COMPOSITAE. 'CONE FLOWER'. Bold herbaceous N. American perennials with large, showy, daisy-like flowers and thick, medicinal roots. They are some of our finest natives, giving 2 months or more of late summer bloom, good for cutting. Easy in the border or wild garden, doing well in rich, sandy loam warm sunny spots. Lime lovers.
—Echinacea angustifolia. (b,h) ECHI-1. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 80% Tested: 12/07, 1/4 Oz: $6.00, Oz: $16.00
'BLACK SAMPSON CONEFLOWER'. Orchid or violet 2" wide flowers. Hardy perennial to 2 feet, with 8" leaves. Plains states. The root is a valuable medicine, and was used by the Sioux against septicemia, rabies, snakebites, etc., and widely in modern times against infection. It is said to stimulate the immune response, production of white blood cells, increase lymphatic filtration, etc. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks, some lots need 6 - 8 weeks cold.
—Echinacea pallida. (b,h) ECHI-19. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 68% Tested: 12/07, 1/2 Oz: $5.00, Oz: $9.00, 1/4 lb: $25.00
'PALE PURPLE CONEFLOWER'. Striking wildflower. Showy large flowers with narrow drooping 1 1/2 - 3 1/2" long petals flushed rosy purple, and large dark purple-brown centers. Hardy perennial to 3 - 5 feet tall. Illinois to Texas. A long-lived plant, it will make a great display year after year. Highly valued by the Indians as a medicinal plant, its roots are prized by herbalists. Like E. purpurea and angustifolia, it was used as a universal panacea. It stimulates the immune system and production of white blood cells (T-cells), increases lymphatic filtration, possesses tumor-inhibiting properties, is effective against bacterial and viral infections, helps wound healing, is anti-allergy, etc. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks, some lots need 6 - 8 weeks cold.
—Echinacea purpurea. (b,h) ECHI-7. Packet: $1.50 Click for photo »
(With
Allium jajlae)Germination: 92% Tested: 9/07, Oz: $5.00
'PURPLE CONEFLOWER'. Large, handsome, reddish purple 4" wide flowers with darker centers, on a hardy perennial to 2 - 5 feet. E.U.S. An excellent long-lived perennial. Valued as a universal panacea by the Plains and Eastern Indians, the root was used for a wide variety of ailments. They are still quite popular, being especially valued in Europe, where they are frequently employed as a non-specific immune system stimulant effective against bacterial & viral infections. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
NEW—Echinacea purpurea White Swan. (b,h) ECHI-7WS. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 76% Tested: 10/07, Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $19.00
Pure white flowers on a hardy perennial to 20". Compact and nice. Zone 3. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
ECHINOCYSTIS (ee-ki-no-SIS-tis)
CUCURBITACEAE. A single species.
—Echinocystis lobata. (e,v) ECHY-15. Packet: $2.00 OUT OF STOCK
'MOCK CUCUMBER'. Attractive fast growing annual to 15 - 20 feet, with smooth, lobed leaves, and large clusters of white flowers. Egg shaped 2" papery fruits. E. N. America. Fresh seed dormant, sow outdoors early for best germination, and hold pots two years for stragglers.
ECHINOPS (e-KY-nops)
COMPOSITAE. 'GLOBE THISTLE'. Handsome hardy Old World biennials & perennials grown for their large showy globular blue, violet or white heads, which are valued florist material, and also make good dried flowers. Striking plants, best in colonized clumps, their metallic heads making a bold effect. Attractive to bees. Good in dry, light, well-drained soil. Easy from seed sown January on, up to 2 months before fall frosts. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks, or up to 2 months. Seed viable 2 years or more.
—Echinops Ritro. (b,h) ECHN-7. Packet: $2.00
Large, globular violet 2 - 3" heads. Vigorous thistle-like hardy perennial to 5 feet. South Europe. Valued for cut-flower and dried flower production. Blooms all summer, producing a wealth of material.
—Echinops sphaerocephalus. (e,h) ECHN-22. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 96% Tested: 9/07, 10 grams: $10.00
'GREAT GLOBE THISTLE'. Large blue 2" globular flowerheads. Tall hardy perennial to 5 - 8 feet, with pinnately divided leaves and cobwebby stems. Europe to Siberia. A bold, striking perennial. Germinates in a week or two.
—Echinops sphaerocephalus Arctic Glow. (e,h) ECHN-22AG. Packet: $3.00
Large white balls of flowers on red stems, from June to August. Thistle-like hardy perennial to 32". The red stems are a striking contrast to the white flowers and green leaves, making an excellent cut flower. Choice! Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks warm.
ECHIUM (EK-ee-um)
BORAGINACEAE. Showy Mediterranean annuals & perennials, some spectacular giants. Easily grown in sunny, dry, poor, well-drained soil in warm areas and near the seacoast. They all attract bees, and one is lizard pollinated! Most germinate in 3 - 4 weeks.
—Echium fastuosum. (c,h) ECHM-4. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 76% Tested: 10/07, 5 grams: $5.00, 10 grams: $8.00
'PRIDE OF MADIERA'. Dramatic spikes of dark blue-purple 1/2" flowers with red stamens, in May & June. Shrub to 6 feet, with grey-green narrow leaves. Canary Islands. Hardy to about 5 - 10°F. Good in coastal California or the cool greenhouse.
—Echium russicum. (c,h) ECHM-10. Packet: $2.50
Deep red 1/2" flowers with long-exserted stamens, in dense foot-long racemes. Bushy hardy biennial or short-lived perennial to 2 - 3 feet, with narrow, pointed, 4" silvery-fuzzy leaves. Europe & W. Asia. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks warm.
—Echium vulgare. (b,f-g) ECHM-12. Packet: $2.00 Click for photo »
'VIPER'S BUGLOSS', 'BLUE-WEED'. Showy biennial with numerous flowers in curved spikes. The flowers open bright rose, then turn brilliant blue. June & July. Hardy biennial to 2 - 3 feet. Eurasia. An excellent bee-plant. Was used medicinally against poisons and venom, hence the name. "...really brings butterflies and bees to my garden." —T. Vogelsang. Germinates in 1 - 24 weeks.
—Echium Wildpretii. (c,h) ECHM-14. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 84% Tested: 12/07, 5 grams: $9.00, 10 grams: $15.00, 25 grams: $25.00, 100 grams: $80.00
'TOWER OF JEWELS'. Rosy red flowers with long-exserted stamens, in huge tapered conical clusters up to a foot thick and 10 feet tall, creating a striking effect. Biennial with narrow downy leaves. Canary Islands. In cold climates hold over winter in a tub in the greenhouse, and plant out the second spring. A real traffic-stopper here in California. Germinates in 1 - 6 weeks warm. Hybridizes with E. pininana, the giant blue-flowered species, so expect some variation from seed.
EDRAIANTHUS (ed-rai-AN-thus)
CAMPANULACEAE. Showy rock garden perennials with Campanula-like flowers in spring & summer. Good in well-drained soil, sun to part shade. Dislikes winter wet. Some need GA-3 or light to germinate
—Edraianthus serbicus. (d,g) EDRA-22. Packet: $2.50 Click for photo »
1/2 gram: $10.00, Gram: $18.00 (about 2230 seed per gram)
Lilac-blue inch-long bells in tight clusters of 6 - 12. Hardy tufted perennial with grass-like leaves and trailing 6" stems. Serbia. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks.
—Edrianthus tenuifolius. (c,h) EDRA-24. Packet: $2.00
Violet-blue inch-long flowers in dense balls in June and July. Perennial to 4 - 6", forming a compact mound of narrow 2" leaves. Balkans, Greece. Zone 7. Germinates in 2 weeks.
ELAEAGNUS (ee-lee-AG-nus)
ELAEAGNACEAE. Hardy North Hemisphere shrubs and trees valued for their foliage and edible and ornamental fruits. Good for wildlife plantings, and valuable habitat and food for wild birds.
—Elaeagnus umbellata (=crispa). (b,g) ELAE-15. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $12.00
'AUTUMN OLEASTER', 'AKI-GUMI'. Small fragrant flowers followed by bright red, juicy, edible 1/3" fruits in fall. Deciduous shrub or tree to 10 - 30 feet, with bright green, silvery-backed 2 - 4" leaves. Japan to the Himalayas. Zone 3. Bears in 6 years and produces abundant fruit, eaten fresh or dried, and made into preserves and pies. Germinates in 2 - 14 weeks warm and a prechill may help.
ELSHOLTZIA (el-SHOLT-zee-a)
LABIATAE. Eurasian & African plants, often aromatic. Easily grown late-blooming plants, valued for their dense spikes of flowers. Full sun.
—Elsholtzia Stauntonii. (b,h) ELSH-22. Packet: $2.00
Rosy purple flowers in dense 4 - 8" spikes in September and October. Aromatic shrubby perennial to 5 feet, with 5" leaves. N. China. Zone 4. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks warm.
EMINIUM: See Reserved Access page.
EMPETRUM (em-PET-rum)
EMPETRACEAE. Several species of low evergreen shrubs from cold regions. Good in the rock garden.
—Empetrum nigrum. (b,g) EMPE-8. Packet: $3.00
'MOSSBERRY', 'CROWBERRY'. Tiny pink to purplish 1/4" flowers, abundant in April to June, followed by glossy black-purple 1/4" edible berries. Low spreading heath-like shrub to 8 - 12", with tiny, needle-like 1/4" leaves, giving it a mossy look. N. America to Eurasia. Very hardy, Zone 3, often growing among rocks. Berries a favorite food, eaten in a variety of ways by northern peoples, from Eskimo to Icelander. Twigs brewed as tea. Germinates in 4 - 6 weeks warm with GA-3.
EPILOBIUM (e-pi-LOW-bee-um)
ONAGRACEAE. 'WILLOW HERB'. Showy hardy perennials with willow-like leaves and large spikes of deep pink, crimson, white or yellow flowers of striking beauty. At their best in moist places or at the waters edge, but are well adapted to the border, meadow and wild-garden. Easy from seed. Sow on the surface to germinate in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Epilobium angustifolium. (a,h) EPIL-4. Packet: $2.00 Click for photo »
'GIANT WILLOWHERB', 'FIREWEED', 'ROSEBAY'. Large purple to rose 1 1/4" wide flowers in long showy spikes in July and August. Hardy perennial to 3 - 8 feet, with 6" willow-like leaves. N. Hemisphere. Good cut flower. The young shoots have been used as an asparagus. The leaves were formerly used as a tea substitute, but were said to be stupefying in excess. An ale was brewed from them in Kamchatka, with the addition of Fly Agarics. The pith of the stems was eaten by N. American Indians. The plant has many medicinal uses. "Our finest and most showy species." —Parsons.
EREMURUS (e-re-MOO-rus)
LILIACEAE. Spectacular hardy desert plants with tall flower stalks reaching 8 feet or more, often remaining in bloom' for more than a month, densely clothed for half their height with starry, white, pink or yellow blossoms. Dense rosettes of strap-like basal Thrives in rich, fibrous, well-drained soil. Hardy in the North if given a thick mulch, or covered with a rain-proof box in winter. Plenty of water when blooming, keep dry afterwards. Do not hoe around them, as they have shallow, octopus-like roots. Control weeds with thick paper when dormant. Sow seed in fall to germinate in February, seedlings die down in June & reappear in late autumn. After cold treatment, they germinate in 30 days, with some stragglers taking up to a year to come up.
NEW—Eremurus spectabilis. (d,v) EREM-38. Packet: $3.00
'DESERT CANDLE'. Pale yellow flowers with red-orange stamens, in large spikes to 3 feet tall, June and July. Hardy desert perennial with narrow grey-green, sword-shaped leaves. Central Asia. Zone 5. Young leaves and shoots eaten in Turkey. Germination may be prolonged.
ERIGERON (e-RI-ger-on)
COMPOSITAE. 'FLEABANE'. Hardy Aster-like plants with showy, fine-petaled flowers in early summer. They are easily grown in the border, rock- or wild-garden, and are good for naturalizing. If started early they will make a good show of bloom the first year. They stand some shade and are prized for cutting. Sow in late fall or early spring. Germinates in 11 - 30 days, some up to 100 days at cool temperatures.
—Erigeron Karvinskianus Profusion. (b,h) ERIG-44P. Packet: $2.00
'SANTA BARBARA DAISY'. Small 1/2 - 3/4" white daisies tinged pink, borne abundantly all summer on a graceful trailing tender perennial to 8 - 12", with inch-long leaves. México to Venezuela. Good in hanging baskets, or trailing over a bank or wall. Drought tolerant. About Zone 7. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
NEW—Erigeron speciosus grandiflorus. (a,h) ERIG-76. Packet: $2.00
'OREGON FLEABANE'. Lavender-blue 1 1/2" flowers with yellow centers, in July & August. Hardy perennial to 2 1/2 feet, with narrow leaves. NW N. America. Valuable for cut-flowers; may bloom twice if cut back. Sow in February to April, or in fall, to germinate in 1 - 2 weeks warm, longer if cool.
ERYNGIUM (e-RIN-jee-um)
UMBELLIFERAE. Attractive border & rock garden plants. Some 230 species, nearly worldwide. Somewhat thistle-like perennials valued for cut flowers & for drying. Best in full sun and light rich soil. Most germinate readily at cool temperatures, and some need cold.
—Eryngium alpinum superbum. (d,h) ERYN-2. Packet: $2.00
Large dark blue thistle-like flowers in clusters in July and August, on a hardy perennial to 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 feet, with large, heart-shaped basal leaves. Mountains of Europe. Not prickly. Zone 5. Prechill seed.
NEW—Eryngium foetidum. (b,g) ERYN-8. Packet: $2.50
'CULANTRO', 'FALSE CORIANDER', 'RECAO DE MONTE', 'SPIRITWEED'. Evergreen herbaceous perennial to 1 foot, with spiny toothed leaves and tiny white flowers. Tropical America. The favorite leaf to flavor soups, it is indispensable in Latin-American cooking. It has a flavor like Cilantro (Coriander) but is stronger. It has been adopted by S.E. Asian cooks. It is a highly regarded folk remedy for high blood pressure and fits. Use GA-3 for best germination in 3 - 6 weeks, otherwise it will germinate at a lower percentage in 2 - 6 weeks and a few up to 10 months.
—Eryngium giganteum. (d,h) ERYN-9. Packet: $2.00 Click for photo »
'GIANT SEA-HOLLY'. Silvery green to pale blue 4" long flower-heads with striking ivory white boldly toothed bracts. July to August. Hardy perennial to 6 feet, with triangular to heart-shaped leaves. Caucasus. Good, stunning, long-lasting cut flowers, which also dry well. Monocarpic; cut flowers to extend bloom. Sow in late fall, space 2 feet apart. Prechill 6 - 8 weeks to germinate in 3 - 7 months.
—Eryngium maritimum. (e,f) ERYN-13. Packet: $2.50
'SEA HOLLY'. Silvery-grey 4" holly-like foliage and blue-green thistle-like 1" flowerheads from June to October. Hardy perennial to 16". Seacoasts of Europe. Good by the sea and in deep well-drained rocky or sandy soil. The young shoots have been eaten like asparagus, and the roots were candied and eaten as an aphrodisiac. Boiled they are said to taste like chestnuts, and be very restorative and nourishing for elderly people. Medicinal. Give 8 weeks cold to germinate in 3 - 4 weeks.
"The two most common things in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity." —H. Ellison.
ERYTHRINA (er-ith-REE-na)
LEGUMINOSAE. Over 100 species of tropical trees & a few herbs. A complex group, displaying reticulate evolution. Most bird-pollinated, with interesting adaptations of the nectar nutrients to the needs of the bird species, and dry-season flowering providing a water source for birds and squirrels. Extrafloral nectaries may attract guard-ant species.
Cultivated for ornament and many uses. Shiny red or orange flowers and many have bright seeds used as beads & in games, mostly toxic, but some eaten. Easily grown in warm climates or in the greenhouse. Nick & soak seed, to germinate in 10 - 20 days or so at warm temperatures. The seeds may float long distances in the sea. Many contain poisonous curare-like alkaloids used in medicine.
—Erythrina Corallodendrum. (5,h) ERYT-4. Packet: $3.00
Germination: 80% Tested: 12/07, 50 seed: $10.00, 100 seed: $16.00
'CORAL TREE', 'IMMORTEL'. Deep red 2" long flowers in 4 - 12" racemes, followed by 4" pods filled with bright scarlet seeds. Tree to 25 feet with trifoliate leaves, sometimes spiny. West Indies. Bark and seeds medicinal and poisonous.
NEW—Erythrina Crista-galli. (5,h) ERYT-5. Packet: $3.00 Click for photo »
'COCKSPUR CORAL TREE'. Large brilliant crimson 1 1/2" long flowers in loose racemes in summer. In cold areas it is a bushy perennial to 3 feet from a tuberous root, but becomes a tree to 30 feet in warm climates. Shiny trifoliate leaves. Brazil. Hardy to D.C., north of this, lift roots. So nectiferous it is called 'Cry-Baby Tree' in Louisiana.
ESCHSCHOLZIA (e-SHOLT-zee-a)
PAPAVERACEAE. Showy annuals and perennials of western N. America, providing an abundance of brilliant bloom in sunny dry areas.
Eschscholzia californica: 'CALIFORNIA POPPY'.
'CALIFORNIA POPPY', 'COPA DE ORO'. Brilliant orange to yellow 2 - 3" wide glossy flowers followed by narrow 3 - 4" pods. Perennial to 2 feet, with lacy, blue-green leaves. California. Grown as an annual in cold regions. "During the summer, they form a dense carpet of finely cut, blue-green foliage, smothered with a profusion of vivid, glossy flowers." —Booth. The leaves were eaten as a potherb by Indians, and the root used as a pain-killer. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks warm.
—Eschscholzia californica Aurantiaca Orange. (a!,h) ESCH-1OR. Packet: $1.50 Click for photo »
Germination: 98% Tested: 11/07
Oz: $5.00
1/4 lb: $10.00
lb: $25.00
The classic single buttery orange California flower.
NEW—Eschscholzia californica White Linen. (a!,h) ESCH-1W. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 84% Tested: 11/07, Oz: $6.00
Creamy white single flowers. Showy hardy annual.
E. Californica Double Flowered Varieties:
NEW—Eschscholzia californica Mission Bells. (a!,h) ESCH-1MB. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 78% Tested: 11/07, Oz: $6.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
Double and semi-double flowers in a wide range of colors including white, rose, coppery, pink, yellow and orange. Popular for easy color. To 12".
—Eschscholzia mexicana. (a,v) ESCH-16. Packet: $2.00
'MEXICAN GOLD POPPY'. Dark orange to pale yellow glossy flowers. Small annual with divided leaves. Arizona to Texas and México.
EUCALYPTUS (you-ka-LIP-tus)
MYRTACEAE. Over 500 species of aromatic evergreen Australian trees and shrubs with puff-like flowers. Fast growing, the young plants having very different leaves from the usually sickle-shaped adult leaves. A variety of forms, from forest giant to gnarled shrub, makes them adapted to many landscaping situations. The foliage can be dried for arrangements—stand ends in glycerin a few days. Dwarf kinds good in tubs. Excellent firewood crop, and they produce abundant honey and pollen. Easy from seed, germinating in 1 - 4 weeks warm unless noted. A few kinds need cold or GA-3. Smoke treatment may help germination of some. Seed has a beneficial mycorrhizal relationship with the chaff, so it is usually supplied as a seed/chaff mixture.
'Gums' are tall with smooth or peeling bark, 'ironbarks' have persistent bark, 'mallees' are shrubby, with several stems from a ligno-tuber, and the 'marlocks' are dwarf kinds.
In California Eucalyptus trees are being destroyed in great numbers by anti-exotics extremists who claim they suppress native vegetation. On the contrary, studies have shown greater coverage and increasing diversity of natives under Eucalyptus canopies! Also, Eucalyptus groves are the preferred overwintering habitat of native monarch butterflies.
—Eucalyptus Burdettiana. (d,l) EUCA-24. Packet: $2.00
'BURDETT'S MALLEE'. Rare small shrub to 6 feet, with unusual clusters of pale green finger-like 2" flower buds followed by large yellow-green flowers. Smooth bark & dark green foliage. West Australia. Good in gardens, standing high and low temperatures. Abundant nectar & pollen for bees. "Exceedingly quaint and interesting." —Blakely. Germinates in 2 - 8 weeks.
NEW—Eucalyptus caesia. (d,h) EUCA-26. Packet: $2.00
'GUNGURRU'. Spectacular weeping tree to 20 feet. Small silvery grey leaves contrast with the reddish stems. Lovely deep pink flowers are nearly ever-blooming. Mallee-type. Needs good drainage and stands high wind. Drought-resistant, to 12" rain per year. Hardy to 22 - 25°F. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Eucalyptus camaldulensis. (b,v) EUCA-30. Packet: $2.00
'RIVER RED GUM'. To 60 - 200 feet, with a spreading crown and white flowers. A mighty tree for deep soils. Takes more heat and cold than E. globulus, and is widely planted. Exceedingly hard, durable timber. Hardy to 12 - 15°F. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Eucalyptus cinerea. (b,h) EUCA-38 Packet: $2.00
'SILVER DOLLAR GUM', 'ARGYLE APPLE'. Beautiful shining round silvery-grey juvenile leaves. Fast-growing tree-6 feet per year, to 20 - 50 feet. Hardy to 14 - 17°F. Stands wind and drought. Makes excellent cut foliage. Cut back hard. Choice!
—Eucalyptus citriodora. (c,h) EUCA-40. Packet: $2.00
'LEMON-SCENTED GUM'. Very fast growing slender graceful tree to 50 - 75 feet. Narrow, golden-green leaves are strongly lemon-scented. Good pot plant. Hardy to 24 - 28°F. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Eucalyptus coccifera. (a,v) EUCA-52. Packet: $2.00
'TASMANIAN SNOW GUM'. Frost hardy small tree to 20 feet or so, standing some snow. Attractive blue juvenile foliage. Peeling bark and smooth white trunk. Narrow adult leaves with fine hooked tip. Tasmania. Give seed two weeks cold treatment.
—Eucalyptus cordata. (c,h) EUCA-54. Packet: $2.00
HEART-LEAF SILVER GUM'. Silvery-grey heart-shaped 4" juvenile leaves persist even on mature trees. Shrub or tree to 12 - 60 feet, with smooth white, grey, green, and purple bark. Clustered white to yellowish flowers. Tasmania, so fairly hardy, good in cool climates. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Eucalyptus ficifolia. (e,h) EUCA-81. Packet: $2.00
'SCARLET-FLOWERED GUM'. Spectacular scarlet 1 1/2" flowers in foot-long clusters. Flowers may range through white, pink, or orange. Dense, round-headed tree to 12 - 40 feet, with handsome foliage resembling rubber plant leaves. Large, unusual woody pods. Hardy to 25 - 30 degrees F. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
—Eucalyptus Forrestiana. (c,g) EUCA-92. Packet: $2.00
'FUCSHIA MALLEE', 'FOREST MARLOCK'. An outstanding species, with 2" long, bright red, pendant, four sided flower bases, which resemble fuchsia flowers, and which last long when cut. They are more spectacular than the flowers. Small bushy tree to 8 - 12 feet, with narrow 3" leaves. Hardy to 25 - 30°F. Any soil. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks.
—Eucalyptus gillii. (c,b) EUCA-108. Packet: $2.00
'CURLY MALLEE'. Silvery heart-shaped leaves on a small shrub to 6 - 20 feet, with smooth, often twisted stems. Pale yellow flowers in spring. NSW. Stands drought well. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Eucalyptus globulus. (e,v) EUCA-110. Packet: $2.00
'TASMANIAN BLUE GUM'. Mighty forest giant to 150 - 300 feet, with aromatic, dark green, sickle-shaped 6 - 10" leaves. Oval, silvery juvenile leaves. Creamy white 1 1/2" flowers followed by warty pods. Peeling bark. Needs deep soil and room. Good timber tree or fuelwood, growing 8 feet per year and reaching 50 feet in 6 years. Very strong wood—a 2" cube supported 27 million pounds before crushing. Yields an antiseptic medicinal oil. Hardy to 17 - 22°F. Can be grown as an annual bedding plant for the foliage. Germinates in about 2 weeks warm.
—Eucalyptus gregsoniana. (b,f) EUCA-117. Packet: $2.00
'WOLGAN DWARF SNOW GUM'. Hardy dwarf shrub with glossy light green narrow leaves and clustered white flowers. White, mottled bark. N.S.W. Flowers when 6 feet tall. From high elevations standing some snow. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
—Eucalyptus landsdowneana var. atropurpurea. (b,h) EUCA-136. Packet: $2.00
'CRIMSON MALLEE', 'PORT LINCOLN GUM'. Large purple-red flowers. Shrub or small tree to 10 - 17 feet, with thin 2" trunks. Smooth grey bark. S Australia. Good in small gardens. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks.
—Eucalyptus leucoxylon. (c,h) EUCA-154. Packet: $2.00 OUT OF STOCK
'WHITE IRONBARK'. Very fast growing slender tree to 20 - 80 feet, with white flowers, pendulous branches, and grey-green leaves. Free-flowering and tolerant of adverse conditions. Hardy to 14 - 18F. One of the hardest and heaviest Australian woods.
—Eucalyptus macrocarpa. (c,h) EUCA-166. Packet: $2.00 OUT OF STOCK
'COOLGARDIE ROSE', 'MOTTLECAH'. The largest-flowered of all Eucalyptus, with golf-ball-sized greyish buds opening into 4 - 7" wide flowers ranging from pink to red or white. The huge, 3" pods are highly decorative, with a beautifully marked disk. A sprawling, almost vine-like shrub to 4 - 15 feet, with grey-blue 4" leaves. Hardy to 8 - 12°F. Shelter from wind. Needs dry soil or leaves will blacken. Choice!
—Eucalyptus megacornuta. (d,f) EUCA-178. Packet: $2.00
'BIG - HORNED GUM'. Huge 3 - 4" yellow-green flowers from remarkable buds resembling long knobby horns. Claw-like seedpods. Shrub or small tree to 20 - 30 feet, with smooth grey bark and bronzy, sickle-shaped leaves. Hardy to 20 - 30°F.
—Eucalyptus Nicholii. (b,h) EUCA-190. Packet: $2.00
'NICHOL'S WILLOW-LEAVED PEPPERMINT'. Graceful willowy tree to 40 feet, with weeping habit. Peppermint-scented light to grey-green very narrow 2 - 5" leaves, tiny white flowers and reddish-brown bark. N.S.W. Fast growing, and hardy to 12 - 15°F. Germinates in 1 week warm.
—Eucalyptus niphophila. (b,v) EUCA-194. Packet: $2.00
'SNOW GUM'. One of the hardiest species of all, withstanding snow and ice to 5 - 10°F. Silvery blue lance-shaped leaves and creamy flowers in 1 1/2" clusters. White peeling bark adds a double meaning to the name. Slow growing to 20 feet, often with a crooked trunk. Picturesque. Needs 6 - 8 weeks cold treatment to germinate. (=pauciflora var. alpina)
—Eucalyptus nutans Red Flowered. (b,h) EUCA-199. Packet: $2.00
'RED FLOWERED 'MOORT', 'NODDING GUM'. Small dense shrub to 6 - 8 feet, with large crimson. white-tipped flowers in spring. Grey mottled bark and shining foliage. W. Australia. Buds and pods usually nodding and red colored. Good in small gardens. Germinates in 1 - 8 weeks warm.
NEW—Eucalyptus Perriniana. (c,f) EUCA-223. Packet: $2.00
'SPINNING GUM', 'ROUND-LEAVED SNOW GUM'. Unusual round silvery grey leaves surround the stem and detach when dry, spinning around the stems in the wind. Attractive straggling small tree to 15 - 30 feet, with smooth blotched bark. Profuse white flowers in summer. Highest mountains of SE Australia. Hardy, standing some snows to 10°F. Cut back after flowering to produce the unusual juvenile foliage. Give seed 3 weeks cold treatment.
—Eucalyptus pulchella. (b,g) EUCA-233. Packet: $2.00
'WHITE PEPPERMINT' Slender, somewhat weeping tree to 60 feet, with clustered white flowers, white bark, and narrow, peppermint-scented leaves. Tasmania. Stands some frost and snow. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
—Eucalyptus regnans. (b,f) EUCA-242. Packet: $2.00
'GIANT GUM', 'MOUNTAIN ASH'. Tall tree to 300 feet or more, with smooth white bark, sickle-shaped leaves. SE Australia. Said to be the tallest hardwood in the world, heights in excess of 400 feet have been claimed. Germination best after 3 weeks cold.
—Eucalyptus saligna. (b,h) EUCA-252. Packet: $2.00 OUT OF STOCK
'SIDNEY BLUE GUM'. One of the fastest growing species, up to 10 feet per year, becoming a tall, straight-trunked tree to 50 - 150 feet. Pink to cream flowers, reddish young leaves, and shredding reddish bark. Good on the coast. Hardy to 18 - 20°F. Germinates in about 1 - 4 weeks warm.
—Eucalyptus salmonophloia. (c,g) EUCA-253. Packet: $2.00
'SALMON GUM'. Smooth salmon-colored bark, and narrow 2 - 4" shining green leaves. Tree to 40 - 100 feet, with interesting flower buds that resemble tiny lemons. W. Australia. Does well in alkaline clay loams. The bark is deciduous, so the tree changes color with the seasons. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
—Eucalyptus salubris var. glauca. (c,h) EUCA-254G. Packet: $2.00
'SILVER-TOPPED GIMLET', 'BLUE GIMLET'. Slender tree with smooth, brown, fluted, often highly twisted trunk, "...like a gigantic corkscrew." —Blakely. Glaucous green sickle-shaped leaves and cream flowers. W. Australia. Even saplings display a peculiar shape. Graceful & willow-like. "An outstanding tree." —Heyne. Germinates in 1 - 14 weeks.
—Eucalyptus sideroxylon. (c,h) EUCA-269. Packet: $2.00
'RED IRONBARK'. Striking tree to 20 - 100 feet, with white flowers and dark red to black rough bark. Leaves turn bronze in winter. Withstands heat, drought, and frequent frosts down to 14 - 25°F. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
NEW—Eucalyptus tetraptera. (d,h) EUCA-294. Packet: $2.00
'FOUR-WING' or 'SQUARE-POD MALLEE'. Unusual large 1 1/2" wide pods with 4 wings, valuable in dry arrangements. Dwarf shrub to only 4 - 12 feet, with thick, rubbery, dark green 4" leaves and grey bark. Large smooth salmon 1 1/2" buds and large, showy, pink or red flowers, blooming almost continually. W. Australia. Stands some frost and is good for coastal areas, standing wind and salt.
—Eucalyptus torquata. (d,h) EUCA-302. Packet: $2.00
'CORAL GUM', 'COOLGARDIE GUM'. Small tree to 15 - 25 feet, producing masses of large coral red flowers tipped with yellow anthers. Excellent for cut flowers, blooming in 3 to 4 years. Rough flaking bark and light green foliage. W Australia. Very ornamental, the branches droop under the weight of the flowers and pods. Sometimes blooms in pots when only 12 - 24" tall. Good in arid areas.
EUPATORIUM (you-pa-TOR-ee-um)
COMPOSITAE. Mostly herbaceous perennials (but ranging to tropical trees) grown in the border or wild garden for ornament, medicine and to attract butterflies. Valued for their late summer & fall bloom. Sow on the surface; irregular germination.
—Eupatorium cannabinum. (a!,h) EUPT-5. Packet: $2.00
'HEMP AGRIMONY'. Pale purple flowers in crowded masses in late summer. Handsome hardy perennial to 6 feet, with reddish stems. Europe. Pleasantly aromatic, and has many medicinal uses. Give 8 weeks cold or GA-3 to germinate in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Eupatorium fistulosum atropurpureum. (b,f) EUPT-9A. Packet: $2.00
Pink to wine-red flowers in large rounded clusters on a striking tall perennial to 7 feet, with red stems. E. U.S. An excellent selection. Germinates in 1 - 6 weeks.
—Eupatorium purpureum. (b,g) EUPT-19. Packet: $2.00
'BLUESTEM JOE-PYE-WEED', 'QUEEN OF THE MEADOW'. Large clusters of purplish crimson flowers. Hardy perennial to 3 - 10 feet, with whorled foot-long leaves. E. U.S. Likes low swampy ground. The name comes from 'Jopi', an American Indian who is said to have cured typhus with it. Has a vanilla scent when bruised. Striking in the border. Give 8 weeks cold for fair germination, or GA-3 for good germination in about 2 - 4 weeks.
EUPHORBIA (you-FOR-bee-a)
EUPHORBIACEAE. A huge genus (second largest) of 1600 species, nearly world-wide and ranging from tiny prostrate annuals to shrubs, trees and succulent cactus-like plants. Their cultivation is as varied as their habitats. A rewarding genus to specialize in, the varied forms demonstrating evolution. The sap of some species may cause skin rash and is extremely irritating to the eyes.
—Euphorbia enopla: See Reserved Access page.
—Euphorbia inermis: See Reserved Access page.
—Euphorbia Lathyris. (e,g-h) EUPH-75. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 80% Tested: 12/07, 1/2 Oz: $8.00 (about 250 seed)
'MOLE PLANT', 'GOPHER PURGE'. Narrow, blue-green, pointed 6" leaves set at right angles to the stem, forming a perfect "X" when seen from above. Hardy biennial to 5 feet, with a cluster of small flowers the second season, followed by round pods. Europe. The milky juice is irritating, and the plants repel certain species of moles and gophers under some conditions, and is also used to remove moles and warts. Germinates in 2 weeks or irregular. Nicking may help.
—Euphorbia marginata (=variegata). (d,h) EUPH-82. Packet: $2.00
'SNOW-ON-THE-MOUNTAIN'. Upper leaves and bracts are an attractive white with a green stripe, August to October. Bushy half-hardy annual to 3 1/2 feet or so. Minnesota to Texas. Prechill seed 4 weeks.
NEW—Euphorbia marginata Icicle. (d,h) EUPH-82I. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 60% Tested: 7/07, 10 grams: $7.50
'DWARF SNOW-ON-THE-MOUNTAIN'. Extra large bracts turn white early, July and August, good for cut-flower production. Earlier and more dwarf, to only 2 1/2 feet. Excellent. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Euphorbia Myrsinites. (d,h) EUPH-90. Packet: $3.00
'BLUE MYRTLE SPURGE'. Choice hardy perennial trailer with bluish, fleshy, diamond-shaped leaves arranged in close spirals on the stems. Yellow-green flowers in flat 4" umbels at the branch tips. Mts. of Europe. Attractive. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
—Euphorbia pentagona: See Reserved Access page.
—Euphorbia polychroma. (d,g) EUPH-115. Packet: $2.50
'CUSHION SPURGE'. Showy bright yellow flowers at the branch-tips, almost covering the plant. Round, mound-shaped hardy perennial to 16", blooming in April and May. Turns crimson in fall. E. Europe. Easy in borders or rockery. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks.
—Euphorbia polygona: See Reserved Access page.
—Euphorbia Scoenlandii: See Reserved Access page.
"Any excuse will serve a tyrant." —Aesop, 550 BCE.
EXACUM (EKS-a-kum)
GENTIANACEAE. Tropical East Hemisphere plants grown in the greenhouse or as nice pot plants.
NEW—Exacum affine. (a,h) EXAC-4. Packet: $2.00
'PERSIAN VIOLET, 'TIDDLY WINKS'. Fragrant lavender 1/2" five-petaled flowers with bright yellow eyes, borne profusely from spring to fall.
Tender annual to 1 - 2 feet, with oval, inch-long leaves. Socotra. An easy, floriferous pot plant, good in rich soil. A single plant will perfume a greenhouse. Blooms 6 months from seed. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.