ACHILLEA
—Achillea clypeolata. (500) ACH-8. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
Bright golden-yellow flowers in dense 2 - 3" clusters in June to August. Hardy perennial to 20" or so, with silvery-grey foliage. S.E. Europe. Zone 4.
—Achillea filipendulina Parker's Var. (=Cloth of Gold) (a,h) ACH-10P. Packet: $2.50
'FERN-LEAF YARROW'. Showy bright yellow flowers in dense 5" wide clusters in summer. Hardy perennial to 4 feet, with attractive fern-like 8" leaves. Central Asia. Zone 3 or 4. A fine variety.
—Achillea sibirica var. camtschatica Love Parade. (b,h) ACH-76C. Packet: $3.00
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. Good cut-flower & often blooms the first year. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
ACHLYS (AK-Ieez)
BERBERlDACEAE. Hardy woodland perennials.
—Achlys triphylla. (50) ACHL-2. Packet: $3.00
'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. 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 septentrionale Ivorine. (e,g) ACD-22I. Packet: $3.00
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Beautiful ivory-white 3/4" flowers in dense racemes in May and June. Hardy perennial to 18", with a bushy habit. Sweden. Germinates at 40°F.
ADENIUM (a-DEN-ee-um)
APOCYNACEAE. Succulent shrubs resembling miniature baobabs. Sow in light, well-drained mix and keep warm. Give light shade when young, and use fungicide if rot or damping off is a problem.
—Adenium obesum. (10,g) ADNU-18. Packet: $4.00
'DESERT ROSE', 'MDAGU'. Thick swollen caudex/trunk to 3 - 15 feet, with thick, gnarled branches with 6" leaves clustered at the tips. Large red, pink, or white 2" flowers. South Africa to Arabia. The sap is used as an arrow poison. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks. Avoid sogginess and rot.
AGASTACHE
—Agastache scrophulariaefolia. (350) AGAS-24. Packet: $2.50
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'PURPLE GIANT HYSSOP'. White flowers blushed pink, in spikes to 8" long, blooming over a long period. Hardy perennial to 6 feet, with aromatic leaves. E. U.S. Zone 4. "Bees and butterflies love it. I have counted 5 different types of bee on this plant at once."—N.A., Wisconsin. Surface sow.
AKEBIA
—Akebia quinata. AKEB-5. Packet: $2.50
Fresh seed stored moist and refrigerated.
'CHOCOLATE VINE', 'FIVE-LEAF'. Odd rosy purple (male) or purple brown (female), three petaled, 1/4 - 1 1/2" very sweetly fragrant flowers in pendant clusters in April and May. Peculiar sausage shaped dark purple 3 - 5" edible fruits with sweetish yellow green pulp. Twining shrub to 15 - 20 feet, with handsome 5-parted foliage. NE Asia. The leaves are used for tea in Japan. "Very graceful and desirable."—A. Rehder.
ALLIUM
—Allium karataviense. (e,v) ALUM-45. Packet: $2.50
'BLUE TONGUE LEEK'. White-lilac starry flowers in giant round balls up to 8 - 12" across. Ornamental grey-green 4" wide leaves mottled purple. Central Asia. Very hardy. Give outdoor cold treatment and hold pots several years for complete germination, as varying temperatures help.
—Allium praecox. (100) ALUM-72. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $10.00
Photo
Purple garlic-scented flowers in round umbels 3 - 6" across, in early spring. Bulb to about a foot tall, with grass-like leaves. Southern California. Give well-drained soil and rest dry in summer. "Both flowers and bulbs have a mild chive flavor."—R.R., California.
—Allium Victorialis. (50) ALUM-124. Packet: $2.50
Yellow-green starry flowers in 1 1/2" heads, on stems to 32". Hardy bulb with bluish green leaves. Europe, Asia & the Aleutians. The stems are edible.
AMARANTHUS
—Amaranthus cruentus 'Oeschberg'. (1500) AMAR-6P. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 80% Tested: 8/09, Oz: $5.00, 1/4 lb: $10.00
Blood-red tapering spikes abundantly produced on 3 foot tall annual plants with attractive dark foliage. Very productive, producing a half pound of grain per square yard.
AMSONIA
—Amsonia Tabernaemontana var. salicifolia. (e,h) AMSO-23S. Packet: $2.50 OUT OF STOCK
'WILLOW-LEAVED BLUE STARS'. Starry light blue 3/4" flowers in clusters in spring and early summer. Hardy perennial to 3 feet, with narrow leaves. SE U.S. Forms nice clumps with age. An outstanding feature is the beautiful yellow foliage in fall. Give 2 - 4 weeks cold to germinate in 1 - 3 weeks.
ANGELICA (an-JELL-i-ka)
UMBELLIFERAE. Stout aromatic perennials with stately umbels of white or pale yellow flowers. Planted in the border for ornament, food and medicine. Sow in late fall to germinate in spring, or give 4 - 6 weeks cold treatment and sow in spring.
Angelicas often do best sown outdoors as varying temperatures seem to help germination.
Bertrand reports the best success germinating the seed by sowing on the soil surface, then covering with 1/4" of chick grit, to germinate at 60 - 70°F.
—Angelica Archangelica. ANGE-1. Packet: $2.50
'ANGELICA'. Hardy perennial to 5 - 6 feet, with large leaves up to 3 feet long, and topped by round umbels of pale yellow flowers. Eurasia. Grows best in deep moist soil and shade. The bold leaves, fluted stems, and attractive flowers make it a good ornamental. Cut flower stalks to make perennial. Highly regarded since pre-history as a food and medicinal plant, its name reflecting the estimation in which it was held. The young stems and leafstalks are eaten peeled, raw in salads, or candied. The leaves have been used as a vegetable, and dried they were used as hops in brewing beer, and also make an excellent tonic tea. The roots are used medicinally, have been eaten, and in Kamchatka they were distilled. The seeds are used as flavoring and in making liqueurs. The flavor goes very well with baked apples and rhubarb- add 5 - 25% peeled stems before baking.
—Angelica atropurpurea. (b,v) ANGE-4. Packet: $2.50
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'ALEXANDERS'. Dark wine-purple stems and white flowers in 10" wide umbels. Hardy perennial to 6 feet, with divided leaves. Wet areas, eastern N. America. Hardy to Zone 4. Medicinal.
APODANTHERA (a-po-DAN-ther-a)
CUCURBITACEAE. Climbing or trailing perennials from the warm parts of the Americas.
—Apodanthera sagittifolia. (15) APOD-22. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $15.00
Rare Argentinean trailer with yellow flowers and small fuzzy oval fruits.
AQUILEGIA
—Aquilegia fragrans. (40) AQUI-24. Packet: $3.00 OUT OF STOCK
'FRAGRANT COLUMBINE'. Large, long-spurred white fragrant flowers in July and August. Hardy perennial to 3 feet, with bluish green foliage. Good cut flower. Likes well drained soil. Himalayas.
ARISAEMA
—Arisaema tortuosum. (10) ARIS-26. Packet: $3.00
'RATSTAIL COBRA FLOWER'. Hooded green 6" spathe, pale purple inside, with a long, curved, tail-like appendage. Perennial to 3 - 4 feet, with stem and leaves mottled purple. Himalayas to 8000 feet. The large corms are medicinal and poisonous, but eaten by Nepali mountaineers after preparation.
—Arisaema yamatense v. sugimotoi. (20) ARIS-42S. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50, 5 grams: $20.00
Photo Photo
Nice green hooded spathe held above the large divided leaves, to 1 1/2 - 3 feet. Hida region, Japan. Zone 7.
ARISTOLOCHIA
—Aristolochia fimbriata. (10) ARST-7. Packet: $2.50
Remarkable peculiar flowers with curved tube and round, inch-wide, purple-brown end veined yellow, with a fringe of thread-like lobes, in fall. Not cool enough for you? They smell of brandy... Small creeping vine to 10 feet, with round 3" leaves with silvery veins. Brazil and Argentina. Zone 8. Seed germinates in 1 - 6 months warm.
ARMATOCEREUS (ar-ma-to-SEER-ee-us)
CACTACEAE. Columnar S. American cacti. Sometimes included in Lemaireocereus. Easily grown.
—Armatocereus arboreus (=ghiesbreghtii) (d,h) ARMA-4. Packet: $2.50
Tall columnar cactus with dense slender spines. Peru. Use GA-3 to germinate in 2 - 4 weeks. Nice!
ARTEMISIA
—Artemisia Absinthium. (a!,h) ARTE-2. Packet: $2.00
Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $11.00
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'WORMWOOD', 'ABSINTHE'. Shrubby hardy perennial to 2 - 5 feet, with greyish, silky, divided foliage and leafy spikes of little nodding flowers in July to October. Europe. Sun or part shade. A valuable bitter medicinal herb grown since ancient times for its virtues. One of the oldest known medicinal plants, it was used by the ancient Egyptians. The Romans burned it as incense, drank it to promote longevity, and flavored their wine with it. Widely grown for flavoring poultry dishes, beer and vermouth, and for making cordials and bitters, including the infamous, debilitating liqueur 'absinthe'. The herb was used as a vermifuge, tonic, digestive stimulant & febrifuge. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
ARUM
—Arum concinnatum Arch 195.073. ARUM-6 Packet: $2.50
Fresh seed stored moist and refrigerated for rapid germination.
Large yellow 6 - 12" spathes, often margined purple, with yellow to purple spadix. Bold silvery-blotched 6 - 22" arrowhead leaves to 3 feet tall. Rare species from S. Greece & SW Turkey.
ASCLEPIAS
—Asclepias Sullivantii. (40) ASCL-64. Packet: $2.50
Photos and Info
'PRAIRIE MILKWEED'. Fragrant purple-rose 1/2" flowers in 3" clusters. Hardy perennial to 2 - 4 feet, with 6" leaves. Plains states. Attracts butterflies.
ASPARAGUS (as-PAR-a-gus)
LILIACEAE. Eastern Hemisphere perennials grown for food, ornament, and medicine. Easy in rich moist soil. Good foliage plants.
—Asparagus myriocladus (=retrofractus) ASPG-52. Packet: $2.50
'MING-FERN'. Fluffy foliage of tufts of needle-like inch-long leaves. Shrubby plant to 8 - 10 feet, with small white flowers in profuse clusters in summer, followed by orange berries. S. Africa. Zone 9. Good long-lasting cut foliage for arrangements.
—Asparagus verticillatus. (10) ASPG-88. Packet: $3.00 OUT OF STOCK
'VINE ASPARAGUS'. Twining vine to 15 feet, with narrow needle-like bright green 2" leaves. Hardy perennial with black to red berries. Iran to Siberia. Zone 3. Highly ornamental. The young shoots have been eaten. Germinates in about 3 weeks. Slow growing at first.
ASTER (A-ster)
COMPOSITAE. Attractive herbaceous perennials with daisy-like flowers. Worldwide distribution. They are among the best plants for borders and roadsides. The various species germinate in 1 - 6 weeks sown in spring and up to June and July for bloom the following year. Most do well in the garden, but preferences range from poor dry shallow soil in full sun, to deep moist soil and shade. Good fall bloom.
—Aster lateriflorus. (300) AST -48. Packet: $2.50
Hundreds of 1/2 - 3/4" pale lilac flowers that change to rose-pink, in large 6" sprays in late summer and fall, even blooming after a freeze. Hardy perennial to 4 feet with 6" leaves. E. N. America.
—Aster novae-angliae Mixed. (a!,g) AST-68X. Packet: $2.50
A fine mixture ranging from violet purple & blue to magenta, rose & pale pink, varying in flower size and date of bloom. Germinates easily and blooms the first or second year. Good fall nectar source for butterflies. Germinates in 2 - 5 weeks.
—Aster tataricus Jin Dai. (100) AST-146J. Packet: $2.50 OUT OF STOCK
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Info and photos
Info and photos
Good photo
Abundant purple 1 1/2" flowers in dense, flat-topped clusters in fall. Hardy perennial to 7 feet, with large 2 foot basal leaves. From the Jin-Dai Botanical Gardens in Tokyo. Blooms till frost and attracts butterflies.
ASTILBE
—Astilbe chinensis var. pumila. (b) ASTI-6P. Packet: $2.50
True dwarf to only 9 - 15" tall, with large, feathery pink flower-clusters in summer. Divided leaves. Sow on the surface to germinate in 2 - 3 weeks warm.
ATHAMANTA (ath-a-MAN-ta)
UMBELLIFERAE. Mediterranean perennials with white or yellow umbels and divided leaves.
—Athamanta cretensis. (25) ATHM-6. Packet: $2.50
'CANDY CARROT'. White to red-tinged flowers in umbels in May to June. Hardy perennial to 1 - 2 feet, with delicate feathery grey-green leaves. S. Europe. Zone 5. The seeds are used for flavoring.
ATROPA
—Atropa acuminata. (b,h) ATRO-4. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $15.00
'INDIAN BELLADONNA', 'YEBRUI'. Robust hardy perennial to 3 - 5 feet, with bell-shaped 1 1/4" wide flowers followed by purple berries. Kashmir, central Asia. Medicinal, similar to the other species. Give 8 weeks cold or GA-3 to germinate in 2 - 3 weeks. Aged seed a year or two old germinates readily.
BAUHINIA (bo-HIN-ee-a)
LEGUMINOSAE. Showy tropical and sub-tropical trees, shrubs and vines, grown in the greenhouse or outdoors in California and the South for their flamboyant flowers. Some are hardy to 15°F. They make good tub plants, and can flower in 3 - 4 years from seed. Soak seed till swollen in warm water and plant 1/4" deep to germinate in 3 - 6 weeks at warm temperatures. Seed has a tendency to mold, and a fungicide dip can mean the difference between success and failure. Needs well drained soil. Seed viable more than one year.
—Bauhinia excelsa. (5) BAUH-5. Packet: $5.00 OUT OF STOCK
Large orange and white flowers followed by scarlet 7" pods which turn black as they dry, then explosively expel their seeds. Malaysia.
BEAUCARNEA (BO-kar-nee-a)
AGAVACEAE. Evergreen Yucca-like plants with thick trunks and heads of narrow leaves. Sometimes included in Nolina. Easily grown in warm dry regions—cold wet winters cause rot.
—Beaucarnea recurvata. (d,g) BEAU-20. Packet: $2.50
'ELEPHANT FOOT', 'PONYTAIL PALM'. Striking plant with a funnel-shaped trunk with a bulbous base up to 6 feet across, tapering to a thin trunk topped with a head of drooping, narrow, grass-like leaves, each up to 6 feet long. To 25 feet. Panicles of tiny white flowers. SE México. Zone 9. Stands more moisture than stricta. Germinates in 4 - 8 weeks.
BLOOMERIA (blue-MARE-ee-a)
LILIACEAE. Three attractive cormous plants.
—Bloomeria crocea. (450) BLOO-6. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
Info and photos link Link Link Link
'GOLDEN STARS'. Golden yellow inch-wide six petaled flowers in large clusters, on stems to 1 1/2 feet, April to June. Has a single grass-like leaf. Southern California. Zone 8. The small corms are edible and were eaten by the Indians.
BOLUSANTHUS (bo-lu-SAN-thus)
LEGUMINOSAE. One African tree, good in California and the South. Deep, well-drained soil in a warm location. Rivals Jacaranda in its display.
—Bolusanthus speciosus. (10) BOLU-20. Packet: $2.50
'AFRICAN WISTERIA TREE'. Great masses of fragrant, bright blue-violet flowers in curved or pendulous 6" racemes. Beautiful small tree to 19 feet, with glossy, dark green pinnate foliage. Savannas of South Africa. Reaches good size in 4 - 5 years. The wood is extremely rot-resistant, and is used for fenceposts so much that wild stands are vanishing. "One of the most beautiful of bluish-blossomed plants."—National Academy of Science. Soak seed, nick hard ones, germinates in 1 - 6 weeks.
BRUNFELSIA (brun-FELL-zee-a)
SOLANACEAE. Showy tropical trees and shrubs grown in the greenhouse or outdoors in California and the South. Valued for their often fragrant funnel-shaped flowers. Usually winter blooming. Good tub plants, thriving in part shade & blooming best when pot-bound. Likes rich, loose soil. I have one which has given a great display of bloom for 15 years in the same tub. They are highly valued in South American folk medicine. Seed germinates in 1 - 3 months at warm temperatures.
—Brunfelsia pauciflora 'Eximia'. (40) BRUN-34E. Packet: $2.50
'YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW', 'KISS-ME-QUICK'. Fragrant 1 1/2" flowers in clusters, opening lavender or violet, and fade to a clear white in 3 days, hence the name. Attractive dark green foliage. A charming little shrub to 2 - 5 feet. Brazil. I have one that is over 40 years old. Slow to germinate.
CALLIRHOE
—Callirhoe alcaeoides. (d,l) CAL-4. Packet: $3.00
'PINK POPPY-MALLOW'. Pink, inch-wide poppy-like flowers in spring. Hardy perennial to 8 - 20", with deeply lobed leaves. Central U.S. Good in dry areas. Zone 4. Germination irregular, starts in 1 - 2 weeks.
CAMASSIA (ka-MAS-ee-a)
LILIACEAE. North & South American hardy bulbs with blue and white flowers in graceful racemes, and grass-like leaves. Best in rich soil kept moist in spring. Needs cool temperatures to germinate, and may be slow otherwise.
—Camassia Leichtlinii. (d,h) CAMA-15. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $10.00
'GREAT CAMAS'. Starry white six-petaled inch-wide flowers in tall spikes to 3 - 4 feet, May & June. Hardy bulb with strap-like 2 foot leaves. B.C. to N California. Moist areas. Zone 3. Bulbs prized by Indians as food, raw or cooked. Germinates at cold temperatures, 5 - 14 weeks. Keep cool after germination.
—Camassia Quamash. (b,h) CAMA-20. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $10.00
'CAMAS' 'QUAMASH'. Dark blue to white inch long flowers in spikes. Hardy bulb to 3 feet. Pacific Northwest. The bulbs were an important part of the diet of the Indians, and it was gathered in large quantities and eaten roasted or boiled. The cooking is said to develop the sweetness of the bulb. Germinates irregularly over 6 - 12 months.
CAMELLIA (ka-MEE-Iee-a)
THEACEAE. Evergreen East Asian shrubs and trees grown in mild climates for ornament and. tea. Soak seed overnight in hot water before planting. GA-3 helps, as does cracking the shell off.
—Camellia japonica alba plena. (10) CAML-40A. Packet: $3.00
'WHITE CAMELLIA'. Semi-double snow white 3 1/2" flowers with gold stamens. Shrub to 8 feet, with shiny 3" leaves. Comes true from seed.
CANNA
—Canna edulis. (10) CANA-8. Packet: $2.50
Info on C. edulis
Photo
'ACHIRA', 'QUEENSLAND ARROWROOT'. Brilliant red narrow-petaled 2 1/2" flowers followed by fuzzy red seedpods. Large tropical perennial to 4 feet or more, with striking purple stems and large banana-like leaves. Tropical America. The large rhizomes are baked and eaten, and made into starch. The young shoots and immature seeds also eaten.
CAPPARIS (KAP-ar-is)
CAPPARIDACEAE. Beautiful warm region trees and shrubs with large, long-stemmed white flowers. Best in warm sunny spots and well drained, dry, rocky soil. Said to survive to Zone 4 or 5 if grown against a south-facing wall. Sometimes grown as an annual in the North if started early indoors. Good in the greenhouse. Germinates irregularly, most in 5 - 7 weeks, some up to a year. Lightly scratching the seed can help, as does GA-3 pretreatment and KNO3 pretreatment, and germinating at warm temperatures - 70 - 85 degrees F.
—Capparis spinosa. (c,g) CAPP-22. Packet: $2.50
1/4 Oz: $15.00, Oz: $40.00
Purdue University Caper info page
University of California caper info page
Article abstract on Caper germination
Effect of Heat, Light and Dark Treatments on Seed Germination of Capers
'CAPER-BUSH' . Large beautiful white flowers with four round, crinkled petals, each 2" long, topped with a puff of up to 100 prominent long violet stamens "...the chief beauty of the plant."—L.H. Bailey. Trailing, half-hardy spiny shrub to 3 - 5 feet, with round leaves. Blooms June to September, followed by 1 1/2" oval fruits. Grown extensively in the Mediterranean for the unopened flower buds which are pickled forming the 'capers' of commerce. Known to the ancient Greeks. The young shoots have been eaten like asparagus. The Arabs eat the fruit, which is also pickled in the Punjab.
CASSIA
—Cassia marilandica. (c,h) CASS-210. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 80% Tested: 7/09, 1/4 Oz: $12.00
'WILD SENNA'. Bright yellow, wide-open flowers in dense clusters covering the plant in July to September. Hardy perennial to 3 - 5 feet, with attractive light green pinnate foliage. New England and southward. Likes wet soil. Sow in early spring with heat. Protect with a straw mulch in severe climates. A fine native perennial. Used medicinally by the Indians and settlers, especially the Shakers.
CENTAUREA
—Centaurea Cyanus 'Frosty Mixed'. (70) CENT-1FX. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 88% Tested: 12/09, 25 grams: $7.50, 100 gm: $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 Rothrockii. (30) CENT-66. Packet: $2.50
Photo
Large 4 - 6" wide flowers with spidery, purple-tipped outer florets and a creamy yellow center. Perennial to 4 - 7 feet, with narrow 5" leaves. Arizona to Mexico. Stunning!
—Centaurea uniflora var. nervosa. CENT-56N. Packet: $2.50
Purple-red flowers in summer. To 12". Good in the rock garden.
CEPHALOPENTANDRA
CUCURBITACEAE. A single species.
—Cephalopentandra ecirrhosa. (20) CEPP-4. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $15.00
Photos and Info
Huge knobby conical caudex to 2 feet across, and short vines to 3 feet or so, with grey-green leaves and white or yellow 1 1/2" flowers followed by red fruits. Horn of Africa. Rest dry in winter.
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. (b,h) CERA-18. Packet: $2.50
'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.
CHAEROPHYLLUM bulbosum: See Reserved Access page.
CHENOPODIUM
—Chenopodium album. CHEN-1. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $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.
—Chenopodium Quinoa Cochabamba. (400) CHEN-25CB. Packet: $2.50
25 grams: $26.00, 100 gm: $50.00
'COCHABAMBA QUINOA'. A good, high-yield strain from Bolivia, with a yellow panicle.
CHIRANTHODENDRON
STERCULIACEAE. A single species.
—Chiranthodendron pentadactylon. (10) CHIR-1. Packet: $4.00
'LITTLE HAND OF THE LION', 'MACPALXOCHITL' ('hand-flower'). Peculiar bell-shaped five-lobed 1 1/2 - 2" flowers with a large bright red extended stamen-cluster, which resembles a hand. Large tree to 40 - 60 feet, with a thick trunk to 6 feet thick. Large dark green 4 - 12" rounded 5-lobed leaves, whitish underneath, and with rusty down. Large 4" spindle-shaped pods have a 5-pointed star cross-section. Reaches great age, produces few seedlings, and is threatened by deforestation. In demand by yerberos (herb-collectors), as the leaves are highly regarded medicinally. Restricted distribution, and was venerated by the Aztecs. Seed is difficult to germinate; write me your results!
CHRYSANTHEMUM
—Chrysanthemum Parthenium aureum. (800) CHRY-40A. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
'GOLDEN FEVERFEW'. Stunning variety with golden leaves. Compact plants to 12" tall. Choice!
CIMICIFUGA ramosa atropurpurea: See Reserved Access page.
CITRULLUS (si-TRU-lus)
CUCURBITACEAE. Annual and perennial tendril-climbing or trailing vines of the Old-World tropics. Includes the watermelon. Easy from seed planted outdoors after danger of frost.
—Citrullus lanatus ssp. mucosospermus. (15) CITR-15M. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $10.00
'EGUSI WATERMELON'. Small round fruits with large oil-rich yellow-brown seeds. A favorite in West African cooking, the seeds are used to make soups, oil, and made into a variety of cakes, breads, and spreads.
CLEMATIS
—Clematis Flammula. (35) CLEM-39. Packet: $2.50
Fragrant, pure white inch-wide flowers in large clusters from July to October. Deciduous scrambler to 6 - 15 feet, with attractive divided foliage. Mediterranean to Iran. Zone 5.
—Clematis macropetala Hybrids. (75) CLEM-80S. Packet: $3.00
'BIG-PETAL' or 'DOWNY CLEMATIS'. Large flowers in shades of light blue, violet, pink, and white, May and June. Clambering shrub to 8 feet. China. Zone 4. Excellent in severe climates.
—Clematis recta purpurea. (e,h) CLEM-100P. Packet: $2.50
New growth of leaves and stems flushed bronze to red. Fragrant white inch-wide starry flowers. A fine variety. Prechill seed, otherwise they will straggle in over 3 - 8 months.
CLEOME
—Cleome boliviensis. (500) CLEO-5. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $19.00
'QUICHITA'. White inch-wide flowers, often tinged pink or lilac, with contrasting deep maroon stamens. Blooms abundantly produced in dense racemes to 16" long, with 200 flowers over time. Large spiny tropical perennial to 2 - 7 feet tall and 6 feet across, with palmately divided leaves. Bolivia and Peru. "Strikingly beautiful."—H. Iltis. Used against rheumatism. Drought resistant.
—Cleome gynandra. (500) CLEO-9. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $19.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
Info on C. gynandra
More info
Nutritional and medicinal properties
Photos: Whole Plant Flower
'SPIDER WISP', 'CAT WHISKERS', 'AFRICAN CABBAGE'. White flowers ranging to pink or purplish, with inch-long petals and striking long purple stamens. Annual to 1 - 4 feet, with divided leaves. Tropics. The leaves are eaten as a spinach in Africa, as they are highly nutritious, and are believed to give energy and improve eyesight.
—Cleome hirta. (c,h) CLEO-11. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $7.50
Info on C. hirta
Photo
Photo
Info on insect-repellent properties
Showy violet flowers with yellow eyes. Annual to 3 feet. Africa. The leaves are eaten as a vegetable. The essential oil is a good insect repellent. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks warm. Aged seed best.
COCCINIA (kok-SIN-ee-a)
CUCURBITACEAE. Tropical African & Asian vines grown for ornament or food. Attractive and easy.
—Coccinia microphylla. (35) COCI-16. Packet: $2.50
Link
Climber to 12 feet, with large caudex and small bright orange flowers followed by small round fruits that are green and white spotted and turn red at maturity. Eastern Africa.
CODONOPSIS (co-do-NOP-sis)
CAMPANULACEAE. East Asian often twining perennials grown for their attractive bell-shaped flowers. Some need winter protection in the North. Best in well-drained soil; grow like Campanula.
—Codonopsis pilosula. (b,h) COD-20. Packet: $2.50
'TANG SHEN'. Large pale blue to greenish inch long bell-shaped flowers flushed purple at the base. Hardy perennial twiner to 6 feet, with 1 1/2" leaves. NE Asia. The thick roots are an important 'Qi tonic' in Chinese medicine, placed in the same class as ginseng, astragalus & eleuthero. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
CORYDALIS (ko-RID-a-lis or ko-ree-DAL-is)
PAPAVERACEAE (formerly FUMARIACEAE). Easily grown mostly hardy perennials (some annuals). freely blooming in poor soil & full sun or part shade. Some slow to germinate & best sown in fall, the annuals best sown in spring or fall.
—Corydalis nobilis. (e,v) CORY-19. Packet: $3.00
Gram: $14.00
Click for photo »
Dense 1 1/2" balls of yellow 3/4" flowers with brown tips, on 18" stems in spring. Hardy perennial with ferny, much-divided medium-green 18" leaves. Siberia. Goes dormant midsummer. "Singular and outstanding. It's everything the name implies. Germination is long-term. Sow it in a pot outdoors and it will germinate the first or second spring. But it is worth every effort to possess one."—Bertrand.
—Corydalis sempervirens (=glauca). (c,h) CORY-27. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $10.00
Click for photo »
'ROMAN WORMWOOD'. Pink to purple 3/4" yellow-tipped, short-spurred flowers in spikes. Attractive annual or biennial to 2 feet. Space 9". E. U.S. About 1/3 germinate readily in 2 - 4 weeks without pre-treatment, the rest are dormant and need cold. Gives high germination in 3 - 4 weeks with GA-3.
—Corydalis solida. (d,f) CORY-30. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50, 5 grams: $25.00
'FUMEWORT'. Red to white 3/4" flowers in dense spikes in spring. Hardy perennial to 8 - 10", with ferny foliage. N. Eurasia. Good in shade in the rock garden. The small tubers are eaten in Siberia. Give GA-3 to germinate in 2 weeks or so.
COSMOS
—Cosmos Sea Shells Mixture. (b,h) COS-1SS. Packet: $2.50
Oz: $7.50, 1/4 lb: $22.50
Striking flowers with each petal (ray-flower) tubular, resembling a foxglove flower. Shades of white, pink and red. Unusual. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
CRINUM (KRIN-um)
LILIACEAE. Large warm-region amaryllis-like bulbs grown for their spectacular flowers. Some hardy to New York. Good by the sea. Rich moist soil best.
—Crinum asiaticum var. japonicum. CRIN-12J.
Four large (1") seeds: $6.00, Ten: $10.00
'POISON BULB'. Spectacular spidery white fragrant 4 - 6" flowers with narrow petals, in clusters of 20 - 30. Red stamens. Tender bulb with huge, strap-shaped 3 foot bluish-green leaves. S. Japan. Zone 9. Plant the large seed at the surface.
CROCOSMIA (kro-KOS-mee-a)
IRIDACEAE. Showy Freesia-like plants grown in mild climates. Tough and attractive.
—Crocosmia paniculata Orange-Red. (45) CROCO-9H. Packet: $2.50
Bright orange-red 3/4" flowers in varying shades, in curved spikes, July to October. Cormous perennial to 2 feet, with sword-shaped leaves. S. Africa. Hardy to about Zone 6.
CRYPTOTAENIA (krip-to-TAY -nee-a)
UMBELLIFERAE. Attractive annuals and perennials grown for food, flavoring, and ornament. Easy.
—Cryptotaenia japonica atropurpurea. (10) CRYPT-13A. Packet: $3.00
'PURPLE MITSUBA'. Deep bronze-red foliage on a hardy perennial to 16", with tiny white flowers. Japan. Zone 4. The aromatic young leaves are eaten raw in salads, or cooked in many dishes. The roots and seeds are also eaten.
CUCUMIS (KOO-kum-is)
CUCURBITACEAE. Large annual and perennial vines grown for the edible or interesting fruits. Includes the cucumber and melon. Warm, rich, moist soil.
—Cucumis callosus. (70) CUCU-5. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $17.00
Info Link
Article on traditional food use
Article on use with photos
Gujarati recipe book
Listed in: Ethnomedicinal Uses of Climbers from Saraswati River Region of Patan District, North Gujarat. Ethnobotanical Leaflets 13: 865-72 , 2009.
'KACHRA'. An interesting small wild melon from dry, sandy areas of India. Eaten raw or cooked, and the seeds eaten in curries. Used as a medicinal food. Small orange and green melons. Said to be fertile crossed with muskmelons, and a possible source of resistance to caterpillars and fruit flies.
—Cucumis carolinus. (60) CUCU-6. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $17.00
Click for photo »
Formerly offered as C. sp. Sudan.
Odd monoecious vine from Sudan, with large tuberous roots, and showy, prickly fruits. Aged seed germinates in 2 - 4 weeks, fresh seed needs GA-3.
—Cucumis heptadactylus. (20) CUCU-12. Packet: $3.00
5 grams: $19.00
Maroon oblong 1 - 2" fruits with short spines. Rare dioecious perennial vine from a'woody caudex. Peculiar 7-10bed leaves with very long, narrow lobes. S. Africa, where the Kalahari bushmen use the root as an arrow poison.
—Cucumis zambianus. (50) CUCU-2S. Packet: $3.00
5 grams: $19.00
Rare species with large green and yellow striped fruits. Discovered in 1984 in the northwestern corner of Zambia, where cultivated by indigenous farmers.
—Cucumis zeyheri. (50) . CUCU-32. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $17.00
Info and photos link
Description
Photo of fruit cut in half
Perennial trailer from a woody caudex, with 3 ·5-10bed leaves and yellow flowers followed by oval green fruits with soft spines, ripening to yellow. South Africa. The fruits of some plants are very bitter, others are non-bitter and eaten.
CUCURBITA (koo-KUR-bi-ta)
CUCURBITACEAE. 'GOURD', 'PUMPKIN', 'SQUASH'. Large annual and perennial vines with large leaves, flowers and fruits. An important genus, grown for the edible, useful and ornamental fruits, the edible and medicinal seeds, edible and ornamental flowers, and edible young leaves and shoots. Easily grown, various species adapted to a variety of environments. The beauty of their large flowers is often unappreciated. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
All of the C. Pepo gourds can be eaten as long as they have no trace of bitterness.
—Cucurbita andreana. (30) CUCB-4. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $14.00
Wild ancestor of C. maxima pumpkins & squash. Annual vine with small 5" green striped bitter fruits. Argentina. Useful in cucurbit breeding, and anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory compounds have been found in the plant.
—Cucurbita Pepo Autumn Wings Small. (10) CUCB-24AS. Packet: $2.50
Small multi-colored gourds with a neck and bulb, with narrow ridges or 'wings'. Edible.
CYCLANTHERA (si-KLAN-ther-a)
CUCURBITACEAE. Quick growing annual and perennial tendril-climbing vines grown for ornament and the edible or exploding fruits. They range from Kansas to S. America. Start seed early indoors, as the tropical species need a long growing season.
—Cyclanthera pedata var. edulis. (15) CYCN-19E. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $10.00
A giant form with fruits to 8" long.
'ACCOCHA'. South American vegetable grown for the small edible cucumber-like fruits. Quick-growing vine to 10 feet, with narrow leaves. Spindle-shaped fruits range from 3 - 6" long, and are eaten raw or cooked like cucumbers when young. When mature, remove seeds and cook or bake with stuffing, when it is said to have an artichoke-like flavor. Also pickled. Andean favorite. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.