CRASSULACEAE. Succulent perennials from tuberous roots. Some fairly hardy. Goes dormant after blooming. Likes moist soil, but rest dry.
NEW—Umbilicus rupestris. (1000) UMBI-21. Packet: $2.50
1/10 gram: $7.50
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'PENNY-PIES'. Round, rubbery 1 - 3" wide succulent leaves and small yellow-green flowers marked with reddish dots in long drooping 12" spikes in spring. Forms a small caudex. England to the Mediterranean. Fairly hardy. Zone 7. Use GA-3 to germinate in 2 - 3 weeks.
UNGNADIA (oon-ga-NA-dee-a)
SAPINDACEAE. A single species. Seed viable 3 years.
—Ungnadia speciosa. (10) UNGN-4. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $10.00, 1/4 Pound: $35.00
'TEXAN' or 'MEXICAN BUCKEYE'. Fragrant inch-wide rose flowers in April to May, before the leaves. Large pinnate shining leaves. Small tree to 10 - 30 feet. S. Texas and N. México. A beautiful and fast growing drought tolerant tree that can flower when 3 years old. Try it in mild (Zone 8) climates outside its range, such as California. The large black seeds are used as marbles, but cause 'giddiness' if eaten. Germinates in a month or so.
URTICA (UR-ti-ka)
URTICACEAE. Widespread genus of valuable perennials and annuals with stinging hairs. Easily grown in rich moist soil in sun or part shade.
—Urtica atrovirens ssp. Bianorii. (50) URTI-1B. Packet: $4.00
'MALLORCA NETTLE'. Low perennial with unusual attractive leaves with deeply toothed margins and inflated spots on the surface. Striking! Endemic to the Mediterranean island of Mallorca. Zone 7. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks.
—Urtica dioica. (500) URTl-3. Packet: $2.50
'STINGING NETTLE'. Hardy perennial to 4 - 6 feet, with large oval leaves and clustered tiny green flowers. N. Hemisphere. Zone 2. Young tops are a delicious potherb, and are made into wine and beer. Stem fibers provide strong cordage, and were made into cloth and paper. Leaves, seeds, and roots are valuable medicinals. Good butterfly plant, and valuable poultry and stock feed. Used as a rennet, and roots for yellow dye. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks.
VACCINIUM (vac-SIN-ee-um)
ERICACEAE. Mostly hardy shrubs and trees grown for ornament and their edible berries. Evergreen or deciduous, with bell or urn-shaped flowers, ranging from the arctic to mountains in the tropics. Good in the shrubbery, border and wild garden. Bright autumn foliage. Sow on the surface. Some germinate readily, others need 2 weeks to 3 months cold. Begins to germinate in a month, and some come up for a year. Fall sowing is good.
—Vaccinium ovatum. (500) VACC-20. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $15.00
'BOX BLUEBERRY', 'EVERGREEN HUCKLEBERRY'. Abundant black 1/3" berries on a spreading evergreen shrub to 3 - 8 feet. Pink and white waxen bell-shaped flowers and leathery dark green shining leaves. B.C. to California. Zone 7. The berries are juicy and delicious, excellent for pies. The foliage is popular winter decoration. Give 3 months cold.
—Vaccinium parvifolium. (500) VACC-25. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
'RED HUCKLEBERRY'. Showy bright red berries on a spreading, slow-growing shrub to 6 - 18 feet. Small pinkish white 1/4" flowers in April and May. Alaska to California. Zone 6. The tart, delicious fruit are fine for jams, pies, etc. They were dried for winter use by the Indians. Sow in fall or give 3 months cold. Both flowering and fruiting branches good for indoor decoration.
—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.
—Vaccinium Vitis-idaea. (200) VACC-40. Packet: $2.50
'LINGON-BERRY', 'MOUNTAIN CRANBERRY', 'FOX-BERRY'. Dark red berries on a creeping evergreen to 10" tall. Shining leaves and white or rose bell-shaped flowers in nodding clusters. Arctic regions. Zone 2. Handsome groundcover for acid soil in part shade. Give constant moisture in hot summer areas. The tiny cranberries turn sour after frost, and are esteemed for preserves and syrups. Highly valued in the far north. Surface sow, germinates in 4 - 7 weeks.
VALERIANA (va-le-ree-A-na)
VALERIANACEAE. Perennials and shrubs native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica. Easily grown medicinal and ornamental hardy perennials.
—Valeriana officinalis. (100) VAL-12. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $10.00
'VALERIAN', 'GARDEN HELIOTROPE'. Large clusters of tiny white flowers with a spicy scent, June to September. Hardy perennial to 3 - 5 feet, with handsome pinnate foliage. Europe. Zone 3. Best in damp areas. Forms nice colonies with age. Cats are attracted to the plant. The strong-scented rhizomes are an ancient medicine, affecting the nervous system and commonly used as a sedative and anti-anxiety remedy; the original 'valium'. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks, best in light, and GA-3 may help.
VANCOUVERIA (van-koo-ver-EE-a)
BERBERIDACEAE. Several species of rhizomatous woodland perennials from W N. America. Grow in shady moist places.
—Vancouveria hexandra. (20) VANC-8. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $10.00
'INSIDE-OUT FLOWER'. Peculiar nodding white 1/2" flowers in airy clusters, each opening so that they resemble a typical trumpet-shaped flower, but with the stem in the throat. Hardy perennial to 18", with Thalictrum-like foliage. Moist shady forests, Washington to California. Give warm/cold/warm.
VELTHEIMIA (velt-HI-mee-a)
LILIACEAE. Several species of easily grown South African bulbous plants with nodding tubular flowers and strap-like leaves. Good outdoors in California and the South, or as a tub plant in the North. Rest dry after foliage dies and water again in fall.
—Veltheimia bracteata. (10) VELT-8. Packet: $2.50
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Yellow or reddish nodding inch-long tubular flowers in dense clusters on leafless spikes. Deep green, wavy-margined leaves. South Africa. Zone 9. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks.
VERBASCUM (ver-BASK-um)
SCROPHULARIACEAE. Showy tall hardy Eurasian biennials and perennials, valued in the border and wild garden. Most do well in any soils except cold wet ones. Full sun. Most are easy from seed which germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at warm temperatures. Some need light.
—Verbascum blattaria var. albiflorum. (1000) VERS-5A. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $7.50
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'WHITE MOTH MULLEIN'. Creamy-white inch wide five-petalled flowers in many open 1 - 2 foot spikes to 5 feet tall. Hardy biennial with broadly toothed leaves. Eurasia. Likes well-drained soil. Makes long lasting cut flowers. Good bee plant, and moths visit the flowers. Named 'Blattaria' because it is said to repel cockroaches (Blatta). "Very showy plant."—I. Grabo. Zone 5. Germinates in 2 weeks, but some lots dormant, and need GA-3.
—Verbascum Chaixii f. album 'Wedding Candles'. (500) VERS-7A. Packet: $2.50
1/4 gram: $7.50
Gram: $18.00
Pure white inch-wide flowers with violet stamens, in dense, multi-branched spikes in summer. Hardy perennial to 3 feet, with grey-green downy leaves. S. Europe. Zone 4. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks warm.
—Verbascum nigrum Wild Type. (1000) VERS-32. Packet: $2.50
Grams: $7.50
'BLACK MULLIEN'. Yellow flowers with dark centers in spikes in summer. Hardy biennial or perennial to 4 feet, with rosettes of basal leaves. Eurasia. Zone 4.
—Verbascum olympicum. (1000) VERS-34. Packet: $2.50
Grams: $7.50
Magnificent, densely white-woolly biennial or perennial to 5 - 6 feet, with inch-wide bright yellow flowers in long spikes in June to August. Greece. Zone 6 - 8, sometimes grown as an annual. Full sun.
—Verbascum phoeniceum Hybrids. (1000) VERS-36H. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $12.00
'PURPLE MULLIEN'. Mixed shades of white, pink, salmon, and purple. Hardy perennial to 3 feet. Europe. Excellent in the border and moist spots. "Magnificent plants that have survived in my Zone 3 garden and at the Anchorage Botanical Gardens through the last 3 years, one of those the worst on record. Mine had no snow cover or mulch that year and we recorded frost to a depth of 6 feet! I did not lose one plant!"—Rhonda Williams, Alaska, 1/97.
—Verbascum phoeniceum 'Violetta'. (500) VERS-36V. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
A lovely variety with dark purple-violet flowers in long spikes in May to August. Will rebloom after deadheading. To 3 feet. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Verbascum Thapsus. (1000) VERS-45. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $9.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - packets are still available
'GREAT MULLIEN', 'JUPITER'S STAFF', 'ADAM'S FLANNEL'. Sulfur-yellow inch-wide flowers in dense cylindrical spikes to 6 - 8 feet tall. Hardy biennial forming handsome ground-hugging velvety rosettes of soft foot-long leaves. Eurasia, naturalized widely. Zone 3. Full sun to part shade, dry poor soil. The downy leaves have been used as tinder, the stalks, dipped in tallow, as torches since ancient times. Throughout its range it is highly valued medicinally and believed to drive away evil spirits—it was used by Ulysses for protection against Circe. The seeds were used as a fish poison, the leaves and flowers highly valued for respiratory diseases, ear infections, as an anodyne, anti-fungal, etc. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
VERBENA (ver-BAY-na)
VERBENACEAE. 'VERVAIN'. Annuals and perennials prized for their showy, often fragrant clustered flowers, and some for medicine. Good in the border and wild garden. Good cut flowers. Sun and heat promotes bloom and they are drought resistant. Ordinary to dry, rocky soil suits them. Good on walls and banks. Space 12 - 18". Sow indoors in February and March and set out in May, or sow perennials where they are to stand. Germinates in 10 - 25 days at 65°F, and some up to 90 days. Perennials may need 2 - 4 weeks cold treatment. Some need dark, others light. Seed half life ranges from 1 to 7 years.
—Verbena officinalis. (500) VERB-26. Packet: $2.50
Grams: $7.50
5 grams: $20.00
'TRUE VERVAIN', 'HERB-OF-GRACE'. Small lilac-blue flowers in spikes, on a hardy perennial to 2 - 3 feet, with divided leaves. Europe. Zone 3. An important medicinal plant since ancient times, it has a remarkable folk-lore surrounding it, and was held sacred by the Egyptians, Romans, druids, and witches. Give 8 weeks cold or GA-3 to germinate in 1 - 2 weeks. Some lots non-dormant. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks warm, often dormant. Best with 3 months prechill.
—Verbena officinalis grandiflora 'Brampton'. (50) VERB-26B. Packet: $2.50
Abundant lavender to purple flowers on a hardy perennial to 2 feet, with deep purple foliage. Zone 4. Attractive foliage plant.
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.
NEW—Verbesinia virginica. (50) VEBE-86. Packet: $2.50
'FROSTWEED'. Small white flowers in 6" clusters. Hardy perennial to 6 feet. E. U.S. Zone 6. Attracts butterflies and bees. The winged stems exude water when frost hits, creating interesting ribbon-like patterns. Many medicinal uses among the Indians, who also smoked the leaves like tobacco.
VERONICA (ve-RO-ni-ka)
SCROPHULARIACEAE. 'SPEEDWELL'. Popular annuals and perennials grown in the rockery or border. Easily grown in ordinary soil. Hardy and free flowering. Thrives in a bright sunny spot. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks at warm temperatures. Some are eaten or used as tea or medicinally.
—Veronica longifolia Mix. (500) VERO-46X. Packet: $2.50
Pink and purple flowers in dense 6 - 10" spikes in summer. Hardy perennial to 3 - 4 feet. Eurasia. Zone 4. Loved by bees. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Veronica officinalis. (100) VERO-62. Packet: $2.50
'TRUE SPEEDWELL'. Clear blue 1/4" flowers in dense spikes to 1 1/2 - 6" long, from May to July, followed by heart-shaped pods. Creeping hardy perennial to 6 - 18", with 1 - 2" leaves. N. Hemisphere. Zone 3. Will grow in the shade of trees where no grass will grow, covering the ground with sod. Once used as a tea. Has many medicinal uses. Give GA-3 to germinate in 1 - 3 weeks, or sow in fall.
VERONICASTRUM (ve-ro-ni-KAS-trum)
SCROPHULARIACEAE. Several species related to Veronica. (=Veronica and Leptandra virginica)
—Veronicastrum sibiricum. (500) VERU-2. Packet: $2.50
Long graceful spikes of lilac-blue flowers in August and September. Hardy perennial to 5 feet, with whorls of narrow leaves. E. Siberia. Zone 3.
—Veronicastrum virginicum. (1000) VERU-4. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $16.00
'CULVER'S ROOT'. White flowers in long dense 9" racemes in summer. Stately hardy perennial to 3 - 7 feet. E. U.S. Zone 3. The acrid root used medicinally. Germinates in 1 - 10 weeks warm.
"If you're going to get old, you might as well get as old as you can get."—Wallace Stegner.
VIBURNUM (vi-BUR-num)
CAPRIFOLIACEAE. Ornamental shrubs and small trees grown for their showy clustered blooms and attractive fruits. Excellent for wildlife plantings, and valuable wild bird food. Good to naturalize at the edge of woods. "The viburnums rank among the most valuable ornamental shrubs."—Rehder. Many need warm then cold to germinate.
—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.
—Viburnum trilobum. (100) VIB-69. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $8.00
1/4 Pound: $20.00
'AMERICAN CRANBERRY BUSH', 'HIGH CRANBERRY'. White flowers in 4" clusters in May and June, followed by scarlet berries. Hardy shrub to 12 feet. Northern N. America. Zone 2. The attractive berries remain on the bush till the following spring. They were eaten by the Indians, and made into jelly. Harvest after a hard frost is best. Sow in spring or summer for top growth the next spring. Root germinates in 2 - 5 months, top growth after a cold period. (=americanum)
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.
VIOLA (vee-O-la or vye-O-la)
VIOLACEAE. 'VIOLET'. A large genus of many attractive annuals and perennials. Most are best in a rich moist soil and part shade. The perennials may be sown any time, spring to fall, and some do best with overwintering or 2 weeks cold treatment. Germinates best in darkness, in 10 - 20 days. Seed half-life ranges from 1 - 6 years. GA-3 helps.
—Viola cornuta 'Bowles Black'. (100) VIOL-27B. Packet: $3.00
BLACK PANSY'. Small velvety black-violet flowers with yellow eyes, abundantly produced May to September. Compact 6" plants. Zone 5. Self-sows. Also called V. nigra, and V. tricolor E. A. Bowles. Rich soil and part shade best. Germinates readily in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Viola labradorica 'Purpurea'. (=Viola riviniana 'Purpurea') (50) VIOL-68P. Packet: $3.00
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'LABRADOR VIOLET'. Porcelain-blue 3/4" flowers in April to June. Tiny hardy perennial to 6", with attractive dark purplish foliage. Northern N. America and Greenland. Zone 2. Choice! Very hardy. Germination is irregular, 1 - 40 weeks, cold may help.
—Viola 'nigra'. (100) VIOL-76. Packet: $2.50
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'BLACK VIOLET', Small deep black flowers with a blue and yellow eye.
—Viola odorata 'Queen Charlotte'. (75) VIOL-83C. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $9.00
Highly fragrant, long-stemmed, inch-wide blue flowers, February to April, good for cutting or forcing. Perennial to 8", with heart-shaped leaves. Zone 5 - 7. Give GA-3 or 8 weeks prechill to germinate in 2 - 6 weeks or more.
—Viola odorata 'Royal Wedding'. (25) VIOL-83RW. Packet: $3.50
Abundant pure white flowers are highly fragrant, in early spring and again in fall. Nice compact hardy perennial to 8". Give GA-3 or 8 weeks prechill.
—Viola sororia 'Albiflora'. (50) VIOL-126A. Packet: $2.50
Pure white flowers with a dark eye, in spring and early summer. Hardy rhizomatous perennial 6". E. N. America. Zone 3. Leaves and flowers eaten in salads and soups. Prechill seed.
—Viola tricolor Wild Type. (250) VIOL-132W. Packet: $2.50
'HEARTSEASE', 'WILD PANSY'. Tiny 1/2" three-colored flowers, purple, yellow, and white. Free-branching annual or short-lived perennial to 8", with heart shaped leaves. N. Hemisphere. Zone 3. The wild ancestor of garden pansies. Was much used in love charms; this is mentioned in Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Viola x wittrockiana Black. (100) VIOL-142B. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $15.00
Click for photo »
'BLACK PANSY'. Large black flowers with a yellow eye. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
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.
VITIS (VEE-tis or VYE-tis)
VITACEAE. Tendril-climbing woody vines of the North Hemisphere, grown for their clustered berries and for ornament. Valued for wine making since ancient times. Cold usually helps germination.
NEW—Vitis vinifera. (100) VITI-100. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $9.00
'WINE GRAPE'. Tall climbing vine to 30 feet, with clustered small flowers followed by grapes used for wine or eaten, and the young leaves used to wrap dolmades (pronounced dol-MA-thays), Greek stuffed vine leaves. Zone 5b. Prechill 8 - 12 weeks.