soups, casseroles, corn and fish dishes. Delightful tacos are made by lightly cooking a tortilla on one side, adding sprigs of fresh herb, folding over and pressing the edges together to retain the steam until it is cooked through. This causes the essential oils to blend into the dough, giving an intriguing flavor and aroma. Botanists say that epazote is a single species, yet one well-traveled Méxican cook told me of nine distinct varieties. The seeds yield a valuable anthelmintic oil. Germinates irregularly in 1 - 12 weeks warm.
—Chenopodium ambrosioides 'Oaxaca Red' (=Dysphania ambrosioides). (500) CHEN-2R. Packet: $2.50
'RED EPAZOTE'. Nice variety with red stems and leaf-veins, with broader leaves than the usual type. Good flavor. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Chenopodium Berlandieri: See Huazontle in Specialty Vegetables
—Chenopodium Bonus-Henricus. (100) CHEN-4. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $7.50
'GOOD KING HENRY', 'MERCURY', 'FAT-HEN'. Hardy perennial to 2 1/2 feet, with dark green tasty leaves that are eaten cooked like spinach. The young stalks can be peeled and eaten like asparagus. Set out 1 foot apart and it will give abundant greens for years. Zone 5. Germinates in 1 - 5 weeks, some lots dormant and need GA-3 or KNO3.
—Chenopodium giganteum. (1000) CHEN-20. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $7.50, 1/4 Pound: $25.00
Click for photo »
'PURPLE GOOSEFOOT', 'TREE SPINACH'. Young leaves are a striking iridescent magenta-red with crystalline red powder. Long panicles of flowers. The stem is striped red and is very strong for its light weight due to a spiral twist. Large tall annual to 6 - 8 feet. Birds are fond of the seeds, and the leaves have been used as a spinach in the Mediterranean, by South African Bantu, and here in the U.S. Tender young leaves are good in salads. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks, best with KNO3 or GA-3.
NEW—Chenopodium pallidicaule La Paz. (75) CHEN-24. Packet: $3.50 OUT OF STOCK
'KAINWA', 'ISWALLA HUPA'. Annual to 1 - 2 feet, with large seed stalks that ripen yellow to red. Cultivated for the nutritious seed in the Andes of Peru and Bolivia, in dry cold areas to 13,000 feet, where quinoa won't grow. Seed contains about 16% protein, and yields 400 - 3000 kilos/ha. Young leaves contain up to 30% protein dry weight. Daylength neutral, and has ripened crops in Finland. Heirloom variety with blackish seed, grown on the altiplano of La Paz, Bolivia. Has lower saponins than quinoa. Germinates in a week.
—Chenopodium Quinoa 'Brilliant Rainbow'. (100) CHEN-25BR. Packet: $2.50 OTC ORGANIC SEED
Ounce: $8.00
Reselected from Rainbow for the brightest, most brilliant colors. Nice! Germinates in a week.
'QUINOA'. An important high-protein (12 - 19%) grain of the Andes, with good amino acid balance and 58% starch. A staple for millions of Andeans, the development of low-elevation types is helping its spread. Seed washed in water before cooking to remove saponins which protect from pests. Hardy, easily grown annual to 4 - 6 feet, with large seedheads. The leaves, stem-tips and young flowers are excellent in salads, having a mild sweet flavor, and very succulent. Also good cooked like spinach or added to soups. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Chenopodium Quinoa 'Cherry Vanilla'. (400) CHEN-25CV. Packet: $2.50 OTC ORGANIC SEED
Ounce: $14.00
'QUINOA'. Seedheads a blend of colors from creamy-white to rose, a beautiful variety with very mild-flavored grain. Developed by Shoulder to Shoulder Farm.
—Chenopodium Quinoa 'Quri'. (50) CHEN-25Q. Packet: $3.75
'GOLD QUINOA'. Rare Peruvian heirloom, with pale yellow to deep orange seed. Flower heads range from yellow to pink and pale purple. Tall annual to 5 - 8 feet. "The largest quinoa we've seen."—Ben Kamm. Long season. Germinates in a week.
—Chenopodium sanctae-clarae. (25) CHEN-30. Packet: $6.00
Endangered shrub to 3 feet, with green, oak-like edible leaves. Endemic to the coast of Santa Clara Island off the coast of Chile, only 100 plants are left in the wild. Zone 9. Surface sow, 3 - 6 weeks. GA-3 helps germination. For more seeds and plants grown by plant-explorer Ben Kamm, including many Andean rarities, see his website at www.sacredsucculents.com
CHILOPSIS (ki-LOP-sis)
BIGNONIACEAE. A single species.
—Chilopsis linearis. (50) CHIL-1. Packet: $2.50
'DESERT or FLOWERING WILLOW'. Trumpet-shaped 2" lilac flowers with 2 yellow stripes, in clusters from April to August, followed by narrow, foot-long pods. Willow-like tree to 25 feet, with narrow, foot long leaves. Southwestern U.S. deserts. Zone 8. Good arid-region ornamental. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
CHIMONANTHUS (kee-mo-NAN-thus)
CALYCANTHACEAE. Attractive East Asian shrubs with sweetly-scented flowers. Best in full sun, and a sheltered spot.
—Chimonanthus praecox. (10) CHIMO-16. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $9.00
'WINTERSWEET', 'JAPANESE ALLSPICE'. Fragrant inch-long, many-petaled flowers in spring on the bare branches, the outer petals sulfur-yellow, the inner petals marked purple-brown. Deciduous shrub to 12 feet with glossy green 6" leaves. China. Zone 6. Nick or give a prechill to germinate in 1 - 3 months.
CHLOROGALUM (klor-o-GAL-um)
LILIACEAE. Hardy, drought resistant bulbs native to California. Valued for their striking clumps of narrow, wavy-margined leaves, topped by large, airy clusters of six-petaled flowers. Easily grown and should be in every California garden. Best sown in fall, or give cold treatment.
—Chlorogalum pomeridianum. (25) CHLG-16. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $10.00
'NOSH' (Yuki name), 'AMOLE', 'SOAP PLANT'. Star-like white 1" flowers with six narrow, purple-veined, recurved petals, in large airy clusters to 1 - 5 feet tall. The flowers pop open suddenly at about 4 PM. California. Zone 9. The large bulbs are covered with a thick, fibrous, coconut-like husk, which was used for brushes by the Indians. The bulb itself was pounded for soap, highly valued for washing clothes and hair, which it leaves silky and shiny. Also used as a poison oak remedy, fish poison, for glue, the leaves for green tattoo markings, and the young shoots were roasted for food. Zone 9. Germinates in 4 - 6 weeks at cold temperatures.
CHORIZEMA (kor-i-ZE-ma)
LEGUMINOSAE. Showy, fast-growing Australian shrubs with slender, graceful arching branches, making a "riotous, gaudy display" of bright flowers in early spring. Fast growing and valued in the cool greenhouse or outdoors in California and the South. Hardy to about 24°F. Good in hanging baskets. Full sun. Easy from seed.
—Chorizema cordatum. (25) CHOZ-4. Packet: $2.50
'AUSTRALIAN FLAME PEA', 'FLOWERING OAK'. Abundant orange-red 1/2" flowers with purplish wings, in 6" clusters. Shrub to 3 - 10 feet, with dark green 1 - 2" leaves. Western Australia. Zone 9. Soak, nick hard, to germinate in 2 - 6 weeks.
—Chorizema diversifolium. (50) CHOZ-8. Packet: $2.50
http://bie.ala.org.au/species/http://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2902156#gallery
https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/3754
'CLIMBING FLAME-PEA'. Abundant pink, orange, and red flowers on a slender perennial twiner to 4 feet. W. Australia. Zone 9. Nick seed to germinate in 2 - 6 weeks.
—Chorizema ilicifolium. (50) CHOZ-12. Packet: $2.50
'HOLLY FLAME PEA'. Brilliant orange-red & yellow flowers with red keel & wings, in 4 - 6" racemes. Scrambling or twining shrub to 2 - 3 feet, with inch-long holly-like leaves. W. Australia. Long bloom period—March to October. Zone 9. Nick seed to germinate in 4 - 6 weeks.
CHRYSANTHEMUM (kri-SAN-the-mum)
COMPOSITAE. A large genus of showy annuals and perennials. Many are remarkably free-flowering, in every shade but blue. Excellent for cutting, lasting well in water. Most like a light, well-drained soil. Full sun. The perennials will last for years in the garden. Some make attractive pot plants. The are easy from seed sown in spring, 1/8 - 1/4" deep, to germinate in 1 - 2 weeks, some kinds up to 5 weeks. Space 1 - 2 feet apart. Well-loved garden favorites for centuries, reaching their peak of cultivation in the Orient. Seed of various kinds viable 1 - 10 years.
—Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium. (50) CHRY-14. Packet: $2.50
Click for photo »
'DALMATIAN PYRETHRUM'. White inch-wide daisies with a strong spicy scent. Hardy perennial to 12 - 16", with many slender stems and silvery leaves. Dalmatia. Zone 6. Grown on a large scale for the production of the flowers which are powdered for insecticide. Likes dry, sunny, well-drained soil, and lives 6 - 25 years. Pick flowers when fully developed, but just before opening. Well-drained soil. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks, best with KNO3 and light.
—Chrysanthemum Parthenium. (=Tanacetum Parthenium) (500) CHRY-40. Packet: $2.50
Click for photo »
'FEVERFEW'. White 3/4" daisies with yellow centers, abundantly borne June to August. Bushy hardy perennial to 2 - 3 feet, with aromatic, deeply cut foliage. SE Europe. Zone 5. Blooms freely the first year, and is often grown as an annual. A fine old-fashioned garden plant, excellent for cut flowers. A tincture of the leaves is said to be an excellent insect repellant rubbed on the skin. Excellent remedy for migraine—I use it, it works! It made an amazing difference in my life. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
CIMICIFUGA: See Reserved Access page.
"Freedom means you can do and say what you want. It also means people you don't like can say and do things that you dislike. That's part of the deal. Most people are unclear on this very simple concept."—J.L.H.
CLADRASTIS (klad-RAS-tis)
LEGUMINOSAE. 'YELLOW-WOOD'. Beautiful and hardy medium-sized deciduous trees grown for their showy flowers and handsome pinnate foliage. Thrives in almost any soil. Sow in spring. "One of the most beautiful flowering native trees."—L. H. Bailey.
—Cladrastis lutea. (25) CLAS-2. Packet: $2.50
1/4 Ounce: $7.50, Ounce: $20.00
'YELLOW WOOD'. Fragrant, creamy white, inch-long flowers in showy, drooping, 10 - 20" long panicles in June. Bright green 3 - 4" long leaflets turn bright yellow in fall. To 40 to 60 feet. SE U.S. Hardy to Zone 3. The close-grained, bright yellow wood yields a clear yellow dye. Soak seed, nick hard ones, germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
CLARKIA (KLAR-kee-a)
ONAGRACEAE. Showy, easily grown hardy annuals of western N. America and southern S. America. They make a wonderful display in any sunny place. Best in light soil, and stands part shade. Gives the best display in nitrogen-poor soil. Excellent for borders, bedding, naturalizing in the meadow, and they make good cut-flowers. Sow in March where they are to flower, or in fall in a sheltered place in mild climates. Germinates in 5 - 20 days. Seed half-life over 8 years. Named for Captain Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
—Clarkia amoena 'Dwarf Mix'. (3000) CLAR-4DX. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $5.00, 1/4 Pound: $15.00
'FAREWELL TO SPRING'. Large pink and white 3 - 5" cup-shaped flowers. Showy annual to 8 - 14". California. Blooms in 14 weeks and makes a nice cut flower. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Clarkia rhomboidea. (300) CLAR-21. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $7.50
Click for photo »
'DIAMOND CLARKIA'. Lavender to pinkish inch-wide flowers with darker spots. Hardy annual to 3 feet. Western U.S. Both the petals and seeds are somewhat diamond-shaped. The seeds were eaten by the Yana. Germinates in 2 - 6 weeks.
—Clarkia unguiculata. (=elegans) (1000) CLAR-24. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 Pound: $15.00
'MOUNTAIN GARLAND'. Rose and white 1 - 2" flowers in slender spikes. Hardy annual to 3 feet, making a showy display in masses. Individually, the flowers, with their delicately clawed petals, are things of beauty. California. Excellent wildflower for naturalizing. The parched, ground seeds were eaten with acorn mush. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks at cool temperatures.
CLAYTONIA: See Montia.
CLEMATIS (KLEM-a-tis)
RANUNCULACEAE. 'VIRGIN'S BOWER' Prized woody vines and herbs grown for their showy flowers often followed by attractive, silvery, puff-like seed-heads. They do best in a rich, well-drained, light loamy soil on the alkaline side. Add a little lime when planting and give a yearly mulch of manure or compost for best results. Give a cool, shaded root zone. The vine types are good for covering walls, arbors, balconies, etc., and the bushy types in the flower garden. Seed best sown shallowly in October to February, or give 2 - 6 months cold treatment, to germinate in about 25 - 60 days, with some stragglers taking up to 2 years. Seed viable 1 - 3 years or more. Smoke treatment may help germination.
—Clematis columbiana. (100) CLEM-20. Packet: $2.50
Blue 1- 2" long bell-shaped flowers with long pointed sepals. Hardy woody 'vine with trifoliate leaves. NW N. America. Best in part shade and humusy soil. Germinates in 2 - 10 weeks or so at warm temperatures and in light.
—Clematis heracleifolia. (25) CLEM-52. Packet: $2.50
Tubular blue inch-long flowers with recurved petal tips and a fragrance resembling sweet violets. Very hardy perennial subshrub to 3 feet. E. China. Zone 3. Blooms in August and September. Easy from seed, which germinates in 2 - 3 weeks warm.
—Clematis lasiantha. (100) CLEM-75. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $7.50
Click for photo »
'CHAPARRAL CLEMATIS'. Fragrant white 2 1/2" flowers in spring. Tall-climbing woody vine from California. Drought resistant. "Its profusion of white flowers gives a striking appearance to the brush on the valley slopes during April and May."—McMinn. Give seed 8 - 12 weeks prechill.
CLEOME (klay-O-may)
CAPPARIDACEAE. 'SPIDER FLOWER'. Interesting and showy-flowered hardy annuals and tender perennials. The unusual flowers have long dark purple spidery stamens and variously colored showy, long stalked petals. Heat and drought resistant, they are fascinating plants for the sunny border. Prefers sandy soil. Irregular germination. Start indoors in March to flower freely from June to frost. They also make excellent pot plants for the greenhouse, doing well in 6" pots. Outdoors, start in May where they are to grow, and thin to 1 - 2 feet apart.
—Cleome lutea. (100) CLEO-15. Packet: $2.50
Picture: http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+1001+0026
'GOLDEN BEEPLANT'. Yellow 1/2" flowers in dense clusters en an annual to 5 feet, with five-parted leaves Deserts from Washington to Colorado and California. Prechill seed 4 - 8 weeks to give high germination in 4 - 8 weeks.
—Cleome serrulata. See Reserved Access page.
Cleome spinosa Varieties: 'Spider Flower'.
The popular half hardy annual to 3 - 4 feet tall. Makes a showy display in the border, their airy heads of powerfully scented spidery flowers with blue or purple 3" long stamens are attractive from June till frost, and the palmate foliage is quite pleasing. Sow on the surface, seed needs light, germinates in 2 - 3 weeks, and KNO3 helps improve percentage.
—Cleome spinosa 'Cherry Queen'. (250) CLEO-5C. Packet: $2.50
25 grams: $7.50
Deep carmine-rose flowers. Hardy annual to 3 feet.