TRICHOCEREUS (trik-o-SEER-ee-us)
CACTACEAE. Tree-like to prostrate columnar cacti valued for their large, showy, night-blooming flowers. Fast growing and easy from seed, they take rich soil and plenty of water in the growing season, making them ideal cacti for beginners. Several of them will stand considerable frost, probably down to 10°F. Click for photo »
Sow on the surface of a sandy,
well-drained mix. Gibberellic acid may double germination.—Trichocereus Bridgesii. (d,g) TRCH-6. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 68% Tested: 12/07, 1000 seeds: $12.00
Click for photo »
Pale green, frosted 4 - 8-ribbed columns to 18 feet or so, branched from the base. Dark yellow 4" spines. White 7" flowers bloom at night, but last well into the next day, and are strongly jasmine scented. Bolivia. One of the hardiest. Germinates in 2 - 5 weeks.
—Trichocereus grandiflorus. (d,g) TRCH-16. Packet: $2.50
Brilliant red 3 - 4" flowers with contrasting yellow stigma. Small thick columns to 14" tall, with about 14 ribs and short yellow spines. Argentina. Day blooming and flowers young, often when only 4" tall. A nice species.
—Trichocereus huascha. (c,g) TRCH-18. Packet: $2.50 Click for photo »
Golden yellow or bright red 3 - 4" flowers. Forms clumps of 2 - 3" thick columns up to 3 feet tall, with 12 - 18 ribs, and dense spines. Argentina. Day blooming and forms nice clumps. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks.
NEW—Trichocereus peruvianus. (c,g) TRCH-42. Packet: $2.00 Click for photos of young plants in the snow »
'PERUVIAN TORCH'. Stout, often bluish-green columns to 6 - 15 feet and 6 - 8" thick, with 6 - 8 ribs and stout 1 1/2" spines. Large, showy, white, sweet-scented 10" flowers bloom at night. Peruvian Andes to 7000 feet or more. Easy and fast-growing, standing some frost. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks with GA-3.
—Trichocereus Terscheckii. (d,g) TRCH-80. Packet: $2.50 Click for photo »
'CARDON GRANDE'. Huge candelabra-like cactus to 40 feet, with 1 1/2 foot thick trunk, and 8 - 14-ribbed branches. Large areoles with yellow 3 - 4" spines. Large white nocturnal 6 - 8" flowers. North Argentina. Fast growing, massive and free-flowering. Germinates in 2 - 8 weeks. GA-3 may improve germination percent.
TRICHOSANTHES: See Reserved Access page.
"Live as if you are going to die tomorrow. Garden as if you are going to live forever." —J. Kipling.
TRICYRTIS (tri-SIR-tis)
LILIACEAE. About a dozen Asian half-hardy perennials valued for their beautiful flowers and attractive foliage. Good in pots, rock gardens and woodland. Hardy to Zone 5 - 7.
NEW—Tricyrtis hirta Miyazaki. (c,h) TRIC-4M. Packet: $3.00
Numerous orchid-like 1 1/2" flowers marked white and lilac, along arching stems, September to November. Handsome stem-clasping foliage. Hardy perennial to 32". Japan. Zone 5. Germinates best in light. Fresh seed needs 3 months cold and light, stored seed germinates readily in 2 - 3 weeks warm.
NEW—Tricyrtis latifolia. (d,v) TRIC-15. Packet: $2.50 Click for photo »
'JAPANESE TOADLILY'. Inch-long yellow flowers spotted purple inside, in June. Hardy rhizomatous perennial to 18 - 24". Japan. Blooms mid- to late summer. Give 6 - 8 weeks cold for best germination.
NEW—Tricyrtis maculata. (c,v) TRIC-17. Packet: $2.50
Pink flowers spotted purple, on stems to 18 - 24" in mid- to late summer. Hardy rhizomatous perennial. Himalayas to N. China. Give 6 - 8 weeks cold for best germination.
TRITICUM (TRI-ti-kum)
GRAMINEAE. 'WHEAT'. About 20 species of annual grasses, including the most important temperate region cereals. Complex ancestry. Ornamental varieties for wreath-making and dried arrangements are listed here, & may include ancestral types. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
CANNOT BE SENT TO CANADA.
NEW—Triticum Black Tip. (b,h) TRTI-BT. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 99% Tested: 12/07, Oz: $5.00
White spikes with contrasting long black awns. Striking. To 2 - 3 feet, spring sown, 2" apart.
TROPAEOLUM (tro-pee-O-lum)
TROPAEOLACEAE. 'NASTURTIUM'. Hardy and half-hardy annual and perennial South American herbs. Their brilliant flowers, abundant foliage, and easy culture have made them garden favorites. Good for covering walls or fences, or as prolific, quick-growing ground cover. In mild climates, they may grow and bloom almost year round, making a striking display. Excellent, long-lasting cut flowers. Easily grown, thriving in any warm, sunny place. In rich, moist soil they tend to produce mostly foliage and few flowers, so a poor, dry soil is preferred. Germinates in 1 - 5 weeks warm. Seed viable 5 years.
Tropaeolum majus Varieties:
'GARDEN NASTURTIUM'. The common hardy annual, with sweetly fragrant flowers in a range of vivid colors. Also called 'Indian Cress', as the flowers and leaves have a spicy taste and are added to salads. The flower buds and unripe, tender seeds are pickled in vinegar and used as a piquant seasoning, like capers. The leaves and flowers make a delicious, fragrant tea. Stuff the large blooms with nut butter, cheese, etc, for a tasty and visually stunning addition to summer meals. Blooms in 2 - 3 months, and makes long-lasting cut flowers. Easily grown in any well-drained sunny spot, poor soil encouraging bloom. Most seed germinates in 1 - 2 weeks, with stragglers up to 5 weeks.
—Tropaeolum majus nanum Alaska Mix. (d,h) TROP-5A. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 84% Tested: 9/07, Oz: $8.00
Variegated foliage, conspicuously marked with creamy white. Bright single flowers in a good range of reds, oranges and yellows. Non-trailing.
—Tropaeolum majus Empress of India. (c,h) TROP-5E. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 88% Tested: 9/07, Oz: $8.00
Single deep crimson-scarlet flowers on compact plants with dark bluish green foliage. Hardy annual to 9". A traditional favorite, over 100 years old.
—Tropaeolum majus Jewel of Africa. (e,h) TROP-5JA. Packet: $3.00
Germination: 84% Tested: 9/07, Oz $8.00
Variegated foliage and a very good color range—like a superior, trailing version of Alaska.
—Tropaeolum majus Strawberry Ice. (e,h) TROP-5S. Packet: $3.00
Germination: 82% Tested: 11/07, 10 grams: $10.00, 50 grams: $36.00
Bright yellow flowers splashed red, and blue-green leaves on a compact plant. Nice.
—Tropaeolum majus Tall Single Blend. (c,h) TROP-5X. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 96% Tested: 10/07, Oz: $8.00, 1/4 lb: $16.00
Prolific hardy annual climber to 6 feet, with large single flowers in a blend of brilliant reds, oranges and yellows. Add leaves & flowers to salads.
—Tropaeolum peregrinum. (d,h) TROP-7. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 75% Tested: 9/07, 10 grams: $6.00
'CANARY BIRD FLOWER'. Delicate, bright canary-yellow flowers, with curiously fringed upper petals, and narrow lower petals. Five-lobed, light green leaves. Graceful hardy annual vine. A lovely, fast-growing screen, fence cover, etc. Produces a vivid display of the feathery yellow flowers in summer. Reaches 10 - 15 feet. Best in moist soil and light shade. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks warm.
—Tropaeolum speciosum: See Reserved Access page.
TULIPA (TOO-li-pa)
LILIACEAE. Popular hardy spring-blooming bulbs ranging from the Mediterranean to Japan. The wild species tulips will stand poor rocky soil and adverse conditions better than the garden types, and they will bloom for many years without disturbance. May bloom in 3 years from seed. Germination usually occurs at cold (40°F) temperatures.
—Tulipa Sprengeri. (d,g) TULP-46. Packet: $2.50
Brilliant scarlet-red 2" long flowers with pointed petals. Very late flowering, May & June. Hardy bulb to 12 - 18", with narrow 10" leaves. NW Turkey. Self-sows, and adaptable to sun or part shade. Said to be extinct in the wild—a good candidate for naturalizing! Germinates in 6 - 24 weeks at cold temperatures.
TUNICA (TOO-ni-ka)
CARYOPHYLLACEAE. 'TUNIC FLOWER'. Hardy herbaceous annuals and perennials with wiry stems, narrow leaves, and tiny Dianthus-like flowers in clusters. Good for edging in the border or the rock garden. Easy from seed which usually germinates in 4 - 13 days at warm temperatures, and gives high germination for at least 10 years. Some species may require cold, and take up to 2 months to sprout.
—Tunica Saxifraga. (b,h) TUNI-22. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 88% Tested: 9/07, 5 grams: $6.00, 10 grams: $9.00
'COAT FLOWER'. Pale pink 1/4" flowers with notched petals, borne profusely on a tufted spreading perennial to 8 - 10", with narrow grass-like 1/2" leaves. Southern Europe. A fine little plant, easy from seed, and hardy. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks warm.