J.
L. HUDSON, SEEDSMAN,
BOX 337, LA
HONDA, CALIFORNIA
94020-0337 USA
2021 SEEDLIST - Si - Sz
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SIDA (SEE-da)
MALVACEAE. Widely distributed warm-region herbs and shrubs, grown for
ornament, fiber and medicine.
—Sida acuta. (25) SIDA-4. Packet $3.50
Gram: $12.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - packets are available
'MAHABAL', 'BROOM WEED'. Yellow flowers on a shrubby perennial to 5 feet, with
narrow leaves. Pantropical. Highly valued in folk medicine as an aphrodisiac,
for fever, headaches, infections, and liver problems. Husk and nick seed to
germinate in 1 - 2 weeks.
SIDERITIS (see-der-EE-tis)
LABIATAE. Ornamental herbs and shrubs.
—Sideritis syriaca. (25) SIDE-76. Packet: $2.50
'GREEK MOUNTAIN TEA'. Yellow 1/2" flowers in spikes. Perennial to 10 -
20", with 2" white-woolly leaves. Crete. Zone 6. Brewed into a
golden-colored aromatic tea. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
SILENE (see-LAY-nay)
CARYOPHYLLACEAE. Five hundred species of North Hemisphere annuals, biennials
and perennials with showy flowers produced in profusion. Easily grown and valued
in the border or rockery. Best in full sun and sandy soil, and even the annuals
can be sown in fall for earlier bloom. Most kinds germinate in 8 - 23 days and
flower quickly. They have extrafloral nectaries.
—Silene capensis. (75) SILE-6. Packet: $2.50
1/4 gram: $15.00, Gram: $25.00
'XHOSA DREAM PLANT', KWAQUELA', 'MOLOKOLOKO'. 'White to pink five-petaled
flowers. Perennial to 1 - 2 feet, with 1 - 3" leaves. South Africa. Moist
sandy soil. The root is said to be used by the Xhosa to induce vivid dreams.
Germinates in 3 - 8 weeks, best with 2000ppm KNO3 (potassium nitrate), or GA-3.
SILYBUM (SI-lee-bum or si-LEE-bum)
COMPOSITAE. 'MILK THISTLE'. Striking plants. Sow in fall or spring where
they are to grow and thin to 2 feet apart. Sprouts in 1 - 3 weeks. An
interesting note: fresh seed will not germinate at warm temperatures, only
sprouting at cool temperatures; but after 5 months dry storage (after-ripening)
they will germinate well at warm temperatures.
—Silybum Marianum. (200) SILY-3. Packet: $2.50 ORGANIC
Ounce: $5.00, 1/4 pound: $10.00
'ST. MARY'S MILK THISTLE'. Bold and striking rosettes of large glossy, dark
green, spiny leaves streaked and marbled with white, followed by 2" wide
rose-purple, faintly scented flower-heads on 4 - 6 foot stalks, each head with
dramatic reflexed spines. Mediterranean region. Zone 4. Old tradition holds that
milk of the Virgin Mary fell upon the plant, causing the white marbling of the
leaves. Flowers much visited by bees; later, birds love the seeds. California
ranchers claim it loosens hard, compacted soil, and make their own 'clod-buster'
from chopped plants soaked in 55 gallon drums of water. Formerly much used as
food; the young leaves in salads or boiled, (I've never tried this myself, the
spines scare me!) the peeled stalks, the roots like salsify, the young heads
eaten like artichokes after cutting off the spines. Was thought to increase milk
in nursing women. Since ancient times the seeds have been used as liver
medicine, and recently their powerful liver-protective properties have found
much use in modern medicine. Experiments have shown it capable of preventing
death in dogs from fatal doses of Destroying-Angel mushroom toxins.
SIPHOCAMPYLUS (see-fo-KAM-pee-lus)
CAMPANULACEAE. Tropical American shrubs.
—Siphocampylus aff. tupiformis BK10509.11. (500) SIPH-AT. Packet: $3.50
Click for photo »
'K'AU SILLU'. Very showy tubular orange and yellow flowers in clusters on a
perennial plant resembling Lobelia Tupa, to 2 - 3 feet. Collected at
10,000 feet in Cochabamba, Bolivia, by Ben Kamm. Sow on the surface, germinates
in 2 - 6 weeks. Aged seed best—2 - 3 year old seed is best. For more seeds and
plants grown by plant-explorer Ben Kamm, including many Andean rarities, see his
website at www.sacredsucculents.com
—Siphocampylos tupaeformis BK09428.1. (500) SIPH-86. Packet: $4.00
'COCHAYA', 'PISHQU SHOQUNAN'. Tubular tricolor yellow, orange, and red
flowers in large clusters. Perennial to 3 - 5 feet, with lanceolate leaves. Near
Cusco, Peru, at 11,000 feet. Attracts hummingbirds. Planted alongside San Pedro
as a 'guardian'. Zone 8. Regrows after frost. Surface sow to germinate in 2 - 12
weeks. For more seeds and plants grown by plant-explorer Ben Kamm, including
many Andean rarities, see his website at www.sacredsucculents.com
SISYRINCHIUM (si-si-RIN-kee-um)
IRIDACEAE. 'BLUE-EYED GRASS'. Small American grass-like perennials with blue
or yellow flowers. They make nice colonies in open moist places. Easy in any
soil. Good in pots.
—Sisyrinchium angustifolium. (100) SISY-3. Packet: $2.50
'BLUE-EYED GRASS'. Blue 1/2" flowers on winged stems. Deep green
grass-like leaves. Hardy short-lived perennial, reseeding itself. Reaches 2 feet
in good moist soil, but will grow in dry shade, reaching only 4 - 6". E. N.
America. Used medicinally. Sow in fall.
—Sisyrinchium californicum. (100) SISY-6. Packet: $2.50
'YELLOW-EYED GRASS'. Yellow inch-wide flowers in late spring and summer.
Clump-forming Iris-like plant to 6 - 24". Moist meadows, California
to Oregon. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks and up. Zone 8. "A good garden
subject.—"Hortus Third.
—Sisyrinchium inflatum. (50) SISY-12. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $7.50
Bright pinkish purple nodding 3/4" flowers with lighter centers, on a
dainty plant to 6 - 15" tall, with narrow, grass-like 2 - 3" leaves.
Washington. Zone 5. Germinates in 4 - 8 weeks at cold temperatures.
"Besides love and sympathy, animals exhibit other qualities connected
with social instincts, which in us would be called moral; and I agree with
Agassiz that dogs possess something very like a conscience."—Charles
Darwin.
SMYRNIUM (SMIR-nee-um)
UMBELLIFERAE. Hardy Old World biennial herbs with handsome divided foliage
and yellow flowers.
—Smyrnium Olusatrum. (50) SMYR-18. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $10.00
Click for photo »
'ALEXANDERS', 'BLACK LOVAGE'. Stout biennial or perennial to 4 feet, with
large glossy bright green divided leaves. Yellow flowers in 4" umbels,
followed by black 1/4" fruits. Mediterranean. An ancient vegetable, it is
mentioned by Theophrastus (322 BCE), was cultivated by Charlemagne (800 CE),
reached the height of its popularity around 1550 to 1650, and had almost
disappeared by the late 1800s, being displaced by celery. The young shoots and
stalks were blanched and eaten, and have a celery-like flavor, but more pungent,
and were used to flavor soups and stews. The sliced root was eaten raw in
salads. Unopened flower clusters eaten. Germinates best in summer, seed sown in
August germinates in 2 weeks. Fresh seed needs cold treatment. Hardy to Zone 5.
Seedlings thinned out can be eaten. A forgotten plant. Germination is greatly
increased by rubbing the black husks off the seed to germinate in 3 - 6 weeks
without cold treatment.
SOLANUM (so-LA-num)
SOLANACEAE. A huge genus of 1400 species, from annuals to trees. Includes
important foods (potato, eggplant, etc.), medicines, industrial crops and many
ornamentals. Generally easy from seed, germinates in 1 - 3 weeks. Sow hardy
types where they are to stand, and tender types early indoors. They are
wonderful plants, many very ornamental, but surprisingly little grown. Buy 'em
or lose 'em!
Nice
collection of photos of Solanum species.
—Solanum acaule. (10) SOLN-7. Packet: $4.00
'APHARU', 'WILD POTATO'. Pale purple flowers followed by heart-shaped fruits
that often bury themselves in the ground. Rosettes of dark green divided leaves,
often less than 6" high. Forms small white tubers up to 1 1/2" in
diameter, at the ends of long lavender stolons. Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina,
8000 to 15,000 feet. Perhaps hardy to Zone 5 or 6. This tetraploid wild potato
is used in breeding increased frost tolerance and disease and pest resistance
into modern potatoes. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks with GA-3. Cool temperatures
best.
—Solanum aviculare. (50) SOLN-8. Packet:
$2.50
'KANGAROO APPLE', 'KOONYANG', 'MAYAKITCH' (aboriginal names). Violet 1"
flowers in clusters, followed by 1" yellow berries. Handsome shrub to 5 -
10 feet, with narrow, dark green, foot-long lobed leaves. Australia and N.Z.
Zone 9. Often blooms the first year, and is a nice ornamental here in
California. The leaves and stems are a rich source of the glycoalkaloid solasodine,
used in the synthesis of steroids. The fully ripe fruits, after they have
fallen, are said to be eaten raw, boiled or baked; if at all unripe they burn
the mouth. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks warm.
—Solanum X Burbankii. (100) SOLN-9. Packet: $2.00
Gram: $5.00, 10 grams: $20.00
'WONDERBERRY', 'MSOBA'. Deep blue 1/4" fruits with white bloom are
sweet and edible, used for tarts, jams, etc. Compact annual to 2 feet. Caused a
great controversy when introduced by Luther Burbank. Delicious and productive.
Sow on the surface, seed needs light or GA-3 to germinate in 2 - 3 weeks.
—Solanum Dulcamara. (100) SOLN-12. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $7.50 BULK OUT OF STOCK - packets are available
Click for photo »
'BITTERSWEET'. Violet five-petaled, yellow-stamened 1/2" flowers
spotted green, followed by ornamental clusters of oval red berries. Woody
climbing shrub to 15 feet. Eurasia, N. America. The dried stems were once widely
used in medicine, and the roots and shoots used medicinally in China. Used for
rheumatism, skin ailments and alterative. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks, best with
GA-3.
—Solanum galapagense. (100) SOLN-20. Packet: $2.50
'GALAPAGOS TOMATO'. Endemic, salt-tolerant wild tomato with tasty orange-red
fruits. Cultivated material has probably had some crossing with garden
varieties. Germinates in a week or so.
SOPHORA (so-FOR-a or SOF-or-a)
LEGUMINOSAE. Wide-ranging and showy ornamental mostly woody plants with
clustered pea-like flowers and handsome pinnate foliage. Best in well-drained
soil, and most stand drought well.
—Sophora secundiflora. (10) SOPH-6. Packet: $3.00
1/4 Pound: $16.00 (about 140 seed), Pound: $28.00
'MESCAL BEAN', 'TEXAS MOUNTAIN LAUREL', 'FRIJOLITO'. Beautiful fragrant
violet-blue inch-long flowers in dense 3" clusters covering the plant in
spring. Handsome evergreen shrub to 4 - 6 feet, rarely a tree to 40 feet, with
shining dark green pinnate foliage. Silvery grey 1 - 8" pods with bright
red seeds. Texas to New Mexico. Can stand a good freeze—Zone 8. Well-drained
soil. The poisonous seeds are used as beads and ceremonially by Plains Indians,
and are powdered for insecticide. Nick seed to germinate in 1 - 4 weeks or so.
SPILANTHES (spi-LAN-theez)
COMPOSITAE. Tropical creeping herbs with yellow or white daisy-like flowers
on long stalks.
—Spilanthes acmella. (=Acmella oleracea). (200) SPIL-4. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50, 5 grams: $20.00
'TOOTHACHE PLANT', 'PARA CRESS'. Abundant red-tipped yellow clover-like
flowers on a sub-tropical creeper with pointed triangular leaves. Tropics. Zone
4. The young leaves are added to salads, soups, or steamed with rice. They
stimulate the saliva and cause numbness and tingling, so they are chewed for
toothache. Anti-viral and anti-fungal. Used as a flavor-enhancer. Germinates in
a week.
"So the universe would be a very great book, and we would be very small
readers."—U. K. LeGuin.
STACHYS (STA-keez)
LABIATAE. Widespread perennials and annuals adapted to varied conditions, from
dry to wet. Tubular, often hooded flowers in whorls, and often aromatic foliage.
Some are medicinal.
—Stachys officinalis. (=Betonica) (100) STAC-14. Packet: $2.50
'WOOD BETONY'. Very rich purple 1/2" flowers in dense whorls and
spikes. Hardy perennial to 3 feet, with 3 - 6" leaves. Europe, Middle East.
Zone 4. Good ornamental, formerly much cultivated for medicinal use. Highly
regarded for many ailments, and believed effective against 'devils and despair'.
The tea is a fine beverage and was formerly valued against persistent headaches.
"Sell your coat and buy Betony."—Italian proverb. Germinates
in 2 - 4 weeks.
STEPHANOTIS (ste-fa-NO-tis)
ASCLEPIADACEAE. Tropical climbers and shrubs grown for their beautiful
flowers. Popular in the greenhouse and outdoors in the South. Feed while
growing. Germinates in 2 - 13 weeks, warm.
—Stephanotis floribunda. (10) STEP-9. Packet: $3.00
'MADAGASCAR JASMINE'. Very sweetly scented 1 - 2" waxy white trumpet
shaped flowers in long-lasting clusters from April to October. Twining evergreen
climber to 10 - 15 feet, with glossy dark green leaves. Madagascar. Zone 10. A
popular greenhouse plant. The flowers are traditionally used in wedding
bouquets. Germinates in 2 - 8 weeks, some up to 16.
STEVIA (STE-vee-a)
COMPOSITAE. From the warm Americas.
—Stevia rebaudiana. (30) STEV-21. Packet: $4.00
'SWEET LEAF'. Small shrub with tiny white flowers and narrow leaves.
Paraguay. The dried leaves are used as a no-calorie sweetener. Surprisingly
hardy, standing some freezes and renewing from the base. Germinates in 1 - 2
weeks.
STIPA (STEE-pa or STY-pa)
GRAMINEAE. 'FEATHER GRASS'. Attractive perennial grasses native of plains,
savannas and steppes throughout the world. Grown for ornament, forage, and
restoration, they include some of our finest native bunchgrasses, and are assets
in any garden. Many kinds are best grown from aged seed, germination increasing
after a year in storage. Two weeks cold may help germination of fresh seed. Most
sprout in 5 - 30 days. Seed and plants long lived. Sow in spring or early fall.
Smoke treatment may help germination.
—Stipa ichu BK08520.2. (50) STIP-32.
Packet: $4.00
'ICHU', 'PERUVIAN FEATHER GRASS'. The classic bunch grass of the high Andes.
Feathery silver spikes in summer and fall, above a fine-leaved perennial to 1
1/2 - 3 feet tall. Collected at 13,000 feet above the town of Taucca, Peru, but
ranges from México to Argentina. Zone 7. Good in California. Germinates in 2 -
6 weeks warm.