2021 Supplement Seedlist - A - C
ACHILLEA
—Achillea sibirica var. camtschatica 'Love Parade'. (100) ACH-76C. Packet: $3.00
Gram: $12.00
Soft pink 3/8" flowers in large umbels from June to September. Hardy perennial to 2 feet, with odd, attractive sword-shaped leaves, pinnately divided on the edges. Kamchatka. Zone 3. Good cut-flower and often blooms the first year. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
ACHLYS (AK-leez)
BERBERlDACEAE. Hardy woodland perennials.
—Achlys triphylla. (10) ACHL-2. Packet: $3.00
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'VANILLA-LEAF', 'SWEET-LEAF', 'DEER-FOOT'. Dense spikes of tiny flowers held above the trifoliate fan-shaped leaves. Moist woods from B.C. to California. Zone 3. The sweetly fragrant leaves were highly valued by settlers, who hung bunches in their houses. Sow 1/4" deep in rich woodland soil, and keep moist. Slow to germinate.
ACONITUM
—Aconitum columbianum. (100) ACD-9. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
'WESTERN MONKSHOOD'. Purple-blue inch-long helmet-shaped flowers on tall stems. Hardy perennial to 2 - 6 feet, with palmate leaves. Western N. America. Moist shady places. Germinates at 40°F.
—Aconitum variegatum. (50) ACD-24. Packet: $2.50
Large violet-blue 1 - 2" flowers often spotted white, in open clusters in summer. Hardy perennial to 3 - 5 feet. SE Europe. Zone 3. Prechill seed.
AGAPANTHUS
—Agapanthus orientalis 'Storm Cloud'. (25) AGAP-7S. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $15.00
Dark bluish purple flowers in large clusters on 3 - 4 foot stems. Intense color, hardy to Zone 7 or so. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks.
AGRIMONIA (ag-ri-MO-nee-a)
—Agrimonia procera. (=odorata) (25) AGRI-20. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $7.50
'SWEET-SCENTED AGRIMONY'. Bright yellow five-petaled flowers in slender dense spikes. Hardy perennial to 3 feet with narrow, pinnate leaves. Europe. The whole plant is sweet scented and the flowers have a spicy scent like apricots, and for this reason it is a popular tea in France. Was much used as a medicinal tonic, diuretic, and febrifuge for many complaints. Yields a nankeen dye.
ALCEA
—Alcea taurica. (25) ALCE-30. Packet: $2.50
Lemon yellow 4" flowers in summer. Hardy perennial to 5 feet, with grey-green leaves. Black Sea region. Zone 3.
ALLIUM
—Allium dichlamydeum. (25) ALUM-31. Packet: $3.00
'CALIFORNIA COASTAL ONION'. Intense red-pink bell-shaped flowers in dense umbels, and narrow grass-like leaves. Endemic to the central California coast, often in hard dry clay soil. Edible. Zone 8. "One of the showiest American onions."—Kamm. Prechill seed 4 weeks. For more seeds and plants grown by plant-explorer Ben Kamm, including many Andean rarities, see his website at www.sacredsucculents.com
—Allium triccocum. (20) ALUM-104. Packet: $2.50
'RAMP', ' WILD LEEK'. White flowers in Summer after the leaves have faded. Hardy bulb to 1 foot, with broad blue-green leaves. NE N. America. Zone 5 or more. Leaves edible, with a leek-like flavor. Prechill seed.
ALSTROEMERIA
—Alstroemeria Meyer's O.P. Hybrids. (10) ALST-MH. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $15.00
Flowers in pinks and purple, some white, all with yellow blotches and dark spots. Half hardy perennial to 2 feet. Hardy to Zone 7 or colder with protection. Give seed 30 days warm, then 30 days cold.
AMSONIA (am-SO-nee-a)
APOCYNACEAE. Hardy perennials valued in the border or among shrubbery, for their blue starry flowers. Easy in most soils in sun or part shade. Native to E. North America and E. Asia.
—Amsonia illustris. (25) AMSO-12. Packet: $2.50
1/4 Ounce: $7.50, Ounce: $24.00
Rich light blue flowers in early spring on a hardy perennial to 4 feet, with broad, glossy leaves. Missouri to Texas. Hardy to Zone 4 and stands gravelly to garden soil. Give 8 weeks cold, to germinate in 2 - 4 weeks.
AQUILEGIA
—Aquilegia vulgaris 'Grandmother's Garden'. (100) AQUI-44GG. Packet: $2.50
Mix of old-fashioned short-spurred types, with blooms in pink, violet, and wine-red, in early Summer. Hardy perennial to 2 feet. Zone 3.
ARISAEMA
—Arisaema consanguineum. (25) ARIS-5. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $12.00
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Spathes green striped deep purple & white inside, 10 7" long, in early summer. Large divided leaves on 3 foot tall mottled stalks. Himalayas.
—Arisaema triphyllum. (10) ARIS-27. Packet: $2.50
'JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT', 'INDIAN TURNIP', 'MEMORY ROOT'. Hooded purple striped spathes. Hardy perennial to 3 feet. Red berries. E. North America. The fresh root is very poisonous, and was used by the Indians for headache, asthma, and rheumatism. After roasting they were eaten as a delicacy by the Indians. As the plant grows, it passes from infertile, to male, and finally to female. Germinates in 1 week to 10 months warm. May need cold to trigger leaf formation. Plant in the shade.
ARTHROPODIUM (arth-ro-PO-dee-um)
LILIACEAE. Southern Hemisphere perennials.
—Arthropodium cirratum. (25) ARTH-6. Packet: $2.50
Info and photos link: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54528/
Technical paper on germination: http://www.science.canterbury.ac.nz/nzns/issues/vol15-1988/conner.pdf
'ROCK LILY', 'RENGA RENGA'. Starry inch-wide white nodding flowers May to July, in clusters on stems to 3 feet. Strap-like dark green 2 foot leaves. Coastal New Zealand. Zone 7. Roots once eaten by the Maori. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks at cool temperatures and low light, with stragglers.
ARUNCUS (a-RUN-kus)
ROSACEAE. 'GOAT'S BEARD'. Tall ornamental hardy perennials grown for their large, showy, Astilbe-like clusters of tiny white flowers. Best in moist shady places and by pools and streams. Good in the back border. Seeds germinate readily in 80 - 120 days at cool temperatures. Sow on the surface.
—Aruncus dioicus. (=sylvester) (1000) ARUN-3. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $5.00
'GOAT'S BEARD'. Stately perennial to 7 feet, with plume-like panicles of ivory-white flowers in May to July, held above the large compound leaves. North Temperate regions. Seed viable 1 year.
ASTRAGALUS
—Astragalus membranaceus. (50) ASTR-30. Packet: $2.50
1/4 Ounce: $12.00
'HUANG QI'. Famous Chinese medicinal herb. Light yellow flowers in spikes, followed by semi-transparent pods. Hardy perennial to 2 feet, with pinnate leaves. Northeastern China, Mongolia. Zone 5. The long, flexible roots are in the same category as ginseng and Eleuthero. Highly valued as a 'Qi tonic' affecting many parts of the body. "Every sort of wasting or exhausting disease is thought to be benefited by it."—Pen-Tsao of Li Shi-chen. Soak, nick hard ones, to germinate in 1 - 2 weeks.
BIDENS (BI-denz)
COMPOSITAE. Easily grown annual and perennial herbs with pretty yellow or white daisy like flowers. Similar to Cosmos. Likes full sun and moist soil. Good for cut-flowers. Sow hardy kinds outdoors in March, to bloom in 10 weeks. Half hardy kinds in flats to germinate in 9 days at 60°F. Set out in April to bloom in July to September.
—Bidens frondosa. (50) BIDE-7. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $7.50
Yellow-orange flowers in summer. Annual to 3 feet, with trifoliate leaves. N. America. Medicinal, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory.
—Bidens pilosa. (100) BIDE-19. Packet: $2.50
1/4 Ounce: $7.50
'BEGGAR'S TICKS'. White flowers with yellow centers, May to October. Annual to 4 feet. Tropics. Young leaves eaten and used for tea. Medicinal—antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-malarial, anti-cancer, against enlarged prostate, and many more. Dead-head to prevent seeding. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
BRICKELLIA (bri-KE-lee-a)
COMPOSITAE. American herbs and shrubs.
—Brickellia californica. (100) BRIC-6. Packet: $2.50
Creamy white 1/2" flowers on a shrubby perennial to 3- 6 feet, with grey-green leaves. W. U.S. Zone 6. "Not desirable for its appearance but for the delicious fragrance which it imparts to the air on summer evenings. One or two plants will perfume the whole garden."—Theodore Payne.
BRODIAEA
—Brodiaea minor. (25) BROD-16. Packet: $2.50
Violet to pink inch-long flowers with narrow petals. Bulb to 1 foot, with narrow grass-like leaves. California. Zone 8.
BUNIUM (BOO-nee-um)
UMBELLIFERAE. Herbs closely related to Caraway.
—Bunium bulbocastanum. (50) BUNI-5. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
NOTE: I have a report that this is actually Oenanthe pimpinelloides (also has edible tubers).
'EARTH CHESTNUT'. The bulbous, tuberous roots are said to taste like chestnuts and were boiled with broth in England. The seeds were used as a condiment. Eurasia. Germinates in 2 - 8 weeks.
BURSERA (BUR-ser-a)
BURSURACEAE. Deciduous tropical American trees.
—Bursera fagaroides. (5) BURS-76. Packet: $5.00
'COPAL'‚ 'ELEPHANT TREE' . Small tree to 20 feet, with a thick swollen trunk and papery peeling bark. Tiny flowers followed by purple-green berries. Deserts of México. Zone 9. The fragrant resin is used as incense, with a sweet citrusy scent. Good fall color, then dormant until hot weather returns. Good as bonsai, and outdoors in southern Arizona. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks warm.
—Bursera odorata. (5) BURS-60. Packet: $5.00
'TOROTE BLANCO', 'COPAL'. Small tree to 10 feet, with a swollen caudiciform trunk with golden peeling bark. Yellow flowers and pinnate leaves. North México. Sweet balsamic sap used as incense.
CAJANUS (ka-JAN-us)
LEGMINOSAE. Two tropical species.
—Cajanus cajan. (30) CAJA-2. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $4.00, 1/4 Pound: $6.00
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'PIGEON PEA'. Yellow flowers followed by edible pods and seeds. Short-lived perennial to 5 feet, thriving in sun and moist to dry poor soil. Africa. Zone 9 or 10. Widely grown in the tropics for the nutritious seed, young pods, and young leaves. Produces abundant food, forage, and builds soil. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks. Some lots need nicking.
CAMASSIA
—Camassia Quamash Mix. (50) CAMA-20X. Packet: $2.50
A nice mix of lavender, light blue, white, and blue and white striped.
CAMPSIS (KAMP-sis)
BIGNONIACEAE. 'TRUMPET VINE'. Striking ornamentals with brilliant clusters of showy scarlet or orange flowers. Fast growing robust vining shrubs climbing by aerial roots. Easily grown in sunny fertile places with something to climb on. Good erosion control and wildlife food. Some are root hardy to minus 30°F. Germinates in 1 - 8 months warm, and is often improved by 4 - 8 weeks cold.
—Campsis radicans 'Yellow'. (50) CAM-4Y. Packet: $2.50
'YELLOW TRUMPET VINE'. Large yellow trumpet flowers in clusters in summer. Hardy deciduous climbing shrub to 30 feet, with bold dark green foliage. E. U.S. Zone 4.
CATALPA (ka-TAL-pa)
BIGNONIACEAE. Ornamental trees grown for their magnificent pyramidal clusters of showy, foxglove-like flowers. Easily grown deciduous trees, valued for shade and avenue, and for the durable wood, used for fenceposts. Name comes from the Cherokee name for the tree. Easy from seed.
—Catalpa X Fargesii Ecos Strain. (20) CATL-9E. Packet: $2.50
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'ECOS CATALPA'. Developed by Ken Asmus of Oikos Tree Crops from a chance natural hybrid, this strain flowers when only 2 - 4 years old and 1 - 2 feet tall. Some even bloom when 6" tall! White 1 1/2" flowers with purple dots, in 6" clusters, followed by 12 - 18" bean-like pods. Small tree, the ultimate height still unknown, with heart-shaped 6" leaves. Pest and disease resistant, and hardy to at least –25°F. Germinates in 2 weeks or so.
CHAEROPHYLLUM (kay-ro-FEE-lum)
UMBELLIFERAE. Scented annuals, biennials and perennials with divided leaves and small white flowers. Several species are grown for food and flavoring.
—Chaerophyllum bulbosum. (50) CHAER-6. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $9.00
'TURNIP ROOTED CHERVIL'. Biennial or short-lived perennial to 3 - 5 feet, with deeply cut foliage. Europe. Zone 6. Grown for the sweet, aromatic, edible roots, which are like short, fat carrots, about 4 - 5" long, grey or black skinned, with yellow or white flesh. Seldom seen in this country, the boiled roots are highly esteemed in Europe. They have a distinctive aromatic flavor, and are sweet and floury. Needs deep rich soil and frequent waterings. Harvest roots when foliage dies back in summer, though they are said to improve in quality if left in the ground for a month. "The great value of this vegetable... is not only its deliciousness to the epicure but the earliness of its maturity, fully supplying the place of potatoes."—F. Webster. Germinates in 8 - 12 weeks at cold temperatures. Easy on moist pads in the refrigerator, plant the seeds individually as the roots emerge and move to warm temperatures.
SPECIAL BULK OFFER
CIMICIFUGA RACEMOSA
NEW CROP
Ounce: $20.00
CLARKIA
—Clarkia pulchella. (500) CLAR-19. Packet: $2.50
Click for photo »
'DEER HORN CLARKIA'. Large bright pink to lavender flowers with lobed petals. Hardy annual to 20, with narrow leaves. Rockies to the Pacific.
CODONOPSIS
—Codonopsis lanceolata. (20) COD-16. Packet: $4.00
Large creamy to light blue bell-shaped flowers with dark purple inside, in late Summer and fall. Twining perennial to 6 feet. China. Zone 6.
CYCLAMEN
—Cyclamen persicum. (20) CYCL-19. Packet: $2.50
Pink to white flowers in early spring. Heart-shaped leaves are marbled. Large flat tuber.
CYNOGLOSSUM (si-no-GLOSS-um)
BORAGINACEAE, Hardy herbaceous plants grown for their forget-me-not-like flowers. Sun or part shade. Easily grown and attractive, sow direct.
—Cynoglossum creticum. (20) CYNO-6. Packet: $3.50
5 grams: $14.00
'BLUE HOUND'S TONGUE'. Flowers rosy changing to blue, with dark blue veins. Hardy, spring-blooming biennial to 1 - 2 feet, with downy leaves. Eurasia. Zone 6.