LABIATAE. 'BASIL'. Aromatic tender annuals grown in the herb garden for their value as seasoning and fragrance. The leaves are widely used in sauces and soups, the flavor blending particularly well with tomatoes. The clove-like fragrance has been considered soothing, and a cure for nervous headaches. Basil tea is said to calm an upset stomach. Start seed indoors 6 - 8 weeks before last frost, and plant out after all danger of frost is past. Thin to 6" apart. Basil likes full sun, and all types do well in pots. Harvest fresh leaves anytime. For drying, cut just before it reaches full bloom. Seed viable 8 - 10 years. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
—Ocimum americanum Lime. (500) OCIM-1LI. Packet: $1.50
Germination: 85% Tested: 11/09, Oz: $6.00
'LIME BASIL'. Has a zesty lime flavor.
—Ocimum Basilicum Ararat. (b,h) OCIM-1A. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 72% Tested: 8/09, 5 grams: $11.50
An interesting basil with leaves mottled purple and green, with a licorice flavor. Unique.
—Ocimum Basilicum Cinnamon. (1000) OCIM-1C. Packet: $2.50
Oz: $9.00, 1/4 lb: $27.00
'CINNAMON BASIL'. Spicy aroma, purple flowers, to 30". A fine variety. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
—Ocimum Basilicum Large Sweet. (a!,h) OCIM-1S. Packet: $1.50
Germination: 93% Tested: 6/09, Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $9.00
The most popular and widely grown variety. Sweet and aromatic 2 - 3" leaves. To 1 - 2 feet tall.
—Ocimum Basilicum Red Rubin.( a!,h) OCIM-1RR. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 99% Tested: 9/09, Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $18.00
Dark purple-red leaves with a good flavor. Bushy plant to 18", a selection from Dark Opal, more compact and stays red longer into the summer.
NEW—Ocimum kilimandscharicum. (250) OCIM-14. Packet: $2.50
'KAPURI TULSHI', 'CAMPHOR BASIL'. White to light purple flowers. Tender shrub to 6 feet, with grey-green leaves with a strong camphor scent. E. Africa. Attracts bees. Used as a tea and medicinally in Africa and India. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
Ocimum kilimandscharicum cultivation in Kenya.
—Ocimum sanctum. (a!,h) OCIM-24. Packet: $2.50 OTC ORGANIC SEED
Germination: 94% Tested: 11/09, 1/4 Oz: $8.00
'HOLY BASIL', 'TULSI'. Sweetly fragrant bushy perennial to 1 - 3 feet, grown as an annual in cold climates. Profuse purple or white bloom, & sometimes purplish-tinted foliage. Tropical Asia. Held sacred by the Hindus & grown around temples. Sections of the stem-bases are used in rosaries. The leaves are used in salads, and the oil is an effective antibiotic, and the leaves are used medicinally. Nice, distinctive clove-like flavor, good in cooking, salads, or for tea. Good in herb breads and herb butters. Good bee plant. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks. Organically grown.
OENOTHERA (ee-NO-ther-a)
ONAGRACEAE. 'EVENING PRIMROSE', 'SUNDROPS'. Showy, sun-loving plants valued for their bright yellow, rose or white flowers. A large and wide ranging group of annuals, biennials and perennials, generally preferring sunny dry open ground. Easy from seed in ordinary soil. Start in March, germinates in 1 - 3 weeks. Set out in May. Some are tall upright plants, others stemless, a few, trailers. The 'evening primroses' open in late afternoon with startling rapidity and attract nocturnal moths. The 'sun drops' open in the daytime. The flowers are often delicately perfumed. The perennials make nice clumps with age. They are variable and prone to mutation, and have been used in studies of evolution. The genus name is said to come from the Greek meaning 'wine-scenting' or 'wine-hunting', referring to the ancient use of the roots to flavor wine, or the more recent use of the roots of O. biennis eaten after meals with wine, as olives are today. They have a history of edible and medicinal use, & are the object of current research. The oil of the seed of O. Lamarckiana, biennis and others contains gamma-linolenic acid, (GLA) formerly found in substantial amounts only in human milk. GLA is involved in biosynthesis of prostaglandins, and there have been many claims for its effectiveness in treating a variety of ailments from obesity to hangover, high serum cholesterol, schizophrenia, & multiple sclerosis.
—Oenothera Berlandieri. (a!,h) OENO-6. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 44% Tested: 9/09, 1/4 Oz: $12.00
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'MEXICAN EVENING PRIMROSE'. Rose-pink 2" flowers on slender stems. Pretty annual or perennial to 6", Texas and México. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Oenothera biennis. (a!,h) OENO-7. Packet: $2.50
1/2 Oz: $9.00
'EVENING PRIMROSE'. Sweet-scented lemon yellow 1 - 2" flowers open in the evening. Hardy biennial or annual to 3 - 6 feet, with large rosettes of lance-shaped basal leaves. E. N. America. The thick roots are edible, with a sweet, parsnip/salsify flavor, harvested at the end of the first season. Young leaves and shoots eaten as a potherb, the flowers added to salads, the young pods eaten, and the seed oil is rich in GLA. Surface sow, to germinate in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Oenothera Lamarckiana. (a!,h) OENO-33. Packet: $1.50
Germination: 64% Tested: 10/09, Oz: $5.00, 1/4 lb: $10.00
'LARGE-FLOWERED EVENING PRIMROSE'. Large bright yellow 2 - 3" flowers with red sepals, in summer. Hardy biennial to 5 feet, with broad, crinkled leaves. A wonderful and variable species, of unknown origin. (=glazioviana & erythrosepala) Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Oenothera pallida. (a,h) OENO-45. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 64% Tested: 8/09, Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $18.00
'WHITE EVENING PRIMROSE'. Large, white, fragrant 1 1/2" flowers in the afternoon. Hardy perennial to 14" with narrow leaves. California to the Rockies. Drought resistant summer bloom. Germinates in a week.
—Oenothera speciosa. (a,h) OENO-58. Packet: $3.00
'WHITE SUN-DROP'. White 2" flowers ageing pink or rose, June to September. Hardy day-flowering annual or perennial to 1 - 2 feet, with running rhizomes & 1 - 3" leaves. Kansas to México. Zone 5. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
NEW—Oenothera versicolor. (100) OENO-88. Packet: $2.50
Stunning intense orange flowers that age to red. Short-lived hardy perennial to 2 feet, with red-tinted stems and narrow leaves. Zone 6. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
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OLEA (O-lee-a)
OLEACEAE. Handsome evergreen trees and shrubs grown for food, ornament and medicine in mild climates. Seed viable several years at room temp.
—Olea europaea. (e,f-g) OLEA-5. Packet: $2.50
Oz: $7.50, 1/4 lb: $20.00
'OLIVE'. Broad-crowned tree to 10 - 60 feet, with narrow, dark green leaves, silvery beneath, and numerous fragrant creamy flowers followed by purple-black fruits. Mediterranean. Extensively grown for olives and olive oil wherever the minimum temperature is 15°F. Bears 3 - 5 years from seed. Clip pointed end of seed or sow in fall. Germinates in 5 - 20 weeks. Sow in sandy soil.
OPERCULINA (o-PER-ku-LEE-oa)
CONVOLVULACEAE. Morning glory-like plants related to Merremia. They range from large, woody jungle lianas to small herbaceous vines, with usually large white, yellow or reddish flowers, followed by odd pods with large sepals & opening by a lid-like top. The pods may be useful in dried arrangements.
—Operculina brownii. (10,h) OPER-5. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 70% Tested: 8/09, Oz: $10.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
'BUSH POTATO'. White morning glory-like flowers followed by interesting pods with a spreading calyx. Vine with heart-shaped leaves, will climb or form nice mats of foliage on the ground. Australia. Tubers eaten by the aborigines. Nick seed, soak till swollen, germinates in 4 - 8 weeks.
OPUNTIA (o-PUN-sha)
CACTACEAE. Cacti ranging from British Columbia to the tip of South America. Most are 'prickly pears', with flat, oval pads, showy flowers, and red, yellow, or purple edible fruits. Fast growing and adaptable, some are hardy to 45°F below zero. Likes heat, sun, and good drainage. Seed often are helped by nicking, cold treatment, or fall sowing. Many germinate quickly with GA-3.
—Opuntia Burbank's 'Spineless'. (d,h) OPUN-BS. Packet: $2.50
A large, nearly spineless prickly pear that makes abundant pads and fruits. To 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide. Collected at Luther Burbank's Gold Ridge Experiment Farm. Germinates readily in 2 - 3 weeks.
—Opuntia macrorhiza. (c,v) OPUN-150. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $12.00
Yellow 3" flowers with reddish or purplish centers. Pear-shaped 2 - 6" pads forming prostrate clumps 3 feet wide. South Dakota to Michigan to Texas and California. Zone 5 or 6. Forms potato-like tubers on the roots. Try GA-3 to germinate, hold pots.
—Opuntia violacea v. Santa Rita. (d,v) OPUN-312S. Packet: $2.50
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Beautiful round blue-green pads shaded violet, on a prickly pear to 2 - 5 feet tall. Deep yellow 2 - 3" flowers. Arizona. "One of the most ornamental of the Opuntias."—Britton & Rose. GA-3 helps germination.
ORIGANUM (o-RI-ga-num)
LABIATAE. Easily grown annual & perennial herbs popular for kitchen seasoning and ornament. Best in full sun and warm, dry, well-drained soil. Sow on the surface to germinate in 1 - 2 weeks or so. Seed viable 3 - 5 years. Classification a bit confused.
—Origanum heracleoticum. (c,h) ORIG-26. Packet: $2.50
'GREEK OREGANO'. Aromatic hardy perennial to 18". Called the best oregano for cooking, going well with tomato sauces. SE Europe. Easy in full sun and poor dry soil. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Origanum Majorana. (1000) ORIG-30. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 92% Tested: 8/09, 10 grams: $5.00
'SWEET MARJORAM'. Aromatic tender perennial to 2 feet. Tiny white or lilac flowers in summer. Much used in soups, stews, with meats, etc.
ORLAYA (or-LAY-a)
UMBELLIFERAE. Several Eurasian species.
NEW—Orlaya grandiflora. (25) ORLA-10. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 68% Tested: 5/09, 10 grams: $16.00
'WHITE LACE'. Magnificent white umbels in summer, the individual flowers with large petals. Short-lived hardy perennial to 2 feet, with delicate feathery foliage. Europe. Zone 5. Germinates in 2 - 8 weeks.
ORYZOPSIS (or-i-ZOP-sis)
GRAMINEAE. Slender Western American perennial bunch grasses grown for ornament, forage and their edible seed. Fresh seed is dormant and does best with 4 weeks cold treatment or light scarification. Old seed gives the best germination. In nature, rodents help the plant by storing the seed, which has been scarified by their teeth. "It is advisable to store for at least one year before planting, and the seed can be stored safely for many years."—Wheeler & Hill, in 'Grassland Seeds'.
—Oryzopsis hymenoides. (a,v) ORYZ-11. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $15.00
'INDIAN RICEGRASS'. A native Californian bunch grass, forming dense tufts to 2 feet tall, the spikes bearing dark edible seed. W. U.S. The seed was gathered in large quantities and eaten by many tribes in the Western States, ground into flour and made into bread. A valuable livestock forage, over-grazing has seriously reduced native stands. Excellent food plant for arid regions.
OXYLOBIUM (ox-ee-LO-bee-um)
LEGUMINOSAE. Australian shrubs, good in California.
NEW—Oxylobium ilicifolium (=Podolobium illicifolium). (50) OXYL-15. Packet: $2.50
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'AUSTRALIAN HOLLY'. Bright yellow 1/2" pea-like flowers with red markings, in spring. Shrub to 5 - 10 feet, with prickly, holly-like, shiny, dark green 4" leaves. Dry, rocky soil, Australia. Has really neat leaves. Nick seed or use hot water to germinate in 2 - 12 weeks.
OXYTROPIS (ox-ee-TROP-is)
LEGUMINOSAE. A large genus of low, deep-rooted Astragalus-like perennials & sub-shrubs of the North Hemisphere. Best in sandy, gravelly, well-drained sold and full sun. Good in the rock garden.
NEW—Oxytropis sericea. (b,h) OXYT-228. Packet: $2.50
Colorado origin (brown seed): 5 grams: $7.00
Nebraska origin (black seed): 5 grams: $7.00
'WHITE LOCO'. White flowers in 7" spikes, sometimes lilac or purple. Silky hardy perennial with foot-long feathery pinnate leaves. Montana to New Mexico. A lovely plant for the garden, though it causes 'loco' in grazing cattle (no, kids, it doesn't work on people!). Soak, nick hard, to germinate in a week or two.
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PACHYCEREUS (pa-kee-SEER-ee-us)
CACTACEAE. Huge columnar cacti, often surpassing the famous 'Saguaro' in size. Likes average soil and plenty of water in hot weather. Germinates best with GA-3.
NEW—Pachycereus Pringlei. (b,l) PACH-23. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 92% Tested: 10/09, 1000 seed: $24.00
'CARDON'. The largest cactus, reaching 70 feet tall and 5 feet thick, with 11 - 17 ribs, and dense spines to 5" long. White 3 1/2" flowers followed by edible fruits. Baja California. The fruits and seeds were eaten by the Indians, and the stems are alleged to have been used in a sacred drink. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
PAEONIA (pe-O-nee-a)
PAEONIACEAE. Hardy and long-lived perennials or shrubs from thick roots. The species come true from seed and are interesting to grow, blooming in about 3 years. Any soil, but dig deeply. Herbaceous kinds bloom best in cold climates. Sow spring to fall, root germinates in 1 - 8 months, top growth emerges the next spring. Year-old seed often germinates best. Always hold pot over at least one year in a moist shady spot. Seed viable 3 - 4 years, giving good germination.
—Paeonia Delavayi Hybrids. (5,h) PAEO-12H. Packet: $5.00
'MAROON TREE PEONY'. Large 3" flowers in shades from chestnut-brown and crimson, to orange and yellow, in May to July. Hardy shrub to 4 - 6 feet, with dark green divided leaves. W. China. Zone 5.
—Paeonia lactiflora. (10) PAEO-48. Packet: $2.50
Oz: $12.00
BAI SHAO', 'CHINESE or GARDEN PEONY'. Fragrant white to pink or red 3 - 4" flowers in June. Hardy perennial to 2 - 3 feet, with divided leaves. Siberia to China. Zone 5. Roots were eaten by north Asian nomads, and the seeds powdered and added to tea. Used in Chinese medicine. Root germinates in 2 - 6 months warm, then needs a cold period for the leaf to germinate.
NEW—Paeonia lutea var. Ludlowii. (5) PAEO-52. Packet: $6.00
'TIBETAN PEONY'. Golden yellow 3 - 5" wide flowers in May and June. Hardy shrub to 6 - 9 feet, with attractive divided leaves. Tibet. Zone 6. Sow in summer or fall, or give 1 - 3 months warm, then cold.
—Paeonia suffruticosa. (10) PAEO-76. Packet: $2.50
Oz: $12.00
'MOUTAN', 'TREE PEONY'. Rose-pink to white 6" wide flowers with a dark patch at the petal bases. Hardy shrub to 7 feet, with bipinnate foliage, blooming in May. Tibet & China. Zone 5. Cultivated since 700 AD, it became a rage in China in the 800s. Many varieties exist. Root germinates in 1 - 8 months, then needs cold or GA-3 to trigger leaves. Perhaps best sown in July or August. Year-old seed germinates best.
PANCRATIUM (pan-KRA-tee-um)
AMARYLLIDACEAE. Warm-region summer-blooming bulbs with fragrant white flowers in umbels. Likes heat and plenty of fertilizer and water while growing. Rest dry after bloom. Good in pots of light rich soil. The name means 'all powerful', referring to the medicinal properties. The beauty of the flowers inspired the name 'spirit lily'.
—Pancratium maritimum. (5,h) PANC-12. Packet: $3.00
'SAND LILY'. Very fragrant 2 - 3" white flowers with a central, daffodil-like cup surrounded by six spreading white petals, in large umbels of 4 - 10 blooms, August to October. Strap like leaves to 20". Grows in coastal dunes in the Mediterranean. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks or so at warm temperatures.
PANDOREA (pan-DOE-ree-a)
BIGNONIACEAE. Vigorous evergreen climbing shrubs with large, showy pink or white flowers and handsome foliage. Easily grown from seed, outdoors in California and the South, or in the greenhouse in the North. Will stand some frost. Give rich soil and a sunny sheltered position.
NEW—Pandorea jasminoides (d,g) PAND-13. Packet: $2.00
'BOWER VINE'. Lovely mauve, violet-throated 2" funnel-shaped flowers. Handsome evergreen foliage. Vigorous to 15 feet. Australia. Good trained up a trellis, protect from wind. Sow on the surface, germinates in 2 - 4 weeks.
PAPAVER (PA-pa-ver or pa-PA-ver)
PAPAVERACEAE. Widely distributed annuals, perennials and sub-shrubs. Well-known garden favorites with brilliant showy flowers and attractive pods. Easily grown but many resent transplanting. Most like hot, sunny, well-drained spots. Sow on the surface, often germinating best at cool (50 - 60°F) temperatures. GA-3 improves many. Seed viable 3 - 25 years. It has been said that no other plants have eased so much human suffering, or caused so much, as the poppies. Most germinate in 1 - 4 weeks. Many poppies germinate best at cool (50°F) temps.
—Papaver aculeatum. (a,f) PAPA-1. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 56% Tested: 11/09, Gram: $7.50, 5 grams: $15.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
'SOUTH AFRICAN POPPY', Orange or scarlet-orange 2" flowers. Hardy annual to 2 - 4 feet, with bristly stems. South Africa. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks, needs light.
—Papaver alpinum Mixed. (b,h) PAPA-2X. Packet: $3.00
'ALPINE POPPY'. Fragrant 1 - 2" flowers in bright shades of yellow, rose, orange, and white. Very hardy tufted perennial to 10", with finely divided lacy foliage. Alps. Germinates in 2 weeks.
—Papaver atlanticum. (a!,h) PAPA-9. Packet: $2.50
'ATLAS POPPY'. Orange or scarlet 3" flowers; club-shaped pods. Hoary perennial to 2 feet, from a thick woody root. Mountains of Morocco, 6000 - 7000 feet. Rare.
—Papaver dubium 'Greek Poppy', (a!,h) PAPA-15G. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 56% Tested: 9/09, Gram: $5.00, 5 grams: $15.00, 10 grams: $25.00
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Stunning deep scarlet 2" flowers with black spots at the base of each petal. Very free flowering annual, excellent here in California. Brought from Greece by my father in his coat pocket. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Papaver nudicaule San Remo. (b,h) PAPA-28SR. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 80% Tested: 8/09, 10 grams: $6.50, 25 grams: $12.50, 50 grams: $20.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
A nice variety of Iceland Poppy for cutting, with large flowers in shades of rose, salmon, orange, yellow, cream and red, on long stems. To 2 feet.
—Papaver orientale Beauty of Livermere. (=P. bracteatum) (b,h) PAPA-30L. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50, 5 grams: $18.00
Large, deep glowing crimson-red flowers. To 3 feet. Said to be a good choice for thebaine production.
—Papaver orientale Formula Mix. (a!,h) PAPA-30X. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $10.00
A fine formula mixture. To 3 feet.
—Papaver orientale Queen Alexandra (=Carneum). (b,h) PAPA-30Q. Packet: $2.50
Large salmon-pink flowers with black centers, to 3 feet.
—Papaver orientale Royal Wedding. (b,h) PAPA-30RW. Packet: $3.50
Large pure white flowers with black centers, on a hardy perennial to 2 1/2 feet. Absolutely stunning and choice! Also called 'Black and White'.
—Papaver paeonyflorum Black Peony. (a!,h) PAPA-32BP. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $18.00, 25 grams: $66.00 - THIS UNIT OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS AND 5 GRAM UNITS STILL AVAILABLE
Large fully double flowers in the darkest purple-maroon. Hardy annual to 3 feet. Germinates in 1 week.
—Papaver paeonyflorum Venus. (a!,h) PAPA-32V. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 96% Tested: 8/09, 10 grams: $9.00
Large double salmon-colored flowers with round petals. Hardy annual. Nice. Germinates in a week.
—Papaver paeonyflorum White Cloud. (a,g) PAPA-32W. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 60% Tested: 8/09, 10 grams: $9.00
Large double white flowers with fringed, laciniated petals. Hardy annual to 3 feet, with large ornamental pods. Nice! Germinates in a week.
—Papaver Rhoeas American Legion. (a!!,h) PAPA-38A. Packet: $1.50
Germination: 88% Tested: 8/09, Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $18.00
Single scarlet with black or white cross in the center. An old fashioned classic. Germinates in a week.
—Papaver Rhoeas Single Shirley Mixed. (a!!,h) PAPA-38SX. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 86% Tested: 8/09, Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $18.00
Single flowered types in a range of colors. To 30".
—Papaver Rhoeas Wild Type. (a!,h) PAPA-38. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 84% Tested: 8/09, 10 grams: $10.00
'CORN POPPY'. Striking deep cinnabar-red 2" flowers with a black blotch at the base of each petal. Hardy annual to 3 feet, with pinnately divided leaves. Eurasia. The original form of an important species with over 30 botanical varieties and innumerable horticultural forms. The seeds are used on cakes like ordinary poppyseeds, but have their own flavor. A fine oil is expressed from them, being valued like olive oil. The petals were made into a deep red syrup, used to color soups and other foods.
—Papaver s. Danebrog. (a!,h) PAPA-43DB. Packet: $2.00
5 grams: $6.00, 10 grams: $9.00, 25 grams: $18.00
'DANISH FLAG', 'DANISH CROSS'. This is the famous variety with large, single, pure brilliant scarlet 3 - 5" flowers with a pure white cross in the center, and with fringed-edged petals. Hardy annual to 2 1/2 - 5 feet. Absolutely one of the most stunning poppies, this is an antique variety over 100 years old. My favorite. Germinates in a week or two.
—Papaver s. Florist Pod. (a!,h) PAPA-43FP. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 99% Tested: 11/09, Oz: $10.00, 1/4 lb: $40.00, lb: $150.00
Produces the large egg-shaped pods seen in florist's dried arrangements. Hardy annual.
—Papaver s. The Giant. (a!,h) PAPA-43G. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 96% Tested: 8/09 (about 2400 seed per gram)
10 grams: $13.00, 25 grams: $26.00, 100 grams: $64.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
Specially-selected florist strain, developed for the huge pods used in dried arrangements. Hardy annual. Germinates in 1 week.
—Papaver s. Hen & Chickens (a!,h) PAPA-43HC. Packet: $2.00
5 grams: $6.00 (about 9500 seed), 10 grams: $9.00, 25 grams: $18.00, 100 grams: $36.00
Odd pods with a large central pod surrounded at the base by several tiny pods, the 'mother hen and her chicks'. Unusual in dried arrangements. Large pale lilac flowers. Annual. Germinates in 1 week.
—Papaver s. Pepperbox. (a!,h) PAPA-43PB. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 84% Tested: 8/09, 10 grams: $6.00, 25 grams: $10.00, 100 grams: $20.00
Handsome large pods which open when ripe to shed the seed, providing a dual crop, edible seed plus pods for the dried flower market. Annual. Germinates in 1 week.
—Papaver s. Persian White. (a!!,h) PAPA-43W. Packet: $1.50 OUT OF STOCK
Oz: $5.00 (about 100,000 seed), 1/4 lb: $10.00, lb: $30.00 OUT OF STOCK
Pure white flowers on a small hardy annual to 2 - 3 feet or so. The white seeds are valued in Middle Eastern cooking for their mild flavor. Germinates in 1 week.
—Papaver s. Sawyer's Mixture. (b,h) PAPA-43SW. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $6.00, 5 grams: $16.00
Red, purple, and mauve flowers, both singles and doubles. Hardy annual to 2 feet. Nice. Germinates in 1 week.
—Papaver s. Single Lilac. (a!,h) PAPA-43SL. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 92% Tested: 8/09, 10 grams: $6.00, 25 grams: $10.00, 100 grams: $20.00
Large single lilac flowers and medium-sized pods. Hardy annual to 30". Nice. Germinates in 1 week at cool temperatures.
PARADISEA (par-a-DI-see-a)
LILIACEAE. Two lily-like species from Europe.
—Paradisea lusitanica. (d,v) PARA-8. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
White 3/4" lily-like flowers in May and June. Robust hardy perennial to 2 - 5 feet, with strap-like 3/4" wide leaves. Thick roots. Portugal. Zone 7.
PARIS: See Reserved Access page.
PASSIFLORA (pass-i-FLO-ra)
PASSIFLORACEAE. Showy tropical tendril-climbing vines grown for the unusual flowers & often edible fruits. Good in the greenhouse. Best in a rich fibrous soil and given plenty of manure and water while growing. Warm temperatures and nicking the seed often helps germination. Often a day or so of 110 - 120°F may trigger germination.
—Passiflora caerulea. (c,h) PASS-8. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $20.00 , 10 grams: $35.00 (NEW PRICE)
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'BLUE PASSIONFLOWER'. Showy 3 - 4" lightly fragrant flowers with blue corona and white or pinkish petals, blooming summer till frost, followed by yellow to orange 2 1/2" egg-shaped edible fruits. Vigorous climber with divided leaves. Brazil to Argentina. Root hardy to about Zone 6 or 7. Germinates in 2 - 8 weeks warm, cold or GA-3 helps.
NEW—Passiflora incarnata. (50) PASS-17. Packet: $2.50 OUT OF STOCK
1/4 Oz: $7.00, Oz: $15.00 OUT OF STOCK
'MAYPOPS', 'WILD PASSIONFLOWER'. Cream or yellowish 2" flowers with purple or pink corona. Yellow 2" edible fruits. Hardy perennial vine with 3-lobed leaves. Virginia to the Tropics. Cultivated by the Indians. The hardiest species, to Zone 4 or 5 if given a heavy mulch. Medicinal. Irregular germination.
—Passiflora mollissima. (e,v) PASS-29. Packet: $3.00 OUT OF STOCK
'PINK BANANA PASSIONFRUIT'. Rampant evergreen climber, with soft green, deeply 3-lobed foliage. Pendant, long-tubed, 3" wide pink or rose flowers up to 5" long. Yellow 3" edible fruits. Andes. Zone 8. Extremely fast growing, good for quick cover. Germinates in 3 - 12 weeks.
PAULOWNIA (pa-LOW-nee-a)
BIGNONIACEAE or SCROPHULARIACEAE. Ornamental Chinese deciduous trees somewhat resembling Catalpa, grown for their large, showy clusters of beautiful foxglove-like flowers. Best in deep loam in mild climates, will thrive and flower as far north as New York, and are root hardy to Montreal. Excellent shade trees. Very fast growing when young, and used as pulp, cabinet and firewood. Easy from seed. Sow on the surface as light helps. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks (up to 20 weeks). Seed gives high germination for more than 4 years.
—Paulownia tomentosa (=imperialis). (a!,h) PAUL-4. Packet: $2.50
Oz: $9.00
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'EMPRESS TREE', 'ROYAL PAULOWNIA'. Showy, fragrant, 2" long, pale violet-blue foxglove-like flowers striped yellow and spotted inside, in large upright pyramidal clusters to 10" long in April & May, before the leaves have fully emerged. Top-shaped pods. Large, tropical-looking velvety foot-long leaves. Fast growing to 30 - 70 feet. China. The wood is used for cabinetry, fenceposts and houses in China, where the flowers are fed to swine to fatten them, and the tree has many medicinal uses, and the leaves are used to wash hair to restore its color and thickness. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.