PAPAVERACEAE. Showy annuals and perennials of western N. America, providing an abundance of brilliant bloom in sunny dry areas.
Eschscholzia californica: 'CALIFORNIA POPPY'.
'CALIFORNIA POPPY', 'COPA DE ORO'. Brilliant orange to yellow 2 - 3" wide glossy flowers followed by narrow 3 - 4" pods. Perennial to 2 feet, with lacy, blue-green leaves. California. Zone 6. Grown as an annual in cold regions. "During the summer, they form a dense carpet of finely cut, blue-green foliage, smothered with a profusion of vivid, glossy flowers."—Booth. The leaves were eaten as a potherb by Indians, and the root used as a pain-killer. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks warm to cool temperatures.
—Eschscholzia californica Orange. (1000) ESCH-1OR. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $7.50
1/4 Pound: $18.00
Pound: $35.00
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The classic single buttery orange California flower.
—Eschscholzia californica 'Ballerina Mix'. (500) ESCH-1BAL. Packet: $3.00
Ounce: $12.00, 1/4 Pound: $38.00
Unusual crumpled or fluted petals in shades of orange, apricot, rose, white, and dark red, some striped and bicolored. Showy tender perennial.
—Eschscholzia californica 'Bridal Bouquet'. (300) ESCH-1BB. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $12.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - packets are available
Double and semi-double flowers in shades of pink, cream, and white, with darker streaks and rippled petals. Very nice! Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Eschscholzia californica 'Mikado'. (1000) ESCH-1K. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $7.50, 1/4 Pound: $18.00
Mahogany-red single flowers. Showy annual.
—Eschscholzia californica 'Mission Bells'. (1000) ESCH-1MB. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $7.50, 1/4 Pound: $20.00
Double and semi-double flowers in a wide range of colors including white, rose, coppery, pink, yellow and orange. Popular for easy color. To 12".
—Eschscholzia californica 'Purple Gleam'. (1000) ESCH-1P. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $7.50, 1/4 Pound: $16.00
Unusual purple-violet flowers. Annual to 15".
—Eschscholzia californica 'White Linen'. (1000) ESCH-1W. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $7.50
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Creamy white single flowers. Showy hardy annual.
EUCALYPTUS (you-ka-LIP-tus)
MYRTACEAE. Over 500 species of aromatic evergreen Australian trees and shrubs with puff-like flowers. Fast growing, the young plants having very different leaves from the usually sickle-shaped adult leaves. A variety of forms, from forest giant to gnarled shrub, makes them adapted to many landscaping situations. The foliage can be dried for arrangements—stand ends in glycerin a few days. Dwarf kinds good in tubs. Excellent firewood crop, and they produce abundant honey and pollen. Easy from seed, germinating in 1 - 4 weeks warm unless noted. A few kinds need cold or GA-3. Smoke treatment may help germination of some. Seed has a beneficial mycorrhizal relationship with the chaff, so it is usually supplied as a seed/chaff mixture.
'Gums' are tall with smooth or peeling bark, 'ironbarks' have persistent bark, 'mallees' are shrubby, with several stems from a ligno-tuber, and the 'marlocks' are dwarf kinds.
In California Eucalyptus trees are being destroyed in great numbers by anti-exotics extremists who claim they suppress native vegetation. On the contrary, studies have shown greater coverage and increasing diversity of natives under Eucalyptus canopies! Also, Eucalyptus groves are the preferred overwintering habitat of native monarch butterflies.
—Eucalyptus camaldulensis. (100) EUCA-30. Packet: $2.50
'RIVER RED GUM'. To 60 - 200 feet, with a spreading crown and white flowers. A mighty tree for deep soils. Takes more heat and cold than E. globulus, and is widely planted. Exceedingly hard, durable timber. Hardy to 12 - 15°F. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
EUPATORIUM (you-pa-TOR-ee-um)
COMPOSITAE. Mostly herbaceous perennials (but ranging to tropical trees) grown in the border or wild garden for ornament, medicine and to attract butterflies. Valued for their late summer and fall bloom. Sow on the surface; irregular germination.
—Eupatorium cannabinum. (500) EUPT-5. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
'HEMP AGRIMONY'. Pale purple flowers in crowded masses in late summer. Handsome hardy perennial to 6 feet, with reddish stems. Europe. Zone 4. Pleasantly aromatic. Many medicinal uses. Give 8 weeks cold or GA-3 to germinate in 1 - 2 weeks.
EUPHORBIA (you-FOR-bee-a)
EUPHORBIACEAE. A huge genus (second largest) of 1600 species, nearly world-wide and ranging from tiny prostrate annuals to shrubs, trees and succulent cactus-like plants. Their cultivation is as varied as their habitats. A rewarding genus to specialize in, the varied forms demonstrating evolution. The sap of some species may cause skin rash and is extremely irritating to the eyes.
—Euphorbia amygdaloides 'Purpurea'. (10) EUPH-7P. Packet: $2.50
Purple-red tinted foliage, new growth red. Yellow or lime green flowers in spring and summer. Hardy perennial to 2 feet. Eurasia. Zone 5.
—Euphorbia Lathyris. (10) EUPH-75. Packet: $2.50
1/4 Ounce: $7.50, Ounce: $14.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - packets are still available
'MOLE PLANT', 'GOPHER PURGE'. Narrow, blue-green, pointed 6" leaves set at right angles to the stem, forming a perfect "X" when seen from above. Hardy biennial to 5 feet, with a cluster of small flowers the second season, followed by round pods. Europe. Zone 6. The milky juice is irritating, and the plants repel certain species of moles and gophers under some conditions, and is also used to remove moles and warts. Nick seed to germinate in 2 - 4 weeks.
—Euphorbia marginata. (=variegata) (25) EUPH-82. Packet: $2.50
25 grams: $9.00
'SNOW-ON-THE-MOUNTAIN'. Upper leaves and bracts are an attractive white with a green stripe, August to October. Bushy half-hardy annual to 3 1/2 feet or so. Minnesota to Texas. Prechill seed 4 weeks to germinate in 1 - 4 weeks.
"Any excuse will serve a tyrant."—Aesop, 550 BCE.