MELILOTUS (me-li-LO-tus)
LEGUMINOSAE. Fragrant clover-like herbs.
—Melilotus officinalis. (1000) MELT-18. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $5.00, 1/4 pound: $10.00
'YELLOW SWEET CLOVER'. Yellow flowers in dense 4" spikes. Nitrogen-fixing annual or bien- nial to 4 feet. Eurasia. Excellent soil improver, erosion control, forage, and bee plant, giving large amounts of honey. The sweetly aromatic foliage has many medicinal uses and for flavoring.
NICOTIANA
—Nicotiana Langsdorfii 'Lemon Tree'. (1000) NIC0-20L. Packet $2.50
5 grams: $7.50
Nodding greenish yellow 1 1/2" flowers in large branching sprays. Hardy annual to 3 - 4 feet. Brazil and Chile. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks.
NIGELLA
—Nigella hispanica. (250) NIG-5. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $7.50
'SPANISH FENNELFLOWER'. Blue 2 1/2" flowers with dark centers and reddish stamens. Hardy annual to 1 1/2 - 2 feet, with divided leaves and attractive pods. Spain and N. Africa.
OCIMUM
—Ocimum sanctum 'Purple Tulsi'. (400) OCIM-24P. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
'KRISHNA TULSI'. Sweet clove-like scent and taste. Tender perennial to 3 feet, with reddish purple leaves. Highly valued adaptogen in Ayurvedic medicine. Germinates in 1 - 6 weeks warm.
POLYMNIA (po-LEEM-nee-a)
COMPOSITAE. From the warm Americas.
—Polymnia uvedalia. (20) POLM-44. Packet: $2.50
Medicinal info: http://doctorschar.com/archives/bearsfoot-polymnia-uvedalia/
'BEAR'S FOOT'. Bright yellow daisies on a hardy perennial to 6 - 10 feet, with large lobed leaves. SE U.S. Zone 5 (maybe). Good in wet places. The root is used in medicine. Irregular germination, give a prechill, and Richo Cech reports fire works well.
PRUNELLA
—Prunella vulgaris var. lanceolata. (500) PRUL-25L. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $7.50
'LANCE-LEAF HEAL-ALL'. Abundant violet flowers in larger heads than the European form. Hardy perennial to 2 feet, blooming May to August. The native North American form, an important plant for pollinators, and medicinal.
PSEUDOCYDONIA (soo-do-si-DO-nee-a)
ROSACEAE. A single species.
—Pseudocydonia sinensis. (10) PSCY-4. Packet: $2.50
Photos and info: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/59646/
'CHINESE QUINCE', 'MUGUA' (Chinese name). Pink 1 - 2" flowers in spring, followed by large, edible 5 - 7" yellow fruits ripening in fall. Hardy deciduous or evergreen tree to 20 feet, with shiny 4" leaves with good fall color. Attractive flaking green and brown bark. N. China. Zone 5. Fruit best after a frost or two, used in jams and cobblers, and is very fragrant, perfuming a room. Germinates in 4 - 8 weeks, and some lots need 8 weeks prechill.
RIBES
—Ribes divaricatum. (50) RIBE-12. Packet: $2.50
'COAST BLACK CURRANT'. Small greenish-purple nodding flowers followed by black berries. Shrub to 10 feet, with rounded 2" leaves. Pacific Northwest. Zone 4.
RUBUS
—Rubus ursinus. (100) RUBU-84. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $10.00
'PACIFIC DEWBERRY'. Scrambling prickly shrub to 5 feet or so, with white flowers. Sweet, aromatic black berries, produced best with consistent moisture. W. N. America. Zone 6.
RUMEX (ROO-mex)
POLYGONACEAE. A large genus of mostly temperate region perennials, many grown for food or medicine. Attractive foliage and the seed stalks are good in dried arrangements. Easily grown in most soils, and easy from seed, which may be viable for 80 years.
—Rumex Acetosella. (300) RUME-5. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $7.50
'SHEEP SORREL'. Low hardy perennial from creeping rootstocks, with arrowhead-shaped leaves and reddish flowerstalks to 1 1/2 feet tall. N. Hemisphere. Zone 2. The sour leaves are cooked in soups, used as seasoning, added sparingly to salads, sandwiches. Much in demand for preparing the Essaic anti-cancer remedy. Can be weedy. Aged seed best, and GA-3 helps germination, 1 - 4 weeks.
—Rumex crispus. (250) RUME-10. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $7.50
'CURLY DOCK'. Hardy perennial to 5 feet, with long clusters of small flowers becoming brown seedheads. Eurasia. Zone 2. The thick roots are used medicinally and the young leaves are eaten. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
SALVIA
—Salvia apiana. (50) SALV-3. Packet: $2.50
'WHITE SAGE'. Large white flowers often spotted lavender, 1/2 - 1" long, in huge branched clusters up to 4 feet long, May to September. Large shrub to 3 - 10 feet tall, with whitish leaves and willow-like stems. Mountains of southern California. Zone 8. Excellent ornamental for arid regions. Good honey plant and wildlife browse. Makes the classic sage incense bundles, now overharvested in the wild. Germinates in 1 - 5 weeks or so. GA-3 helps.
—Salvia Greggii. (20) SALV-29. Packet: $4.00
'AUTUMN SAGE'. Brilliant red flowers, some- times in other shades, in April to October. Low shrub to 2 - 3 feet, with aromatic foliage. Texas and Mexico. Zone 7. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Heat and drought resistant. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Salvia tomentosa. (10) SALV-97. Packet: $4.00
'BALSAMIC SAGE'. Large inch-long light lavender-blue flowers in summer. Hardy perennial to 2 - 3 feet, with aromatic grey foliage. Eurasia. Zone 4 to 6. Used for tea. Seed dormant, prechill.
SAUROMATUM (sar-o-MA-tum)
ARACEAE. Large tuberous perennials somewhat resembling Arisaema, with large curious flowers and odd leaves. Easily grown in rich loamy soil.
—Sauromatum venosum. SAUR-8. Packet: $2.50
Click for photos »
'VOODOO LILY'. Greenish yellow spathes with deep purple markings, 12 - 30" long. Large glossy green fan-like divided leaves. Reaches 4 - 6 feet with age. Indian Himalayas. Hardy to Zone 5. Odd. Seed germinates in 3 - 4 weeks, and up to 10 weeks, needs light, surface sow. Corms may be stored dry for years with no loss of viability.
SEQUOIADENDRON (se-KOY-a-den-dron)
TAXODIACEAE. A single species. Seed germinates readily but benefits from 30 - 60 days cold treatment. Seed viable many years. Birds may be attracted to them and seedbeds may need to be screened.
—Sequoiadendron giganteum. (50) SEQO-1. Packet: $3.00 We finally obtained a small supply of this! Seed shortage because of the wildfires.
'GIANT SEQUOIA'. Magnificent forest giant to over 300 feet tall, with a bole 10 - 30 feet in diameter, and bark 20" thick. Greyish green scale-like foliage and oval 2 - 3" cones. Rare, in only a few scattered groves in the Sierra Nevada. Stands down to minus 10°F. Zone 6. Grows 2 - 3 feet a year when young, and lives 1500 years. This species should be naturalized in suitable habitats worldwide to prevent extinction. Germinates in 2 - 8 weeks warm. Some lots need a prechill for best germination. Seed has a naturally low percentage of filled viable seeds - the best germination usually obtained is about 40%. This lot is excellent quality! Germination 58%, tested 4/23.
SMILAX (SMI-lax)
LILIACEAE or SMILACACEAE. Woody or herbaceous vines from thick roots, grown for their handsome foliage. Seeds may be difficult to germinate; hold pots several years. Attractive and worth the effort.
—Smilax Bona-nox. (10) SMIX-8. Packet: $2.50
'CAT BRIER'. Tall hardy perennial dioecious vine to 20 feet, with heart-shaped leaves and small flowers in clusters, followed by black fruits. S.E. U.S. Zone 6. The large tubers were made into bread by Indians, the young shoots eaten, and medicinal.
—Smilax hispida. (10) SMIX-36. Packet: $2.50
'BRISTLY SARSAPARILLA'. Tall dioecious climber to 10 - 20 feet, with bristly stems, oval leaves, and clusters of small flowers followed by bluish-black berries. E. N. America. Zone 2. Young shoots eaten, and was used in Indian witchcraft.
SYRINGA
—Syringa Josikaea. (50) SYRI-12. Packet: $2.50
'HUNGARIAN LILAC'. Fragrant deep blue-violet flowers in 4 - 6" clusters in summer. Hardy shrub to 12 feet, with glossy dark green 5" leaves. Mountains of eastern Europe. Zone 4 or 5. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
VACCINIUM
—Vaccinium uliginosum. (100) VACC-38. Packet: $2.50
'BOG BILBERRY', 'ALPINE BLUEBERRY'. Small dark blue-black fruits on a low shrub to 2 feet, with small pink flowers. North Hemisphere. Zone 2. The delicious fruits are eaten raw or preserved, said to cause 'giddiness' if eaten to excess.
VERBESINA (ver-be-SEE-na)
COMPOSITAE. Showy plants for the border or wild garden for summer and fall bloom. Likes light, well- drained soil and sun. Sow indoors in March, or where they are to grow after danger of frost.
—Verbesina alternifolia. (100) VEBE-4. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $7.50
'GOLDEN HONEY PLANT', 'WINGSTEM', 'CROWNBEARD'. Large hardy perennial to 5 - 8 feet. Yellow 2" flowers in August. Narrow 10" leaves. E. N. America. One of the best native bee plants, it is good to naturalize in woodlands. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks.
VIBURNUM
—Viburnum edule. (20) VIB-22. Packet $3.00
5 grams: $12.00
'MOOSEBERRY'. Bright red edible 1/2" fruits in fall. Deciduous shrub to 5 feet or so, with crimson fall foliage. N.E. Asia and N. America. Zone 2 - 4. The fruits are eaten fresh, preserved, or dried.
—Viburnum Opulus. (50) VIB-47. Packet: $2.50
1/4 Ounce: $7.50, Ounce: $15.00
'EUROPEAN CRANBERRY-BUSH', 'GUELDER ROSE', 'HIGHBUSH CRANBERRY'. White 3/4" flowers in 4" clusters in May and June, followed by edible scarlet berries. Shrub to 13 feet. Eurasia. The berries are much like cranberries and are eaten in northern regions, spirits are distilled from them, and they are valuable food for birds. Produces 'Cramp Bark' used as a uterine sedative. Give seed 8 - 12 weeks warm, then 4 - 8 weeks cold, to germinate in 8 weeks.
VINCETOXICUM (vin-se-TOX-i-cum)
ASCLEPIADACEAE. Twining perennials sometimes classed as Cynanchum. Wheel or bell-shaped flowers. Easily grown. Name means 'to conquer poison', alluding to its supposed virtue as an antidote.
—Vincetoxicum fuscatum. (20) VINCE-15. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
Starry brownish-red flowers in clusters in May to July. Bushy hardy perennial to 30". Zone 4. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks with straggler to 5 months.
VITEX (VYE-tex or VEE-tex)
VERBENACEAE. Ornamental trees and shrubs valued for their attractive spikes of showy colorful flowers. Almost any soil. Prefers full sun. Easy from seed in spring, and up to 90 days cold may help some. Germinates best with gibberellic acid.
—Vitex Agnus-castus. (100) VITE-1. Packet: $2.50
1/4 Ounce: $7.50, Ounce: $16.00
'CHASTE TREE', 'MONK'S PEPPER'. Fragrant lilac flowers in dense 5 - 7" spikes at the branch-tips, from July to September. Strongly aromatic shrub or small tree to 10 - 25 feet, with divided leaves, dark green above and greyish below. Mediterranean region. Hardy to Zone 6. Cultivated since at least 1570. Branches used in basket-work. The seeds were used as a pepper substitute by monks, as they were said to lessen sexual desire. Give GA-3 or 6 weeks cold to germinate in 1 - 3 weeks.
WYETHIA (wy-ETH-ee-a)
COMPOSITAE. Low hardy perennials of the W. U.S., grown for their showy, sunflower-like blooms and bold foliage. Slow growing & long-lived plants valued in wild gardens. Seed of many sprout readily, but some need 3 - 4 months cold.
—Wyethia angustifolia. (10) WYET-8. Packet: $2.50
'CALIFORNIA COMPASS PLANT'. Large golden yellow 4" flowers. Perennial to 3 feet, with long narrow basal leaves. Washington to California. Zone 8 or 9. Used medicinally and the seeds eaten.
ZEA (ZAY-a or ZEE-a)
GRAMINEAE. Corn and teosinte. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
—Zea mexicana. (10) ZEA-1. Packet: $2.50
'TEOSINTE'. Annual to 10 feet, with 1 - 2" wide leaves, and a tiny 'ear' only 2 - 3" long. México. A wild ancestor of corn, and its closest relative. The 'ear' consists of two rows of kernels back to back and has the power to disperse its seed, a trait which corn has lost. For at least 3000 years teosinte has crossed with cultivated maize, resulting in a great genetic diversity which is drawn upon to produce improved varieties. This genetic diversity is greater than could be produced by 100 years of artificially-induced mutations. Ironically, the introduction of modern agricultural methods and hybrid corn varieties to these last areas of teosinte's occurrence is rapidly driving it into extinction. If we lose this ancestral genetic base, we will no longer be assured of corn's continued development.