Catalog2016

CONTENTS CLIMBERS.................................................................2 ANNUALS.............................................................. 2 HERBACEOUS & WOODY................................... 8 FRAGRANT ANNUALS......................................... 11 FRAGRANT PERENNIALS....................................22 BIENNIALS..............................................................33 PRAIRIE FLOWERS................................................36 A FEW PRAIRIE GRASSES................................... 42 HERBS......................................................................45 ANNUALS & BIENNIALS....................................45 PERENNIALS.......................................................47 OTHER PLANTS OF MERIT..................................51 ANNUALS............................................................ 51 PERENNIALS.......................................................60 FRAGRANT TREES & SHRUBS........................... 67 A FEW EXOTICS.................................................... 77

CLIMBERS

We have juggled the Sweet Pea into the last word in hues and furbelows, and all but lost its sweetness; we have been careless of the Rose's scent, and have made of the wistful Mignonette a stoled and inodorous wedge of vulgarity. We plan meticulously for colour harmony and a sequence of bloom, but who goes deliberately about planning for a succession of sweet scents during every week of the growing year? – L. B. Wilder

Certainly it is a shame that climbers are not more often used these days when we suffer more than ever from the slings and arrows of outrageous architecture. For what plants are more amenable to soften the hard corners and camouflage the glaring errors of civilization. Especially so, when as a whole these plants are remarkably undemanding in their cultural requirements compared to the amount of beauty they bestow.

For the sake of convenience I have divided them into two groups: ANNUALS, which include many tropical perennials grown as annuals; and HERBACEOUS & WOODY, the difference which may at times be due only to severity of climate. Unfortunately, many of the annuals are not scented.

ANNUALS Cardiospermum halicacabum. BALLOON-VINE. The Latin name, meaning HEARTSEED, stems from the black seeds, borne in trios, emblazoned with perfect white hearts. This is an exceedingly graceful and dainty climber and yet a strong grower. Young children and adults are fond of popping the inflated seed-pods which are also useful in indoor decoration. According to the Doctrine of Signatures, the plant was at one time employed in treating heart diseases.

Clitoria ternatea. BUTTERFLY-PEA. A slender twining tropical member of the Pea Family with attractive compound alternate leaves and rather striking deep blue flowers to two inches long with light blue and yellow markings. A restrained grower in temperate climates to about six feet but flowering most of the summer from an early sowing. A shy seeder in the North, this seed was supplied by a generous customer in Florida. HHA, ten seeds, pkt. $2.50.

Cobaea scandens. CUP-AND-SAUCER-VINE. This dense, vigorous climber is little used today compared to former times. The only climbing member of the Phlox family, it is very floriferous from midsummer until frost. The bell-shaped flowers on long stems turn from clear green to rosy-purple as they mature, the saucer remaining greenish-white. Climbs by terminal tendrils on the leaves. Plant seeds on edge, just covering with soil.

Convolvulus tricolor. DWARF GLORYBIND. Probably shouldn’t place this here as it is an erect annual to 1 ft., but comes from a mostly vining family and looks like a morning glory. An old-fashioned garden favorite with brightly colored flowers in shades of pink, blue and white in great profusion all summer in sunny dry spots (and pots) and poor soil.

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Cucumis melo dudaim. QUEEN ANNE’S POCKET MELON. Also known as SWEETSCENTED or POMEGRANATE MELON, this is not edible, but is a very small melon once used as an ornamental climber on trellises and arbours or to carry in the pocket as a pomander for its sweet scent.

Looks like a tiny round watermelon about the size of a tennis ball. Grow like cucumbers or melons.

Cucurbita pepo ovifera. SMALL-FRUITED GOURDS. Also know as the Yellow-Flowered Gourds to distinguish them from the White-Flowered or Lagenaria species. These are the small, hardshelled, colorful types so often used around the holidays. Grow as you would the pumpkin, of which these are a variety.

Dolichos lablab. HYACINTHBEAN. A wonderful climber, remaining covered with flowers and foliage retained to the ground, midsummer to frost. The beans are edible but best left for their decorative value on the plant and later in dried arrangements. The delicately perfumed flowers (coconut?) may be had in WHITE with light pods and PURPLE with dark pods. Nick seeds, plant where it is to grow.

Dolichos lablab. GIANT HYACINTHBEAN. Similar to the above but larger in all its parts–this is a very showy plant. Probably a form cultivated for eating, its only disadvantage over the smaller sorts is that the pods shrivel as they mature, making it less suitable for drying. Most people like the fragrance, but some do not. This type is also available in either WHITE or PURPLE. (Ruby Moon is quite similar to the Giant Purple, but it starts blooming about a month later–no great improvement!).

12 seeds.

Echinocystis lobata. MOCKCUCUMBER. A rampant vine once commonly used on fences and arbors for its quick coverage and fragrant cream-colored flowers. It is good for screening unsightly objects as it can grow thirty feet in a season. Sow in fall or very early spring as it needs some chilling. The large seeds are most easily collected by waiting until they fall to the ground–if you can beat the peafowl to them. 8 large seeds, $2.50.

Humulus japonicus variegatus. VARIEGATED JAPANESE HOP. Luxuriant grower and very dense. Flowers have a pleasing scent and leaves are refreshingly aromatic, a rich green splashed with white and a mid-tone. A good temporary filler, it takes heat and drought and will self-sow, but is dioecious like its relative, Hemp, so several plants are needed. Squirrels and birds ravished my plants in the fall for the seed. Seed should be sown fall or early spring.

Ipomoea alba. MOONVINE. Aka Ipomoea bona nox which means Beauty of the Night and is no exaggeration for its six-inch flowers open in the evening rather rapidly and diffuse a clove-like fragrance that can travel for some distance on the night air. An even stronger grower than most Ipomoeas, it should not be given too rich a soil, and the seed should be nicked or filed to hasten germination. Annual vines are so useful for their quick garden effects–they generally grow so rapidly and flower so freely that they create the illusion of a plant and garden that have occupied the space for much longer than just one season. Pkt. ten seeds.

Ipomoea coccinea, [Quamoclit coccinea]. SCARLET STARGLORY. This carefree and vigorous climber goes to ten feet or more in a hurry. It has fairly large heart-shaped leaves and bears its small scarlet flowers in profusion on long stalks from July to October. Very attractive to hummingbirds.

Ipomoea coccinea aurea. GOLDEN STARGLORY. The rather rare golden flowered form of this favorite of hummingbirds. Of a color seldom met with in morning glories–a few seeds of this variety were sent to me by a generous customer and I planted them on a large maple stump by my computer room door. The flowers are not large but I don't think it is an exaggeration to say that at the height of its blooming period a thousand new flowers open each day, making it quite a nectar source. Though an abundant bloomer, it is always a race with the frosts for ripe seed. Pkt. $2.50

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Ipomoea hederacea. IVY-LEAF MORNING-GLORY. A dwarf morning-glory for pots or hanging baskets with 2 inch cerise flowers with a white border, borne in abundance over white and green marbled foliage. This selection is known as ‘MINIBAR ROSE’. Closely related to Ipomoea nil.

Ipomoea x multifida, [Quamoclit x sloteri et. al.]. CARDINAL CLIMBER. This is a cross between I. quamoclit and I. coccinea a mixed-up genus if there ever was one. It has handsome dark green deeply lobed leaves, and flowers like miniature morning glories, cardinal scarlet in color and produced in great abundance. A vigorous grower of reserved elegance, it should be used more than it is.

Ipomoea nil. BABY BLUES. A variety of the Imperial Japanese Morning-glory with large pale blue flowers rivaling those of Ipomoea tricolor ‘Heavenly Blue’ for they are a bit larger and they come into bloom a couple weeks or so earlier. This species will generally have more foliage and flowers towards the base of the plant than the tricolors which tend to run to the top of their support. Given a choice, a sunny western exposure is good for morning glories so that they will stay open until noon. HHA, ten seeds, pkt. $2.50 Ipomoea nil. CHOCOLATE. A better name might be DUSTY ROSE or ANTIQUE ROSE as I would be hard pressed to describe its unique coloring as resembling chocolate. Regardless of appellation, this is a large-flowered morning-glory of singular color and charm which looks stunning with HATSU ARASHI and is also very effective with one of the pale blue types. 10 seeds, $2.50.

Ipomoea nil. HATSU ARASHI. I believe this is the correct name for this Imperial Japanese Morning-glory–it is a large flowered deep purple blue with white and a little green in the throat. When cultured in pots by the Japanese the flowers can go to six or eight inches across, but grown in the ground tend to be about four inches. A gorgeous plant, but can’t tolerate as much wind as regular morningglories. 10 seeds, $2.50.

Ipomoea nil. LARGE MINIBAR ROSE. This is an interesting cross that apparently happened in the garden between the very nice little Minibar Rose morning glory which is so useful for pots and hanging baskets which was probably pollenized by a large cerise Imperial Japanese morning glory. It is much like the former with its white -edged cerise flowers, but larger in all its parts. Growing to 6 feet or so, it seems to come true from seed. Few seeds, $2.50.

Ipomoea nil. JAPANESE IMPERIAL MORNING-GLORY. Also known as the White Edge Morning-glory–here offered is the EARLY CALL strain which has four inch flowers and comes into bloom three weeks earlier than others. There are many beautiful colors here–some bright, some pastel and some with a white margin. The common variety Scarlett O’Hara belongs here though it is usually included with I. tricolor.

Ipomoea nil. PLATYCODON FLOWERED M.G. So named for the resemblance to the open face of a balloonflower i.e., a star-shaped morning glory. Deep velvety semidouble blue flowers on a weakly climbing plant to 4-5 feet. Pkt. $2.50.

Ipomoea nil. SCARLET O’HARA. Though often listed under I. tricolor or I. purpurea, if one has actually grown it, it becomes rather apparent that it belongs to the Japanese Imperial tribe. With very large flowers variously described as rose red, scarlet red, crimson red, fiery red and wine red, it certainly is a striking sight in the AM. Ipomoea nil. STAR OF INDIA. Although I can’t be sure this striking morning glory originated in our garden (it could have somehow come from the ‘Early Call’ mix) I will take credit for not assiduously weeding the area in which it first volunteered. Because of my contempt for neatness, many interesting plants have come to light. This must be amongst the most unique of morning glory flowers for its large deep purple-blue corolla which sports a large star difficult to describe, but not merely confined to the natural folds of the flower as are most morning glories that have a ‘Star’ in their names. There is a picture of it in the “New Plants for 2003” issue of Garden Gate magazine. Ten seeds $2.50.

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Ipomoea nil. VIOLET MORNING-GLORY. I wonder if this might be close to the type plant for Ipomoea nil. It is the result of a collection of colors of this species growing on the same arbor for many years–it now seems fixed at this size (3") and rather unique violet-purple color, growing up to 10 feet.

Ipomoea purpurea. BLACK MORNING-GLORY. Well, not really black, but a very dark purple and I suppose about as black as most flowers assigned that moniker. This is a rather striking vine and would probably be even more so if planted with a white flowering vine such as morning-glory, hyacinthbean or moonflower.

Ipomoea purpurea. CRIMSON RAMBLER. This came to me as SCARLET O’HARA, but that is actually in the I. nil tribe–there seems to be an I. purpurea being called FLYING SAUCERS, but that should properly be reserved for the I. tricolor one. Nevertheless, a very showy morning glory that should not be given too good of growing conditions.

Ipomoea purpurea. WHITE PINK-SPOTTED M.G. Sent to me by a customer, this morning glory is white with five pink spots around the edge of the throat–different. Pkt. $2.50.

Ipomoea quamoclit. RED CYPRESS VINE. After a long absence we are listing this delightfully delicate climber again–most catalogs that list it are actually selling Cardinal Climber as that is what is available from wholesalers and even they seem to be somewhat confused nomenclaturally. The daintiest of vines but vigorous nonetheless.

Ipomoea quamoclit. WHITE CYPRESS VINE. The very delicate foliage of this beautiful climber belies its vigorous growth habit and tolerance of poor growing conditions. The small, white, star-shaped tubular flowers are borne in abundance summer to frost, but it doesn’t mature many seeds this far north. Few seeds.

Ipomoea tricolor. CLARKE’S HEAVENLY BLUE. An improvement over the old HEAVENLY BLUE morning glory as it is earlier to come into flowering. One of the showiest of annual climbers–in the morning at any rate–for its incomparable sky-blue three inch flowers borne in profusion. On occasional still mornings the flowers possess a fragrance described by a visitor as “old ladies face powder”.

Ipomoea tricolor. Here offered are two less commonly met with varieties than the popular Heavenly Blue. They are: BLUE STAR–light sky-blue with darker veins; PEARLY GATES–pure white with cream throat. These do seem to have a light fragrance at certain times. Available in the separate colors.

Lagenaria siceraria. HARD-SHELLED GOURDS. Here offered are separate varieties and mix of these most useful plants. A useful note for those with shorter growing seasons–if you start them indoors early, even to the point of having them already in flower when set out, and put them in rather poor soil they will fruit much earlier and the vines will not get so huge. Direct seeded in rich soil with ample moisture, one vine can easily cover a 30 by 60 foot garden here.

APPLE GOURD. This may be my new favorite. Look like a gigantic mottled apple about 6-7 inches in diameter. Ten seeds.

BASKETBALL. Size and shape of the aforementioned.

BUSHEL GOURD. Perhaps the largest of this durable and useful tribe.

CALABASH GOURD. The Chinese bottle gourd used for larger birds, vases for dried arrangements, storage, etc.

CANNONBALL. Size and shape of a cannonball, in this case about 7-8 inches.

ITALIAN EDIBLE GOURD. This is used like a summer squash when it is only about 6 inches long–if allowed to mature it will go to about 2 feet by 4 inches.

LONGNECKED DIPPER. Neck 14 inches, dipper 6-7 inches diameter. These need to be trellised so they will hang if you want straight handles.

MINI-BOTTLE. Like the Chinese bottle gourd in miniature, to 5 or 6 inches tall–good for crafts.

PEAR-SHAPED GOURD. Perhaps the most pleasing shape of the lot for gourd art.

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SUGARBOWL or CANTEEN. Flattened round to 6 or 7 inches across–good for making bowls. A very pleasing shape.

WHITE-FLOWERED MIX. Large-fruited hard-shelled types so useful for making bowls, scoops, vases and bird houses.

Lathyrus odorata. SWEET PEA. Discovered in 1697 in Sicily by a Father Cupani and sent to a Dr. Uvedale in England in 1700, it was little more than a weedy plant but possessed of a powerful sweet fragrance. If not for its fragrance, it would surely have perished for it remained unimproved until 1870.

Yet by 1900, fully 264 varieties were exhibited at the Crystal Palace, and the number created and lost since then is a testament to the breeders art. Here offered are the Old-fashioned or Grandiflora varieties, which are not ruffled or as large as the newer types, but these possess the intoxicating perfume on which the fame of the sweet pea is based. (L. latifolius, the perennial pea, has of late been advertised as perennial sweet pea, which is incorrect for it has no fragrance.) Known as OLD SPICE or ANTIQUE FANTASY. Lathyrus odorata. SEPARATE COLORS. Available here are some of the separate colors of the above mix. These constitute some of the oldest, most fragrant and heat tolerant of varieties still available today. Approximately 30 seeds per pkt.

AMERICA. Crimson with white stripes, 1896.

ANNIE GILROY. Magenta/cerise, circa 1909.

BLACK KNIGHT. Maroon with violet bicolor, 1898.

BLANCHE FERRY. Deep rose striped white, c. 1889.

BUTTERFLY. White, striped purple, circa 1887.

CAPTAIN OF THE BLUES. Deep mauve, 1891.

COUNTESS CADOGAN. Purple and blue bicolor, 1899.

CUPANI. Purple with deep blue bicolor, 1699.

DOLLY VARDEN. Lavender and white bicolor, 1898.

DOROTHY ECKFORD. White, 1901.

FLORA NORTON. Light blue, 1904.

HENRY ECKFORD. Orange, 1906.

JANET SCOTT. Pink, 1903.

KING EDWARD VII. Crimson, 1903.

LADY GRISEL HAMILTON. Shining pale lavender, 1899.

LORD NELSON. Navy blue, 1907.

MISS WILLMOTT. Salmon pink, 1901.

MRS. COLLIER. Cream, 1907.

NELLY VINER. Frilled pink, circa 1901.

PAINTED LADY. Rose with white bicolor, 1737.

PRINCE EDWARD OF YORK. Crimson/rose, circa 1897.

QUEEN ALEXANDRIA. Scarlet, 1906.

QUEEN OF THE ISLES. White striped crimson, c. 1885.

SENATOR. White flecked chocolate, circa 1891.

Lathyrus sativus. CHICKLING VETCH. A pretty little vine grown in southern Europe from a remote period for use as forage and for the seed in soups. Offered here is the variety azureus, an annual to 2-3 ft. with beautiful bright blue flowers in long succession. Short supply–6 seeds.

Lathyrus tingitanus. TANGIER SCARLET PEA. With striking scarlet and purple sweet pea-like flowers (without the ruffles) borne on long stems, this an excellent flower for cutting. Although grown like the sweet pea, it is a tougher and more vigorous plant which is also earlier to flower. A lovely climber, though it possesses little in the way of fragrance. 6 seeds.

Luffa acutangula. CHINESE OKRA. Less commonly grown than L. cylindrica, this is the species more frequently used for eating like okra when young and tender as it produces more and smaller fruits 6

at an earlier age. The specific name refers to the ten distinct ridges that run from the stem to the tip of the fruit. Easily cultivated, it makes an attractive screening and foliage vine as well.

Luffa cylindrica. VEGETABLE SPONGE. This vine might well be grown more than it generally is, for even if one doesn’t have the long hot growing season it needs for ripening fruit, the immature “sponges” can be cut when 6-10 inches and used in stir-fries where they are called Chinese okra. Also the vine makes a nice quick cover and the large attractive yellow flowers are held well out from the foliage where they often invite queries as to their identity. They are also mildly fragrant which I have not seen mentioned in the literature. Sow direct after all danger of frost or start early in pots. Can grow 20 feet in a season. HHA. Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium. CURRANT TOMATO. Closely related to the common tomato, this species produces countless clusters of small flavorful fruit on long vines ideally suiting it to cover a small arch or arbor where one may enjoy both visually and esculently, the myriad golden fruit. The foliage is also much finer and more attractive than that of the garden tomato.

Merremia sibirica. This is an annual vine–related to the Hawaiian Wood Rose–which gives very quick coverage. It is pretty in a quiet way with its elongated heart-shaped leaves, purplish tints to leaf and stem, and its abundance of small pink flowers and their subsequent seed-pods. Best sown direct after danger of frost has passed.

Momordica balsamina. BALSAM-APPLE. Though rarely encountered, this vine is just as ornamental in leaf and fruit as the Balsam Pear–the fruits are not nearly so large as the pear and neither fruit really bears any resemblance to the aforenamed fruits. This one is about 3 inches long, ellipsoid, warty and ripens to a bright red. It is also eaten by the Chinese (cooked while still green) but is said to have purgative qualities. 6 seeds.

Momordica charantia. BALSAM-PEAR. Enjoying renewed popularity, this luxuriant vine is grown for its handsome foliage as well as the curious, golden-orange, warty 9 " cucumber-shaped fruits.

These split open when ripe to reveal the bright red arils (fleshy seed coverings). The fruit has had a number of culinary and medicinal uses–it is called Bitter Melon by the Chinese and is used in curries by Hindus. Placed in spirits or sweet oil to be used as a rub for sprains, burns, skin diseases, muscle and headaches! Six seeds per pkt.

Phaseolus coccineus, [P. multiflorus]. SCARLET RUNNER BEAN. This vine is probably well enough known to need little description. Whether it is used to ornament the garden, as a specimen on porches, arches, or fences, or to accent entrances, it will bloom all summer if the beans are kept picked for eating. They should not be over watered until they emerge or they may rot. This is the most commonly grown bean in England.

Pisum sativum. PURPLE-PODDED GARDEN PEA. This is an old variety of the common garden pea with showy bluish-violet slightly fragrant flowers maturing to deep purple pods, which are easy to find amongst the green foliage. They may be used as shell peas, but are more frequently allowed to mature for dry peas, and can thus be enjoyed longer visually. To 6 or 7 feet–a dozen seeds.

Tropaeolum majus. NASTURTIUM. The word nasturtium means ‘nose-turning’ and stems from the pungent foliage, good to use in salads. Apart from T. majus, no nasturtium possessed perfume until the double-flowered Golden Gleam was discovered in a garden in California in 1929. It appears to be a T. majus hybrid though the blooms are larger and semi-double. Here is a plant that thrives on neglect, and pampering will favor foliage above flowers–semi-double, climbing or trailing up to eight feet. All of the nasturtium flower colors mix well, but a patch of a single color is especially nice.

GOLDEN GLEAM. A rich golden yellow with delicious scent.

SCARLET GLEAM. A luminous scarlet with powerful scent.

SALMON GLEAM. Salmon with darker veins; MAHOGANY GLEAM. A deep mahogany-red.

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MOONGLEAM. Very pale yellow form of this annual. Good fragrance.

Tropaeolum peregrinum. CANARYBIRD-VINE. One of the very few ornamental yellow-flowering climbers, the resemblance of the blooms to birds is rather fanciful. It grows to ten feet and has deeply 5lobed, delicate, light green leaves. With a rapid habit of growth and an undemanding nature, it would be good to cover some chain-link fencing if you are unfortunate enough to have any. Give it full sun if it is to perform its best–as with most annual vines.

Vigna unguiculata sesquipedalis. ASPARAGUS BEAN. Sometimes also called Yard-long Bean though it seldom attains quite that length–two feet being more commonly seen. Much grown in China where it is used like the green bean, but considered to be more heat and drought tolerant. The flowers are ornamental, looking rather like a sweet pea–we offer the black-seeded type which is more adapted to the north than the reddish sort.

Vigna unguiculata sesquipedalis. YARD-LONG BEAN RED NOODLE. Though a bit less than two feet long, this is a striking plant for the vegetable or ornamental garden with its rather amazing deep red beans borne in abundance on vines that are more heat and drought tolerant than regular green beans, pkt. $2.50.

HERBACEOUS & WOODY Aristolochia contorta. MA DOU LING. An interesting easily grown pipevine from the Far East that is very hardy and being investigated for a number of medicinal properties. The ripe fruits (I never seem to get fruits on the native and Manchurian species) as they begin to open look like an upside down parachute. I have not yet seen larva of the Pipevine swallowtail on it. Woody vine to zone 2-3, pkt. $2.50.

Campsis radicans. TRUMPET VINE. This has long been a favorite plant of mine for its attractive odd-pinnate foliage, ability to climb by aerial rootlets, large tropical looking colorful flowers of trumpet shape, and its attraction to hummingbirds. They are excellent to grow over dead tree stumps rather than having them ground out at some expense, and will brighten up a sunny wall for weeks on end with their long-lasting floral display. They have often garnered interest here at the farm when I have trained them to standards or small trees by planting them next to a six foot post or most recently an inverted dead black locust tree of about 8 inch caliper (black locust and osage orange are said to be among the few posts that will outlast the hole). In just two or three years you will have a small exotic flowering tree that looks like it has been around for a much longer time. The trick is to trim the branches back to within a foot of the head in late winter so it will form a dense even top instead of long wayward branches. This doesn’t hurt the floral display as it blooms on the new wood. They are ideally sited on the lawn where the occasional sucker will be kept at bay by the mower. We grow them in four colors which should come relatively true from seed. If anyone has any knowledge of the illusive C. radicans ‘Atropurpurea’ please let me know. Zone 4. Pkt. $2.50 APRICOT TRUMPET VINE. Nice apricot color with slightly smaller foliage, flower.

CRIMSON TRUMPET VINE. A good deep red color.

ORANGE TRUMPET VINE. The typical bright orange with red tips.

YELLOW TRUMPET VINE. Rich clear yellow flowers of good size.

Celastrus scandens. AMERICAN BITTERSWEET. Also known as False Bittersweet–the true one being Solanum dulcamara. This is the vine which produces sprays of orange-yellow capsules that split open to expose the scarlet fruits beloved of florists for their use in dried arrangements. It is a tough and vigorous twiner to 10 or 20 feet, and isn’t so ready to volunteer about the garden as some of the oriental species are want to do. Though I haven’t seen it mentioned anywhere, I find them to be noticeably fragrant when they are blooming.

Clematis campaniflora. HAREBELL VIRGIN’S BOWER. Although native to Spain and Portugal, this attractive clematis seems quite hardy here. Its name comes from the light blue fragrant 8

flowers which look like miniature harebells, and as it flowers on the new wood, it is best pruned hard back in late winter.

Clematis hexapetala. SIX-PETAL CLEMATIS. Not vining, this is one of the “bush” Clematis that can be allowed to sprawl in a 4 foot diameter patch on the ground or be trained in a tomato hoop (you know, those 2-3 foot hoops that are absolutely worthless for supporting tomato vines) to make a very nice two foot mound covered for most of the summer with fragrant white 1.5 inch flowers and silvery seed heads. This seed comes from the NSA selection ‘Mongolian Snowflakes’ with larger and more profuse flowers. A charming plant and good cut flower. Probably zone 3, HP, pkt. $2.50.

Clematis orientalis. ORANGE-PEEL CLEMATIS. So known because of the remarkable thick sepals of light yellow which open to 1 to 2 inches across. This is a subtle and delicate climber with lightly fragrant nodding flowers followed by silky seed-heads. It is never-the-less a vigorous grower.

Clematis paniculata. SWEET AUTUMN CLEMATIS. A rampant Japanese climber smothered in late summer with clouds of small creamy flowers that emit a rich fragrance akin to that of vanilla, or some say daphne, informing the entire garden of its presence, and providing an irresistible attraction for the bees and butterflies. It is nearly disease and insect free, and makes an effective ground cover on a bank as well as for bower, fence, or wall.

Clematis pitcheri. LEATHERFLOWER. The name of this species clematis derives from the thickness of its violet colored sepals. Blooming all season long, it looks very much like a C. texensis except for the color of the flowers. The seed-heads provide a further season of interest. Lightly scented.

Clematis virginiana. VIRGIN’S BOWER. A native clematis of rapid growth to 18 feet which is similar to the sweet autumn clematis but not so fragrant. It is a good plant for the wild garden with its purple autumn foliage and decorative, plumy, whitish seed-heads. Of all the species of clematis we grow, this is without a doubt the most attractive to the various insects. It is also notable as one of the only clematis to be dioecious–sexes segregated on separate plants.

Clematis viticella. ITALIAN CLEMATIS. A slender but floriferous climber to about ten feet with fragrant blue or purple flowers with yellow stamens blooming from July to August. Long cultivated in England but seldom seen Stateside. As with most clematis, a cold treatment or fall sowing of the seed is needed to break dormancy.

Dioscorea batatas. CINNAMON-VINE. This is actually a hardy yam, grown by the Chinese for its tuberous roots. It is a foliage vine, having variably heart-shaped, shining, dark green leaves, seven to nine ribbed of a clean, crisp texture. It will ascend to great heights, but should not be allowed to do so or the foliage will become sparse–it is good in a neglectable position such as over a fence or stump. The flowers are not showy, but last long and exhale a strong, fresh cinnamon fragrance which is delightful to inhale close-up, as it makes one sneeze.

Dioscorea batatas. VARIEGATED CINNAMON-VINE. Like the above, but in this form the leaves are marked and mottled with a cream to white variegation. It can take a year or two for the vine to establish sufficient vigor for the variegation to become pronounced. It will come true form “seed” for this vine is propagated from little tubers in the leaf axils which bear the identical genetic information of the parent. Hardy at least to zone 5, but it would be wise to mulch the first winter or two. Six tubers per pkt. $3.

Dioscorea japonica. JINENJO YAM. Proving quite hardy here is this fast growing herbaceous perennial vine whose tuberous root is an article of food in Japan. Making an excellent screen, the lush foliage doesn’t seem to be bothered by pest or disease and the glossy leaves remind me of little Batman capes. The three-winged seed pods are quite interesting though they generally remain unnoticed until the leaves wither in fall. Zone 5 at least. $2.50.

Dioscorea villosa. WILD YAM. Like the cinnamon-vine, this is a hardy member of a mostly tropical family. An herbaceous vine of rapid growth to about 10 feet, it makes a good screening plant 9

with its beautiful, glossy, heart-shaped leaves which give quick coverage in the spring. Contains diosgenin, used in preparation of steroid hormones, including contraceptives and corticosteroids. It has other herbal uses as well as a sweet fragrance–though not of cinnamon. The attractive winged seed-pods are useful for floral work. Zone 4. Ten seeds.

Hydrangea anomala petiolaris. CLIMBING HYDRANGEA. An aristocrat of the climbers, this strong growing (when established) self-clinging species can become quite tall. Not difficult from seed, it has fragrant flowers and is very picturesque when grown as a shrub. Well worth waiting for, it does take a couple years after transplanting to start its upward growth–add another year or two if the neighbor’s sheep slip over to tear it off.

Lathyrus latifolius. PERENNIAL PEA. Though neither rare nor fragrant, this perhaps most attractive of the peas could certainly be used to more advantage than it is. Quite tough, it can even be used for naturalizing. Maybe someone might try to cross it with the sweetpea or ground-nut pea for fragrance, then it would surely be indispensable. Available in BLUSH, WHITE or MIX. Passiflora incarnata. MAYPOP PASSIONFLOWER. The state flower of Tennessee, this curious and extraordinary vine is the hardiest of the passionflowers and given the protection of the south side of a wall or house, it will live over into zone 4. And as it flowers on new growth (unlike P. caerulea) there will be abundant bloom from summer until frost, in a sunny position. Passionflower is the sole larva food of the Gulf Fritillary, Julia and Zebra Longwings butterflies. To have fruit set you must have two seedlings or clones–the hybrid ‘Incense’ will do for one. The flowers have a sweet and yeasty fragrance.

In cleaning the seeds for this offer I obtained enough juice for two passionfruit meringue pies. Pkt. $2.50.

Trichosanthes kirilowii japonica. JAPANESE SERPENT GOURD. Only in the Japanese variety of this mostly tropical family, the fruits are not serpent shaped but more the size and shape of a baseball.

Not sure of its hardiness as yet but mine lived over last winter in an unsheltered site. Used medicinally in China since ancient times it is now the source of Compound Q, an extract showing promise in the treatment of AIDS because it kills only infected cells. Grows rapidly and makes a good summer screening vine–said to be dioecious. Few seeds, $2.50.

Wisteria frutescens. AMERICAN WISTERIA. Not as showy or fragrant as Chinese or Japanese species, but considered to have the best foliage, and as the lilac-purple flower clusters are borne later than the other types, they escape the late frosts. Another advantage is that this is the most dependable bloomer–the Chinese and Japanese are listed as zones 5 and 4 respectively, but apparently the flower buds aren’t quite that hardy. 5 seeds. $2.50.

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Man only doth smel and take delight in the odours of flowers and sweet things.

–WILLIAM BULLEIN, 1562

FRAGRANT ANNUALS

It would seem to me that far too much emphasis is placed today on color and form of flower, whilst such important attributes as fragrance of flower and form of plant go practically unheeded. And what emphasis on color and form of flower! It seems as if every year the preponderance of new introductions tend toward the red-orange-pink tones which are so hard to use with good effect (and seldom are).

And as for form of flower the tendency is, as Katherine S. White has lamented, “just great blobs of bloom” so large and plentiful as to disguise the pedigree of the offending plant. For we have such mongrels as the scabious-flowered zinnia, the zinnia-flowered dahlia, the dahlia-flowered mum, ad nauseam.

In times gone by, the chief reason for growing flowers was for their fragrance. In medieval times, references to gardens meant scented gardens. The same is true in the Orient today. When the poets sung the praises of the Rose and the Lily, it was primarily for “the glow of their sweet scent” so many “improvements” are not, if there is loss of fragrance or classic form of flower or plant. Yet there are probably those on the edge of their seats anxiously awaiting the pompon orchid.

Antirrhinum majus. SNAPDRAGON. Needing little introduction as it is one of the more common bedding plants–this is an open pollinated, tall, tetraploid mix–the tetraploids being more heat tolerant and sturdier than the diploid varieties. Snapdragons are somewhat erratically fragrant depending on the variety, the weather (cool, moist), and the nose (human, i.e. not antirrhinum). These smell rather like bubble gum to me.

Antirrhinum majus. SNAPDRAGON WHITE ROCKET. This is a good strain for outdoor growing for use as cut flowers or simply to have in the flower garden. Growing to about two feet, it is a fine candidate for the white garden–the flowers are lightly scented. An early pinching will make a stockier plant with more blooming stems.

Artemisia annua. SWEET WORMWOOD. Seldom if ever offered, this robust but elegant annual should be used in place of kochia (summercypress) for foliage and temporary hedges. Robinson calls it a graceful plant with flowers “not showy in elegant panicles”. Judy said, “smells like an old grocery store with wooden floors”. It ought certainly to be used in public plantings, as well as any herb or fragrance garden. With leaves finer than any fern, and its quick growth, it should be used for fragrant verdure.

Pinch early to encourage bushiness–can go to 5 ft. Good for dried wreath material.

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Asperula orientalis. BLUE WOODRUFF. Flowers “…strongly yet delicately fragrant… a single plant will be found to perfume the whole greenhouse.” A useful small plant for a moist shady spot producing its small sky-blue flowers throughout the summer–I must confess I either cannot smell this fragrance (my brother cannot smell sweet violets) or have not visited it at the right time of day or else it has lost its fragrance. I will have to try again this year. HA to 1 foot.

Centaurea americana. BASKET FLOWER. A perennial in the South, this performs admirably as an annual in the North. The flowers are violet colored and 4-5 inches across, rather like a large Sweet Sultan and with a similar fragrance. This American wildflower is seldom seen but certainly noted when it is–and, it blooms all summer.

Centaurea americana alba. WHITE BASKET FLOWER. The very attractive white form of this already attention getting wild-flower with 4-5 inch flowers on a plant to 3-4 feet. In my experience, more robust plants are obtained by direct sowing even though they are a little slow to start. Good for cutting.

Centaurea imperialis. GIANT SWEET SULTAN. THE BRIDE is a large white flowered form of the Royal Centaurea, or possibly one of the parents of this strain along with C. moschata. It is a fine vigorous plant and considered to be one of the most richly perfumed–also excellent for cutting with its long stems and long life in water.

Centaurea imperialis. ROYAL CENTAUREA. Also called Giant Sweet Sultan, this is one of the more fragrant of garden annuals and an excellent cut flower as well. The plants can grow to 4 feet and bear thistle-like flowers in shades of purple, lilac, yellow and white which are long stemmed and last well in water. They are honey scented, like lime, full sun and a dry situation.

Centaurea moschata suaveolens. YELLOW SWEET SULTAN. Smaller than the preceding, to 2 feet, these bloom from July until October and diffuse the musk-like perfume of the East. Native to the Middle East, it was named in honor of the Sultan of Constantinople who “saw it abroad, liked it and wore it himself, all his vassals have had it in great regard, and hath been obtained from them by some that have sent it into these parts,” says Parkinson, to whom it was newly introduced.

Centratherum intermedium. MANAOS BEAUTY. A bushy perennial native to Brazil which can be treated as a HHA in the north. Coming into bloom in a rather short period from seed, the lavenderblue, button flowers to 1-1/4 inches are long lasting and borne continually until frost. The refreshing resinous scented foliage would be a good candidate for wreaths or potpourri. The fragrance reminds me of that of the Pine-scented rose. Mounding to 2 feet high by 3 feet across.

Cheiranthus cheiri. WALLFLOWER. Not a plant for outdoors in hot climates–however it is excellent to force in the greenhouse or start in pots in late summer and overwinter in cellar or cold frame for planting out in spring. Offered here is an annual strain grown for the PARIS MARKET, in yellow, red, mahogany and white. Deliciously fragrant, the wallflower was so commonly used for nosegays that it was given its botanical name Cheiranthus, which means ‘handflower.’

Cheiranthus cheiri. WALLFLOWER FAIR LADY. A splendid strain of the common wallflower with a wide range of unusual pastel and rusty shades as lemons, creams, salmons and pinks and, of course, very fragrant. This is actually a hardy biennial and most easily grown in England and the Pacific Northwest. Here it can be used for spring bedding by sowing in August, carrying over winter in a cool frost-free frame, and planting out in April.

Cheiranthus cheiri. RUBY GEM WALLFLOWER. A natural in Britain and the Pacific NW, it is worth some trouble to grow elsewhere for its wonderful fragrance of (I think) cherry lollypop.

Chenopodium botrys. AMBROSIA. Also known as Feather-geranium, Ambrosia mexicana et. al.

This plant, like Sweet Annie, is most useful for making dried wreaths–either cut green or in the tawny mature stage. In fresh cut flowers, a few feathery stalks will keep the water sweeter. The plumes of tiny green flowers, in fact the entire plant, leaves a warm perfume, both sweet and spicy, where it touches the skin. A hardy annual, it grows to 2 feet.

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Cleome hasslerana. SPIDER FLOWER. Also listed under C. spinosa, is this 3 foot member of the Caper family so indispensable for summer bedding. With its delicate and brightly colored flowers that just keep coming all season long, it is one of my favorite annuals. The flowers are scented–though opinions differ on the quality of that scent–and are available in the following named varieties. CHERRY QUEEN, PINK QUEEN, VIOLET QUEEN and HELEN CAMPBELL (white). Also MIXED. Consolida ambigua. LARKSPUR. Perhaps best described as an annual Delphinium, these stronggrowing upright plants should be sown direct in earliest spring or in late fall. Wonderful for fresh or dry cut flowers, these definitely should be in every garden. We offer the ‘GIANT IMPERIAL’ strain in the following separate colors or mix: DEEP BLUE, LILAC, SALMON, ROSE, CARMINE KING and WHITE. Not fragrant.

Consolida regalis. PANICLE LARKSPUR. Likened by one writer to a blue gypsophila, it does make a rather rounded plant to about 3 feet with almost nonexistent foliage and carrying small blue flowers for months. Takes the same cultural conditions as C. ambigua, above, and makes an excellent mid-to-back-border foil for more solid subjects. Rarely seen but should be used more frequently. Not fragrant.

Consolida regalis alba. WHITE REGAL LARKSPUR. The lovely white form of the above plant so useful for its long flowering season, for filler in arrangements and its attraction to bumblebees. Once planted it will self-sow, which is nice as I would hate to be without either color.

Cosmos bipinnatus. COSMOS ‘PSYCHE’. A lovely white semi-double form of this free flowering annual that grows to three feet tall providing much material for cutting and pollinators. Best to sow direct after danger of frost in not too fertile soil and do not fertilize as it will get lanky and not produce as many flowers.

Cosmos bipinnatus. COSMOS ‘SEA SHELLS’. A new and rather unique variety of Cosmos in which the petals are formed into little trumpets. Coming in shades of pink, crimson and white on plants to three feet. Easy, early and free blooming these are the first C. bipinnatus types I have noticed to have some fragrance–though not all of them share the trait.

Cymbopogon flexuosus. LEMONGRASS. This is the East Indian species which produces viable seed–the West Indian or common lemongrass doesn’t produce good seed. Its lemongrass oil is used in perfumery, cosmetics, and many food items such as ice cream, tea, candy and chewing gum. Best to start early indoors, when it will make good summer growth to provide plenty of foliage for potpourri and tea.

Treat as HHA. Few seeds, $2.50.

Cymbopogon martinii motia. PALMAROSA. Also known as Geranium grass, this is considered the finest source of commercial geraniol (an alcohol present in greatest concentration in the Rose-leaf geranium, which gives the rose its pleasant sweet scent). The oil is used in soaps, perfumes, medicines and even mosquito repellents. Started early, it can grow to six feet in a summer and is quite attractive.

For the fragrance garden and cut it for potpourri before or after it freezes. Treat as HHA, few seeds, $2.50.

Datura inoxia. ANGEL'S TRUMPET. Although native to the American southwest, this is quite an exotic looking plant with its lush bluish-grey leaves borne on thick stems and enormous white trumpet-shaped flowers which can be up to six inches across and nearly a foot long. The large flowers open in the evening and scent the surrounding air with a citrus-flower like fragrance and are a favorite of the evening hawk moths, or humming bird moths, which may be the only creatures here to have a proboscis long enough to reach the flower’s nectar because the trumpet is so long. The seeds are poisonous so keep little hands away. May grow to 2-3 feet high and spread to 3-4 feet. Treat as HHA though it may live over on the south side of a building.

Datura inoxia. SACRED DATURA. Sent to me under the name Datura japonica, this turned out to be a somewhat different variety of D. inoxia in which the flowers are not so huge, but many more are 13

borne per plant so it is perhaps even more showy. What really struck me were all the hummingbird moths literally falling into the flowers–wings momentarily silent–then fluttering their way backwards up the tube! Can go to 3 by 5 feet under good conditions, and is native to the Southwest and Mexico.

Datura inoxia. LARGEST OF ALL. Self descriptively has the largest leaves, flowers and pods of any I have grown. These plants can be perennial on the south side of a house (as can Marvel of Peru).

Datura metel. WHITE HORN-OF-PLENTY. The nomenclature on Daturas has been a bit mixed up rather like that of the Morning Glories. Here offered is a green leaved variety with white trumpet-in-trumpet flowers to about 7 inches long and 4 inches across–sometimes there are three trumpets stacked together. The flowers are very fragrant especially at night, and the fruits are merely warty rather than spiny. As with all Daturas, all parts of the plant are poisonous. 10 seeds, $2.50.

Datura metel. PURPLE HORN-OF-PLENTY. Like the above but with violet and purple trumpet-in-trumpet flowers and the stems of the plant are such a deep purple as to appear a glossy black.

10 seeds, $2.50.

Datura metel. YELLOW HORN-OF-PLENTY. Beautiful creamy yellow variety of this rather magnificent group of plants. It might be noted that in the north at least, the D. metel varieties will bloom earlier and more abundantly if confined to a large pot. 10 seeds, $2.50.

Dianthus x. MARGUERITE. Or Marguerite Carnation, this hybrid between the scentless D. chinensis and D. caryophyllus gives a plant that can be grown as an annual, which still has a fine spicy scent. Sown at any time of year, this carnation comes into bloom in five months and if started early indoors it will bloom until frost, furnishing innumerable bouquets the while. The flowers are 2-3 inches in diameter and many come double on plants to 18 inches.

Dianthus caryophyllus. GRENADIN CARNATIONS. This species contains the florist's Carnation as well as the more garden-worthy Hardy or Border Carnation to which we refer here. Though considerably more adaptable than the former, it should be renewed from time to time as it can be lost in a hard winter. Here offered are two individual varieties growing to 15 inches, for border or cutting, HP, zone 5.

KING OF THE BLACKS. Fragrant dark velvety red-brown.

WHITE QUEEN. Fragrant double pure white flowers.

Dianthus caryophyllus. ANNUAL CARNATION ‘DWARF FRAGRANCE.’ Growing to 15 inches, this strain of hardy border carnations has been selected for fragrance and compact, sturdy stems.

Excellent for cutting, this mix contains scarlet, crimson, rose, pink, white and striped.

Dianthus caryophyllus. ANNUAL CARNATION ‘EARLY DWARF VIENNA’. Growing to only 14 inches, this is an excellent bedding strain which if sown in February will come to bloom in June. The medium-sized blooms appear in the well-known carnation colors and have the rich clove perfume.

Dianthus caryophyllus. LA FRANCE CARNATION. Fragrant, soft pink, double flowers on wiry stems–start early and treat as annual in cold climates.

Dracocephalum moldavica. MOLDAVIAN BALM or DRAGONHEAD. I had this listed as LEMON-SCENTED PLANT, but someone finally enlightened me. The foliage has a most refreshing lemon smell and the plant bears spikes of pretty light-blue flowers all summer long, which are very attractive to bees and butterflies. Very easy from seed.

Erysimum asperum. SIBERIAN WALLFLOWER. Or possibly E. hieracliifolium, this is sometimes listed as Cheiranthus allionii, and the two genera are closely related members of the Mustard Family.

However, the Siberian Wallflower is able to take extremes of heat and cold that the other cannot. It is really a biennial, but sown early it will bloom the first year–or sow in late summer for earlier bloom. The pleasing, small orange flowers are borne over a long period and exhale the wallflower bouquet of clove and lily.

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Erysimum perofskianum. AFGHANISTAN WALLFLOWER. Similar to E. asperum, the native species, but more easily grown as a HA with sweetly scented flowers over a long period. This strain has flowers of a more yellow hue than the more common bright orange type. Grows to about 15 inches.

Gilia tricolor. BIRD’S EYES. A comely name for an easily grown and beautiful little spring flower of the Southwest. The plant grows to one foot and carries its sweet scented funnel-shaped flowers in clusters. The petals are lilac or violet with a yellow throat marked with purple.

Gnaphalium obtusifolium. SWEET EVERLASTING. An unobtrusive if once common plant in old fields and woods in many parts of the country. Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote of it: “Perhaps the herb everlasting, the fragrant immortelle of our autumn fields, has the most suggestive odour to me of all those that set me dreaming.” Variously described as scented of lemon, curry or “sepulchral spicery” the clusters of small everlasting flowers would make a welcome addition to wreaths and other dried work.

Listed as annual, biennial and perennial, it seems to perform as an annual here.

Helianthus annuus. SUNFLOWER ‘AUTUMN BEAUTY.’ One tends to get a bit more and less than promised with this strain–more height (eight or nine feet instead of six) and less fantastic color variation than the pictures show. Still, where room allows, it is an excellent plant to grow for cut flowers and for its attraction to goldfinches.

Helianthus annuus. SUNFLOWER ‘EVENING SUN’. Bearing many 4-6” flowers in shades of crimson, burgundy, bronze, rust and gold with many being bicolor on stalks to 6-8’ over a long season.

Best sown directly as they will be sturdier plants this way. Good for the birds, pollinators and for cutting.

Helianthus annuus. SUNFLOWER ‘TEDDY BEAR’. For those who don’t have space for the larger types, here is a rather unique dwarf sunflower that should stay under two feet–its fully double, golden yellow flowers can reach six inches in diameter.

Helianthus annuus. ‘CRIMSON THRILLER’. Cut-and-come-again or Common sunflower, this variety has six inch mahogany red flowers on a plant to 5-6 feet. I think that sunflowers are sturdier when sown directly where they are to grow–and not too rich a soil or they will be more likely to blow over in a storm. Treat as HA. Helianthus debilis. CUCUMBERLEAF SUNFLOWER. Perhaps a better plant for the flower garden as it is a bit more graceful and less tall (to 4-5 ft.) than H. annuus. The form offered here is ‘Vanilla Ice’ with 3-4 inch flowers of a cream to light yellow hue with a chocolate center. Plant more than you need for cutting, as they are especially attractive in the fall bobbing with goldfinches.

Heliotropium arborescens. HELIOTROPE. Formerly H. peruvianum, from its land of nativity, it is often called Cherry-Pie plant–though many consider it to be more of an almond-vanilla perfume. Here offered are the tall growing varieties with large flat heads of flowers in the purplish-blue to white range.

They are excellent for greenhouse culture when they will bloom nearly year round–they were often trained as standards for setting out in tubs for feature plants in the summer garden. They are easy to raise from cuttings so if you grow an especially fragrant plant you might want to preserve it as the fragrance can be quite variable from seed. Will not tolerate any frost.

Heliotropium arborescens. DWARF MARINE HELIOTROPE. Deep violet-blue flowers of “vanilla” fragrance nearly obscure the deep green rugose leaves of this charming plant for most of the summer until the first frost when all goes black. Good for bedding or pots, it grows only to one foot.

Iberis amara. CANDYTUFT ‘GIANT WHITE HYACINTH’. Derives its name from Candia, the ancient name for Crete–thus the name is not quite so cute as might first appear. Most of the candytufts are not fragrant, however this variety and I. odorata have a fine sweet scent. Often grown for cutting by florists, they do well in almost any garden soil. Should be sown where they are to grow, will begin blooming in six weeks and continue until frost.

Impatiens balsamina. GARDEN BALSAM. An old-fashioned garden plant from the Asiatic Tropics. These can be considered an improvement on earlier strains for their wide range of color, flower 15

size and camellia-like form and the fact that some of them are softly scented–a departure from previous types. CAMELLIA FLOWERED MIX. Layia platyglossa. TIDY-TIPS. A diminutive annual of the foothills and valleys of California with reddish stems and bright yellow flowers tipped with white that are delicately fragrant. Easily grown, excellent for cutting, the two inch flowers are produced in profusion all summer.

Limnanthes douglasii. POACHED EGG PLANT. Or perhaps more commonly, but less colorfully, MEADOW FOAM. A delicate annual to six inches with very pretty yellow-centered white blossoms borne in great profusion. The sweetly scented flowers are very attractive to bees and make an admirable edging to a flower bed. Where summers are hot, succession sow or use as an early flowering filler to give way to later, larger growing plants.

Lobularia maritima, [Alyssum maritimum]. SWEET ALYSSUM. A much used carpeting plant whose flowers have the refreshing scent of newly mown hay. This is the type plant, being not quite so dwarf as the newer named varieties, but having a full measure of the scent they are often deficient in– especially the coloured varieties. Always a favorite for edging the flower border.

Lupinus luteus. YELLOW LUPINE. Growing to two feet, this hardy annual from southern Europe is there grown as a soil improver, and a field of it will fill the air with a most delicious vanilla-like perfume in June and July. The plant is hairy with neat, compact flower spikes and does well in the poorest of soils. Probably will thrive best where the Broad bean is grown. Sow direct or in pots as it resents transplanting. HA. Matricaria matricarioides. PINEAPPLE WEED. Known in England by the name Apple-mayweed as there its odour is thought to be like ripe apples. It is a dwarf plant with feathery foliage that exhales a strong pleasant fruity smell when crushed as it often is when walked on. It is common in California where it is called Manzanilla. A tisane is prepared from the leaves and flower heads.

Matthiola incana. COMMON STOCK. This is another of the old favorites with outstanding scent, and it belongs to the Mustard Family, as does the Wallflower and the Dames’ Violet. Whole villages of the weavers of Saxony were once devoted to raising these Stocks–and only one color was permitted to be grown per village in order to keep the strains pure. They are excellent planted in July for winter flowering in the greenhouse, or for outdoor culture start in early March and plant out after frost danger is past. We offer the BEAUTY OF NICE strain, considered the finest of all stocks. Growing to 30 inches, they have an exotic, penetrating clove perfume which is stronger in the double-flowered plants. To have only doubles, discard the darker colored seedlings. Mixed colors.

Matthiola incana. COMMON STOCK. Perhaps one of the most fragrant of the commercial cutflowers, this is a plant with long human associations. Here offered is the Mammouth Excelsior Column Strain considered a non-branching type to about 3 feet. Available in: WHITE, LAVENDER, YELLOW, ROSE and CRIMSON. Matthiola longipetala. EVENING STOCK. Not a showy or white flowered plant like many night bloomers, but when the flowers open in the evening they diffuse a lily-like perfume all out of proportion to the size of the plant or flower. Once a favorite with German ladies to grow in pots for their apartments or placed on balconies of town houses where its perfume on the summer evenings would penetrate indoors as well as through the streets. Sow it where it will grow, as an edging to a border or path, under a window, or in a dooryard. Hardy annual to 18 inches best sown direct.

Mentzelia lindleyi. BLAZING STAR. With gold silken sweet-scented flowers of 2 inches or more, this is a most attractive Californian wildflower. It is best sown direct in full sun in a not too rich soil, where it will bloom continuously most of the summer. Far too seldom seen, but always appreciated when it is.

Mirabilis jalapa. MARVEL OF PERU. Also Four O’Clock, though I think they seldom open that early unless shaded from the afternoon sun. Actually a tropical perennial that can be treated like the 16

dahlia, but not worth the trouble since they come readily from seed. With a simple, free, far reaching perfume of citrus, the beautiful flowers are variously and vari-colored. A little larger than pennies, the flowers are a great attraction for the hawkmoths, so commonly mistaken for hummingbirds. A favorite old-fashioned flower the French call Belle-de-nuit, it is odd in that flowers of different color occur in different parts of the same plant. These are mainly marbled red and yellow–looks like fire, or specify WHITE–good for the White or Evening garden.

Mirabilis longiflora. SWEET FOUR-O’CLOCK. Also sometimes called Angel’s Trumpets for although the face of the flower is about the size of a dime, the tube may be 4 to 6 inches long. The flowers exhale the scent of orange-blossom and are borne in great abandon from midsummer until frost.

The plant is a rather mounded affair like Datura inoxia to 2 feet high by 3 or 4 feet wide. 10 seeds.

Monarda citriodora. LEMON MINT. Native to the southern U.S. is this two foot fragrant annual to biennial herb. It has a warm lemon fragrance and its edible flowers and leaves are used for flavoring game and fish and for making a very fine tea.

Monarda punctata. DOTTED MINT. Performing variously as an annual, biennial, or perennial, this member of the mint family is probably more notable for its showy pink leaves than the whorls of small yellow flowers dotted purple or black. A quite unusual native wildflower, this and Thymus vulgaris are the source of Thymol.

Nicotiana alata. JASMINE TOBACCO. The “dumb white nicotine” of Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poem “which wakes and utters her fragrance/In a garden sleeping”. The flower may have a somewhat droopy appearance by day, but it comes alive at dusk when the long creamy tubes expand and pour forth their perfume to the night air for four months or more. There are many colored and dwarf hybrids now, but none can hold a candle to this magnificent candelabra’s scent. Treated as hardy annual, to three feet.

Nicotiana alata. WINGED TOBACCO ‘DAYLIGHT SENSATION.’ Generally not as fragrant as the above type, but these have the advantage of staying open during the daytime and a color range including white, pink, red and wine. Growing to about thirty inches, they are very attractive to hummingbird moths and will continue flowering until frost cuts them down.

Nicotiana alata. WINGED TOBACCO ‘LIME GREEN’. Similar to the above but with flowers a pale lime-green, this is an especially useful plant for the flower arranger as well as a fine plant for the mixed border. A color seldom seen in flowers.

Nicotiana sp. PERFUME DEEP PURPLE. This is one of the dwarf hybrid tobaccos that grows to about a foot and bears vibrant deep purple flowers all summer long right up to frost. Best to surface sow early indoors as the seed is very tiny and needs light to germinate–when established it is heat and drought tolerant. Surprisingly fragrant at night for one of the dwarf hybrid tobaccos. HHA, pkt. $2.50.

Nicotiana suaveolens. SWEET-SCENTED TOBACCO. Most of the tobaccos come from the Americas however this sweetly fragrant one comes from Australia. It is somewhat shorter than most– about 2 ft.–with smaller flowers, but many more of them. The leaves are less coarse as well but it is the delicious fragrance which makes it indispensable.

Nicotiana sylvestris. WOODLAND TOBACCO. Native to the Argentine, it performs as an annual in the North. Growing four to six feet, a group of several plants makes a fine accent with panicles of drooping, tubular flowers of purest white with the sweet scent of freesias. Very attractive to the hawk or hummingbird moths.

Nigella damascena. LOVE-IN-A-MIST. An old fashioned garden annual from southern Europe belonging to the Buttercup Family. Not planted as much as it should be, the white, pink, mauve, and purple flowers nestling in the feathery foliage always elicit interest, even from the casual observer. The essential oil (of a lemon-carrot odor) is valued in perfume and lipstick. The spice commonly used in Europe and the Near East is the seed of N. sativa. Available in: PERSIAN JEWELS, the above colors 17

mixed; MISS JEKYLL, bright light blue; MISS JEKYLL ALBA, white; PERSIAN ROSE, old rose. The seeds when rolled between the fingers smell rather like grape soda-pop.

Nigella hispanica. Can’t find a common name for this Nigella, however it is a very nice plant somewhat similar to the more common Love-in-a-mist, but with larger, deeper blue, lightly scented flowers with a boss of maroon stamens. A vigorous plant with very interesting seed-pods, it is best sown directly in the garden.

Ocimum basilicum. ANISE BASIL. This variety of basil makes a nice ornamental with its purple tinted foliage, lavender flowers on violet stalks and rich anise fragrance. A bushy plant to 16 inches–if the flower stalks are allowed to mature, they make interesting fragrant material for dry arrangements, as do all the basils.

Ocimum basilicum. CINNAMON BASIL. One of those plants good to have near a door, bench or along a frequently used path or the like so it will be handy to pinch for its invigorating cinnamon scent.

Growing to 15 to 20 inches, its purple veined leaves and spike lavender flowers make it worth growing for its appearance alone.

Ocimum basilicum. DARK OPAL BASIL. Probably the most ornamental of all the basils with its purple-black spicy foliage and lavender-white spikes of flowers on a plant to 18 inches. More attractive to me than the ruffled types which look as though they have had an herbicidal encounter. Start a few more than you need as some will not come entirely true. Plant where they will be convenient to jostle for their invigorating scent.

Ocimum basilicum. THAI BASIL. From Thailand comes this basil which is as ornamental as it is useful with its purple stems and red-purple flowers in compact clusters very unlike the spikes of flowers on most other types. A staple in Thai and Vietnamese cooking with its anise-clove-cinnamon perfume on compact plants.

Ocimum sanctum. HOLY BASIL. Not highly showy, but a clump I had growing next to some oldfashioned petunias was quite handsome. For its fragrance it is revered by Hindus and much planted about temple gardens, the stem base being cut into beads for rosaries. The flowers are purplish in 8 inch racemes and when mature, make fragrant material for dried arrangements. Under two feet, it will reseed.

Oenothera sp. ANNUAL EVENING PRIMROSE. This was sent to me by a customer a few years back, and for those who are impatient it makes a good annual substitute for the biennial sorts (O. biennis and O. glazioviana) as it looks quite similar. Not sure if it is quite as fragrant as its cousins, but there are often tradeoffs in these situations.

Omphalodes linifolia. VENUS’ NAVELWORT. A charming and little used HA to only about one foot that is literally covered with sprays of small white faintly scented five-petaled flowers through the summer, especially if kept cut for bouquets. Also known as Greek Forget-Me-Nots, it is the seed that is supposed to look like a navel.

Perilla frutescens. VIETNAMESE PERILLA. Different from the more common red perilla and the somewhat less common green perilla is this Vietnamese variety that is a bronze-green on the top of the leaf and a garnet-purple on the underneath side of the leaf. One of the more unusual herbs in the Vietnamese culinary palette, the flavor is a mix of cinnamon, mint and lemon and provides a perfect finish for such bold foods as mock turtle stew and sizzling crepes. The seed is also used as a spice and for making a drying oil similar to linseed oil. A bold plant for the herb garden or back of the border growing to 4 feet.

Perilla frutescens crispa. PERILLA. Grown for its handsome purple crisped foliage rather like a large coleus, this plant has many other uses in its native lands. The cinnamon-scented leaves are used to give savor to fish, bean curd, cucumbers and tempura–the oil for sauces, candy, toothpaste and perfume.

Pre-chill the seeds or sow direct early.

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Petunia x hybrida. GARDEN PETUNIA. The multitudinous varieties and forms of this plant stem from the crossing of two species, P. axillaris and P. violacea, the latter contributing most of the fragrance. Mrs. Wilder explains that the “scent of Petunia is not altogether pleasant save at night when it loses a certain coarseness of quality and becomes lighter and more transparent.” The single purple and white forms are best for fragrance, with preference being given to the white. Some of the very large ruffled ones are quite abominable, as after they have faded, they hang on the plant like a soiled tissue.

We offer an old-fashioned mixture, free blooming and ideal for mass planting, borders and boxes, that lack the heavy congested feeling that so many of the newer strains convey.

Petunia hybrida. WHITE GARDEN PETUNIA. The old-fashioned open pollinated sort that is easy to grow and doesn’t need to be dead-headed to look nice. Mrs. Wilder explains that the “scent of Petunia in not altogether pleasant save at night when it loses a certain coarseness of quality and becomes lighter and more transparent”. The single purple and white forms are best for fragrance, with preference being given to the white–they lack the heavy congested feeling that so many of the newer strains convey.

Petunia hybrida. ROSE CHANGELING PETUNIA. This seed comes from a petunia that has been growing under the bird feeder for a few years that I thought was a sort of old fashioned volunteer mix. But on closer inspection it turned out to be a single type in which the flower emerges a deep rose and eventually changes to a light violet fading to white at the center. I'm not sure if this happens much in petunias as the color shift is rather strong. Fragrant and vigorous, it took a fair amount of cat abuse and lasted well into the autumn frosts, almost as frost resistant as the Jasmine Tobacco.

Petunia hybrida nana compacta. COMPACT PETUNIA. These are simple flowered, openpollinated varieties that are good for bedding, or borders as they are a bit more compact–generally growing 12 to 16 inches with medium sized plain edge flowers, to my way of thinking, some of the nicest. Available in WHITE, DEEP ROSE, or DEEP VIOLET. Petunia hybrida pendula. BALCONY PETUNIA. An open-pollinated mixture with flowers somewhat larger than the compacta types, and strong growing to 18 to 24 inches with a spreading or trailing habit. Thus excellent for both bedding and window or porch boxes.

Phlox drummondii. TEXAS-PRIDE. Annual or Drummond Phlox are other names for this most popular summer bedding plant. Here offered is a TALL mix of varieties so wonderful for cutting–which attention will keep them coming all summer. The only annual Phlox of use in the garden, the plants grow to about 18 inches flowering in shades of red, white, pink and purple. Some are more or less fragrant than others and some not at all, so you may wish to save seed from the better sorts. Also available in red.

Polygonum orientale. KISS-ME-OVER-THE-GARDEN-GATE. An old-fashioned annual knotweed used for bold effect. With its large heart-shaped leaves and pendulous clusters of small pink flowers, freely borne, it is a truly handsome species. In a rich, moist soil it can go to six feet, so you may wish to temper it with less ideal conditions. Best sown in fall or early spring where it is to grow. Light, sweet fragrance.

Polygonum orientale. SHIRO-GANE NISHIKI. A relatively new variegated Kiss-Me-Over-TheGarden-Gate from Japan with a subtle reticulate pattern in the leaf, thus the Japanese word nishiki, meaning brocade. A quite attractive foliage plant with pale pink drooping flowers that is not so robust as the type plant but still going to six feet. Coming quite true from seed. Pkt. $2.50.

Polygonum orientale. VARIEGATED KISS-ME-OVER-THE-GARDEN-GATE. This is a variegated version I have been working with that occurred in the garden–another beta version that could maybe use a bit more work. The flowers are red and the variegations can be stronger than the above but are perhaps not as consistent. Like the Variegated Japanese Hop, the lack of chlorophyl in some leaves doesn’t seem to slow down growth much. Pkt. $2.50.

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Proboscidea louisianica. UNICORN-PLANT. A very odd, distinct plant for specimen use and for the decorative seed pods fancifully linked to unicorns, or when dried and split apart to exotic birds.

More popular abroad than here in their native land, their large gloxinia-like flowers are fragrant–to some flagrantly so.

Reseda odorata. MIGNONETTE. Not a very ornamental plant, but one long grown and cherished for its distinctive and powerful fragrance used in the compounding of perfume. The English poet, Cowper, celebrated its arrival in England with the words “. . . the sashes fronted with a range/Of orange, myrtle, or the fragrant weed./The Frenchman’s darling”. Much used in France for growing in pots on balconies and terraces, the fashion was started by the Empress Josephine when Napoleon sent seed to her during his Egyptian campaign. Thus it received the name mignonette (little darling) from the French. Sow it in a lean soil which does not lack for lime.

Scabiosa atropurpurea. SWEET SCABIOUS. Also known as the Mourning Bride because of the sombre color of the original type, and as Pincushion flower for its large fullness. An excellent flower for cutting with its long stems and good keeping qualities, it grows to 3 feet and likes an open, sunny position with lime in the soil. The flowers come in lovely and unusual colors and are richly scented of honey. MIXED. Tagetes tenuifolia. SIGNET MARIGOLD. This is certainly my favorite of the marigold species, and the variety ‘pumila’ is probably the most useful. A plant of less than a foot in height, foliage finely incised and covered in masses of brilliant single flowers. Genders considers its foliage “. . . more refreshingly aromatic than of any other plant, the lemon Verbena-like perfume remaining on the fingers for an hour or more after pressing the leaves.” We offer LEMON GEM–its not lemon verbena to me, but it is very refreshing or RED GEM—brilliant red bloom with golden center.

Tropaeolum majus. JEWEL MIXTURE. All the range of nasturtium colors are to be found in this MIX of the dwarf, non-trailing double-flowered sorts: i.e. cherry, crimson, gold, mahogany, primrose, salmon, scarlet, peach etc. Good for pots, windowbox, edging, salads–some are more fragrant than others.

Verbena bonariensis. BUENOS AIRES VERBENA. Though possessing little in the way of fragrance, this is a rather spectacular plant for the border and for cutting with its very long-stemmed roselavender flowers coming all summer. Called a see-through flower by Karen because the flower heads are held high on long leaf-less stems. In the South and West it is a perennial but here it makes a fine HHA. Growing to 3-4 feet, it is very attractive to butterflies and other insects.

Verbena tenuisecta. MOSS VERBENA. A dainty little plant from South America which can be grown as a perennial in the southern tier of states and as a HHA farther north. With its fernlike foliage and dense heads of lilac-pink sweet scented flowers, it makes a good addition to the rock garden or for fronting a border.

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Most common and most loved is the scent of roses, their perfume the distillation of high summer.

In Persia, wine was brought to the table with a rose in the bottle instead of a cork– one bouquet complementing another.

–LESLEY GORDON

FRAGRANT PERENNIALS

Abronia fragrans. SAND VERBENA. Though seldom grown or offered, this is an indispensable plant for the evening or fragrance garden. If sown early it will bloom the first year, but is a hardy perennial to zone 5. It is a trailing plant to two feet across, which when established will bloom all summer diffusing its vanilla-like perfume through the evening garden from white flowers in verbena-like heads. Best to remove the seed from the little pod and give a month of chilling–plant in a sunny well-drained spot. Few seeds.

Achillea filipendulina. FERNLEAF YARROW. A very serviceable and hardy plant that should be in every flower border and cutting garden. Displaying its yellow, flat-topped flowers in corymbs to four inches across, it will flower nearly all summer in rather poor, dry soil. The ferny, silvery foliage is quite attractive and possesses a pungent aroma somewhat like that of feverfew.

Achillea millefolium. MILFOIL “…pleasant for summer bouquets”. is how H. V. P. Wilson describes this pungently scented perennial herb which makes a good ground cover in poor dry soils. The specific name which means thousand-leaved refers to its feathery, finely divided foliage above which are borne the many flat clusters of white flowers from July to September. The most medicinally active of the Yarrows, it is also a mosquito repellent. Zone 2.

Acorus calamus. SWEET FLAG. A plant with swordlike leaves to 2-3 feet which is excellent for the bog garden or marshy area, but will grow in ordinary garden soil as long as it doesn’t dry out. The flag-like leaves were once employed as a strewing herb in churches and the root, dried and candied, was a popular homemade confection several generations ago. Has a resinous aromatic scent.

Adenophora lilifolia. LILYLEAF LADYBELL. Coming from Siberia, this is a very hardy plant (zone 2-3) with blue summer-blooming flowers similar to those of the Campanulas, that are borne in long spikes on plants of 2 to 3 feet. The flowers are lightly but sweetly scented, and the plants resent disturbance so should be located in their permanent position while young.

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Agastache foeniculum. ANISE HYSSOP. This is an interesting plant for the back of the border or for the wild garden. It has a strong aromatic smell like anise (children say Root Beer), dark hairy leaves and feathery spikes of blue flowers. Bees will work the flowers as long as there is light, and where there are large quantities of the plant, the honey produced has a most agreeable taste. Very attractive to butterflies also.

Agastache foeniculum ‘Album’. WHITE ANISE HYSSOP. The pure white flowered form of this wonderfully fragrant honey plant. Quite similar to the blue but for the flowers, slightly lighter green leaves and to my nose more minty and less anise scented foliage.

Agrimonia eupatoria. COMMON AGRIMONY. Valued by our ancestors for its many herbal uses, this once common wayside plant possesses a fragrance like ripe apricots in its roots and the long spikes of small yellow flowers. The 2-3 foot plant has been used to produce a yellow dye. Zone 4.

Agrimonia odorata. SCENTED AGRIMONY. Not a showy plant, but a stately one with its fernlike foliage and long, nodding spikes of yellow flowers. The leaves and flowers have a delicious resinous quality similar to that of the English Walnut’s leaves. Used medicinally and in stuffing pillows and potpourris.

Amsonia hubrictii. ARKANSAS BLUESTAR. A beautiful plant with its very fine foliage presence all summer which turns an outstanding golden hue in autumn. Growing to about 3 feet, it has clusters of small steel-blue flowers in June with a delightful perfume. The Amsonias are tolerant plants and should be used more than they are.

Amsonia tabernaemontana. WILLOW AMSONIA. Justifiably becoming more popular is this easy perennial wildflower with steel-blue lightly fragrant blooms in dense terminal clusters in May and June.

With its attraction for butterflies, willow-like foliage and few pests, this is a good mid-border plant.

Anemarrhena asphodeloides. ZHI MU. This important Chinese herb with grass-like appearance has been used for over 2000 years for its antidiabetic and antibacterial properties. It is very hardy (zone 2) and in summer produces its 3 foot spikes of small light purple flowers that are fragrant in the evening.

HP, pkt. $2.50.

Anthoxanthum odoratum. SWEET VERNAL GRASS. A modest little grass which, owing to the compound coumarin, has a powerful scent of new-mown hay (also present in woodruff, melilot and the flowers of sweet alyssum). The refreshing pungent smell is not apparent until the grass has dried, when it is tied in bunches like melilot to scent linen or keep moths away. Jefferson included it among grasses to be sown at Monticello.

Aquilegia caerulea. ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLUMBINE. A very popular species, flowers sky blue with white interior and usually with a light fragrance. A parent (along with A. chrysantha) of the long-spurred hybrids. 2-3 feet, zone 3.

Aquilegia chrysantha. GOLDEN COLUMBINE. One of our native columbines found from Colorado to Texas and further proof that the species are more beautiful than the hybrids. Growing 2-3 feet with lightly fragrant flowers from May to July or longer, it is one of the parents of the long-spurred garden hybrids–along with A. caerulea. Zone 2-3.

Artemisia absinthium. COMMON WORMWOOD. The silky-hairy much divided leaves of this ancient medicinal herb or subshrub are a pale greenish white and are of a most bitter taste and smell– perhaps explaining its long use in the treatment of indigestion, gout, scurvy, etc. The Egyptians used it to expel worms, and the Romans wove it into garlands and burned it as incense. An attractive plant for the herb garden or back border–best to remove the seed heads before they ripen to prevent self-seeding.

Asclepias incarnata. SWAMP MILKWEED. See PRAIRIE FLOWERS. Aster amellus. ITALIAN ASTER. With flowers in shades of blue and purple, this is one of the few asters with fragrant blossoms. Popular in Europe, this Aster is not easily found in American 23

nurseries, perhaps, because unlike most asters it is not easily moved in the fall. Growing to nearly 2 feet, it is hardy to zone 3.

Baptisia australis. MAUVE WILD INDIGO. Seed from a plant of this species–otherwise listed in the Prairie section–with flowers in a delicate shade of purple. Also perhaps more upright than the species, it is most useful for bouquets with the tall bearded iris. Three feet, zone 3, not fragrant.

Buddleia davidii. BUTTERFLY BUSH. This is one of the easiest shrubs to grow from seed and an early sowing will give flowers the first summer. It is a “dieback" shrub in the North (its best cut to the ground yearly anyway to keep it from getting leggy) and should be in every garden planted for fragrance, butterflies or color. Can go to 5 or 6 feet in a summer so give it some room.

Buddleia davidii. MIXED BUTTERFLY BUSH. No garden that has a sunny spot should be without butterfly bushes with their honey-scented flowers borne in such abundance over a long season that are so attractive to butterflies and other pollinators and that are so easy to grow. Here offered is a mix consisting of blue, white, purple, mauve and violet. They will vary in color and height and length of flower spike, but give them the sunniest of spots for best flower production.

Buddleia davidii ‘Alba’. WHITE BUTTERFLY-BUSH. Just as floriferous and attractive to the butterflies and moths as the type, but better for the late evening and night garden is the lovely pure white form of this indispensable nectar and fragrance producing plant. Not only does it produce flowers all summer long, but from an early start indoors you can have a six foot plant with many flower spikes and butterflies the first season. Undemanding as to soil and moisture conditions but it should be given as much sun as possible. Treat as a hardy perennial and cut it to the ground in the spring to remove dead wood and to keep it from getting leggy. Zone 5, Pkt. $2.50.

Calamintha nepeta nepeta. CALAMINT SAVORY. A wonderful plant for the border with its small greyish-green leaves and sparse but billowy stalks of tiny lavender flowers borne over most of the summer. Good for dry sandy places where it will, no doubt, develop more of its refreshing, thyme-like scent. With its very delicate appearance, it makes a fine neutral or filler plant.

Centranthus ruber. RED VALERIAN. Also known as Jupiter’s-beard and Fox’s-brush, this native of Europe blooms over a long period from July to September with its small but abundantly borne flowers. A very serviceable plant, but curious in that it is usually described as fragrant though Genders says “…delightful to behold but with an unpleasant smell of perspiration.”. I find it nearly scentless.

Tough perennial to 2-3 feet with billowy masses of small flowers in ROSY-RED or WHITE. Chrysanthemum parthenium. FEVERFEW. For the herb garden and mid-border this is a necessary plant. With strongly aromatic foliage and corymbs of white flowers with yellow centers, the whole plant is used in some medicines for fevers and nervous pains, and a tincture to repel insects. Zone 4.

Chrysanthemum parthenium aureum. GOLDEN FEVERFEW. Also called Golden Feather for its very attractive golden foliage throughout the growing season. Same white daisy-like flowers as the above which are so useful for cutting. Comes quite true from seed. $2.50.

Chrysanthemum sp. GREY LEAVED FEVERFEW. This plant come to me as Tanacetum niveum, but it looks more like it could be a cross between that species and regular Feverfew (now also considered a Tanacetum) for it most resembles Feverfew but has foliage of a much more grey hue rather than the typical deep green of the species. It also seems to be more floriferous like T. niveum. Regardless of its parentage, it seems to come quite true from seed and has the pungent leaves of Feverfew. HP, zone 4.

Clematis heracleifolia. TUBE CLEMATIS. One of the non-vining Clematis, this herbaceous perennial to 3-4 feet is a good summer border plant with its small blue fragrant flowers borne over a long summer season. Wilder describes the fragrance as “ripe Greengages and the leaves when drying of new mown hay”. Seed does not require cold treatment. Zone 4. $2.50.

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Clematis integrifolia rosea. SOLITARY CLEMATIS. A rose colored form of this normally blue bell-like flowered clematis which only grows to 18 inches but will remain procumbent unless supported.

Hardy to zone 3, it blooms most of the summer.

Coreopsis lanceolata. LANCE COREOPSIS. A hardy perennial Coreopsis native from Ontario to Florida which is excellent for cutting and easily raised from seed. This strain has golden yellow two inch semi-double flowers with a warm sweet fragrance. A curious trait it sometimes exhibits is to send a miniature flower on a short stalk directly from the main flower, a sort of floral satellite. Zone 3.

Crambe cordifolia. GIANTSEAKALE. Considered by no less an authority than William Robinson to be “One of the finest of hardy and large-leaved herbaceous plants. . .” it lives up to its name by occupying a space of about four feet diameter. Seldom, if ever offered, this member of the wallflower family has a corresponding scent on flower heads to 6-7 feet in height and 3 feet in diameter. Needless to say, not a plant for the small place, but one which makes an admirable foil for tall blue delphiniums in the border, or by the pondside or in the wild garden. Hardy here (Zone 5) and blooming in its second or third year–one plant here in a sheltered position went to near 8 feet with a spread of almost 5 feet!

Has been described as looking like a giant gypsophila. $2.50.

Dianthus x allwoodii alpinus. ALLWOOD PINK. A result of crossing the carnation with the cottage and alpine pinks, these fragrant, diminutive plants are good for the rock garden, front of the border or bedding. The silvery-blue tufted foliage sets off single Pink-like flowers in combinations of white, pink and crimson–some with dark contrasting eyes.

Dianthus barbatus. SWEET WILLIAM. Actually a perennial, these are often treated as annuals or biennials. A flower which old-fashioned gardens could hardly be without. Sweet Williams are beautiful in the border and a most attractive of cut flowers. We offer the EXCELSIOR strain, a mixture selected for rich colors and fragrance. To 18 inches.

Dianthus gratianopolitanus. CHEDDAR PINK. This is one of the most deliciously scented of pinks with its rich and spicy fragrance. It takes its name from the Cheddar Gorge of Somerset in southwest England. An excellent plant to use for a ground cover as it grows only 6 inches high, and planted a foot apart will eventually grow into a dense carpet of foliage, producing rosy-pink flowers in great profusion in June and July. Their bouquet is perceptible at a distance if the plants are numerous.

Also excellent as a specimen in the foreground of any garden or rockery. Zone 3.

Dianthus plumarius. COTTAGE PINK. Also called Grass or Spice Pink, it received its name plumarius from Gerard, on account of its feathered petals. Introduced from Europe in colonial days, it has been an extremely popular garden pink ever since on account of its hardiness and superb fragrance.

Long ago it was used “to prevail against hot pestilential fevers, and to comfort the heart, being eaten now and then.” Also to flavor wine, hence another of its names, Sops in Wine. To 1 foot, they are available in: DOUBLE, flowers large, borne profusely and highly fragrant; and SINGLE, known also as Pheasant Eye or Scotch Pink with flowers fragrant, exquisitely marked and penciled. Zone 3.

Dianthus superbus. LOVELINESS HYBRIDS. An Allwood cross between the Superb pink and his Sweet Wivelsfield hybrids. In his address to the RHS on 12 July 1955 he said the hybrid is “… exceedingly hardy and flowers from May until winter and is perhaps, the most fragrant of all flowers.”

Growing to about 15 inches, they may range through crimson, lavender and white, often with a green eye.

Dianthus suberbus. SUPERB PINK. Also known as Lilac or Fringed Pink, it was one of the favorite plants of Linnaeus and he gave it its special name. One of the most indispensable flowers for cottage and fragrance gardens, with its large fringed lilac petals with a green eye and soft sweet farreaching perfume that can carry a long distance on a warm summer evening. Widely distributed in the old world from Spain to Norway to Russia and Japan–it is not frequently planted in the new world.

Started early indoors, it will bloom in summer of the first year, so can be treated as an annual to biennial 25

to short-lived perennial if deadheaded. Zone 4-5.

Dianthus superbus alba. WHITE SUPERB PINK. The rare white form of this very fragrant dianthus which will flower the first year from an early sowing. Pkt. $2.50.

Dictamnus albus. GASPLANT. Formerly D. fraxinella, like many old garden plants, it has a number of common names, another of which is Dittany. It has spikes of white or rose flowers and fine foliage scented of lemon peel when gently rubbed, and of balsam when bruised. It was suggested by one person of observant nose that “. . . you should plant it along your favourite walk with the Lemon Balm and the Anise-scented Giant Hyssop, so that you may pluck a leaf of them as you pass by.” Like the Peony, it is one of those plants liable to outlive its benefactor. Zone 3.

Dictamnus albus. WHITE DITTANY. The pure white-flowered form of this fine specimen for the flower border, native from southern Europe to northern China. Growing to 3 feet and hardy to zone 3, it can be one of the backbones of the border for though slow to start, it is as long-lived as the peony and never needs division. I have witnessed the volatile gas being ignited! Zone 3.

Echinops sphaerocephalus. GREAT GLOBE THISTLE. A bold plant for the back of the border and to attract bees and butterflies with its large globular flowerheads of white marked with a tiny bit of blue. They are borne most of the summer on plants 5-6 feet and carry a mild fragrance of cloves, but they produce few seeds for me. Zone 3. Pkt. $2.50.

Elsholtzia stauntonii. STAUNTON ELSHOLTZIA. Or perhaps a little more commonly known (for an uncommon plant) as MINT SHRUB, for this is a woody member of the mint family. A rarely encountered fall blooming shrub from North China that is most useful to grow for its spikes of violetpink flowers in September and October. When bruised the leaves release a strong scent of mint–best cut to the ground in spring, when it will grow to about two feet before flowering in September. Zone 4.

Eupatorium altissimum. TALL BONESET. I discovered this plant on an exotic and treacherous trip–outside my brother’s greenhouse door where it had chosen to volunteer! A serviceable native species in its own right, this particular plant emerges with a strong variegation of bright yellow-green splotches.

Growing to 4 feet, it is covered with small white flowers from August to October which are delicately fragrant. Don’t know how true it will come, but some seedlings will be variegated. Zone 4, $2.50.

Filipendula ulmaria. QUEEN-OF-THE-MEADOW. A noble plant growing up to six feet when conditions suit it–moist rich soil. It is said to have been the favorite of Elizabeth I, as a strewing herb for her private apartments because the leaves are pleasantly aromatic of wintergreen when trodden upon.

The fragrance of the flowers is one of those which is best encountered on the air rather than close at hand. Zone 3.

Foeniculum vulgare rubrum. BRONZE FENNEL. A most delightful variety of the common fennel with bronze-red lacy foliage which can be used in the same ways as green fennel. Its rather striking color might suggest its use in the flower border or as an accent plant in the herb garden or elsewhere.

Although not long lived, it seems to be more tenacious of life than the other fennels. Growing to 3-4 feet, probably best zone 6 & south.

Gladiolus tristis. EVENINGFLOWER GLADIOLUS. Or as it is known in its native South Africa, Yellow Marsh Afrikander, where it apparently grows in low wet areas though this is not a necessary qualification of its cultivation. Like some other night-blooming fragrant plants such as the Evening Scented Stock, it is a plant of not too much consequence during the day. Growing to about two feet tall, it has three sword-like leaves and three to four sulfur-yellow flowers to two inches long which at night emit a clove-like perfume that carries on the night breeze. HP to zone 7. Pkt. $2.50.

Hemerocallis citrina. VERPERTINE DAYLILY. An ancestor of many light yellow and fragrant daylilies, this species is well worth growing on its own merits. Good for those who commute to work, it is a night bloomer opening in early evening and lasting until noon of the following day. The large, abundant, soft yellow blooms with lemony fragrance are borne over a long period on stems to six feet in 26

this variety—‘Vespertina’. Hailing from China, it is a very hardy plant–zone 2-3. HP, six seeds, $3.00.

Hemerocallis middendorfii. MOUNTAIN DAYLILY. A small species daylily found in high mountain meadows of Japan to northern China and Siberia and is one of the first of all daylilies to flower in late May and June. The very light orange fragrant flowers are cooked as a vegetable or added fresh to salad when they are called nikko-kisuge. The flowers are generally collected when in full color but before opening. HP to two feet, zone 3. Pkt. of 6 seeds, $3.00.

Hesperis hybrid. BLUE DAME’S ROCKET. I’m releasing the beta version of this apparent hybrid of H. matronalis and H. steveniana which grows to about 3 feet tall and has larger flowers with a fair amount of blue in them as compared with the normal purple of regular Dame’s Rocket. I haven’t gotten all the bugs out of the genetic software as yet so you may have to pull up some smaller purple flowered ones to favor the blues. They do all have the enchanting evening fragrance of the originals though. HB to HP but self-seeding, zone 3, pkt. $2.50.

Hesperis matronalis. DAME’S ROCKET. With many other common names (Damask Violet, Queen’s Gilliflower, Sweet Rocket, etc.) which attest to its long use and popularity. Its Latin name comes from the evening star, for it is at this time of day that its clove-like fragrance is most pronounced. Strictly speaking, it is a biennial, but it freely self-sows and will bloom the next May-June from these seedlings.

This is an indispensable plant for the fragrant garden–so easy to keep, and so lovely to have. Growing to 3 feet, its cruciform flowers smell more of violet during the day, and may be had in PURPLE, WHITE or MIXED. Hyssopus officinalis. DWARF WHITE HYSSOP. This appeared in a row of the dwarf pink sort and is quite the same but with white flowers–some may come pink from the seed. A nice little mounded, well behaved herb with the typical aromatic foliage that was long used as a strewing herb. Zone 3.

Iris dichotoma. VESPER IRIS. So called because of its habit of opening in the afternoon, this iris from Siberia grows to three feet and bears many small mauve flowers per stem over a period of weeks.

The delicately fragrant flowers are borne in August and September and convey a light airy feeling. One of the parents of the bi-generic hybrid, X Pardancanda. Zone 4-5.

Lavandula angustifolia. TRUE LAVENDER. Too well known to need any description, this exhilarating aromatic is certainly not grown as much as it might be. Lavender is certainly one of the cleanest and most invigorating of odors, and Isaac Walton recommended, “Let’s go to that house for the linen looks white and smells of lavender, and I long to be in a pair of sheets that smell so.” It “. . .is renowned for a simple purity–a sweet fragrance and a subtle strength, it is the odour of the domestic virtues and the symbolic perfume of a quiet life.” Zone 5.

Lilium regale. REGAL LILY. This is another of the easiest lilies to grow from seed and also one of the finest. The perfume is quite powerful, but with a spiciness which keeps it from becoming oppressive–a rich honeysuckle scent. Not discovered until 1903, it has become one of the most popular lilies. It was found growing in a remote valley on the confines of Tibet. It can grow up to 6 feet and bear as many as 30 trumpets per stem.

Lotus corniculatus. BIRDS-FOOT TREFOIL. A very pretty little trailing plant which, where it is not common, might well be sought after. Good as a ground cover where mowed, or in the wild garden–it will bloom nearly all summer with its red-spotted yellow flowers which are sweetly scented like vanilla.

Sometimes used as a forage and for planting along roadsides. Zone 4-5.

Lunaria rediviva. PERENNIAL HONESTY. Rather similar to the biennial type in appearance but the flowers are sweetly scented and the seed pods are football shaped and, of course, it is perennial in nature. Native to Europe where it is found in moist woodlands. Zone 3-4.

Macleaya cordata. PLUME-POPPY. Not at all poppy-like even though related, is this rather magnificent, pest-free, vigorous growing perennial, native to China and Japan. Growing to 6-8 feet, it is most impressive used as a specimen, by the waterside, or as an architectural accent. Each stem ends in 27

hundreds of tiny buff-colored flowers–very bold and eye-catching. The leaves also are very unique and attractive. Very hardy–zone 3.

Malva moschata. MUSK MALLOW. Growing to 2-3 feet, this is a charming old-fashioned flower of the summer that is slightly fragrant in all its parts, with a soft musky odor. Bushy and prodigally floriferous, bearing masses of satin-smooth flowers like small hollyhocks of a mauve (or white) color, they are well suited to the perennial border or wild garden. Though short lived, they will compensate by selfsowing. Zone 3.

Malva moschata alba. WHITE MUSK MALLOW. The very showy flowers of this old cottage garden plant are five-petalled, over two inches across and a pure white. Though usually listed as perennial to 2-3 feet and of zone 3 hardiness–here in the Midlands it seems to bloom to exhaustion and is better treated as a hardy annual, but it will reseed itself.

Matthiola fruticulosa. PERENNIAL STOCK. Also known as M. perennis and M. arborescens and “commonly” as Tree Stock or Palm Stock. Rather similar in appearance to the Common Stock but larger, woodier and more branching and of a more perennial nature up to perhaps zone 6 in a protected site. This is a white flowered form of exceptional fragrance which is most pronounced in the evening and through the night as with most stocks. Native to southern Europe. Few seeds, $2.50.

Melissa officinalis ‘Aurea’. GOLDEN LEMON-BALM. Coming relatively true from seed (in my experience it comes true or plain green as does Talinum p. ‘Aurea’, rather than shades between the two) the bright golden leaves of this lemon-scented herb are excellent to lighten up a shady spot–and it should have some afternoon shade to keep the leaves from burning. Used for tea and several medicinal purposes. My plants have grown mounded to about a foot. HP, zone 4.

Monarda didyma. BEE-BALM. Also known as Wild Bergamot for the likeness of its scent to that of the Bergamot orange used by perfumers, though in the Bee-balm it is mixed with mint. It also was used as a substitute for tea by the pioneers who named it Oswego-tea. All parts of the plant are very fragrant and it is very attractive to hummingbirds. We offer a choice mixture of shades from pink through crimson to purple, on plants to 30 in. $2.50.

Nelumbo lutea. YELLOW LOTUS. This is also called Water Chinkapin as the seeds are eaten and reminiscent of the small chestnut. There are only two species of lotus and this one is native to North America. It is a water plant, and succeeds in damp ground up to two feet of water where it is hardy as far north as Canada–hard to believe for something so exotic looking. Flowers to ten inches across and magnolia-like in aspect and fragrance. Can be started in a pot of soil submersed in water or stuck in the mud in one to two feet of water in a pond. Best to carefully file or crack seed first. 5 seeds. $2.50.

Nelumbo nucifera. RED RUSSIAN LOTUS. This large and very beautiful plant is native to the Volga river delta where it enters the Caspian Sea. The rosy red flowers can be ten inches across when fully open and held up to five feet above the water’s surface. The round perfoliate leaves, up to 20 inches in diameter, are blue-green with a waxy coating on which water beads up like mercury. The plants manage to overwinter by forming banana-shaped tubers below the frost line. Along with the tree peony, one of the most exotic of hardy plants. The showerhead like pods are often used in dried arrangements.

Three seeds, $2.50.

Nelumbo nucifera. SHIROMAN LOTUS. Even larger than the Caspian lotus, this is a double white form native to China and Japan with two foot diameter rippled leaves and immense white flowers to a foot across. It may not come as double from seed but it couldn’t be much less spectacular. All of the lotus have a somewhat similar fragrance to my nose–sweet, spicy and a little medicinal. Wilder describes it thusly “…delicate but exquisite sweetness, not unlike that of a Magnolia but with a faintly bitter tang…” and that it is richer at night. Lotus grow in shallow, still water up to a foot or two in depth.

Three seeds, $2.50 28

Nepeta mussinii. MAUVE CATMINT. I consider this an excellent bushy little plant with small silvery-grey leaves and spikes of bright blue flowers during most of the summer. It is very good as an edging for the border or to be planted in the rock garden, being mind-full of the fact that it is a vigorous grower. It is also good for the top of a dry wall where from a distance it has an appearance much like lavender. The foliage has a very pleasant pun-gent odor, and the flowers are a magnet for bees and butterflies. We offer the strain BLUE WONDER, to 1 foot, with larger and finer colored flowers, blooming from May to August.

Nepeta cataria citriodora. LEMON-SCENTED CATNIP. For those who employ catnip tea for colds or fevers or as a nightcap to induce sleep, this might be a good choice with its additional lemonlike aroma and taste. Perhaps a little shorter, to 2 feet, but otherwise similar to the type blooming from July til frost. Zone 3.

Oenothera missouriensis. OZARK SUNDROPS. This is an admirable plant for the rock garden or the front of the border with its low habit to 1 foot, and its showy yellow flowers to 5 inches across. The large flowers are borne so freely that they may be said to cover the ground with gold. It is especially effective if placed so the luxuriant shoots are allowed to hang down. It is a hardy perennial to Zone 4.

Oenothera pallida. WHITE TUFTED EVENING PRIMROSE. Large fragrant vespertine (opening in the evening) white flowers to 3-4 inches across, followed by winged pods. Less than 1 foot tall by 1-2 feet wide, this makes a good plant for the front of the border or in the rock garden, but it must have good drainage. Native to the central U.S. and Rocky Mountain regions. Zone 4.

Oenothera speciosa. SHOWY EVENING PRIMROSE. This delightful little wildflower can be quite a show stopper when in bloom, with its large pale pink flowers carpeting the ground. The leaves are linear and not of much consequence, and the plant spreads by stolons so is best planted where it can form a beautiful colony. Blooms over a long period and has a light sweet fragrance. Zone 5.

Papaver alpinum. ALPINE POPPY. This and the following species are strictly hardy perennials, but since they will bloom from seed the first year they are often treated as annuals. This one will generally live longer in the garden than the Iceland poppy. The Alpine poppy only grows to 6 inches making it ideal for the rock garden and to grow in pots. A very attractive plant, it has finely cut, glaucous, hairy leaves and flowers borne throughout the summer in shades of yellow, pink, salmon and white with a most unexpected sweet breath. Zone 5.

Papaver nudicaule. ICELAND POPPY. Out of more than a hundred species of poppy, nearly all are scentless except this and the preceding species. All poppies resent root disturbance, and should be sown where they are to grow. Here is a plant that has been “improved” while at the same time being greatly enhanced. The Iceland poppy is the best of all poppies for cutting with its delicately perfumed satin-like flowers in a wide color range, individual flowers being 4-6 inches across and long stemmed.

The seed should be sown in autumn or very early spring for earliest bloom. Zone 2.

Penstemon palmeri. WILD SNAPDRAGON. An impressive four foot plant native to the American Southwest blooming in June and July with large pink and white flowers that are fragrant.

Good for sandy soil and also heat and drought tolerant–really quite hardy and adaptable. The grayglaucous, glabrous foliage is quite attractive, and if not cut in the flowering stage, the stalks are good for dried material. Zone 5.

Primula veris. COWSLIP. That’s Cow’s lip rather than Cow slip, the unique perfume being likened by some to the breath of a cow or to the milky breath of a tiny child. The essence of Spring (veris) in England and parts of Europe, the yellow flowers are produced in nodding umbels in May. Zone 5, few seeds.

Pycnanthemem pycnanthemoides. HOARY MOUNTAIN-MINT. An attractive, though not showy, plant well worth growing for its densely downy grey-green foliage with a most invigorating menthol29

pepper-mint odor. The tiny white to pink purple-spotted summer flowers are small but hold a large attraction for the bees and butterflies. Zone 5.

Salvia officinalis rosea. ROSE-FLOWERED GARDEN SAGE. Similar to the typical blueflowered garden sage only this form sports rose to rose-violet flowers which make it a handsome addition to herb garden or middle of the flower border–though they are seldom used there. HP, zone 4.

Salvia sp. TALL WHITE SALVIA. This sage came to me under the name Salvia zamia, but I can’t find it listed anywhere–not even on Google! Nevertheless, it is a serviceable plant to three feet bearing pure white flowers all the summer above handsome dark green rugose foliage that is scented. I can’t be sure yet just how hardy it is but it has survived a couple winters here so far in zone 5. HP Salvia transylvanica. TRANSYLVANIAN SAGE. To my way of thinking this is a beautiful sage with its deep green rugose leaves and its spikes of deep blue hooded flowers to about 2 feet or a little more. Add to this a long blooming season and a sage-like odor to the leaves and you have a valuable border plant. Zone 4.

Saponaria officinalis. BOUNCING BET. Also known as Lady-by-the-gate, denoting its best use which is to be naturalized, or used in the wild garden. This is the only species of the genus to be fragrant, and it has the fragrance of its family, the Pink Family, which is to say it is sweetly scented with an undertone of clove. It is a valuable addition to the wild garden as it blooms throughout the summer on 2 foot stems, being at its best for sight and scent in the evening. The foliage, when crushed and rubbed in the hands forms a lather-like soap, hence its botanical name. Zone 3.

Silene alba. VESPER CAMPION. Once a garden plant in good standing, especially the double form which was prized for cutting, this plant is now met with, if at all, as a way-side weed. In the evening the 1 inch white flowers expand and call attention to themselves by their sweetness. The White Campion is useful for its long period of bloom and fragrance as well as its small urn-shaped seed vessels for dry arrangements. Biennial to perennial, it self sows. Zone 3.

Thalictrum flavum glaucum. YELLOW MEADOW RUE. Possibly the only meadow rue with a good fragrance–to my nose it is reminiscent of some peonies–and also one of the most attractive. A delicate and graceful plant for the middle to rear of the flower border growing 4 to 5 feet. Worth growing for the blue-grey leaves alone, that are excellent for use with cut flowers. Zone 5.

Thermopsis caroliniana. CAROLINA LUPIN. A stately plant which under favorable conditions can reach 5 feet–growing quickly and flowering in June and July. The bright yellow flowers are borne in spikes 8-12 inches long and, although seldom mentioned in the literature, they possess a fine fragrance.

Zone 3.

Thymus serpyllum. MOTHER-OF-THYME. Creeping thyme is another name due to its low ground-hugging growth habit. It's an ideal plant for paved areas where it forms a mat of bright green foliage delightful to step on for its aromatic smell. In summer it bears a profusion of pinkish-purple flowers in small terminal heads which totally cover the foliage.

Valeriana officinalis. GARDEN HELIOTROPE. Recommended as an analgesic by Pliny nearly 2000 years ago, Valerian is still used in herbal medicine. Its heliotrope-like fragrance may be appreciated on the June breeze but like elder and hawthorne, it is one of those fragrances that should not be too closely investigated, as in hand the flowers may be perceived to have a faint fetidness. The roots and leaves have been known to transport one’s tabby into a sort of feline ecstasy. A tall and graceful plant, preferring some shade and moisture. Zone 3.

Verbascum chaixii. NETTLE-LEAVED MULLEIN. A perennial species of mullein whereas most are biennial, yet if sown early this one will bloom the first year. An excellent border plant to about three feet, it blooms over a long period having yellow flowers on a tall spike with purple, woolly stamens.

Native to southern Europe, it is hardy to Zone 5.

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Verbascum chaixii album. WHITE CHAIX MULLEIN. Or White Nettle-leaved Mullein. This is, as you may have guessed, the white form of the above plant and is, if anything, more attractive and useful for its spire-like effect. To my nose the fragrances are even somewhat different, but both recall the scent of some of the old single tulips.

Viola odorata. SWEET VIOLET. The Sweet Violet was in cultivation before the birth of Christ, and was so highly regarded by the Greeks that it became the symbol of ancient Athens. It has, in its long history, been used medicinally, in the perfume industry, as a sweetening for food, and has always been a favorite for posy bunches. The Sweet Violet is the last scented perennial of autumn and the first one of spring. “Without the Violet,” wrote Richard Jefferies, “all the Bluebells and Cowslips would not make spring.” The Prophet, Mohammed, wrote, “As my religion, is above all others, so is the excellence of the odour of Violets above all other odours. It is warmth in winter and coolness in summer.” We offer the variety QUEEN CHARLOTTE which is the hardiest of the Sweet Violets. The seed requires freezing and lays long before it sprouts–but is, of course, worth the wait.

Yucca filamentosa. ADAM’S NEEDLE. One of the hardier and more adaptable of the Yuccas, this is very nice when used in the border or in a grouping of other plants–too often they are stuck out by themselves on a lawn and have become a bit trite. Their swordlike, evergreen leaves are very welcome in the winter here and the six foot spikes of large creamy white flowers are magnificent. This seed comes from some plants that are scented like iris–more powerfully so at night. Zone 4.

Yucca flaccida. There doesn’t seem to be a common name for this Adam’s Needle, but it is most similar to Y. filamentosa. It differs mainly in that the leaves droop at the tips, i.e. flaccid–even the inflorescence sometimes droops. As with most yuccas, the flowers are most fragrant at night when they are pollinated by the moth Pronuba yuccasella. Yuccas were great favorites of Gertrude Jekyll, who combined them with Euphorbia, Acanthus and Kniphofia.

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Green fingers are the extension of a verdant heart.

–RUSSELL PAGE

BIENNIALS

As used here this is as much a classification of convenience as of the laws of nature or rules of botany. Strictly, a biennial is a plant which, started from seed, requires two seasons to come to fruition. Top growth is made the first year–often in the form of a rosette–and usually a fleshy root. The second year it flowers and produces seed, using the food stored up in the root, and then it dies. However some biennials will bloom the first year if sown early enough indoors or in a hotbed. Some perennials are so short-lived that they virtually become biennial when cultivated. Be as it may, one can hardly expect to be more precise about it than the plants themselves.

Though few have much in the way of fragrance to recommend them, some of the most valuable plants in the border are found here. These are the tall, spire-like plants that lend the grace and definition which gives dignity to the garden. And as most will re-seed if allowed to, they needn’t require any more trouble in their perpetuation than any other garden-worthy plants.

Alcea rosea. HOLLYHOCK. A favorite old-fashioned garden plant that is nearly unavailable in today’s catalogs in the single-flowered forms. We offer a strain of singles and semi-doubles in a wide range of colors–I would like to offer separate colors, but they are so promiscuous as to make this nearly impossible. The single-flowered hollyhocks have a grace and charm about them that the doubles lack, and with their air of stately splendour, they are amongst the finest of background plants. Zone 3.

Alcea rosea. ROSE HOLLYHOCK. Here offered are the old single hollyhocks (fairly perennial really, especially if the stalks are cut back before generous quantities of seed are formed) in all shades of pink, from pale shell-pink to deep rose with a darker center. Plants are well isolated from other types in the garden but we can’t promise 100% pink.

Alcea rugosa. RUGOSE HOLLYHOCK. Perhaps more elegant than the common species with its figleaf shaped foliage, narrower and more abundant canes per plant, and its large pale yellow flowers borne in abundance. Goes to 6-7 feet and is supposed to be less prone to rust. Zone 3.

Angelica gigas. PURPLE ANGELICA. A rather striking plant for the moist and partially shaded to sunny part of the garden. Quite similar to the Angelica in the herb section of this catalogue except that the stems and flower heads of this species are a dramatic purple. When it begins to flower it is a flurry of insect activity.

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Campanula americana. TALL BELLFLOWER. Strictly an annual, but when treated as a biennial will give the more magnificent plants. It would seem to belong in this section anyway with its straight, unbranched stems to five or six feet, bearing small blue flowers in profusion. All in all, distinctly useful and beautiful for the moist shady garden. Zone 4.

Campanula medium. CANTERBURY BELLS. Flowering in white, blue, lavender and rose, this is a justly popular garden plant which can grow to 3 or 4 feet tall. Native to southern Europe, they are splendid for cutting and also for growing in the cold greenhouse where their beauty might be more closely observed. If started early, they may flower the first year–when if cut down before seeding may live to bloom the following year.

Daucus carota. QUEEN-ANNE’S LACE. This is the wild ancestor of the carrot and it makes a beautiful mounded plant to about four feet. The white flowers are borne in a compound umbel, generally flattened on top and having a single dark red flower in the center. Good for the wild garden or mid-border, the ferny foliage and lacy flowers are very attractive and fine for cutting. The seeds are fragrant. Zone 3.

Delphinium elatum. CANDLE LARKSPUR. Or Bee Larkspur, this is the common Delphinium which has been bred for centuries. Coming originally from Siberia and having flowers of purple, it is now available in many colors and sizes. Strictly, a perennial, it is probably best treated as a biennial, when it makes a most noble plant for the back of the border. Easily started from seed, it does require moisture, sun, and to be staked–but is certainly worth any effort to obtain its lofty spires. Here offered are: BLACK KNIGHT a deep blue, both to six feet. Zone 3.

Digitalis purpurea. FOXGLOVE. The classic cottage garden plant often associated with trips to England–but, of course, it can be grown here if given the conditions which suit it. They prefer a somewhat shaded spot with good moisture, but well drained soil. Foxgloves usually grow to about 4-5 feet but I have had them go to 6 and 7 when they were even more remarked over than usual. We offer the excellent strains: GIANT SHIRLEY, flowers more deeply nodding; EXCELSIOR, flowers more horizontal–both in white, and rose through purple. Zone 4.

Digitalis purpurea. COMMON FOXGLOVE. Native to Europe, this lovely flower might well be considered one of the classic denizens of the cottage garden. Biennial to short lived perennial in nature, it will often reseed itself in an area it finds amenable–that being a moist and somewhat shady spot in average soil. The stalks of two inch purple tubular flowers (with deeper purple spots on white background in the throat) are gracefully borne on four foot plus stems throughout the summer. The leaves, which contain the heart stimulant, digitalis, are clustered at the base of the stem and should not be eaten by man or beast. This seed was sent to me by my brother-in-law in Northern California and was not isolated but should still give a high percentage of the selected color.

MIXED. Lavender, pink and purple mix with white throats spotted deeper purple PURPLE. The classic type for which the species name was given.

WHITE. Beautiful clear white outside with deep purple spots in the throat.

SOFT YELLOW. A delicate pale yellow with spotted throat.

Dipsacus fullonum. COMMON TEASEL. A large imposing plant of 6 to 8 feet for the back of the border or possibly the cutting garden (wear gloves). The three inch heads of pale lavender flowers are borne all summer and provide much nectar for the bees and butterflies and other insects. For fresh or dried arrangements. Zone 3.

Dipsacus inermis. SPINELESS TEASEL. Actually not spineless in spite of its name, but a very nice teasel for cutting as each flower-head is on its own long stem. Growing to 5-6 feet, it comes from the Himalayas and when the round heads of white fragrant flowers are in bloom, it is a flurry of insect activity.

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Dipsacus laciniatus. LACINIATED TEASEL. A noble back of the border biennial for architectural value and much cut material. The handsome leaves are perfoliate–that is, they extend right round the stalk thus holding little pools of water after a rain where small creatures can get a drink. Zone 3.

Lupinus polyphyllus. RUSSELL LUPINS. Actually of uncertain parentage, but L. polyphyllus figures most strongly into the mix. These are rather magnificent plants of 3 to 5 feet which no garden should be without. They are unusual in embracing the three primary colors (red, yellow and blue) in their color range. Sow direct or in pots as they resent transplanting–best to nick seed and keep temps. at 55F. We have the following: MARINE BLUES, IVORY & WHITES, PINKS, CARMINES, YELLOWS and BRICK REDS. Oenothera erythrosepala. EVENING PRIMROSE. Similar to O. biennis and otherwise known as O. lamarckianna, this is a rather coarse and large growing biennial to perennial that is well suited to the wild garden or the shrubbery. It looks well to its own posterity and self-sown seedlings will keep flowering plants in the garden from year to year. Mrs. Wilder finds the plant by day somewhat ungainly, but “… when the great lemon-coloured moons shine out against the gathering dusk and the light ravishing scent floats out upon the damp evening air, one is enchanted in spite of oneself.”

Verbascum blattaria. MOTH MULLEIN. Rather delicate for a mullein and without the felted leaves of many, but it can go to 5 feet tall. The flowering part of the unbranched spikes can be 3-4 feet long of themselves, and are essentially leafless. The flowers are an inch across, pink in bud opening white. The pea-sized seed-pods are held away from the main stem and would be wonderful for dried material. Zone 3. YELLOW or WHITE. Verbascum hybrid. HYBRID OLYMPIC MULLEIN. This seed is from apparent hybrids of the noble Olympic Mullein which can grow to 6-7 feet and bears many large flowers throughout the summer. The regular species has rich golden flowers but this seed is from plants that have creamy white flowers or ones with pale yellow flowers. Many seedlings will probably revert to the rich golden type but of course all are well worthy of a place at the back of the border for their color and strong architectural presence. I need help in selecting the white to breed true. HB to zone 5 at least.

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There is no ancient gentleman but gardeners.

–SHAKESPERARE

PRIMARILY PRAIRIE FLOWERS With the ever diminishing size of the personal landscape–and, alas, the prairie itself–there are few who can afford the space to devote to a small meadow. Or, indeed, to that very vast meadow to which the early French explorers lent their name of Prairie. Since most of us can’t plant by the acre, I have chosen what I feel to be some of the most garden worthy of the prairie flowers–and a few grasses. Few, if any, of these would be out of place in the perennial flower border and some are really necessities. By their nature as prairie plants most are very accommodating as to soil and moisture conditions.

Agastache foeniculum. BLUE GIANT HYSSOP. Strong growing member of the mint family with blue flower spikes and anise-scented foliage. A good honey plant whose dried leaves are used for seasoning and making a tea. Very attractive to butterflies and good for its addition of blue to the prairie planting.

Agastache nepetoides. YELLOW GIANT HYSSOP. A stout very upright perennial whose square stems show it is in the Mint Family. Growing to 5-6 feet it is a good bee plant and useful for large cut material.

Agastache scrophulariifolia. PURPLE GIANT HYSSOP. Similar size and uses as the Yellow Giant Hyssop but with flowers purple.

Allium cernuum. NODDING ONION. This charming flower should be used more often. The nodding white flowers age to pink and stand upright as seed begins to set. Tolerating full sun and moist to dry soil, the strongly flavored bulbs may be eaten if parboiled.

Amorpha canescens. LEAD PLANT. A small shrub easily kept under two feet, valued for its gray foliage throughout the entire growing season. The curious small blue-purple flowers are borne in 6 inch spikes in June-July. A good accent plant and very hardy–zone 2.

Amorpha nana. FRAGRANT FALSE INDIGO. A dwarf native shrub to only a foot or so with purple flowers in spikes to 6 inches smelling of vanilla. With its fine pinnate leaves and dwarf-habit, this would make a good candidate for bonsai or the front of the border. Very hardy.

Aquilegia canadensis. AMERICAN COLUMBINE. Also known as MEETING HOUSES, this is still one of the most dainty and graceful of the columbines. The nodding flowers have red spurs and yellow sepals, attractive to hummingbirds, on a plant about two feet tall. Quite adaptable, they like to colonize the red raspberries here, making a pleasing combination.

Asclepias incarnata. SWAMP MILKWEED. Good plant for a damp spot, but like many prairie plants it is adaptable. The two-tone pinkish flowers are very fragrant of vanilla and are produced over a considerable period in summer. As with many milkweeds, it is a good nectar producer and so attracts many butterflies. Rapid growing to three or four feet, it is very pretty and should be used more.

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Asclepias incarnata alba. WHITE SWAMP MILKWEED. Similar to the above, but this is the rare white-flowered form.

Asclepias syriaca. COMMON MILKWEED. This came to me as Asclepias exaltata, but I think it probably belongs here–the two are rather similar. Though sometimes regarded as merely a weed, this is a rather handsome architectural plant to 5 feet. It provides its clusters of very sweetly scented mauve flowers in abundance, as well as ample nectar for the bees and butterflies. Native Americans used to collect the nectar as a sweetener–it is also a favorite of the Monarch butterfly and the pods are used in dried arrangements.

Asclepias tuberosa. BUTTERFLY MILKWEED. Probably the most popular of the milkweeds, this makes an excellent garden plant with its orange flowers coming over a long period. Growing to 2-3 fr., it does well in dry sandy soils as well as those of a richer nature.

Aster novae-angliae. NEW ENGLAND ASTER. A robust and very popular aster for its violet-blue flowers with orange centers borne profusely over a long period in late summer. Preferring moist sites, it is rather tolerant and makes an excellent addition to the wild garden or back of the border where it can go to about 4-5 feet.

Baptisia australis. BLUE WILD INDIGO. This beautiful legume is native more to the south and east than most of the plants listed here–though one of its common names seems to be PLAINS FALSE INDIGO. Still, it is a most admirable plant for the border or wildflower or prairie planting, and it also makes an excellent cut flower. Growing to three feet, it is quite hardy and blooms in May and June.

Baptisia leucantha. WHITE FALSE INDIGO. Another elegant member of the Pea family which is slower to reach maturity, but just as long-lived when it gets there. Of similar size and wide adaptability as the above, this plant also has medicinal properties. Both are really indispensable for the garden as well as cutting.

Baptisia minor. DWARF BLUE WILD INDIGO. Too seldom seen is this delightful native which is rather like a diminutive B. australis–it is classified by some as a variety of that species. Growing to about 18 inches with similar but finer flowers and foliage, it lacks the tendency to flop that its taller cousin can have. The clump of fine foliage gives good presence all season long, having somewhat the feeling of German statice. Small pkt. $2.50.

Callirhoe involucrata. LOW POPPY-MALLOW. A showy sprawling plant for dry, sunny sites in the wild garden. The reddish purple flowers consist of five heart-shaped petals and rise from the axils of the leaves from June through August. These were collected by Dr. Wigton at their farm on the Elkhorn, where they light up a meadow.

Camassia scilloides. WILD HYACINTH. One of the loveliest of wild flowers, is this eastern native that extends as far west as Texas. With very pale blue to white spikes of flowers on stems to 2 ft., it should be used more frequently in the spring garden. Naturally occurring in sparse woodlands and open meadows, it appreciates moist soil with good drainage, and is best left undisturbed until it needs dividing. Hardy at least to zone 5. Pkt. $2.50.

Carex muskingumensis. PALM SEDGE. This well behaved member of the Sedge family has attractive foliage that resembles miniature palm fronds. It makes a fine ground-cover or mass planting for moist, lightly shaded areas and provides good erosion control for ponds and stream banks, does well in full sun as long as moisture remains present. Native to the Great Lakes region, hardy to zone 4 at least.

Cassia fasciculata. PARTRIDGE-PEA. This is an annual which reseeds readily from year to year, so I am including it here. It makes a very pretty roadside wildflower here and can be used to advantage in hot dry sandy areas. With lacy sensitive leaves which fold at night and deep yellow pea flowers blooming July to September, it is well worthy of one of those difficult spots in which it will thrive.

Cassia marilandica. WILD SENNA. A quite hardy perennial to about 3-5 feet, of semi-woody nature but usually dying to the ground in winter. The finely textured leaves and yellow pea-like flowers 37

make it a splendidly colorful plant for the border or for naturalizing. A medicinal plant which is seldom seen–but should be. Like the above, the seeds are valuable food for wildlife.

Cirsium altissimum. TALL THISTLE. Although this looks somewhat similar to other thistles which are considered noxious weeds in these parts, this is a native thistle and not on the lists of those to be controlled. A biennial that grows to 4-5 feet, it is a handsome plant with deep green leaves–the lower ones being unlobed, the upper ones almost acanthus-like and all very white-felted on the underside. The overall shape of the plant is rather candelabra like, but in place of candles are the characteristic rose pompom flowerheads that are 2-3 inches across. One of the last plants to bloom with flowers from July well into September and thus an important butterfly plant and also for songbirds. A noble back of the border plant. HB, zone 4. Pkt. $2.50.

Clematis fremontii. FREMONT’S CROWFOOT. A not very attractive common name for this uncommonly charming dwarf native clematis that only grows to about a foot. The leaves are broadly ovoid and unclematislike, and are topped by leathery purple urn-shaped flowers with recurved light yellow lips. Clusters of plumed seedheads follow the flowers. Zone 4. Pkt. $2.50.

Coreopsis basalis. GOLDENWAVE COREOPSIS. Also known as Goldenmane, this very floriferous annual native to TX has deep golden yellow fragrant flowers with a deep red ring in the center on compact plants to a foot or so tall. The 2-inch flowers cover the plants all summer and fall and should be popular for bedding, butterfly and cutting. HA. Coreopsis tinctoria. PLAINS COREOPSIS. With flowers in yellow, crimson and brown (which are used for making dye) this is a very showy and easy annual to about two feet. One thing that I noticed last summer that I haven’t seen mentioned before, is that at certain times of the day the flowers smell of “wild cherry”.

Coreopsis tinctoria. DWARF RED PLAINS COREOPSIS. The species name derives from its past use as a dye plant for the colors burnt orange to bright yellow. This shorter variety-18 inches rather than 2 feet plus-produces a myriad of summer flowers of the richest mahogany-red that are excellent for cutting. An easy carefree HA that will usually oblige you by reseeding. Though drought tolerant, it will grow well in boggy areas.

Coreopsis tripteris. TALL COREOPSIS. So named for it can go to 6 feet or even more in very rich soil–so one needn’t bend over to smell the sweet scented yellow daisy-like flowers. Best with tall grasses or forbs or in the rear of the border. A very neat appearing plant for its size with its fine pinnately lobed leaves and shiny yellow flowers over a long period in mid-summer.

Desmanthus illinoensis. ILLINOIS BUNDLEFLOWER. It is also known as Prairie Mimosa as it is related to that plant and its mimosa like leaves have the ability to close up. A native perennial prairie plant with very fine fern-like leaves and small flowers bundled into white tufts. Plants grow to about 3 feet and the persistent globular seed heads are a distinctive feature of the winter landscape. Considered a highly desirable forage plant and the seed heads an important winter food for birds. HP, zone 5.

Dracopis amplexicaulis. CLASPING CONEFLOWER. This hardy annual is a monotypic genus native from the southeastern US to Texas and is naturalized throughout much of the country. The term clasping refers to the leaves tendency to wrap around the stem at the base. The black cone-shaped heads are surrounded by bright yellow drooping reflexed ray flowers borne through much of the summer on plants to two feet. Preferring full sun, it makes a good cut flower.

Echinacea pallida. PALE PURPLE CONEFLOWER. This seems to have been neglected as a poor relation of the following plant, but to my mind it is the better plant. The elegant flowers have long, thin drooping petals on a plant to about four feet. It is also a much longer lived plant than E. purpurea, and one of the most esteemed for relieving pain by the Indians of the Northern Plains.

Echinacea paradoxa. BUSH’S CONEFLOWER. Or Yellow Coneflower for its striking yellow flowers with their large chocolate cones which carry a noticeable fragrance. A parent along with E. 38

purpurea of the exiting new hybrids which bring orange colored flowers to this genus, this is well worth growing in its own right. Growing from 2-4 feet, it blooms most of the summer and is native to the Ozarks. Like other coneflowers it is quite attractive to butterflies. Zone 3. Pkt. $2.50.

Echinacea purpurea. PURPLE CONEFLOWER. Also known as PURPLE RUDBECKIA, this showy flower can thrive in sunny and windy situations and adds some needed color to the summer scene. Blooms a little later than the preceding and doesn’t live as long, but longer than some of the white forms being offered of late.

Eryngium yuccifolium. RATTLESNAKE MASTER. The root was formerly brewed as an antidote to rattlesnake bites–thought you would have to know. Quite different from other Eryngiums with its yucca-like leaves and flowers in ball-like heads of white on stems to 3 feet. An excellent plant for poor, dry soil, it is one of the few Eryngiums native to the US. Eupatorium maculatum. JOE-PYE-WEED. A tall native wild-flower good for the back of the border or in the wild garden, most especially where the ground is damp or marshy–though will grow in drier areas. The flowers are rosy purple and inviting to bees and butterflies, on stems that can go to 6 feet or more under favorable conditions.

Eupatorium purpureum. SWEET JOE-PYE-WEED. A rather large growing native perennial which under very favorable conditions can grow to 10 feet or more. The flowers are a pinkish color, purpureum referring to the dark color of the stems, and the whole plant is scented of vanilla when bruised. The leaves and flowering top have been used as a gentle laxative and as an emetic in large doses.

The flowers are very attractive to the insects.

Euphorbia corollata. FLOWERING SPURGE. Also known as Wild Hippo, though I can’t imagine why. This wildflower blooms for a long period of the summer with its lacy white flowers somewhat reminiscent of Gypsophila. It makes a good flower for cutting, for the middle of the border, and for a billowy effect in the prairie planting–and it is quite tolerant of dry and poor soils.

Euphorbia marginata. SNOW-ON-THE-MOUNTAIN. A most unusual native plant grown for the leaves and bracts of the flower which have broad white margins giving somewhat of an impression of its relative the poinsettia. An old-fashioned garden favorite, it is an annual to about two feet and flowers continuously from June till frost. Easily propagated by seed sown where the plants are to grow.

Filipendula rubra. QUEEN OF THE PRAIRIE. A delightful denizen of the prairie with its bright pink panicles of flowers borne in early to midsummer on stems to 5-6 feet tall. Its presence is a good indication of moist rich soil and it will form colonies under these favorable conditions. A member of the Rose family, it provides pollen but no nectar. Hardy perennial to zone 2-3.

Gaillardia aristata. BLANKET-FLOWER. A very popular flower, which unlike most perennials, blooms most of the summer. A good, tough, dependable plant to about two feet–mixed. HP. Gaillardia pulchella. FIRE WHEELS. Or INDIAN BLANKET for the intense coloring of the daisy-like blossoms in hues of yellow, orange, red, or yellow with red bands. A fine native annual which is good for cutting and is tolerant of poor dry soils. Growing to about 18 inches, it is best sown where it is to flower after danger of frost has passed.

Gaura longiflora. LARGE-FLOWERED BEE-BLOSSOM. Related to the Scarlet Gaura and Evening Primrose, but this plant performs as an annual or winter annual that branches heavily from the base forming many stems of blossoms for the bees throughout the summer. It can grow to six feet and provides many delicate white flowers that fade to pink or rose.

Helianthus maximilianii. MAXIMILIAN’S SUNFLOWER. Good for a dry sunny spot is this noble plant from the Midwestern prairies. Looking quite different from your regular sunflower, the tall flowering spikes are covered with up to 30 or more closely spaced golden daisies. The leaves are also quite different, being narrowly lance-shaped to about a foot long. Wonderful for cutting, it can grow up to 10 feet. Perennial.

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Helianthus salicifolius. WILLOW-LEAVED SUNFLOWER. A spectacular plant with its unbranched stems to 8-10 feet with willowy foliage that make it look more like a giant lily until they branch in late summer and bear their large branched racemes of small sunflowers. A very artistic plant that requires some space, but never blows over in summer storms. Native to dry soils of the Midwest.

Zone 4, few seeds, pkt. $2.50.

Hypericum prolificum. SHRUBBY ST. JOHNSWORT. An underutilized native plant, which though woody, makes an excellent addition to the perennial border with its long bloom period, attractive foliage and bark. Would probably make a fine bonsai subject with its short dense character, silky exfoliating bark, and seed pods which persist through winter.

Linum perenne Lewisii. PRAIRIE FLAX. A native subspecies of the European Perennial Flax, it is somewhat more robust than that old world species. The profusely borne sky-blue 1 inch flowers appear in June-July on wiry 18-24 inch stems which wave about in the breeze. A very pretty and graceful plant which if sown early will often flower the same year.

Lobelia cardinalis. CARDINAL-FLOWER. A very bright red flower–attractive to hummingbirds– perhaps best placed in its natural haunts along a stream or pond where other flowers will not have to compete for attention in its vicinity. The straight, two to three foot, unbranched stems bear cardinal-red flowers from July to September. Not long-lived, but produces offshoots to carry on the plant.

Lobelia siphilitica. GREAT BLUE LOBELIA. A cousin to the ever-popular Cardinal flower and similar in size, form and attractiveness to hummingbirds–the deep blue flowers are more easily integrated into color schemes. Preferring moist spots, it adapts readily to the garden and is generally a longer lived plant than its relative.

Lupinus perennis. WILD LUPINE. A member of the pea family with erect spikes of bright blue flowers, the Sundial Lupine blooms from May to July in an open sunny position in loam to dry sandy soil. As well as making a lovely prairie or meadow flower it is also excellent in the perennial border.

Growing to two feet, it should be sown direct or started in pots as it does not transplant well.

Monarda fistulosa. WILD BERGAMOT. Related to Bee-balm, M. didyma, this aromatic member of the Mint Family shares much of the same range with its cousin but its flowers are lavender and it is better adapted to dry soils. Quite nice for cutting, it has been used by the Indians for chewing and for seasoning meat, also dried and steeped for tea. Named for the likeness of its perfume to the Bergamot orange, it grows to about four feet and blooms for much of the summer.

Penstemon digitalis. WHITE PENSTEMON. Small, white, tubular flowers borne in loose terminal clusters on purplish stems make this a rather elegant plant for the wild garden and for cutting.

Native to the Mississippi Valley this penstemon has extended its range to Texas in the South and to Quebec in the North. It is adaptable but not invasive, growing from three to five feet as conditions suit.

Penstemon grandiflorus. SHELL-LEAF PENSTEMON. Native Illinois to Wyoming, this striking perennial penstemon is best treated as a biennial. The foliage is very clean with a pale, bluish bloom–the opposite leaves clasping the stem. The flowering stalk rises to four feet (though I have had them go to six) with much the aspect of foxglove though the cultural conditions are just the opposite–sunny dry spots.

Petalostemon purpureum. PURPLE PRAIRIE CLOVER. A plant from the dry hillsides of the central states which flowers throughout the summer. Useful for its straight upright stems, fine compound foliage and tight clusters of purple flowers. Zone 4.

Phlox maculata. WILD SWEET WILLIAM. The Latin specific name refers to the purple spots along the 2-3 foot stems of this perennial phlox which is hardy to zone 3. The pink flowers are produced through the summer in loose, showy, terminal clusters and the lanceolate leaves are less prone to powdery mildew than the typical Garden Phlox. Few seeds, pkt. $2.50.

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Ratibida columnifera. MEXICAN HAT. As the red flowered form of the Prairie Coneflower is often called. This is a native plant with a long blooming habit and easy cultural requirements, but it does prefer full sun. The flower heads have blunt-toothed, red ray flowers and a conical disk of grayish flowers–they are borne on 2 ft. stems and are fine for cutting.

Ratibida pinnata. GRAY-HEADED CONEFLOWER. A slender native plant of dry soils over a large portion of the eastern half of the U.S. The flower heads consist of drooping blunt-toothed yellow ray flowers and grayish disk flowers in an erect oval disk. Not a very good description perhaps, for what must be one of the most strikingly lovely of prairie flowers–indispensable.

Rosa carolina. PASTURE ROSE. A 3 foot spreading red rose (or white in the case of variety alba) with effective red hips in the fall. Useful for naturalizing in pasture or woodland border. Zone 4.

Rudbeckia hirta. BLACK-EYED SUSAN. Probably one of the most popular of wild flowers, this is one of those plants which has some difficulty in deciding on its longevity. At times perennial, it is best treated as an annual or biennial–and will look to its own future by self-sowing, though not invasively.

Nice for cutting, it is very showy and adaptable growing to two or three feet.

Rudbeckia subtomentosa. SWEET BLACK-EYED SUSAN. A taller cousin of the former, this plant has the advantage of being of a more perennial nature. The ray florets are yellow and the disk flowers form a dark brown cone, thus its other name of Sweet Coneflower. The flowers open over a period of many weeks in mid-summer on a plant to about four feet.

Ruellia humilis. WILD PETUNIA. So called, but actually in the Acanthus family, is this long blooming prairie native. A wide-ranging and variable plant occurring from the central U.S. to PA south to FL and TX. Named for its supposed resemblance to the petunia, this is a hardy perennial to a foot tall with many light blue flowers from June through August. A tough plant, it is drought and soil tolerant and might be planted more than it has been. HP to zone 5 at least.

Salvia azurea grandiflora. PITCHER’S SAGE. Blue two-lipped flowers for most of the summer on stems to 3 or 4 feet. This handsome perennial from the midwestern U.S. prefers well-drained sites and as the tall stems have a tendency to flop over, it might well be staked. The lance-shaped leaves are pleasantly pungent.

Salvia azurea (pitcheri). WHITE PITCHER'S SAGE. The rather rare white form of this native species of sage found by the redoubtable Nebraska plantsman, Harlan Hamernik, in a large patch of the typical blue flowering sort. The flowers emerge with a blue blush and fade to white in the summer sun.

The narrow foliage has a sage scent and taste. In rich soil the plant can go to 6 feet and is prone to flop so plant it in a tough spot or cut it back in early July for a shorter, bushier more erect clump that will bloom from August until fall–a nice change from the Asters and Goldenrods that predominate at that time. HP, zone 4, pkt. $2.50 Silene regia. ROYAL CATCHFLY. A native perennial member of the Campion tribe growing from 2 to 4 feet as conditions suit it–average soil, one says wet one says dry, try medium. Flowers are starshaped bright crimson and borne on the top third of the plant which is rather narrow upright. Like many red flowers, it is attractive to hummingbirds.

Solidago speciosa. NOBLE GOLDENROD. The showy, branched, and slightly pendant flower clusters of bright yellow make this, perhaps, the handsomest of the goldenrods. Good for fresh or dried bouquets, it is essential in any prairie planting. With characteristic goldenrod fragrance, it grows to three or four feet–and like other goldenrods, it is not responsible for hayfever as it is not a wind pollinated plant. Much more appreciated in Europe than in its native land.

Thermopsis montana. MOUNTAIN THERMOPSIS. Also known as False Lupine, this is a smaller version of the Carolina Lupine, which comes from the Rocky Mtns. It bears its yellow flowers in June and July on plants to 2 feet. Of easy culture, it is hardy to zone 3.

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Tradescantia ohiensis. SPIDERWORT. Though now superseded for the most part in the flower garden by the cultivars with their shorter stature and longer blooming habits, as is often the case the wild plant is the more elegant and beautiful. The deep blue flowers open in the morning and are closed by afternoon–the plant itself has more or less disappeared by August so plant it where its expanding neighbors will need the room. A very elegant cut flower, even for its foliage alone.

Yucca glauca. SOAPWEED. Not a very attractive name for this useful and hardiest (zone 2-3) of the yuccas. Perhaps the less commonly used DWARF BLUE YUCCA would be better. With its narrow gray-green leaves to 2 feet and slender raceme of greenish-white 2-1/2 inch flowers (sometimes flushed pink) it is a rather bold plant. The flowers are most fragrant at night.

Yucca smalliana. BEAR GRASS. This is somewhat like Y. filamentosa but with leaves thinner, flatter, narrower and with stiff marginal threads. Sometimes the flowers are lightly pink tinged. It is an attractive evergreen perennial sometimes found in cultivation in the southern half of the Great Plains. It is hardy here, zone 5, and probably to zone 4.

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A FEW PRAIRIE GRASSES Here are listed seeds for a few grasses for those wanting to create a small ‘prairie’ or simply for their values as ornamental accent plants. For large quantities of the above grass or flower seeds contact: Prairie Moon Nursery, 31837 Burr Oak Lane, Winona, MN 55987, or Stock Seed Farms, 28008 Mill Rd., Murdock, NE 68407.

Andropogon gerardii. BIG BLUESTEM. Also sometimes called Turkey-foot because of the distinctive three-parted seed heads, this is the most prevalent and widely distributed of the prairie grasses. Adaptable to a very wide range of soil types, it can grow from 3-8 feet tall with blue-green leaves and stems which change in the fall to a pretty reddish-copper color and remain standing all winter.

Andropogon scoparius. LITTLE BLUESTEM. This is a very handsome grass to about two and a half feet, especially nice for use in the prairie as it won’t overgrow and obscure the prairie flowers. Bluegreen in the summer, it turns red in the fall and is long-standing. Gives the feeling of ocean waves in the wind.

Bouteloua curtipendula. SIDEOATS GRAMMA. An adaptable, clumping, warm-season grass with fine textured foliage to 1 foot. Its common name derives from the one-sided arrangement of the spikelets along the stem, rather like a banner in the wind. Very good for groundcover or specimen use–the flowers are most interesting in fresh or dried arrangements.

Bouteloua gracilis. BLUE GRAMMA. Also known as Mosquito Grass, the nodding flower-heads have variously been described as looking like mosquito larvae, tiny combs or even dragonfly-like. This, as the above, is another important grass of the original North American shortgrass prairie. With fine textured green-gray, clumping foliage to 1 foot, it is two feet in flower. An excellent drought tolerant ground cover or specimen, the flowers are most attractive in fresh or dried arrangements.

Eragrostis trichodes. SAND LOVE GRASS. A lovely native perennial warm season grass of the sand barrens and open sandy woodlands but it will grow well in average soil as long as it is well drained.

It is a clump grass with medium green foliage of one to two feet which grows vigorously until the flowers emerge in late July. The flowers are showy, amethyst pink on large nodding panicles that almost obscure the foliage and the billowy seed-heads hold up well into the winter unless brought down by snow or ice.

HP to zone 4-5.

Panicum virgatum. SWITCHGRASS. With its very large and sparse flower panicles, this is a very graceful grass indeed. It grows up to five feet but does not hide the flowers as you can see right through the inflorescence. Good to use on poor soil and for its resistance to lodging, as a wildflower covert.

Sorghastrum nutans. INDIANGRASS. Also known as S. avenaceum and WOOD GRASS this is an important forage grass. The golden brown seedheads make very nice cutting material for fresh or dry arrangements. Growing to about four feet, Indiangrass is quicker to mature than some of the other prairie grasses.

Sporobolus airoides. ALKALI SAKATON. Or Alkali Dropseed, its name will never sell it, but this is a rather beautiful and adaptable cousin of the elegant Prairie Dropseed. Found in sandy alkaline soils, it will grow in heavy clay and is quite drought tolerant. Taller and showier in bloom than the finer textured S. heterolepsis, it is upright-arching to 5 feet and blooms through most the summer. Zone 4.

Sporobolus heterolepis. PRAIRIE DROPSEED. Here is a prairie grass which has a fragrance contained in the seedhead–though there are some who can’t discern it. Regardless of this merit, it is the 43

brilliant green foliage, excellent for accent or even making a border, that is the chief value of this ornamental grass. To my nose, the fragrance is similar to that of the Hyacinthbean.

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Green is the fresh emblem of well-founded hopes In blue the spirit can wander, but in green it can rest.

–MARY WEBB

HERBS No fragrant garden would be complete without at least a small patch of herbs. And some are quite ornamental enough to occupy a position in the flower border for their graceful forms, color and texture of foliage, and a few for their prominent flowers. They are a natural adjunct to the old-fashioned flower border or cottage garden, for their nostalgic associations as well as their relative ease of cultivation. Many are perennial and remain for years, while the annuals and biennials return steadfastly from self-sown seeds.

So many volumes have been written on the subject of herbs, that I make no attempt here to offer more than the briefest mention of some particular character. Packets are $2 unless otherwise marked.

ANNUALS & BIENNIALS AJWAIN. Carum copticum. The seeds of this HHA are somewhat like thyme in flavor–much used in the Middle East and India for vegetarian lentil and bean dishes, to flavor and to temper the effects of a legume-based diet. Also many medicinal uses.

ANGELICA. Angelica archangelica. Large ‘architectural’ plant, and one of the few herbs to enjoy a cool, moist position. Stem candied or cooked with rhubarb, root and seeds for tea. Sow out while ground is cold. Biennial.

ANISE. Pimpinella anisum. Leaves used in foods, flowers in muscatel and vermouth, seeds in perfumes, medicine, soaps and food. Steeped in hot milk for sleep.

BASIL, DWARF. Ocimum basilicum. Diminutive, good for growing in posts.

BASIL, FINE-LEAVED. The true pesto basil, for spaghetti.

BASIL, LEMON. Very good lemon fragrance, strong growing.

BASIL, LETTUCE-LEAVED. Best variety for tomato sauce, also greens in salad.

BASIL, MAMMOTH-LEAVED. The largest leaved of all, many uses.

BASIL, MRS. BURNS LEMON. Considered to be the most lemony.

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BASIL, LIME. Ocimum americanum. Yet another scent in this wonderfully aromatic family of basils. The plant looks much like the Lemon basil but has slightly smaller, darker green leaves with the scent of lime. 18 inches.

BASIL, PURPLE HOLY. Ocimum sanctum purpureum. A very attractive basil to use as an ornamental–it was much noticed next to the heliotrope and pink petunias. HHA, 18 inches. hrb BORAGE. Borago officinalis. The flower is candied for confectionery, the leaf used in iced drinks, salads, and pickles.

CARAWAY. Carum carvi. Leaves used in salads and soups, seeds in bread, sauerkraut, apple dishes, cheese, cake and candy. Biennial.

CELERY, LEAF. Apium graveolens secalinum. Much used in Europe and the Orient, this “stalkless” celery should be more appreciated here. Unlike regular celery, this is easy to grow and is excellent to use in soups, stews and anywhere else you would use celery for flavoring. Treat as HA. CHAMOMILE, GERMAN. Matricaria recutita. Apple-scented foliage, flowers used in soothing tea.

CHERVIL. Anthriscus cerefolium. Similar to parsley, use in egg dishes, salads, butter sauces and in soup.

CILANTRO. Coriandrum sativum. The same species as Coriander but since it is the leaves that are used, this variety has been selected as it is slower to bolt.

CORIANDER. Coriandrum sativum. Both leaves and seeds used in Oriental, Indian and Mexican cooking. Very distinctive and useful.

CRESS, GARDEN. Lepidium sativum. Good early greens, the leaves add tang to salads.

CUMIN. Cuminum cyminum. Mediterranean herb much used in Spanish, Mexican and Indian cooking, especially curries.

CURLED-LEAVED MALLOW. Malva verticillata crispa. Though edible and somewhat interesting in the garden, the consummate use of this six foot plant is for its round leaves, elegantly curled and puckered at the edges, to garnish desserts, salads, etc.–it often attracts the curious visitor.

DILL. Anethum graveolens. A well-known herb with a multitude of uses; for pickles, sauces, vinegar, green apple pie, fish, stews, etc.

DILL, VIERLING. A variety of dill with attractive bluish-green leaves and extra strong stems for which reason it is used as a cut flower in Europe.

FENNEL. Foeniculum vulgare. Looks similar to dill. Used to flavor fish, sauces, salads, and eggs.

FENNEL FLOWER. Nigella sativa. Popular herb in the Mediterranean region with blue or white flowers. Seed pungent and spicy, used in bread and cake. Oil from the seed used in perfume.

FENUGREEK. Trigonella foenumgraecum. The seeds are the main part used and are excellent for sprouts. An annual to two feet, it is one of the few herbs belonging to the legume family.

JUTE. Corchorus olitorius. Also known as Jew’s Mallow, this is one of the most commonly eaten potherbs in Egypt, the Middle East and India and is also grown for its fiber. Seldom seen in the U.S. Can grow to 15’ in warm climates but only made 7’ here.

MARJORAM, SWEET. Origanum marjorana. Good for flavoring lamb, fish, poultry, carrots, zucchini and other vegetables.

MEXICAN TEA. Chenopodium ambrosiodes. Or Epazote, this is a popular herb in warm countries around the globe. The leaves are used as an herbal tea and for seasoning corn, fish, beans, mushrooms, shellfish and stews. Easily grown here.

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MUSTARD, BROWN. Brassica juncea. Traditional in Oriental, African and Indian cooking–the seed is smaller and hotter than the Yellow. Used in the piercing Chinese and English mustards.

MUSTARD, RED GIANT. Brassica juncea. Large, more purple than red, leaves to add color to salads when young and for cooking when older though the purple color disappears on boiling. A popular mustard in Japan, it is a little slower to bolt than Osaka Purple.

MUSTARD, YELLOW. Brassica hirta. The type used in American mustards and in pickling mixtures, canning and sausages–sharp, but without the aromatic pungency of the Brown.

NASTURTIUM. Tropaeolum majus. The leaves, flowers, buds and green seeds add piquancy as well as interest to salads.

ORACH, RED SPIRE. Atriplex hortensis. Also known as mountain spinach and it has been popular as a pot herb since the sixteenth century. The young plant is quite striking in the spring garden as well as in salads and is good to use fresh or cooked–I think the flavor is somewhere between spinach and Swiss chard. It could brighten up the herb garden as well since it has been used medicinally for soothing inflammations and the seed has been used in emetics. To six feet.

PARSLEY. Petroselinum crispum. Italian broad-leaved. This is the flat-leaved variety–the only one to use for flavoring.

POPPYSEED. Papaver sp. The seeds of this plant have long been used as a flavoring on breads, cakes and other bakery items as well as on soups and vegetables.

POT MARIGOLD. Calendula officinalis. This pretty flower has been used in coloring broths, soups, conserves and butter.

ROCKET. Eruca vesicaria. The young peppery leaves are excellent in salads. Keep cut back to force tender growth.

SAFFRON, FALSE. Carthamus tinctorius. Safflower, used for dyeing silk and food and for its oil.

SAVORY, SUMMER. Satureja hortensis. The best herb for beans, broad beans, peas, also egg dishes, cheese, etc.

SESAME. Sesamum indicum. The seeds are much used in baking. Easy, and large growing, it makes interesting dried material.

SESAME, BLACK. Sesamum indicum. Used in China to give a crunchy coating to meat and fish, in Japan to flavor rice and noodle dishes.

SWEET MARIGOLD. Tagetes lucida. Or Mexican Tarragon for its use as a substitute for French tarragon–it has other medicinal uses in calming nerves, stomach, and hangover. Pkt. $2.50.

TURNSOLE. Chrozophora tinctoria. Named for its habit of turning towards the sun, this once mainstay of medieval manuscript illuminators for its deep purple color seems lost to cultivation –my start of it came from Malta via the Smithsonian. Annual of the Euphorbia family to 18". Few seeds, pkt. $3.

WELD. Reseda luteola. Or Dyer’s Rocket, this cousin of Mignonette has been known since antiquity as an important source of yellow dye (flavone) for wool, cotton and silk. Treated as an annual to biennial or short-lived perennial, it can grow up to five feet in a somewhat candelabra shape similar to some mulleins. HB to zone 4.

HERBS–PERENNIALS BEE BALM. Monarda didyma. Good for the perennial border, for making Oswego tea, and in perfumes and baths. $2.50.

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CHAMOMILE, ROMAN. Chamaemelum nobile. The short, ground-covering perennial used for tea, flavorings and also making lawns. Zone 4.

CATNIP. Nepeta cataria. Attractive to cats. The tea, in Europe, has long been considered a sovereign remedy for feverish colds and as a sedative. Good bee plant.

CHICORY. Cichorium intybus. A fairly tall plant with pretty blue flowers, the roots are roasted and added to coffee. Magdeburg variety.

CHINESE MILKVETCH. Astragalus membranaceus. Like many herbs, not a showy plant, but considered one of the most important of Chinese medicinal herbs for its immune enhancing properties.

Sprawling or leaning to 3 feet.

CHICORY, WITLOOF. Cichorium endivia. French endive. The tender shoots are served as salad.

CHIVES. Allium schoenoprasum. Nice rose-purple flowers. Delicate onion flavored greens for soup, salad and cooking.

CHIVES, GARLIC. Allium tuberosum. A fine ornamental with white fragrant flowers good for drying. The leaves have a mild garlic flavor good for salads and stir-fry.

COMMON SELF-HEAL. Prunella vulgaris. An American native with many medicinal uses, attractive purple flowers, growing to 16 inches. Zone 3.

GARLIC, BECKY’S. Allium sativum. A variety of garlic given to me by an organic gardener, Becky, who said it was a heritage variety from Nebraska. It does seem well adapted here and it is now the largest variety I grow with stalks to six feet and the individual cloves the largest I have seen. It does save you time peeling when you are making hummus. Since the cloves are so large there are only four or five to a bulb so what I am offering here are the bulbils produced at the top of the scape so you will not get the really big cloves until your second year–but worth waiting for. Approx. 15 bulbils GIANT FENNEL. Ferula asafetida. Asafetida has long been used as a drug and a seasoning in India, South America, France and Persia.

GREAT BURNET. Sanguisorba officinalis. A robust and popular herb from Europe and Asia that has naturalized in North America. The deep purple flower heads are in spathes about an inch across by 3 to 5 inches long–sort of like narrow cattail heads–and nod gracefully in the wind on stems 5-6 foot tall above handsome pinnately compound leaves. Similar to the Salad Burnet, its leaves are used in salads, vinegar and in iced drinks for their cucumber-like flavor. HP to zone 4.

HOREHOUND. Marrubium vulgare. An interesting white woolly-leaved plant that could be used in the border. Emits a sweet musky scent when warmed by the sun, used in candies and cough remedies.

HYSSOP. Hyssopus officinalis. An evergreen subshrub in the Mint Family growing to 18 inches and hardy to zone 3. The blue flowers possess a rich aromatic fragrance and should be cut when fully open–both the leaves and flowers are used in potpourris.

LAVENDER. Lavandula angustifolia. Used in soap, sachet for linens and fresh in salads.

LEMON BALM. Melissa officinalis. Very nice fragrance, nectar for bees. Leaves in iced or hot tea, sauces, stews and salads.

LOVAGE. Levisticum officinale. Long used in confectionery, cordials, tobaccos, perfumes and tea.

Makes a surpassing substitute for parsley.

MOTHERWORT. Leonurus cardiaca. A vigorous growing member of the mint family which blooms all summer providing much nectar for the bees–was used medicinally in parturition.

NEPITELLA. Calamintha nepeta. Seed from plants whose seed was brought back from Tuscany where it is requisite to certain mushroom, vegetable and tomato dishes, with its distinctive minty flavor.

To 18 inches, probably zone 5.

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ONION, JAPANESE BUNCHING. Allium cepa. Also called scallions or spring onions, this is a perennial, non-bulbing onion which should be sown (or divided) in spring for summer use or in summer for spring use. Such an easy and versatile plant, it should be more commonly grown.

OREGANO. Origanum vulgare. Much used in Italian dishes, chili, with tomatoes and meats.

Used as a salt substitute and to calm nerves.

OREGANO, GREEK. Origanum vulgare hirtum. Considered by many to be the best Oregano for herbal use with its distinct pungent aroma and flavor–it looks similar to the common type but is a bit shorter and has white flowers instead of mauve. Flowering at 18 inches, in the fall creeping stems spread to form a mat of evergreen foliage, it is hardy to zone 5 or 4 with protection. Pkt. $1. 50.

PARSLEY, PURPLE JAPANESE. Cryptotaenia japonica purpurea. Also known as Mitsuba, this is the rather striking deep purple form of this herb that is used in soups, salads and fried foods or just for decoration. Easily cultured, it prefers moist, partially shady growing conditions where it will grow up to two feet. The uniquely flavored leaves and leafstalks can be used either fresh or blanched. Zone 4.

ROCAMBOLE. Allium sativum ophioscorodon. Also called Serpent Garlic, this is one of the “hardnecked” garlics used for its bulbs and also the tender leaves are used in salads.

ROCAMBOLE-MIX. This is a mixture of “hard-neck” varieties of garlic–these types seem to do much better in cold climates than the soft-neck types–they also keep longer.

ROSEMARY. Rosmarinus officinalis. One of the memory stirring fragrances, very invigorating.

With chicken, lamb, pork, vegetables and many other uses. Won’t overwinter outdoors above Zone 6.

RUE. Ruta graveolens. Has been used for medicinal and culinary purposes, but known to cause dermatitis in susceptible (ungraceful?) individuals. Very nice glaucous to blue foliage for the border–the herb of grace.

SAGE. Salvia officinalis. Aromatic leaves flavor cheese, stuffings, sausage, onions, eggplant, etc.

Tea used as a tonic.

SAINT JOHNSWORT. Hypericum perforatum. This is the species which has become so popular of late for its use as an antidepressant. Also used for insomnia, bedwetting, strained muscles and antiviral properties. Growing to 18 inches in flower, zone 3. Also available is the variety ‘Medizinal’ higher in active compounds.

SALAD BURNET. Poterium sanguisorba. An old-fashioned salad herb, the leaves of which taste and smell like the fresh rind of cucumber–also used for vinegar and iced drinks.

SORREL. Rumex acetosa. Mammoth Lyon garden sorrel. Once sown you will always have it.

Excellent to add piquancy to salads, obviously a necessary ingredient in sorrel soup.

TANSY. Tanacetum vulgare. An interesting bitter aromatic herb, the leaves used in puddings, and cakes for Lent, also in cheese and with eggs and apple tansy.

THYME. Thymus vulgaris. Widely used and valued for its aromatic flowers and foliage. Nice at the front of the border and good for bees. Flavors eggs, cheese, meat and fish dishes, sauerkraut, beans, peas, spinach, etc.

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To analyze the charms of flowers is like dissecting music; it is one of the things which it is far better to enjoy than to attempt fully to understand.

–H. T. TUCKERMAN

OTHER PLANTS OF MERIT

These mass-produced, over-hybridized plants lack the grace and charm and individuality that nature bestowed upon them. This is not to say that the breeder’s art is without merit, for surely in the field of vegetables and many flowers, tremendous advances have been made. However, when that “art” leads to the loss of identity as in the mop-headed dwarfs, midgets, pygmies and giants of current fashion, then perhaps it has over-stepped its bounds in creating such monstrosities.

Here listed are a number of old-fashioned or less commonly used plants of garden merit. Don’t let the fact that these plants appear to be appended at the end of the catalogue dissuade from considering them for your garden. They are all excellent plants and deserve to be more widely used. Most are not fragrant.

ANNUALS Abelmoschus esculentus. BURGUNDY OKRA. A rather striking deep wine red form of this southern vegetable which might well be used in the back of the border. The 3-4 inch flowers are yellow suffused red with a deep red center. 4-6 feet tall, 60 days. The seeds when rubbed together give off a curious musky citrus smell.

Abelmoschus manihot. SUNSET HIBISCUS. This is a rather spectacular plant for the back of the border or specimen use, with its 6-8 foot height and the enormous pale sulphur-yellow flowers with small dark red center that are borne all summer. Easy from seed, treat as HHA. Abelmoschus moschatus. MUSK MALLOW. Aka Silkflower, this delightful small HHA has large coral to red hibiscus-like flowers all summer long on a plant to about one foot.

Adonis aestivalis. PHEASANT’S EYE. A very delicate looking pretty annual from central Europe with blood-red flowers with a black splotch at the base of each petal. The fern-like foliage is quite attractive on its own and as a foil for the summer flowers–as it doesn’t transplant well, it should be sown direct in early spring.

Agrostemma githago ‘Milas’. ROSE OF HEAVEN. A cultivated strain of this very beautiful wildflower with large, soft lilac-pink blossoms. A handful of stems makes a lovely bouquet.

Agrostemma githago alba. WHITE ROSE OF HEAVEN. The very beautiful white flowered form of this most delicate appearing HA with very little in the way of leaf–just 3-foot stems to support the 51

poppy-like five petaled flowers which are distinguished by the subtle nectary guides which radiate as a series of spots three quarters of the way from the center to the petal’s edge–three rows per petal. Best sown early, direct to its flowering position.

Amaranthus caudatus. LOVE-LIES-BLEEDING. An old-fashioned favorite with nodding red spikes to 3-4 feet.

Amaranthus cruentus. ‘GOLDEN GIANT’. Although the packet said 3-4 feet, in keeping with its name mine were more like 6-8 feet. Some of the flower heads alone were nearly 2 feet–poor soil would keep it smaller. Striking in fresh or dried arrangements. HHA. Amaranthus hybridus ‘Erythrostachys’. PRINCE’S FEATHER. Very colorful (red), bold and attractive, it can go to 6 ft. Wyman considers it “. . . truly an ornamental, blooming from July to September”.

Amaranthus spp. AMARANTHUS HYBRIDS. This seed comes from a patch that has been allowed to develop over a few years of interspecific crosses mainly between Amaranthus tricolor, the ELEPHANT'S HEAD amaranth, and Amaranthus hybridus, PRINCE'S FEATHER. They tend to be in the 6-8 foot range in height, mostly with foliage in the red-purple range with some green, and flower heads varying from thick or thin feather-like to Elephant head to what I would call Poodle. All are very decorative in the garden, for fresh or dry cuts or for feeding the birds in autumn. Best sown direct in not too fertile soil. HHA. Amaranthus tricolor. IMPUDENT AMARANTH. This seed comes from a patch of the afore named species (usually called Elephant Amaranth) in which the trunk is rather rigidly upright causing some visitors to call it Impudent Amaranth. I sent a picture of it to an Italian friend and called it my floral tribute to Silvio Berlusconi. Growing to about 4-5 feet, it is a plant that elicited quite a few bemused responses over summer and fall. HHA. Ammi majus. BISHOP’S FLOWER. Growing to three feet, the lacy white flowers are excellent for cutting and are popular for that purpose in Europe.

Ammobium alatum. WINGED EVERLASTING. Perennial in its native Australia, this is usually grown as a HA in the U.S. when it will bloom throughout the summer. Charming small white flowers for drying, with curious winged stems to 2-3 feet. May be picked at any stage of development without fear of shattering–if picked later the flowers will have a yellow center.

Anagalis arvensis caerulea. CERULEAN PIMPERNEL. Beautiful sky-blue one inch flowers all summer, for bedding or houseplant.

Argemone grandiflora lutea. SHOWY PRICKLE-POPPY. The prickle-poppies are well worth growing for their glaucous white-veined foliage alone; the delicate poppy-like flowers–in this case–are a wonderful bonus.

Asclepias curassavica. BLOODFLOWER. Though perennial in zone 7, this very showy milkweed is most often treated as a HHA. The bright scarlet flowers are borne summer to frost on upright plants to 2-3 feet. Attractive to butterflies.

Briza maxima. QUAKING GRASS. A very ornamental annual grass with its graceful nodding, bronze colored fruit clusters up to three inches long which flutter in the breeze.

Browallia americana. AMETHYST BUSH VIOLET. Rarely offered is this very beautiful member of the Nightshade Family sent to me by a customer. Easy to grow and blooming all summer with its intense deep violet-blue small flowers. Can go to 2 feet, but with a little pinching or pinning down it makes an excellent groundcover.

Browallia viscosa. COMPACT BUSH VIOLET. Like a more compact version of the above species to one foot or less. Do not over feed or water or as with morning glories you will favor foliage over flowers.

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Capsicum annuum. VARIEGATED HOT PEPPER. This is a very attractive small pepper plant to about a foot in which the fine leaves are variegated strongly with white and purple and sometimes a little pink–the small hot peppers are a deep glossy purple eventually maturing to bright red. Much noticed in the garden, this would make a showy bedding plant–but not where small children would come in contact with it.

Capsicum annuum. BLACK ORNAMENTAL PEPPER. Like most black plants or flowers it is a very dark purple, and in this variety both fruits and foliage are black. The small hot peppers are held upright and ripen red–the foliage is flecked with just enough white to emphasize how dark it is. To 18 inches.

Celosia cristata. COCKSCOMB. This is the old-fashioned tall type with flower heads that do evoke the namesake–not the dwarf varieties that look rather like brains of various colors.

Celosia cristata. ROSE SHADES. Rose shaded crests and plumes on these long blooming plants to about two feet so useful for summer long color in the garden and then for drying as the growing season comes to a close. They are best sown direct, or if started indoors don’t sow too early lest they become stunted before they can be shifted outdoors.

Centaurea cyanus. CORNFLOWER. The well known annual so often used for cutting but which is also splendid for the border. This is the old-fashioned tall sort so elegant for cutting. Available in MIXED. Centaurea cyanus. CORNFLOWER. Also known as BACHELOR’S BUTTONS, here offered is the variety ‘BLUE BOY’, to my way of thinking it is the quintessential cornflower–a tall deep blue, wonderful for cutting, and the more it is cut, of course, the longer it will bloom.

Chloris virgata. FEATHER FINGERGRASS. An interesting tropical grass for use as a summer annual in pots or in the border. The distinctive clumping foliage radiates in a fan shape from the base and the flower heads on 2-3 foot stems are sort of like an elongated weeping papyrus flower. Rather unique and blooms all summer. HHA. Clarkia unguiculata. ROSE CLARKIA. Also known as Mountain Garland, this California native is sometimes confused with Larkspur as it grows to 3 feet and bears spikes of semi-double to double flowers of purple, red and pastels shades good for border, mass plantings and for the cutting garden.

Preferring full sun, the tall stems are deep purple in color making identification easy prior to flowering.

HA. Coix lacryma-jobi. JOB’S TEARS. An old-fashioned favorite grass generally grown as an annual with whitish or pearly gray, hard and shiny bead-like fruits from whence it gets its name. These are often strung to make necklaces.

Convolvulus tricolor. ROYAL ENSIGN. The deep blue flowers with contrasting golden centers make a vivid show for most of the summer in poor, dry soil in full sun. This old-fashioned favorite from southern Europe is one of the only annuals in the genus and grows to 12-15 inches. Best sown direct in growing position.

Corydalis sempervirens. ROCK HARLEQUIN. This is an annual to biennial plant with very glaucous foliage to 2 ft., which is much divided and feathery. The small flowers are red and yellow and contribute to the very delicate aspect.

Cosmos bipinnatus. COSMOS ‘EARLY SENSATION’. Rose, Crimson, White, and Pink, MIXED. These are the choicest Cosmos. Excellent cut flower.

Cosmos bipinnatus. COSMOS ‘PSYCHE’. A lovely white semi-double form of this free flowering annual that grows to three feet tall providing much material for cutting and pollinators. Best to sow direct after danger of frost in not too fertile soil and do not fertilize as it will get lanky and not produce as many flowers.

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Cosmos sulphureus. YELLOW COSMOS. Related to the Dahlia and like it, native to Mexico.

This is a semi-double yellow type growing to about 3 feet–it’s best not to fertilize Cosmos as rank growth will delay flowering. Very attractive to butterflies and other insects as well as people.

Cosmos sulphureus. YELLOW COSMOS. ‘BRIGHT LIGHTS’ strain. Growing to two feet plus, they make a vibrant dense mound of color all summer long, in yellow, orange, gold and flame red.

Crambe abessynica. ANNUAL SEA KALE. A new plant to the flower trade with small yellow flowers maturing to sprays of numerous B-B sized pods useful to the dried flower arranger.

Cynoglossum amabile. CHINESE FORGET-ME-NOT. A HB treated as a HA which will provide 1/4 inch blue flowers throughout the summer–especially valuable in hot, dry sunny locations–on plants 12-18 inches. Nicest when grouped to provide a cool drift of blue in summer borders.

Echium lycopsis. VIPER’S BUGLOSS. Considered by at least one authority to be amongst the prettiest of flowers. This is a mix including blue, purple, mauve, violet and white to 18 inches. Best grown in rather poor soil in sun.

Emilia javanica. TASSEL-FLOWER. Aka Flora’s Paintbrush, this bright scarlet flower comes from the tropics and will tolerate hot, dry growing conditions. The little scarlet tassels keep coming all summer and have done best for me when direct sown.

Eschscholzia caespitosa. TUFTED CALIFORNIA POPPY. With its almost thread-like foliage, compact habit, and beautiful yellow 2 inch flowers, this is perhaps more attractive than its commonly grown cousin.

Eschscholzia californica. CALIFORNIA POPPY. Here offered is the type plant in that beautiful warm golden yellow color you can’t help but associate with California if you’ve been there when a hillside of them was in bloom. Striking next to Dianthus nigricans. Best treated as an HA here, they will reseed growing to one foot.

Eschscholtzia californica. CALIFORNIA POPPY. SINGLE MIX. A mixture of this sow and forget lovely annual in yellow, orange, white, pink and red. Also available in SCARLET-RED, PURPLE and WHITE. Gomphrena globosa. GLOBE AMARANTH. These very floriferous everlastings are good for bedding, cut flowers and drying. Best in full sun, they grow to 18 inches and may be had in MIXED (shades of purple, pink and white) or WHITE. Gomphrena globosa. PURPLE GLOBE AMARANTH. The purple variety is probably the showiest of the species and most striking when it is grown as a single color in a bed. The bright purple one inch flowers are everlasting and borne throughout the summer so yield quite a patch of purple by seasons end. Attractive to butterflies and good for cutting fresh or dried. Much commented on in the garden. HHA Gomphrena globosa. WHITE GLOBE AMARANTH. The lovely white form of this tropical annual so useful for the summer border for its myriad flowers and their attraction to butterflies and other pollinators. Then after enjoying the all summer long flower display there are ample straw flowers to cut for winter projects. Few plants reward the gardener with so many and such long lasting flowers. Best in full sun in not too rich a soil. HHA. Gomphrena haageana. RED GLOBE AMARANTH. My favorite of the Globe Amaranths because of its intense scarlet flower heads resembling those of clover. This species is native to Texas and Mexico–the more common G. globosa is native to India–thus they both should have HHA treatment in the north.

Gossypium herbaceum. LEVANT COTTON. If you or your children have never seen cotton ‘on the hoof’ why not grow a few plants this year. The flowers are quite beautiful and the pods make great dried material. This is an early flowering variety.

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Gypsophila elegans. BABY’S BREATH. The easily grown annual sort, so indispensable for flower arranging. This is the Covent Garden strain selected for its larger pure white flowers. HA to 2 feet. Also available in PINK. Hibiscus trionum. VENICE MALLOW. Also called Flower-of-an-hour for the short-lived nature of the individual flowers. Lovely silvery-yellow to cream 2 inch flowers with a deep crimson center, borne continuously from July to frost on a plant to 18 inches.

Impatiens glandulifera. HARDY ANNUAL IMPATIENS. This is a pretty annual for a shady spot that doesn’t get too dry, that will bloom from late spring until the end of summer. The flowers are a kind of violet pink and there is purple in the stem and leaf as well. Kids enjoy the exploding seed pods almost as much as adults–it will seed about but is not hard to remove where not wanted. Difficult to collect the seeds so few per pkt., $2.50.

Ipomopsis rubra. TALL TEXAS-PLUME. This is seed from the taller sort of Ipomopsis–much in the trade seems to be of a shorter stature to about 2 feet–I prefer the taller which grows to around 6 feet.

It generally behaves as a hardy biennial but since it self sows, after the first year you will have blooming plants every year. If you start it early indoors and carefully transplant you can even have 6-foot blooming plants the first year. The bright scarlet tubular flowers above ferny foliage are attractive to hummingbirds. HB,.

Lavatera trimestris. TREE MALLOW ‘MONT BLANC’. Among the easiest, showiest and most floriferous of annuals, I can’t imagine why the Tree Mallows are not more commonly grown. Their hollyhock-like flowers in shades of rose–or in this case, pure white–are borne in abundance on two to three foot plants from July until heavy frosts. Even though not fragrant, they should not be neglected.

Also available in ROSE. Linaria maroccana. MOROCCO TOADFLAX. A versatile annual to 2 feet with snapdragon-like flowers from pink to blue, for early bloom. Fall sow or very early spring.

Linum grandiflorum. SCARLET FLAX. Growing to 2 feet with linear leaves and scarlet flowers, this makes a handsome border plant. Usually sown where it is to grow, it will often reseed. Very beautiful.

Linum usitatissimum. COMMON FLAX. Useful in the flower garden with its brilliant sky-blue blossoms in profusion on three foot plants–a field in bloom is breathtaking.

Linum usitatissimum. FIBER FLAX EVELIN. Bred especially for linen fiber production, this high yielding variety has longer, more uniform and stronger fibers than ordinary flax. Varieties bred for oil production are used in making linoleum (which means linseed oil). Growing to about 3-4 feet, a field of it makes for beautiful waves of blue. HA. Lobelia erinus. EDGING LOBELIA. A diminutive South African annual considered among the best of all blue-flowered plants for edging purposes. The flowers are about an inch across and profusely borne, forming low, compact mounds of dark blue. Best started early indoors.

Lunaria annua. HONESTY. The Moneyplant of dried arrangements, it is best treated as a biennial. Available in PURPLE or WHITE. Lupinus nanus. SKY LUPINE. Coming in shades of blue, pink and white, this is a very nice annual lupine which grows to only about a foot. Some plants have a delicious honey scent.

Lupinus subcarnosus. TEXAS BLUEBONNET. Lovely deep blue spikes of pea-like flowers on this winter annual–the state flower of Texas.

Mimosa pudica. SENSITIVE-PLANT. Grown as an annual in the North, this has long been a popular plant with children of all ages for its ability to rapidly fold its leaflets flat along the stem when it is touched. It also produces little pink mimosalike blossoms.

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Nemophila maculata. FIVE-SPOT. The rather striking flowers of this charming little HHA are nearly 2 inches across, white with a vivid purple spot at the tip of each petal. Good for bedding, border front, or hanging basket.

Nemophila menziesii. BABY-BLUE-EYES. Also California Bluebell, excellent edging plant to 8 inches, covered with flowers all summer.

Nicandra physalodes. SHOO-FLY PLANT. Also APPLE-OF-PERU, large and coarse, but interesting and providing much material for dried arrangements. We offer the regular SKY BLUE flowered sort, the WHITE flowered sort and one with PURPLE stems and blush on the pods–probably the largest selection of this old-fashioned garden plant, because we rather like it. Will probably add a couple other varieties soon.

Nicandra physalodes. ‘SPLASH OF CREAM’. Interesting variegation on this large plant with the large green leaves splashed and dotted in cream.

Nicotiana rustica. WILD TOBACCO. A small tobacco to 2 feet with greenish-yellow flowers, it was the first to be introduced to Europe, and to be grown in the eastern U.S. Grown for the insecticide nicotine and as a fumitory.

Nicotiana tabacum. TOBACCO. Burley #21, an all-purpose tobacco for chewing or wrapping cigars–but why not use it as a very bold bedding or back of the border plant. To 6 feet plus with tubular pink flowers.

Nicotiana langsdorfii. VARIEGATED TOBACCO. Grown for the interesting leaves–green marbled with white and a mid-tone, the variegation sometimes extending right up the stock. Bright green flowers to 1-1/2 inches long on plants of 2-3 feet. Easy to tell the variegated seedlings almost at germination–treat as HHA. Nierembergia hippomanica caerulea. BLUE CUPFLOWER. Variety ‘PURPLE ROBE’, beautiful compact plant blooming all summer, should be more used.

Nolana paradoxa. CHILEAN BELLFLOWER. A tender annual useful for groundcover or hanging basket with abundant 2” blue flowers with yellow throat, blooming all summer.

Oryza sativa ‘Nigrescens’. BURGUNDY RICE. After wheat this is the most important grain crop in the world and the only one of any importance that can be grown with its roots submerged in water.

This very ornamental variety was sent to me by a customer and has attracted considerable attention and confusion as to what it might be. The actual rice grains are white, but the leaves and flowering stalks are a striking dark red-purple throughout the growing season. Start early indoors if you want it to have time to bloom and set seed. About 2 feet tall, HHA, small pkt. $2.50.

Panicum miliaceum ‘Violaceum’. PURPLE MILLET. A food crop since before Roman times–it is one of the oldest cultivated grasses. Growing to 3 feet tall, it is attractive in the border and even more useful in the cutting garden for its large, drooping, purple-tinged panicles of seed.

Papaver commutatum. LADYBIRD POPPY. At a foot to 18 inches, this is smaller than many of the annual poppies, but is no less an attention getter with its numerous brilliant scarlet flowers with a dark blotch at the base–like the beetle of course.

Papaver glaucum. TULIP POPPY. From Syria and Persia comes this poppy with deeply lobed bluish green foliage and scarlet tulip-like flowers to 4 inches wide. A volunteer drift of them in the vegetable garden is enough to keep the tiller at bay most of the summer.

Papaver rhoeas. CORN POPPY. Known also as FIELD POPPY. There are those who consider the poppy to be the quintessential flower. Here then is the quintessential poppy–the true wild form of the Corn Poppy–with its brilliant scarlet petals, often with a black marking at the base, carried on two foot plants. If cut in upright bud and held in a flame for a few seconds they will last several days.

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Papaver rhoeas. SHIRLEY PINKS. Just pink forms of this lovely old-fashioned favorite–a drift of a single hue is always a high point in the garden. Few seeds (approx. 100) so you may wish to sow direct to cells in 6 or 4 packs and carefully transplant to the garden–its really not all that difficult. 2-3 feet.

Papaver rhoeas. SHIRLEY POPPY. Single form, hardly rare but very easy and should be more appreciated–in pink, scarlet, crimson, white–also available in DOUBLES. Papaver rhoeas. ‘MOTHER OF PEARL’. An interesting strain of this lovely hardy annual with flowers in white and pale shades of gray, red, purple and others.

Papaver rhoeas. TERRA COTTA. A very pretty luminous terra cotta orange form of this charming old poppy of European fields–at least before the use of agricultural herbicides. This is an immaculate variety, i.e. it has no spots. Growing to 18 inches, one plant can probably have several hundred flowers over the growing season. Though usually sown direct early because they resent transplanting, they can be started in pots if carefully shifted out. HA. Papaver somniferum. PEPPERBOX POPPY. This is a strain of the Opium Poppy with single flowers which is grown for the large decorative seed-pods, for use in dried arrangements. Growing to 3-4 feet, the common name derives from the ripened pods appearance and function like that of a pepper shaker. As with most poppies, early spring direct sowing is best.

Papaver somniferum. PEONY-FLOWERED PINK. An old variety, rather like an anemone peony with its pink guard-petals and enlarged petal-like stamens of lighter color.

Papaver somniferum. SINGLE PINK. For those who prefer the classic four-petaled simplicity of the single flowered type.

Papaver s. paeoniflorum. PEONY-FLOWERED POPPY. Aptly named for the lovely very doubled frilly flowers to 4 inches across in whites, pinks and reds on plants to 3-4 feet. A patch of these is a magnificent sight.

Papaver s. paeoniflorum. RED PEONY-FLOWERED POPPY. Slightly smaller in all respects than the above variety, but equally showy is this deep red very double poppy that I collected about thirty years ago from a then overgrown garden–the character of doubleness would seem to be pretty well fixed.

Papaver s. paeoniflorum. BLACK PEONY-POPPY. A typical peony-flowered poppy only in this case the large very double flowers are an attention getting deep purple. Although the flower is quite large these don’t seem to make very big pods and not a lot of seeds, therefore we offer a small pkt of about a hundred seeds.

Pennisetum americanum. PEARL MILLET. Seldom met with is this grass grown since prehistoric times as a food crop. The plant looks rather sorghum-like, but the seed are borne in heads to a foot long by only an inch in diameter. Good for wildlife or for dried arrangements.

Pennisetum americanum. BLACK CANDLE-MILLET. Aka P. glaucum and P. typhoideum and commonly as cattail, bulrush or pearl millet and penicillaria–it is an important forage crop in the southern U.S. and grain crop in India and Africa. A robust grass to 6-7 feet and in this variety coming as close to the color black as is commonly seen in foliage plants. Start early or sow direct, but not until soil is warm. The black color is not apparent in early growth. HHA. $2.50.

Pennisetum americanum. EARLY DWARF PEARL MILLET. For those whose seasons are too short for regular Pearl Millet which can get 6-8 feet tall but still want to grow this attractive plant for cutting and to attract game as well as songbirds, here is a new shorter version that is only 60 days to bloom. Though of shorter stature, the seedheads are still quite impressive. As with other sorghums and millets, don’t sow until soil is warm. HHA. Pennisetum setaceum. ROSE FOUNTAIN GRASS. Growing to 3-4 feet, this annual (perennial to Zone 7 or 8) grass from Ethiopia must be among the most graceful and beautiful of ornamental grasses.

The long feathery flower spikes are pinkish and nod and sway in the slightest breeze.

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Pentapetes phoenicia. SCARLET PENTAPETES. This is such a lovely plant that it is difficult to believe that it is rarely if ever offered–it is not even listed in most horticultural reference books. Yet Jefferson planted it in 1811, so it has been around for some time. Growing to 4 feet in good soil, it would be worth growing for the very dark green feathery foliage alone, but the bright scarlet mallow-like flowers make it a show stopper. I got my start of it from Monticello. Treat as HHA, $2.50.

Phacelia campanularia. HAREBELL. Splendid pot plant with bell-shaped flowers of intense deep blue, also excellent for sunny, sandy spots in border or wild garden.

Rhynchelytrum nerviglume. NATAL RUBY GRASS. This is a delightful small ornamental grass treated as HHA above zone 8, where from an early sowing it will bloom all summer with its reddish pink plumes which age to a soft silver before shattering. Growing to 2 feet, it is very handsome in a pot and also in fresh bouquets.

Ricinus communis. CASTOR-BEAN. This is an old-fashioned garden plant so useful for summer hedging and creating exotic effects of texture and color in the garden. They can grow to ten feet or more in a season and the “dwarf" ones generally reach about six feet, though it varies with growing conditions.

The seeds are the source of castor oil, but are poisonous and so should be kept away from children.

Grown since ancient times and native to Africa where it can make a tree to 40 feet. 10 seeds per packet unless otherwise noted.

CARMENCITA. Dark red-brown foliage and brilliant carmine flowers and seedpods.

Dwarf. 8 seeds.

CARMENCITA PINK. Supposed to be the first pink fruited castorbean. Stems also pink–a beautiful plant.

DWARF PURPLE. All parts of the plant a striking deep purple–makes a statement.

GIBSONII. Rather like a larger version of Carmencita with leaves less brown, more metallic.

GREY LADY. The result of crossing the Dwarf Purple with Carmencita Pink and though it doesn't seem to share too much in common with either color-wise, it does have their dwarf (to 6 feet) habit and the small metallic seeds of the Dwarf Purple variety. Not as striking at a distance as those two varieties, the greyish cast of the leaf and flower-heads contrast nicely with the reddish stems and scarlet of the flowers. Eight seeds (poisonous of course).

SANGUINEUS. A larger sort with maroon stems and leaves and peach colored pods.

Salpiglossis sinuata. PAINTED-TONGUE. Otherwise known as Paisley Flower for the exotic beauty of its coloring in rich velvety tones of purple, blues, yellows, reds, and white, veined in gold.

Coming from Peru, the 2-1/2 inch funnel-shaped flowers are borne all summer on plants to 2-1/2 feet.

Salvia coccinea. TEXAS SCARLET SAGE. I grew this on the patio and there was hardly a day I didn’t see at least one hummingbird working the flowers. A perennial in the South, this is best treated as an HHA in the North where it will produce its vivid scarlet flowers all summer long right up to the frosts, on plants to 2 feet.

Salvia coccinea. SALMON PINK SAGE. An elegant variation on the above species sharing the same characteristics except for its lovely salmon pink flowers. Few seeds $2.50.

Salvia farinacea. MEALYCUP SAGE. A perennial in its native Texas, this is grown as a HHA in the North where it makes a wonderful shade of deep blue in the border, and for cutting fresh or dry.

‘BLUE BEDDER’ has larger flower spikes on plants to 3 feet.

Salvia sp. TALL RED SALVIA. Unfortunately I haven’t figured out which species of Salvia this is and with over 900 species it might take a specialist to do so. Sent to me by a customer who said it came from Brazil, it has rather small red flowers but lots of them on a bushy plant to five feet or perhaps more further south. It did seem to attract hummingbirds and it would take them a long time to work all the flowers. Held up well in our hot, dry summer without any attention, blooming until frost. HHA. 58

Salvia viridis. PAINTED SAGE. Also known as Joseph Sage and Annual Clary, this is the only true annual salvia to be grown in gardens. Long a popular bedding plant in England, this is finally beginning to see more use in this country. It is grown more for the colorful bracts–in blue, pink or white–than the inch long violet flowers. Good for cutting as the bracts retain their color when dried.

MIXED only.

Setaria italica. SPRAY MILLET. This member of the Grass Family is usually grown to feed caged birds, but makes an interesting back of the border plant with its nodding foot-long seed-heads that will hold well into the winter and provide food for game birds as well as song birds. Treat as HHA. Silene compacta. ORIENTAL CATCHFLY. Winter annual to biennial or perennial this one is slightly confused. Sown in fall or early spring, it should bloom the first year, bearing fine bright rosy pink flowers from June to September.

Solanum integrifolium. TREE PUMPKIN. Sent to me by a customer, this is a cousin of the eggplant with bright orange-red fruits that look like a tiny pumpkin about 2 inches wide. They keep fairly long but to insure having some for Thanksgiving, seed direct or remove some of the early flowers to encourage later fruiting.

Sorghum bicolor durra. EGYPTIAN WHEAT. Also called Egyptian Corn, this is actually a member of the Sorghum family and probably one of the oldest cultivated crops. The cream to tan seed heads are large and looser than milo and are borne on tall sturdy stalks to 6-8 feet or so. Handsome planted as a clump, the seed heads are nice for cutting but good to leave for winter food for songbirds, upland game birds and others. HHA. Sorghum bicolor nigrum. BLACK-SEEDED SORGHUM. A very ornamental member of this tribe with its ebony black seed heads 6-8 inches tall by about half that width on stems to about 8 feet tall.

Another plant with long human associations as Pliny speaks of the black-seeded millet being brought to Italy from the East in the first century AD. Short season areas should start these early indoors. HHA. Sorghum bicolor technicum. BROOM-CORN. Here’s a rather taller plant than most the others listed–to 10 ft. or so. It is really kind of attractive so why not plant a little patch and show the kids where brooms come from–the non-plastic ones, that is. If left to stand, as much of mine was, it will be appreciated by the pheasants and smaller birds.

Sorghum bicolor technicum. ORNAMENTAL BROOM-CORN. In blacks, reds and tans, these are most useful for making wreaths, swags and other dry arrangements. They are not as popular as sunflower seeds with the birds, but if finer fare is scarce they will be happy to eat them.

Spilanthes oleracea. PARA CRESS. Aka Brasil cress and Alphabet-plant, this is apparently used as a potherb and salad plant in many parts of the tropics but in my experience the taste is so incredibly strong and the urge to salivate so necessary from just a small piece of leaf or flower that I can’t imagine putting it in my own salad. Fortunately the flower is so unique, long lasting and profusely borne that it is worth growing as an ornamental alone. HHA to less than a foot and spreading two feet. Put a few leaves in the salad of someone you wouldn’t mind seeing drool at the table.

Talinum paniculatum. JEWELS OF OPAR. Indispensable plant for flower arrangers, with a profusion of long-stemmed panicles of tiny carmine flowers–good for a hot dry spot.

Talinum paniculatum aurea. GOLDEN-LEAVED FAMEFLOWER. Though the common Fameflower or Jewels-of-Opar might be considered a plant of quiet beauty, this form with its golden yellow large leaves and panicles of small red flowers and ruby fruits could be it vivacious cousin. Tough– its in the Purslane family–and coming rather true from seed, it will go to 2 feet in a warm sunny spot but does well in the shade too.

Tithonia rotundifolia. MEXICAN SUNFLOWER. We offer the variety ‘TORCH’; with vivid redorange 3 inch daisy-like flowers on plants slightly more restrained than the type, to 4 feet. Like sunflowers, good for poor dry sunny spots and attractive to butterflies.

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Trifolium incarnatum. CRIMSON CLOVER. Though usually used as an agricultural forage crop, this annual clover with its bright crimson flowers in spikelike heads to 2-1/2 inches is very handsome in the flower garden.

Triticum aestivum. COMMON WHEAT. Here offered are five types of ornamental wheat that are all spring sown: BLACK TIP. White glumes and black awns, 2-3 feet. (T. durum) RED TOP. Glumes, awns and stems are brownish-red, 2-3 feet.

BLACK EAGLE. Black and white glumes with black awns, 2-3 feet.

BLOCKY. Heads are rectangular with or without awns, 3-4 feet.

SILVER TIP. Heads very long with white glumes and awns, 3-4 ft. (Tritacale) These are all very nice in arrangements or in a sheaf of a single kind–or just enjoy them in the garden where the birds will pick them clean.

Vaccaria pyramidata. DAIRY PINK. Sometimes listed as Saponaria vaccaria, but not often as it seems to be seldom listed at all anymore. Once very popular with its deep pink sprays of flowers each 1/3 inch across, it is excellent for cutting, making wonderful filler material, or by itself, to 2 feet.

Zea mays japonica. VARIEGATED MAIZE. Growing to 6-7 feet, this makes a striking accent in the garden and in large scale flower arrangements with its broad leaves striped in white, yellow, pink and green. A favorite in Victorian gardens. 10 seeds $2.50.

Zinnia elegans. ZINNIA CHERRY QUEEN. If you must grow zinnias, and why not, you might as well grow this large double bright red variety which seems to have the same name as a cleome variety.

One of those sow and forget HHAs that gives a lot of color for little effort–though it is best not to overhead water them as they can get mildew. Growing to two feet, it is a good plant for cutting and for the butterflies.

Zinnia elegans. ZINNIA POLAR BEAR. Growing to two feet, this ever popular HHA produces an abundance of large green-eyed white flowers all summer long. Good for cutting and attracting butterflies. Best sown direct where it is to grow in full sun and do not overhead water as that can cause mildew.

Zinnia elegans. ENVY ZINNIA. If you must have a green flower, then this is probably as good as any. The three to four inch flower is a unique chartreuse green with flat petaled, semi-double flowers on a plant to about two feet. Good for cutting and attracting butterflies, it is one of the classic sow-andforget annuals. It is best sown direct to its growing position which should be in full sun.

Zinnia pauciflora. SCARLET ZINNIA. A charming fine-leaved species with relatively small spidery bright scarlet flowers borne in abundance on bushy plants to 18 inches high. A seldom seen zinnia which I received from Monticello, the home and garden of Thomas Jefferson who said: “But though an old man, I am but a young gardener”.

Zinnia peruviana. YOUTH AND OLD-AGE. This is an “unimproved” species of zinnia flowering in muted yellow or scarlet on plants to about 2 ft. The flowers are not as large or as showy as the hybrids but it seemed to attract plenty of notice all the same. I don’t know if it has any particular resistance, but what it didn’t attract was mildew.

PERENNIALS Alcea rosea nigra. BLACK HOLLYHOCK. Similar in all respects to your ordinary tall single hollyhock except for the color of the flower which is in the writer’s opinion about as close to the color black as one finds in the floral kingdom. It is on close examination, a very deep shade of maroon or purple, but with a little distance it does appear to be black.

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Althea armeniaca. ARMENIAN MALLOW. This 3-4 foot mallow has small pink flowers but is grown mainly for the attractive felted grey-green palmately lobed leaves–good as a foil for more brightly colored flowers. Hardy here for several years.

Allium caeruleum. BLUE GLOBE ONION. From Siberia comes this bluest of onions with its 2 inch umbels of deep blue on 2-3 foot stalks in early June–good for cutting for fresh or dry use.

Allium christophii. STAR OF PERSIA. Though not the tallest of the Alliums, this is certainly one of the largest in its flower head which can be up to a foot across on stems generally less than two feet.

The widely spaced florets are a pale amethyst-violet with silver highlights and deep green eyes. Blooming in early June, they are excellent for dried as well as fresh arrangements and are hardy to zone 4. HP $2.50.

Allium flavum ‘Glaucum’. YELLOW ONION. Growing to only a foot, this is a very attractive little onion with bright yellow flowers in loose umbels for a considerable period in summer. This form is even showier with its silvery blue leaves and stems. Native from southern Europe to western Asia, it would be useful for the rockery or front of the border. Very hardy to zone 3. Pkt. $2.50.

Allium hollandicum. PURPLE SENSATION. A reliable and easily grown ornamental onion to about two feet with four inch globes of vivid, reddish-purple star-shaped florets. This makes quite a striking display in early June but has more or less disappeared by summer so should have some spreading perennials or annuals planted around it to occupy the space for summer. Zone 4.

Allium senescens. MONGOLIAN GEM. With two inch pink globes on 18" stems and narrow blue-green strap-like foliage, this handsome allium from northern Asia blooms in late summer. Zone 3.

Amsonia illustris. SHINING BLUE-STAR. This differs from A. tabernaemontana primarily in its shining, leathery foliage and slightly earlier bloom time in early spring. The Amsonias are somewhat unique among HPs in their attractive autumnal tints. In warmer climates they appreciate some shade, zone 5.

Aquilegia vulgaris. EUROPEAN COLUMBINE. Very popular in its native country, mostly flowering in blue and purple but occasionally white or pink to about two feet.

Belamcanda chinensis. BLACKBERRY LILY. This member of the iris family is an old favorite of mine though not as much planted as it used to be. The foliage is rather like that of glads, giving rise to loosely branched stems with yellow to orange-red flowers spotted purple (it is also called Leopard Lily).

The six-petaled flowers are not large–less than 2 inches across–but are borne through much of the summer and give rise to the blackberry like seed heads in the fall. HP zone 5.

Belamcanda chinensis nana. DWARF BLACKBERRY-LILY. A shorter, more compact version of this old-fashioned garden favorite which never flops as the regular three foot type is sometimes prone to do. With foot high foliage reminiscent of gladiolus and flower stalks at only 18 inches with redspotted orange 2-inch flowers on branched stems, this makes a neat plant for the front of the border. It flowers for much of the summer then seed pods burst open in the fall revealing the shiny black seeds which give it its common name. HP to zone 5 at least.

Calamagrostis brachytricha. KOREAN FEATHER REED GRASS. Relatively new to many gardeners is this warm season clump-forming grass with spiky bright green leaves to about 15 inches with feathery pale green plumes that become blushed with pink, on stems to 3 feet. One of a few grasses (others are Chasmanthium, Elymus, Spodiopogon) that appreciate some shade especially under hotter, drier conditions. A very pretty grass in the late summer and fall landscape which also makes a nice cut flower.

HP to zone 4, pkt. $2.50.

Callicarpa dichotoma. BEAUTYBERRY. A shrub best treated as a herbaceous perennial (as with Butterfly-bush) with profusely borne bright purple berries in late summer and fall–striking.

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Callicarpa dichotoma albifrutus. WHITE BEAUTYBERRY. A white form of the normally purple fruited shrub–striking in fall bouquets as well as on the shrub. Zone 4-5. Best species according to Dirr.

Chasmanthium latifolium. SPIKE GRASS. Also known as Northern Sea Oats, this is perhaps our best native ornamental grass, bearing flat fruit heads which droop gracefully.

Chelidonium majus ‘Flore Pleno’. GREATER CELANDINE. One of the harbingers of spring with its early fresh green foliage and in this form, its rounded golden yellow blooms on a plant to two feet. One of the few plants in which I prefer the double flowered form. Known as Swallow Wort for its habit of blooming from the time the swallows arrive in spring until they depart in late summer.

Important medicinally. Zone 4. $2.50.

Chrysanthemum leucanthemum. OXEYE DAISY. Native to Europe and Asia but naturalized throughout the U.S., this is the common daisy of fields and pastures. The 2 inch flowers are pure white with mustard-yellow centers, individually borne on single erect stems–makes a long-lasting cut flower. To 2 feet, zone 3.

Chrysanthemum maximum. SHASTA DAISY. Not as hardy or long-lived as the Oxeye Daisy, but larger in flower and stature–sort of its city cousin. Growing to 3 feet, they are effective in any border and make excellent cut flowers. Zone 4.

Chrysanthemum parthenium. DOUBLE FEVERFEW. Seed from a nice double flowered type to 2 feet or a little more which makes it so useful for cutting for larger bouquets.

Cichorium intybus. COMMON CHICORY. Considered too angular to be a good garden subject, be that as it may, it is quite attractive along the highway or in the wild garden with its bright blue ray flowers from June to October, it is more affectionately known as BLUE SAILORS. Clematis integrifolia alba. WHITE SOLITARY CLEMATIS. The rather rare white form of this dwarf, non-climbing clematis which only grows to about a foot and a half. Good for the sunny border where it blooms for most of the summer. An added bonus is that this variety is fragrant–however I don't know how true it will come from seed though it is distant from any other C. integrifolia variety in the gardens. HP to zone 2-3, ten seeds pkt. $3.00.

Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora. MONTBRETIA. Seed from the hybrid variety Lucifer with vibrant scarlet flowers through the summer on plants to 3-4 feet with iris-like foliage except that it is pleated.

Related to Tritonia, these also come from South Africa and are included in that genus by some botanists.

One can hardly have enough red flowers in the summer garden and these are held upright on horizontal spikes in a most graceful manner. Hardy to zone 6, these have to be planted on the south side of a building here or lifted for the winter like glads.

Dianthus deltoides. MAIDEN PINK. Very low mat-forming pink with flower stalks to about six inches. Nice for ground cover, rock walls or ledges as it trails. Literally covered with 3/4 in. blooms in May and June. PINK, WHITE or RED. Digitalis lutea. SMALL YELLOW FOXGLOVE. A hardy (zone 3-4) longer lived foxglove to 3 feet bearing many pale yellow nodding flowers with brown flecks inside the tube. More graceful than D. grandiflora.

Echinops ritro. GLOBE THISTLE. Rank growing furnishing subtropical effect, and bright metallic blue flowers.

Eragrostis spectabilis. PURPLE LOVE GRASS. A beautiful native grass in late summer when the voluminous fine textured flower panicles create red-purple fogs that seem to be floating above the ground. Perhaps best naturalized in a meadow where it is quite adaptable to moisture and soil conditions. Does tend to be short lived but it will reseed. Hardy to at least zone 5.

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Eremurus stenophyllus. BUNGE DESERT-CANDLE. A striking plant for the back of the border to 6 feet with at least half that height covered in bright yellow flowers of curious fragrance. Wants good drainage. Zone 5.

Eryngium amethystinum. AMETHYST ERYNGIUM. The hardiest and best of the Sea-hollies, should be in every garden. 1-1/2 feet.

Gaillardia aristata. BLANKET-FLOWER. A very popular flower, which unlike most perennials, blooms most of the summer. A good, tough, dependable plant to about two feet–mixed.

Gypsophila repens ‘Rosea’. ROSE CREEPING GYPSOPHILA. From the Pyrenees comes this excellent ground cover with fine foliage and panicles of tine rose flowers in June and July. Best in full sun and limestone soil. Zone 3.

Hemerocallis minor. GRASS-LEAF DAYLILY. A diminutive species from eastern Siberia and Japan with leaves to only about 8 inches and flowering stalks to 18 inches. The fragrant yellow 4 inch flowers are borne in spring. Zone 2-3. 6 seeds.

Hibiscus militaris. SOLDIER ROSE MALLOW. A very pretty mallow to about 6 feet which is ideal in a damp situation–though seems fine here in ordinary garden soil. The flowers are white with a crimson base, to 4 or 5 inches across, and borne over a long period.

Hibiscus moscheutos. ROSE MALLOW. This seed is from the lovely Bluebird Nursery introduction, PINK CLOUDS, which likely has more than just H. moscheutos in its background so it can’t be guaranteed that it will come entirely true from seed–though, no doubt, all seedlings will be worth having. It is a robust plant growing to four to five feet tall and bears its large intense deep pink flowers over a very long period. Unlike many mallows which have rather nondescript leaves, this one has leaves that are similar in size color and shape to that of the Norway maple. Prefers moist soil and can even be sited at the waters edge. HP to zone 4.

Hibiscus moscheutos alba. WHITE COMMON MALLOW. Though not very commonly found is this pure white form with no red at the center of the flower petals. A robust native of the eastern US growing to 4 to 6 feet and producing its very large flowers for much of the summer months into autumn.

Can't guarantee all seedlings will be pure white but a high percentage should come true to color. HP to zone 4-5. Pkt. $2.50.

Hyssopus officinalis nana rosea. DWARF PINK HYSSOP. Requisite to herb gardens in its several forms, this compact pink flowering strain would be very useful for edging a border or in the knot garden where its one foot mounding habit would need very little pruning to keep it in shape. The leaves have been used in soups, salads, game meats and stews, and the essential oil in perfumery.

Iris pseudacorus. YELLOW FLAG. The French ‘Flower of Louis’, a handsome tall iris for wet places. It has stiff, sword-like leaves and bright yellow flowers in early summer.

Iris pseudoacorus variegata. VARIEGATED YELLOW FLAG. The effect is not so much variegation, but rather the foliage emerges in spring in creams and yellows until it gets a foot or so tall and then by early summer it has turned to the normal mid-green of the species. I grew out about 100 seedlings and about half come true–they are either brightly variegated or not at all, there seems to be no in-between. So you can expect to get about 50% true and you can tell from when they first germinate.

About 2 feet tall, wet soil or not. 20 seeds, $2.50.

Iris siberica. BLUE SIBERIAN IRIS. The seed for this offering comes from a Siberian iris (possibly with some hybrid blood) of a rich deep blue color like ‘Caesar’s Brother’ but the petals are arranged more like a delicate Japanese iris, all in a horizontal plane. Good for cutting, growing to about 2 feet, zone 4.

Lathyrus sylvestris. WOODLAND PEA. Delightful rose-pink vining wildflower merits a place in any garden.

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Limonium tataricum. GERMAN STATICE. Also known as Goniolimon tartaricum and L. dumosum–this one has been shoved about a bit. It’s amazing how many references I had to consult to get this “right”, considering it is such a commonly used plant. The tiny true flowers which fall off before its harvest for florists statice are lightly fragrant. Adaptable, hardy here, about one foot tall, attractive to pollinators.

Limonium latifolium. WIDE-LEAF SEA-LAVENDER. Probably the best species and should be in every garden. Wonderful for its large feathery panicles of tiny blue flowers and for cutting for filler in arrangements.

Linum perenne. PERENNIAL FLAX. Very graceful and probably the best of the genus. To 2 feet with sky blue flowers.

Lychnis chalcedonica. MALTESE CROSS. Coming from Russia and Siberia, this is one of the classic plants for the herbaceous border, with its brilliant scarlet flowers much of the summer. The individual florets are shaped like a Maltese Cross, and the plant is said to make a fine bog plant, though it doesn’t need such conditions.

Lychnis coronaria. ROSE CAMPION. An old favorite cottage garden plant with white-woolly leaves and stems to 2 feet and contrasting deep RED-PURPLE flowers in June and July. HB to HP. Lychnis coronaria alba. WHITE ROSE CAMPION. Not as striking as the purple-red flowering form, but easier to use with other colors and is much more effective in the evening or night garden.

Growing to around three feet it generally behaves as biennial to perennial and if started early can be used as an annual. Sometimes mistakenly called Dusty Miller because of its very white wooly foliage.

Blooming most of the summer.

Malva alcea. HOLLYHOCK MALLOW. To 3 feet, this is a good mallow for the garden or for naturalizing. Rose-pink flowers and a long blooming season.

Malva sylvestris mauritiana. STRIPED MALLOW. Also known as Cheeses and High Mallow, its lavender-striped-purple flowers always attract attention.

Melica ciliata. EYELASH PEARL GRASS. Not commonly seen, this delightful little grass (to 18 inches in bloom) flowers early–during the lull between the last of spring’s bulbs and the first of summer’s perennials. The narrow spikes of flowers fan out over the leaves and fairly dance in the slightest breeze.

Onobrychis viciifolia. SAINFOIN. Holy clover, a most attractive English wild flower–flowers pretty pink with darker veins and attractive pinnate foliage.

Papaver bracteatum. IRANIAN POPPY. Or Great Scarlet Poppy–to my eye more crimson–is this slower to mature but even larger growing HP poppy, than its cousin the Oriental Poppy which is commonly found in gardens.

Papaver orientale. ORIENTAL POPPY. Too well known to need description, this seed comes from plants with vivid FIERY RED flowers. Three feet, zone 3.

Papaver orientale. PINK ORIENTAL POPPY. Here offered are shades of PINK in this oldfashioned favorite–a little easier to use in the border than some of the hotter colors. Pkt. $25.0.

Papaver orientale. WHITE ORIENTAL POPPY. Seed from plants with white flowers containing a black eye. Three feet, zone 3.

Papaver orientale. BENARY’S SPECIAL MIX. A formula mix of this most conspicuous of garden perennials including white, salmon, orange, oxblood and other colors. It is certainly one of the largest and brightest flowers of late May or early June and makes its presence felt. That presence has evaporated by mid-summer so I have planted Datura inoxia amongst them so that they will self-seed and grow up to hide the senescing poppy foliage with an equally spectacular show of giant white trumpets.

Zone 3.

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Papaver orientale ‘Nana Flore Pleno’. DWARF DOUBLE ORIENTAL POPPY. Rarely offered or seen anymore is this two foot tall double-flowered (to 4 inches) orange oriental poppy. Delicate looking but tough, it comes true from seed–a show stopper. Zone 3.

Pennisetum alopecuroides. FOUNTAIN GRASS. A most graceful ornamental grass for all-around garden use. Can be treated as an annual but so far its perennial here–zone 4-5 border. Making a mound to about 3 feet, it creates a very soft, full effect. The flower-heads will hold together if cut before they are too ripe.

Penstemon. PURPLE-LEAF PENSTEMON. This BEARD-TONGUE is grown more for its colored foliage than the flowers–which would seem to class it as a form of P. digitalis.

Penstemon barbatus. BEARLIP PENSTEMON. A striking plant with its 2 foot spires of loosely borne flowers in pinks, purples and blues so attractive to bees and hummingbirds. Full sun, good drainage, zone 3.

Penstemon grandiflorus. WAR AXE HYBRIDS. This seed comes to me from the indefatigable Harlan Hamernick of Bluebird Nursery who originally collected it from the Hwy 80 rest stop known as War Axe. The habit and foliage strongly resemble P. grandiflorus, one of my favorite species for those two aspects, looking almost eucalyptus-like. But the narrow color range in that species has been expanded to pinks, maroon, reds and purples. Usually a short-lived HP but reseeds. Zone 4, growing 2-4 feet.

Penstemon strictus. ROCKY MOUNTAIN PENSTEMON. Not only is this a beautiful penstemon with its generous display of blue-violet flowers on stems to 2 feet, but it is also one of the easiest to grow. Prefers full sun and good drainage.

Phlomis tuberosa. TUBEROUS SAGE. With dense whorls of rosy-purple flowers to four feet, this is a good back of the border plant also useful for butterfly and wildflower gardens. Edible tubers.

Phytolacca americana. VARIEGATED POKE. Seed from a remarkably variegated pokeberry that volunteered in the garden. It had three main stems each with a different variegation: one very pale green with speckles, one almost white with speckles and the third with a cream border and speckles! They do well in shade to brighten an area, yet don’t burn in full sun. Zone 3, HP, pkt. $2.50.

Platycodon grandiflorus. BALLOON FLOWER. Tenacious of life like the Peony and Gasplant and also sharing their good habit of not spreading about, this is a plant that no garden should be without. Simple and exquisite. Offered here are SHELL PINK, WHITE or BLUE in the separate colors.

Platycodon grandiflorus. BALLOON FLOWER MAUVE. A new color in one of my favorite plants–this occurred in a large planting of the several colors for cut flowers. A distinct color with deeper veining, it is now isolated and should give a good percentage of MAUVE plants. Few seeds, $2.50.

Platycodon grandiflorus. BALLOON FLOWER ‘KOMACHI’. In this unique variety of this wonderful species, the deep blue flowers remain unopened and so retain their hot air balloon shape.

Compact to 18 inches, zone 3. Pkt. $2.50.

Platycodon grandiflorus. VARIEGATED BALLOONFLOWER. In the case of the seed offered here, it is the flower and not the foliage that is the variegated part. This old garden favorite from Eastern Asia is a member of the Campanula family and is considered one of the best perennials for the flower border as it is hardy, blooms every year, requires no special attention and doesn’t spread. The plant offered here volunteered in our gardens and has the typical balloon-shaped flower (opening to a star) but in a “broken” blue and white pattern. Flowers may be more blue or more white or occasionally all white or all blue on the same plant. Some seedlings could have all blue flowers as it doesn't breed entirely true as yet. HP to 2 feet, zone 3. Pkt. $2.50.

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Rheum rhubarbarum. RHUBARB. Or Pieplant, this is seed from our own unknown strain which was somehow allowed to seed this year. It is a very large type and one or two stalks will make a pie, and a leaf a hasty umbrella. Zone 3.

Aquilegia canadensis nana. DWARF AMERICAN COLUMBINE. Similar to the species listed under PRAIRIE FLOWERS but under one foot. Zone 3, few seed. Pkt. $2.50.

Rudbeckia hirta. GLORIOSA DAISY. More perennial than the Black-eyed Susan, this is a tetraploid strain blooming the first year from seed with large 6-7 inch single blooms in golden orange and mahogany flowering through the summer. 3 feet, zone 3.

Spodiopogon sibericus. FROST GRASS. Or sometimes as Siberian Graybeard, this seldom seen ornamental grass is becoming a bit more available in the trade. When a friend was looking for it a number of years ago even internet searches were unsuccessful so I split a couple clumps I had grown from seed. A very neat clump forming grass to 3-4 feet especially wonderful when back lit in the morning or afternoon. Can have nice burgundy fall color and will tolerate more shade than most grasses. Though I have seen it listed as zone 7, it has been perfectly hardy here for quite a few years–zone 5, pkt $2.50.

Tanacetum vulgare. TANSY. Seed from the variety GOLDSTICKS, with larger flowers, longer stems and longer flowering period. Excellent for fresh or dried use.

Tridens flavus. PURPLETOP. Or Tall Redtop, this is a native grass that to me looks rather like a delicate brome grass. It is most conspicuous in late summer when it casts a purple haze over meadows and old fields with it airy purple seed heads on stems to 3-4 feet. Quite tolerant of soil and moisture conditions. Makes a nice cut flower, to zone 4.

Trifolium rubens. RED TREFOIL. An ornamental clover from the Alps making a bushy plant to one foot, and bearing over a long period 3 inch oval flower heads of tightly packed reddish flowers. After flowering the heads become silky.

Verbascum nigrum. DARK MULLEIN. Rather like a larger version of Chaix Mullein going to 4-5 feet here. The violet-centered yellow flowers are produced most of the summer.

Verbascum phoeniceum. PURPLE MULLEIN. Hybrids in pink, lilac and purple, biennial to perennial, tall and very striking.

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There is something deeply exciting...in the sounds of wind in the woods...the pines seem to be the best interpreters of winds.

They are mighty waving goldenrods, ever in tune, singing and writing wind-music all their long century lives.

–JOHN MUIR

FRAGRANT TREES AND SHRUBS Many hardy trees and shrubs require a cold moist treatment approximating their natural situation (spending the fall and winter in the ground with the action of moisture and frost). This may be achieved by sowing in a flat of prepared medium–moist peat and sand or perlite–securing in a plastic bag, and placing in a situation where it will receive frost action during the winter, or in the refrigerator for 2-3 months. Alternatively, they may simply be sown in a prepared spot outdoors during the summer, to germinate in the spring. A good spot is in a corner of the garden where they will be weeded and watered occasionally.

Many of the following are difficult, if not impossible, to locate as plants in the trade. They are highly desirable, and for those willing to go to a little trouble to get them started, offer a lifetime of rewards. One cultural detail is certain–if not planted, they will not grow.

Acer ginnala. AMUR MAPLE. A very tough and beautiful small maple from the Amur river regin of northern China. Not only does it have bright red autumn foliage, but the winged seeds (samaras or keys) are red for much of the growing season. And–uncommon among the maples–the abundant flowers are sweetly fragrant and scent the area about the tree. It is much planted for windbreaks on the prairies of South Dakota and when encountered at the right time in fall it can look like a large prairie fire burning across the landscape. Dense and vigorous, it grows to about 20 feet or less and is hardy to zone 2.

Acer griseum. PAPERBARK MAPLE. An aristocrat of the Maple Family–and a very large family that is–only the Oaks can vie with it for the number of valuable landscape trees. A small tree from western China that is considered to have the most ornamental bark of all the maples–a rich cinnamon brown that exfoliates in long paperlike strips reminiscent of some birches. The compound leaves are in threes which gives it a rather fine texture for a maple and they turn a fairly uniform crimson in the fall after many trees have already lost their leaves. Not all seeds are filled but if you get several seedlings from a pkt. you will have gotten more than your money’s worth. Seems perfectly hardy here in zone 5. Pkt. $2.50.

Acer hybrid. EURASIAN MAPLE. This useful new maple is actually a hybrid between the Norway Maple (which occurs through Europe into the Middle East) and the Shantung Maple from China and Korea. It seems to have inherited some of the better characteristics from both parents. From the Shantung comes its purple blush to the spring growth, its lovely yellow-orange-red fall color and 67

samaras sometimes artistically marked with purple spots. From the Norway it receives its more arboreal habit, rapid growth rate and hardiness. Likely at least zone 4 hardiness. Pkt. $2.50.

Acer mono. PAINTED MAPLE. Though rarely seen in this country, this rather elegant small to medium sized tree has a wide natural range from China through Manchuria, Mongolia, Siberia, and Korea to northern Japan. In the form offered here the leaf is especially graceful with three narrow pointed lobes with the central one considerably longer that the other two. In the fall the leaves turn a clear yellow shaded red at the margins giving rise to its common name. It should make a fine-textured rounded shade tree with spreading canopy. Hardy to at least zone 5. Pkt. $2.50.

Acer miyabei. MIYABE MAPLE. A rather rare small to medium sized maple that is native to the northern island of Japan, Hokkaido. It is a fairly dense, rounded tree that is somewhat similar to the European Hedge Maple to which it is closely related and shares the characteristic milky sap. It has of late been promoted in the midwest as a fairly tough, tolerant shade tree of medium to fast growth rate for use in urban situations. It is earlier coloring and more dependable for its clear yellow fall color than its European cousin. At least zone 5. Pkt. $2.50.

Acer saccharum. CADDO SUGAR MAPLE. Here offered is seed from the Caddo county canyons in OK that we have been growing for some years. It is a smaller tree than its northern cousin and more tolerant of hotter, drier conditions so would be useful in areas south and west of the common Sugar Maple's natural habitat. With the beautiful fall color of the regular Sugar Maple, it has been perfectly hardy here for many years–zone 5. Pkt. $2.50.

Acer triflorum. THREE-FLOWERED MAPLE. This tree was once so rare it had to be grafted onto Paperbark maple as one of the only suitable understocks–which kept it rare. The seed offered here is from the best of my trees with wonderful golden flaking bark. A lovely smaller maple from Manchuria and Korea with superb fall color–think Sugar Maple in pastels. Zone 4. $2.50.

Albizia julibrissin ‘Ernest Wilson’. MIMOSA. Or Silktree, is commonly seen in the South, but is a real pleasure to behold in zone 5. The variety ‘Ernest Wilson’ aka ‘Rosea’ has been blooming all summer long in our gardens for many years. The red powder-puff flowers have a fragrance that reminds me of ripe peaches and are very attractive to Swallowtail and other butterflies. In China it is known as the Happiness Tree and is an important medicinal plant. Zone 5 when established, pkt. $2.50.

Alnus glutinosa ‘Aurea’. GOLDEN EUROPEAN ALDER. Not fragrant but a striking tree of fast pyramidal growth that will grow in dry to even water-logged ground. One of the nicer golden-leaved trees, it is also quite attractive in the winter with its pendulous catkins and clusters of tiny “pinecones”. Zone 3.

Alnus glutinosa ‘Rubrinervia’. REDVEIN BLACK ALDER. A beautiful fast growing and adaptable tree especially suitable for planting in low wet areas though it tolerates drier soils. Veins and petioles of the leaves red as well as in the catkins and fruits.

Aralia elata. JAPANESE ANGELICA-TREE. A decidedly exotic-looking tree from Japan with terminal flower clusters 2-3 feet across. Tiny black fruits follow the white flowers and are much appreciated by birds. Zone 3.

Betula costata. KOREAN BIRCH. Although we live in rather difficult birch growing territory, this tree has been doing well for us and it is considered by no less an authority than Hilliers to be “Certainly one of the best birches”. The creamy white color extends further out on the smaller branches than most white birches and the bark peels off in thick parchment-like pieces and is a metallic copper on the underside. Zone 5 at least.

Betula hybrid. HYBRID PURPLE-LEAVED BIRCH. This is seed from a hybrid between B. pendula (purple leaves) and B. populifolia (toughness and bore resistance) so could vary some from seed.

Birches may be one of the few types of trees that can have as much beauty and character at a young age as they do at maturity with their graceful shape, striking white bark and in this case, glossy purple leaves 68

and yellow to orange to red fall color. Because of their quick growth and early beauty it might be useful to think of using them for semi-temporary (10 to 15 or 20 years) plantings to give quick effect while slower, longer-lived species are making up growth. If they have to be removed because of space considerations or disease at 15 or 20 years, they will have given plenty of value for their small cost.

Growing to forty feet and at least zone 4 hardy.

Betula lenta. SWEET BIRCH. An underutilized birch native to the eastern U.S. with a pyramidal growth habit while young and an outstanding dark cherry-like bark. All parts of the tree are used for the distillation of oil of wintergreen–the twigs when chewed on have a fine wintergreen flavor. Can grow as high as 75 feet and is hardy to zone 3.

Betula populifolia. GRAY BIRCH. A very useful Birch for its ability to tolerate poor, dry soils and its resistance to bronze birch borer. Usually multiple trunked with chalky white bark and only grows to about 30 feet making it useful for the smaller landscape. Not fragrant. Zone 4.

Betula turkestanica. TURKESTAN BIRCH. I am always trying to find birches that will do here and Turkestan is a hot dry country…though it may be that these only grow near streams in the mountains there. There seems to be little information on this species but so far it is doing well here and has very pretty white bark and a narrow habit. I have underplanted them with Tulipa turkestanica–I hope they will appreciate the effort though no doubt they don’t grow together at home. Zone 5.

Calycanthus floridus. CAROLINA ALLSPICE. An aromatic shrub of easy cultivation, with conspicuous red-brown flowers during summer. Zone 4.

Catalpa bignonioides ‘Aurea’. YELLOW-LEAVED CATALPA. Considered to be among the best of the yellow-leaved trees with its large, velvety, soft-yellow leaves. Coming relatively true from seed– the degree of yellowness can be determined while quite small. Zone 4.

Catalpa speciosa. NORTHERN CATALPA. A large exotic looking tree for parks and estates and other commodious spaces, which is not planted as much as it once was. Native to the Midwest, it is tolerant of heat and drought and is one of the few large ornamental flowering trees with fragrant white blossoms in large clusters. Zone 4.

Catalpa ovata. CHINESE CATALPA. A species from northern China that is smaller in all its parts than the American species and in the seed offered here from my own tree, even smaller yet–after many years it is only about 7 feet tall. It has the most fragrant flowers of all the catalpas to my nose, smelling much like that of Dianthus superbus, and it can drift through the garden like the perfume of that plant does. Zone 4. Pkt. $2.50.

Catalpa x erubescens ‘Purpurea’. BLACK-LEAVED CATALPA. In this variety the young leaves and shoots are very dark purple, almost black, gradually becoming dark green as summer progresses. It makes a medium sized tree to 40 feet and is covered in early summer with one foot clusters of fragrant white flowers marked with purple and yellow and somewhat foxglove shaped. Zone 5, $2.50.

Catalpa x fargesii. FARGES CATALPA. Unlike the American members of this tribe, this is a small Chinese Catalpa which may remain under ten feet and remarkably can bloom when only a foot or two tall and a couple years old. The pods are the typical length (about a foot) but are only pencil thin and often attract the attention of visitors. This and C. ovata would be good candidates for those who don’t have room for the larger trees. Zone 4.

Cephalanthus occidentalis. BUTTON-BUSH. A rarely encountered native shrub also known as HONEY BALLS, whose richly fragrant white tubular blossoms are borne in dense spherical heads which last a long time. Likes moisture. Zone 4.

Cercis canadensis. EASTERN REDBUD. One of the prettiest of American spring-flowering trees and quite adaptable to soil, moisture, and light conditions. It generally grows to about 15 to 20 feet (taller in shaded situations) and is hardy to zone 4. The following seed is collected from isolated 69

groupings of a single color and can be expected to come quite true. The weeping one is a single tree and I am unsure how true it will come from seed. Pkt. $2.50.

REDBUD. The typical sort which is of course actually a violet purple.

WHITEBUD. A beautiful pure white and a very lovely tree as a specimen or with the other colors.

PINKBUD. The striking rosy red sort which lacks the bluish pigment found in the typical redbud.

WEEPING REDBUD. The strongly weeping form which must be grafted high or staked up to the height desired.

Chionanthus retusus. CHINESE FRINGETREE. Introduced to this country over a century ago, this delightful shrub or small tree is still too little known. It is of finer texture and a smaller plant than the native species, growing after quite some time to 16 feet or so. Like C. virginicus, the airy pure white flowers are borne in great profusion and have a sweet scent in early summer. Though the sexes are usually separate, this seed comes from a single isolated plant. Zone 5, pkt. $2.50.

Chionanthus virginicus. FRINGETREE. Or Old Man’s Beard as it is sometimes known, is a relative of the lilacs and ashes. The loose pendant panicles of white flowers hang from the tree rather like fringe and have a delicate perfume. They are followed by egg-shaped fruits of purple-blue if both male and female trees are present–these are rather charming, but may be quickly taken by the birds. Zone 4.

Cladrastis lutea. YELLOW WOOD. One of the rarest and most beautiful medium sized trees native to the U.S. The fragrant pea-like flowers are white and borne in long, terminal, pendulous clusters to 16 inches. Zone 3.

Cladrastis lutea ‘Rosea’. PINK YELLOW WOOD. Rarest of the rare one might say, this is the very scarce pink flowering form–even more beautiful than the type. Self fertile, unlike its relative the Redbud, it should give a high percentage of pink flowered trees. Packet $2.50.

Clethra alnifolia. SUMMERSWEET. Sweet Pepper bush and Mignonette tree are other names bestowed on this summer blooming shrub by its many admirers. The white or pink fragrant flowers are borne in spikes and it has been said that because it could be smelled far out at sea it was known as Sailor’s Delight. Very hardy, it grows to 6-8 feet and is native to the eastern U.S. Zone 3. $2.50.

Cornus florida. FLOWERING DOGWOOD. Here offered are two varieties of this most lovely of small American flowering trees. One is a red flowering variety with purple tinged leaves in the spring which should come fairly true. The other is from a white variety that is dense flowering and blooms at a younger age than some. This species is considered by many to be one of the most ornamental of our native flowering trees-the flower “petals” which are really bracts, last for a considerable period of time, much longer than actual flower petals would, giving it an extend period of bloom. Slowly to 20 feet or more, zone 4-5. Specify RED or WHITE. Cornus kousa. JAPANESE DOGWOOD. Or Korean Dogwood as it is sometimes called as it is naive to both countries–is not a rare plant, but should certainly be planted much more than it is in this region. It is an excellent small tree or large shrub (it has more tendency to be shrubby than our native flowering dogwood) with its June flower bracts that last for weeks, handsome foliage, attractive red fruits which my dogs are fond of eating, and brilliant scarlet fall color. If that were not enough, the bark exfoliates in a patchwork fashion on trees of a few years age. Our plants have been perfectly hardy here in zone 5. Pkt. $2.50.

Cornus mas. CORNELIAN CHERRY. An under-utilized small tree of the Dogwood Family with four seasons of interest: early spring blooms; handsome summer foliage; reddish fall color and fruits; exfoliating winter bark. The fruit has long been used in Europe for tarts and conserves–about the only dogwood to be eaten by humans. Zone 4.

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Crataegus laevigata. ENGLISH HAWTHORN. This is the very popular Maytree in England.

About the only good-scented haw, the fragrance is of honey-almond and far reaching. Zone 4.

Diospyros virginiana. COMMON PERSIMMON. The Latin name means food of the gods and the perfectly ripe fruits are very sweet with a complex flavor suggesting dates and apricots–until ripe they are astringent. The tree is quite attractive with a rich smokey yellow fall color and the tiny green flowers are fragrant. Seeds from our own trees. Zone 4.

Diospyros virginiana. PURPLE-LEAF PERSIMMON. This is seed from the progeny of a tree selected by Joe McDaniels of Urbana IL for its purple and red fall color in addition the regular yellow this species often turns. The seeds are a different shape as well from the other persimmon offered in the catalogue which are rounder to this one’s more bean shape. The fall color can be a bit like that of the Autumn Purple ash but generally with more yellow. It has a fairly early maturing fruit and the trees are usually either male or female. Zone 4.

Elaeagnus angustifolia. RUSSIAN-OLIVE. By no means an uncommon tree, but one that should be in any garden that has plenty of room. Its small yellow highly perfumed flowers would be reason enough alone to plant it–it is called Tree of Paradise by the Portuguese for the rare fragrance of the flowers. It also has handsome shredding bark and narrow foliage of a gray-green color unique among hardy woody plants. And besides being very cold and drought tolerant, the small silvery fruits are enjoyed by birds. Zone 2.

Evodia daniellii. KOREAN EVODIA. Also known as the Bee-Bee tree, for when it blooms in late summer it is a favorite of this industrious insect. The small white flowers are borne in six inch heads and are followed by reddish capsules which split open to show the lustrous black seeds. A member of the Rue or Citrus family. Evodia means sweet scent. Zone 5.

Gymnocladus dioica. KENTUCKY COFFEE-TREE. Large bold native tree that has been unjustly neglected for landscape use. Very tough and adaptable, tolerating city conditions, the leaves are doubly pinnate to three feet casting light shade. Flowers very fragrant of citrus in Spring. Zone 4.

Hamamelis x intermedia. HYBRID WITCH-HAZEL. Seed from several named varieties of this cross–they bloom in yellow, orange or red very early in the year, are fragrant and have wonderful fall color. Seed is double dormant, zone 5.

Hamamelis vernalis. VERNAL WITCH-HAZEL. Unlike the Common Witch-hazel which is the last woody plant to bloom in the fall, the extremely fragrant flowers of this species are amongst the first to open in spring–late February or March along with the Asiatic species. The strap-like petals unroll on warm days and release their perfume, and roll tightly back up when the weather turns cold. The 8-10 foot shrubs turn brilliant yellow in fall and are native to the central US. Zone 4.

Hamamelis virginiana. COMMON WITCH-HAZEL. This small tree or large shrub of the eastern U.S. is the source of the witch-hazel of commerce. It is rather unique for its softly scented golden yellow flowers appear so late in the year, often when the snow is already beginning to fall. The strap-like petals roll up when the temperature drops and open on mild days. The fall color is a golden yellow–should be more often planted. Zone 4.

Hovenia dulcis. RAISINTREE. An unusual Japanese ornamental tree of medium size whose flowers have a strong, sweet fragrance. Oddly enough, it is the flower stalks rather than the fruits that are the edible “raisins”. Not quite hardy here. Zone 6.

Koelreuteria paniculata. GOLDEN-RAIN-TREE. A highly ornamental small tree and one of the few yellow flowering trees, blooming in July with large panicles of fragrant flowers. We are at their northern limit here and the seed is from my own trees. Zone 5.

Koelreuteria paniculata. DWARF GOLDEN-RAIN-TREE. Seed from dwarf form of this elegant tree–mine is already blooming and fruiting at 7 feet.

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Kolkwitzia amabilis. BEAUTYBUSH. Need I say, a beautiful shrub to 8-10 feet which is a member of the Honeysuckle family. When it blooms in June it is literally covered with masses of bellshaped pink flowers which exhale a soft, sweet, spicy scent. With small leaves, exfoliating bark and reddish fall color, it is a tough and valuable plant. Zone 4.

Laburnum alpinum. SCOTCH LABURNUM. Covering itself with long yellow racemes of pea-like flowers which exhale the scent of freesias, this tree is sometimes trained over arches for a wisteria-like effect. Seed poisonous. Zone 4.

Liriodendron tulipifera. TULIP-TREE. Considered to be one of our finest and largest native trees as it can grow up to 200 feet. It is a member of the Magnolia family and the very useful wood has long been known by the name Yellow Poplar. The large greenish-yellow fragrant “tulips" make it a decorative object in May but may be difficult to reach one except from a second story window. This seed is from my seedling of the record Nebr. tree in Blair. Zone 4.

Lonicera fragrantissima. WINTER HONEYSUCKLE. This six foot shrub from China is indispensable to the fragrant garden. One of the few honeysuckles to bloom on old wood–in mild climates it will bloom in the winter, thus its common name. The authority L. B. Wilder says: “If I could have but a half a dozen shrubs Lonicera fragrantissima would without doubt be one of them." To me the fragrance is one of citrus blossom. Zone 5.

Lycium barbarum. GOJIBERRY. Also Wolfberry and Matrimony Vine, it has a long history of medicinal use in China and is becoming popular for dried berries and juice for their high content of anti-oxidants, carotene, and essential amino acids. Making an attractive shrub to six feet, it is beautiful when the arching branches are loaded with scarlet fruit. Zone 4-5.

Maackia chinensis. CHINESE MAACKIA. A seldom seen relative of the Yellow Wood which makes a small broad-headed tree chiefly noted for its fragrant cream-colored summer flowers and its rather striking dark-bluish young shoots that appear frosted with silver because of the silky fuzz that covers them. Perfectly hardy here–zone 5. $2.50.

Maclura pomifera. OSAGE ORANGE. Or Hedge Apple, this is a source of yellow, gold and khaki dyes and was once much used for a hedging plant as the Hawthorn was in Britain. Native to the Oklahoma region, it is related to mulberry and fig and produces a very heavy and rot resistant wood used for fence posts that (like Black locust) will “outlast the hole”. Zone 4-5.

Magnolia grandiflora ‘Edith Bogue’. SOUTHERN MAGNOLIA. Here offered is seed from a Bull Bay magnolia cultivar reportedly hardy to minus 12 degrees F that is growing on my brother’s patio here in zone 5. It does burn somewhat in a harsh winter, but an equally hardy cultivar, Victoria, which is shaded in the winter rarely burns at all. Sun and wind exposure are perhaps more important than temperature for winter burn. Zone 5-6, few seeds, pkt. $2.50.

Magnolia macrophylla. GREAT-LEAVED MAGNOLIA. For those fortunate to have space (and somewhat sheltered is preferable to avoid leaf tatter) is this magnificent tree with the largest leaves and flowers of any hardy native American tree. The creamy white fragrant flowers can be a foot across and the leaves to two feet or more in length, thus very useful for exotic or tropical effects. Though sometimes listed as being less hardy, this seed is from our own trees which have been perfectly hardy here in zone 5 for many years. Ten seeds, pkt. $3.

Magnolia stellata rubra. RED STAR MAGNOLIA. The flowers are really more of a purplish rose but those of the actual M. s. rosea are merely rose in bud opening to white. This is probably the earliest of the magnolias to bloom here that are hardy and sometimes they will bloom and finish and the saucers will start and get hit with a late frost and be spoiled. More of a large shrub than a tree, this hardy magnolia is native to Japan and makes an excellent ornamental specimen. The many fragrant three inch flowers appear in late April and if not hit with a freeze will make interesting odd shaped green pods that will split to reveal bright red fruits in the fall. Zone 4-5. Pkt. $2.50.

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Magnolia virginiana. SWEET BAY. One of the most fragrant of the Magnolias–there is a fine old specimen of this plant in Omaha’s Forest Lawn cemetery where its “cool and fruity and sweet" perfume is carried on the air for a long period in the late spring and summer. The very handsome foliage is evergreen south but deciduous here and the waxy cream colored flowers don’t start until frosts are no longer a danger. Native from Mass. to Fla. Zone 5, $2.50.

Malus sargentii. SARGENT CRAB APPLE. A delightful little crab no bigger than a bush and best used as such. Free flowering, fragrant and an annual bearer of many tiny red fruits for the birds. The smallest of the crab apples. Zone 4.

Myrica pensylvanica. BAYBERRY. All parts of this semi-evergreen shrub are aromatic when crushed and the waxy gray berries are used to make the well known candles. A handsome species that will grow in poor sandy soil and in coastal areas. 6-8 feet, zone 2.

Paulownia tomentosa. EMPRESS-TREE. Somewhat like a catalpa, with large pyramidal clusters of fragrant violet flowers to 10 inches high, this is a quite ornamental and fast growing tree. To 45 feet and easy from seed. Zone 5-6.

Prunus mume. JAPANESE APRICOT. Actually of Chinese origin, the light pink to white flowers are very prolific and possess a sweet perfume. Long grown in temple gardens, some specimens considered to be over a thousand years old. Hardiness similar to the peach–Zone 6.

Prunus persica. WHITE FLOWERED WEEPING PEACH. Giving a very high percentage of weeping seedlings, this ornamental peach is strongly weeping and has very small fruits. 3 seeds, $3.

Prunus serotina. BLACK CHERRY. Also Rum Cherry, this is the cherry tree whose wood is used in fine furniture–it is the largest of the Prunus tribe as it can go to 90 feet in river valleys and other favorable sites. A beautiful tree with lustrous, peach-like leaves, fragrant white flowers in racemes in May and June and red turning black fruit favored by the birds. Zone 3.

Ptelea polyadenia. HOP-TREE. A small tree or large shrub of the Rue family, it is one of the most fragrant of hardy trees, the small yellowish flowers being equal to the best scented honeysuckle. Host to the Giant Swallowtail. Zone 4.

Rhododendron x hybrida. EXBURY AZALEAS. Hybrid azaleas originating in England in 1870 and thereafter, many at the estate of Lionel de Rothschild. Here offered is seed from a particularly fine VERMILION flowered form perfectly hardy here and possessing a clear sweet scent. Seed should be surface sown on milled sphagnum and kept moist under mist or in a polybag. Zone 4-5.

Rhododendron x hybrida. FRAGRANT HARDY MIX. Seed from our own plants with an emphasis on fragrance, hardiness and a variety of colors in the white, yellow, orange and red shades. We grow Azaleas here without much trouble by mulching heavily and using an acid-forming fertilizer– ammonium sulfate. At least zone 5.

Rhus aromatica. FRAGRANT SUMAC. Valued for its short stature (3 feet) early yellow flowers, red fruits and vivid scarlet fall color. The downy leaves when crushed, emit a delicious sweet resinous scent. Zone 3.

Rhus copallina. SHINING SUMAC. Though seldom planted, this is considered to be the best of the sumacs for ornamental use because of its lustrous dark green foliage which turns brilliant orange and scarlet in fall. Usually under 8 feet in the poor soils which give the best fall color. Zone 4.

Robinia hispida. ROSE-ACACIA. This is a low shrub to 3 or 4 feet with beautiful pendulous clusters of deep rose-red flowers in early summer. Zone 4.

Robinia pseudoacacia. BLACK LOCUST. Considered amongst the most beautiful of trees, in Europe, they are probably one of the most widely planted native American trees there. When blooming, they fill the air with their honey-vanilla perfume. Zone 3.

Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’. GOLDEN BLACK LOCUST. Seed from this very striking golden73

leaved form with its pinnate foliage and fragrant chains of white flowers. Pkt. $2.50.

Rosa arkansana. ARKANSAS ROSE. One of the few native roses here but a very nice one. Only about a foot tall but with large flowers and hips and a good blooming season–an excellent rock garden or border plant. Zone 4.

Rosa canina. DOG ROSE. One of the most beloved roses of English hedgerows–known to Shakespeare as Canker Bloom and one of the commonest species throughout Europe. A much prized conserve was made from the abundant scarlet hips–the pale pink flowers are set off by the deliciously scented foliage. A large very hardy (zone 3) thorny, suckering plant best for the wild garden and of course, hedgerows.

Rosa carolina alba. WHITE PASTURE ROSE. The rare white flowered form of this serviceable species. Growing to 3-4 feet with thornless red stems and an abundance of long-lasting bright red hips makes it attractive all year. It spreads slowly and so is excellent for bordering wild areas or the edge of the garden. Zone 4, $2.50.

Rosa eglanteria. SWEET BRIAR. Indispensable in the fragrant garden, it has always been the favorite rose of the poets. The carrying scent of the foliage is the bouquet of fresh apples and one of the most refreshing of all perfumes. Zone 4.

Rosa x ‘LORD PENZANCE’. Seed from this hybrid between R. eglanteria and R. harisonii with pink flowers shaded yellow on strong growing plants with scented foliage. Can’t be sure what you will get but it should be worth having.

Rosa pomifera. APPLE ROSE. One of the largest fruited of species roses–the fruit is eaten and used in beverages in its native region (Europe through Iran). Growing to six feet with 2 inch pink flowers. Zone 5. Pkt. $2.50.

Rosa primula. PRIMROSE ROSE. I grew this rose from seed and it seems to match the species description well except for the lack (to my nose) of fragrant foliage. Nevertheless, a beautiful rose with bright yellow fragrant flowers and very handsome ferny foliage on a full mounded plant to 6-8 feet. It is always remarked upon when in bloom. Somewhat like Father Hugo's rose but not subject to the canker that sometimes infests that species. Occasionally listed as less hardy but has been perfectly hardy here for quite a few years. At least zone 5, pkt. $2.50.

Rosa rugosa alba. WHITE JAPANESE BRIAR. One of the hardiest of roses and one of the more beautiful with its rugose foliage and large pure white flowers sweetly scented like the old gallica and Damask sorts. Zone 2.

Rosa rugosa rubra. RED JAPANESE BRIAR. The specific name refers to its rugose foliage–it is also known as the Saltspray rose for its tolerance of coastal conditions. This seed comes from the red form of this most adaptable, ornamental and fragrant of species roses. Zone 2.

Rosa setigera. PRAIRIE ROSE. Considered by some to be the most beautiful of American species roses, it is of rambling habit to 15 feet so needs room or training. It bears its lightly fragrant pink blooms in trusses of a dozen or so in August, thus being about the last to bloom. Red fruits and autumn color–zone 4.

Sophora japonica. JAPANESE PAGODA TREE. A valuable tree for its very late bloom–being about the last of the larger trees to flower. It is often covered in late August with long pendant panicles of yellow pea-shaped flowers that smell like honey and attract the bees in great numbers. Zone 5.

Sophora japonica ‘Violacea’. JAPANESE PAGODA TREE. A rare form of a not too common tree which in this case has the cream-colored flowers (honey-scented and borne in great abundance in late summer when it buzzes with activity) flushed with rose-violet panicles of flowers. Offered perhaps not so much for its flower color as its later blooming habit, thicker glossier foliage and better disease resistance in my opinion. Can be a tall tree but is usually medium sized. Zone 4. $2.50.

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Syringa pekinensis. PEKING LILAC. A beautiful lilac to 15 feet perhaps best trained as a small tree to better appreciate the lovely dark golden brown cherry-like bark. Creamy-white large panicles of flowers are borne in June and said to emit the odor of privet, but I find ours to be quite pleasant. Seed from our own trees. Zone 3.

Syringa reticulata japonica. JAPANESE TREE LILAC. A different sort of Lilac that can easily be trained as a small tree–the bark is cherry-like and the flowers are borne in very large clusters, often a foot across. The blossoms are creamy white and fragrant–though to some noses a bit too much of privet–and do not appear until June. The large panicles of pods would be interesting in dried arrangements. Zone 3.

Tilia x europaea. COMMON LIME. Well, perhaps not so common as this seed is collected from the variety ‘Wratislaviensis’ on which the leaves emerge a golden yellow color and slowly change over the summer to a nice green. I don’t know how true this will come from seed but in any event will yield a handsome tree with very fragrant flowers–the ones used to make lime tea. Zone 3.

Viburnum carlesii. FRAGRANT VIBURNUM. Offered here is the species and a couple of its hybrids–these are rather similar and the best of the fragrant hardy viburnums. Indispensable in the fragrant garden, they have good fall color as well. Zone 4-5.

Viburnum lantana. WAYFARING TREE. One of the more drought tolerant of the Viburnums, this is a good shrub for hedging or for the shrub border. Flat heads of creamy-white flowers in late May, clusters of fruits turning from yellow to red and black which are valued by the birds, and foliage that turns deep crimson and falls late. Growing to 10-12 feet. Zone 3.

Viburnum lentago. NANNYBERRY. With excellent fall color, this can be used as a large shrub or small tree. The fruits change from green to yellow to red to blue and it is one of the only hardy native viburnums to have a good fragrance. Zone 2.

Viburnum prunifolium. BLACK HAW. A very handsome native Viburnum that may be treated as a large shrub or small tree with a little training. Always colors wonderfully in the fall in greens, yellows and reds. The bloomy, blue-black fruits are abundantly borne and are sweet and edible to man and beast.

Zone 3.

Vitex agnus-castus. CHASTE-TREE. Like a large fuller butterfly bush with scented leaves, this is a very attractive summer flowering shrub which isn’t supposed to survive here but does. Nice panicles of blue flowers for cutting or for the butterflies.

Vitex agnus-castus ‘Alba’. WHITE CHASTE-TREE. Seed from the uncommon white form which seems to have an overall more delicate aspect than the blue or rose forms of this species from southern Europe. The fragrant foliage looks rather like a grayish marijuana leaf, but when the branched flower spikes appear in late July the difference is apparent. North of zone 6-7 it is treated like the butterfly bush and cut to the ground in the spring. The dried fruits were once used like pepper to keep monks chaste. Zone 5 when used like a HP, pkt. $2.50.

Vitex agnus-castus. PINK CHASTE-TREE. A pale pink or blush form of this long blooming dieback shrub. It is an important medicinal shrub as well as being deer-proof!

Xanthoceras sorbifolium. YELLOW-HORN TREE. An unusual plant that can be treated as a large shrub or a small tree if kept to a singe trunk. The white flowers are produced abundantly in dense spikes to ten inches long and later give rise to horsechestnut-like fruit. It is native to northern China and there the nuts are roasted and said to taste like macadamia nuts. The flowers have the habit of opening white then developing a yellow and then carmine eye. Zone 4. $2.50.

Zizyphus jujuba. CHINESE DATE. This is a small, tough tree with glossy green leaves and sometimes having thorns. The fruits are preserved by the Chinese but I grow it for the small flowers which smell like Juicy Fruit gum. Seems hardy here.

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A FEW EXOTICS

A few plants for the windowsill, conservatory or greenhouse.

Acacia dealbata. SILVER WATTLE. Graceful finely divided blue-gray foliage, this one can go to 50 ft. Much planted along the Riviera where its violet-like perfume can be intoxicating.

Acacia farnesiana. PERFUME ACACIA. The only acacia occurring in both hemispheres, and the hardiest (Zone 8). Grown along the Mediterranean for the production of cassia oil for perfume. Good pot plant north.

Capparis spinosa. CAPER BUSH. An interesting plant of which the unopened flower buds preserved in salt and vinegar, provide the aromatic and spicy delicacy used in sauces and salads. Good as a pot plant or can even be treated as a HHA in the north if started early and given a warm position and full sun. The large white flowers have a boss of violet stamens and are borne over a long period.

Cestrum nocturnum. NIGHT JESSAMINE. Evergreen shrub from the West Indies which pours forth a ravishing fragrance of musk mingled with heliotrope while the night lasts. Good pot plant– blooms intermittently through the year.

Cistus landanifer. GUM ROCK-ROSE. The pure white flowers with a crimson blotch at the base are the largest in the genus at near 4 inches, but it is the gum on the leaves which scents the air with their incense perfume. A valued substitute for ambergris and is used in many foods, drinks, soaps, perfumes and confections. Four feet, zone 7.

Cistus villosus. CRETAN ROCK-ROSE. The most prolific source of the perfume base, labdanum, which is still collected by shepherds who comb it from the fleeces of their sheep. Large mauve flowers on a drought resistant plant to four feet. Zone 8. Roots resent disturbance, so start in a pot.

Escobaria emskoetteriana. WINDOWSILL CACTUS. My common name for this charming little cactus that has had many Latin name changes while changing physically hardly at all. This is a delightful tiny cactus that can be kept in a 2 or 3 inch pot for decades when it does spill over the edges, but the spines don’t come off in your fingers as some species do. It is ornamented year round with the bright red canine tooth shaped fruits which last almost indefinitely unless you eat them–they taste like strawberries.

Native to TX, zone 9.

Eucalyptus citriodora. LEMON SCENTED GUM. Very fast growing with narrow yellow-green leaves strongly lemon scented. An attractive and quick pot or summer hedging plant.

Eucalyptus globulus compacta. BLUE GUM. Oil of eucalyptus is obtained from this species. In the North it is especially valued as an annual bedding or pot plant for its juvenile leaves.

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Hippeastrum sp. ORANGE AMARYLLIS. This deep orange amaryllis has somewhat smaller flowers or at least more space between the petals which is, to my way of thinking, less ruffled and congested than the common types and thus more delicate and beautiful. But size of flower aside, my seven inch pot of several bulbs makes an entire bouquet of about twenty or so flowers of striking orange with green and cream in the throat. Whether it is a species or hybrid, it seems to come true from seed.

No one can pass it without remarking on it. Pkt. 10 seeds, $2.50.

Mandevilla suaveolens. CHILEAN JASMINE. With blooms like small white petunias which emit an exotic heavy perfume throughout the summer. A fairly fast grower to about 15 feet, it is deciduous and hardy to zone 9. Eight seeds.

Nymphaea sp. DWARF BLUE WATER LILY. Not sure exactly which species this water lily is after looking in the RHS Index and not finding a description that closely describes it, but it is a delightfully small plant to fit a tub or small water garden much better than most the tropicals which require a good deal of space to not crowd them. It came to me as seed many years ago from England and I keep a stock plant in the greenhouse from which I merely lift a few small tubers to plant a couple outdoor pools when the weather has warmed. The medium blue flowers are 2-3 inches diameter, fragrant and produced all summer. Ten seeds, pkt. $3.00.

Pogostemon patchouli. PATCHOULI. Children of the sixties are nearly all familiar with this plant or rather its fragrance anyway. It is a tropical member of the Mint Family. The strong scent has for centuries been used in perfumes in the East, and more recently in incense, insect repellants and alternative medicine. It has long been used in India and China for putting with linens and silks to preserve them from insects much the way moth balls are today and probably came originally to the West silk fabrics. A plant for warm weather but preferably filtered sunlight or afternoon shade. Ten seeds, pkt. $3.00.

Psidium cattleianum. STRAWBERRY GUAVA. A tropical fruit native to Brazil which makes a fine foliage plant for the greenhouse or conservatory, and given good conditions can produce its deliciously scented white flowers and deep claret colored fruits within two years from seeding. The fruits have the flavor and consistency of strawberries.

Punica granatum nana. DWARF POMEGRANATE. Much smaller than the type making an excellent standard pot plant or hedging plant where it is hardy–Zone 7. Flowers first year from seed. Not fragrant. 10 seeds.

Stephanotis floribunda. STEPHANOTIS. This stunning plant from Madagascar has been much grown for providing the flowers for leis in Hawaii and for florists everywhere. The waxy pure white flowers of exotic perfume begin to open in June and continue for several months. 6 seeds $2.50.

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