SAPINDACEAE. A single species. Seed viable 3 years.
—Ungnadia speciosa. (10) UNGN-4. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 Pound: $12.00
'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.
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 Myrtillus. (100) VACC-17. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50 BULK OUT OF STOCK - Packets are available
'WHORTLEBERRY', 'BILBERRY'. Tiny shrub rarely over 1 - 2 feet, with leathery myrtle-like leaves. White or pink 1/4" flowers in short racemes. Black edible 1/3" berries. North Eurasia. Zone 3. The berries are much eaten in Scotland and are fine for preserves. A fine flavored wine has been made from them. Used medicinally like Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi, for cystitis, etc. The leaves and berries are used to improve the eyesight and against macular degeneration. Seed germinates in 2 - 12 weeks, best in light, surface sow.
—Vaccinium ovalifolium. (250) VACC-1S. Packet: $2.50 OUT OF STOCK
'MATHERS', 'KURO-USUGO'. Blue-black 1/3" berries in July, before the other species. Shrub to 6 to 15 feet, with oval leaves and small urn-shaped flowers. Western N. America and E. Asia. The berries are highly prized throughout its range. Zone 3. Germinates in 4 - 20 weeks warm.
—Vaccinium ovatum. (100) VACC-20. Packet: $2.50
'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.
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, may be irregular. GA-3 often helps.
"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."—A. France.
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
Click for photos »
Yellow or reddish nodding inch-long tubular flowers in dense clusters on leafless spikes. Deep green, wavy-margined leaves. South Africa. Zone 9.
VERATRUM (VER-a-trum)
LILIACEAE. 'FALSE HELLEBORE'. Robust hardy thick-rooted perennials grown in the border for the bold effect of the shining, pleated, parallel-veined leaves, and large sprays of flowers. Easily grown and hardy, best in part shade and moist soil. Give seed cold treatment or sow in fall, to germinate in 3 - 12 months. Some are poisonous and insecticidal.
Photos and info: http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Veratrum
—Veratrum californicum. (50) VERA-6. Packet: $3.50
'CORN LILY'. Bold perennial to 7 feet, with broad, ribbed, boat-shaped leaves, and large, 1 1/2 foot long panicles of greenish white, 6-petaled, 3/4" flowers in midsummer. Moist meadows of Western N. America. Prechill helps, but many germinate in 3 - 5 months warm.
—Veratrum Maackii. (30) VERA-15. Packet: $3.00
Dark purple flowers on a dwarf species to 2 feet. Hardy perennial, blooming mid-summer. E. Asia. Zone 5. Prechill or GA-3 helps, but many germinate in 2 - 6 months warm.
—Veratrum nigrum. (50) VERA-17. Packet: $4.00
'BLACK FALSE HELLEBORE'. Unusual blackish-purple flowers in panicles. Hardy perennial to 4 feet with whorls of bold, foot-long, 8" wide leaves with striking veins. Europe. Zone 5. Interesting hardy plant. Seed dormant when fresh. Germinates best when a year or two old, coming up in 5 - 8 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 Chaixii f. album 'Wedding Candles'. (500) VERS-7A. Packet: $2.50 OUT OF STOCK
1/4 gram: $7.50, Gram: $18.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK
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 olympicum. (1000) VERS-34. Packet: $2.50
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: $7.50
'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.
NEW—Verbascum roripifolium. (1000) VERS-40. Packet: $2.50
Abundant yellow flowers on a hardy biennial to 3 feet, with deeply serrated feathery foliage. Bulgaria. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks warm.
—Verbascum Thapsus. (1000) VERS-45. Packet: $2.50
1/4 Ounce: $7.50
'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 bonariensis. (500) VERB-3. Packet: $2.50
Purple flowers in dense 1 1/2" spikes. Perennial to 3 - 4 feet with an open, airy habit. South America. Zone 7. Popular in the South, good landscaping plant. Pinch when young for good form. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks, needs light.
—Verbena hastata. (500) VERB-16. Packet: $2.50
1/4 Ounce: $7.50
'SIMPLER'S JOY', 'BLUE VERVAIN'. Narrow spikes of tiny blue flowers held above the narrow, lance-shaped 6" leaves. Tall hardy perennial to 6 feet. North America. Hardy to minus 35°F. Likes moist areas. Easy from seed; some will sprout if sown anytime, but best if fall sown and kept moist. "Candelabra-like spikes of tiny blue flowers in late summer that look like a blue mist over the marsh."—Goldman. The seeds were eaten as pinole by the Concow Indians of California. Formerly highly valued medicinally by the Indians and early American herbalists. Give 8 weeks cold to germinate in about 2 months.
—Verbena officinalis. (500) VERB-26. Packet: $2.50
'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. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks warm, often dormant.
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 Pink. (1000) VERO-46P. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $9.00
Pastel pink flowers in dense 6 - 10" spikes in summer. Hardy perennial to 3 - 4 feet, with lance-shaped 4" leaves. Eurasia. Zone 4. Much 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.
"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 Lentago. (50) VIB-37. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 Pound: $18.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - Packets are available
'SWEET VIBURNUM', 'NANNYBERRY'. White flowers in large clusters, followed by 1/2" bluish-black edible berries. Shrub to 30 feet. E. North America. Zone 2. The berries are sweet and have a good flavor. Needs warm then cold, sow in spring, root germinates in summer, top growth next spring.
—Viburnum trilobum. (100) VIB-69. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 Pound: $18.00 This unit OUT OF STOCK - Packets and ounces are available
'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)
VIGNA (VIG-na)
LEGUMINOSAE. Rambling vines with trifoliate leaves. Many important food, forage, and cover crops, including Cowpea, Catjang, Yard-long Bean, Moth Bean, etc. Needs a mild climate; adapted to California and the South. Sow as soon as soil is warm in the spring.
—Vigna unguiculata v. bicontorta. (20) VIGN-84B. Packet: $2.50
25 grams: $7.50
Unusual bean with curled pod (usually twice!). Climbing bean in the black-eyed pea group, with light tan to creamy seeds. Germinates in 1 - 2 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.
NEW—Vincetoxicum fuscatum. (50) VINCE-15. Packet: $3.50
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.
—Vincetoxicum hirundinaria. (25) VINCE-18. Packet: $2.50
Photo: http://eol.org/pages/488017/overview
Yellow-white flowers in clusters in June to August. Twining perennial to 1 - 4 feet. Europe. Zone 3. About 1/3 germinate without treatment, or use GA-3 or 8 weeks prechill to germinate in 1 - 3 weeks.
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 labradorica 'Purpurea'. (=Viola riviniana 'Purpurea') (50) VIOL-68P. Packet: $3.00
'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 Nuttallii. (25) VIOL-78. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50, 5 grams: $20.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - Packets are available
Click for photo »
'YELLOW PRAIRIE VIOLET'. Yellow flowers on a hardy perennial to 5" or so, with narrow leaves. W. U.S. Zone 5. Germinates in 6 - 10 weeks at cold temperatures, or use GA-3.
—Viola odorata 'Queen Charlotte'. (75) VIOL-83C. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50
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.
—Viola odorata 'Reine de Neiges'. (50) VIOL-83R. Packet: $2.50
'SNOW QUEEN'. Flowers open a pale blue then turn white, a beautiful combination. Perennial to 6" with heart-shaped leaves. Zone 5. A very lovely variety.
—Viola odorata 'Sulphurea'. (50) VIOL-83S. Packet: $2.50
'YELLOW SWEET VIOLET'. Apricot-yellow sweet-scented flowers. Perennial with heart-shaped leaves, blooming March to April. Southern France. Zone 5.
—Viola odorata Wild Form. (50) VIOL-83W. Packet: $3.00
Gram: $10.00
'SWEET VIOLET'. Deep purple-violet sweet-scented flowers in March and April. Perennial to 6" with heart-shaped leaves. Zone 5. The original wild form. Flowers good in salads, and have been candied. The scent is used in perfumery, 200 pounds of flowers giving an ounce of essential oil. Give seed 2 weeks warm, then 4 - 6 weeks cold, to germinate at cool temperatures.
—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.
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 Negundo. (100) VITE-17. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $7.50, 1/4 Pound: $15.00
'CHASTE TREE', 'WU-CHI-KAN'. Fragrant lavender 1/4" flowers in loose 8" panicles in late summer and early autumn. Graceful shrub or small tree to 15 - 25 feet, with 4" palmate leaves. China, India, Madagascar, and SE Africa. Zone 8. Excellent bee plant. Roots and leaves used as tea in China, seeds as a condiment. Prechill 4 weeks or use GA-3 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 californica. (25) VITI-20. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $7.50
'CALIFORNIA WILD GRAPE', 'SHE-IN' (Pomo name). Abundant purple, clustered grapes with whitish bloom. Tall vigorous climber or sprawler, reaching treetops or forming thick groundcover on banks. Round or kidney-shaped, only slightly pointed leaves. Very fragrant flowers. Streamsides of California. The grapes were much eaten by Indians, and make tasty jelly. Said to have been cultivated by ancient Pueblo Indians. The thin vines are very strong and flexible, and were used in basketry and split for coarse thread. Said to produce tart grapes in moist soil, and sweet grapes in dry areas.
—Vitis riparia. (100) VITI-91. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $7.50 (about 1000 seed)
'WILD RIVER GRAPE', 'SWEET-SCENTED GRAPE'. Small black or blue-black fruits, sometimes as large as buckshot. Late maturity. Strong vine. Hardy to Zone 2. Several are needed for pollination. "Old timers used to brew a rather potent wine from these grapes."—D. McDaniel. Give 3 - 7 months cold, or try 24 hours in hydrogen peroxide, then GA-3, then 3 weeks cold treatment.