UMBELLIFERAE. Herbs with white or yellow flowers in umbels, and feathery leaves. Best sown directly to not-too-rich soil. Germinates in 1 - 6 weeks.
—Pimpinella Anisum. (a!,h) PIM-1. Packet: $1.50 OTC ORGANIC
Germination: 78% Tested: 12/07, Oz: $5.00 OTC ORGANIC
'ANISE'. White flowers. A dainty annual to 1 1/2 - 2 feet, with feathery bright green leaves. Greece to Egypt. Grown for the popular seeds used as a condiment for bread, pastries and cheese, to flavor liqueurs, and medicinally. Known to the ancient Greeks, it is mentioned by Dioscorides, Theophrastus, and Pliny. The leaves may be used in salads. Medicinally the seeds and oil are used as estrogenic agents to promote milk secretion, regulate and promote menstruation, ease birth, and allay symptoms of menopause. A number of synthetic estrogens were originally modeled after the estrogenic compounds found in the oil. Anise still has merit in that it is non-carcinogenic, has low toxicity, and is gentle in action. Not to mention you don't need a prescription, and it is low cost. See: 'Fennel and Anise as Estrogenic Agents'. Journal of Ethnopharmacology (1980) Vol. 2, pages 337 - 344.
PINCKNEYA (PINK-nee-a)
RUBIACEAE. A single species.
—Pinckneya bracteata (=pubens) (e,h) PINC-2. Packet: $2.00
'FEVER TREE'. Large showy pink oval 2 - 4" bracts, and greenish-white trumpet-shaped 3/4 - 1 1/2" flowers, profusely borne at the branch-tips. Shrub or small tree to 10 - 30 feet, with shiny oval dark green leaves. S. Carolina to Florida. Rare. Zone 8. Likes moisture and part shade. Bark contains cinchonin and was used against malaria. Germinates in 2 - 8 weeks.
PINUS (PEE-nus or PYE-nus)
PINACEAE. North Hemisphere evergreen conifers. The pines are popular and widely adapted. Valuable for timber, ornament, fuelwood, rosin, turpentine, and edible seeds. Best in well-drained soil.
—Pinus Armandii. (e,g) PINU-3. Packet: $2.50
Oz: $7.00 (about 170 seed)
'CHINESE WHITE PINE', 'YU SUNG'. Large tree to 60 - 120 feet, with wide-spreading crown. Bright glossy green 4 - 7" needles in fives, and 6" cones. E. Asia. Zone 5. "A very ornamental species with its drooping glaucous leaves and decorative cones." —Hilliers. The nuts are eaten as a delicacy in China. Prechill 12 weeks to germinate in 4 - 8 weeks.
—Pinus Bungeana. (e,g) PINU-10. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 68% Tested: 1/08, Oz: $8.00 (New Price)
'LACE-BARK PINE'. Bright green 3" needles in threes, & 2 1/2" yellow-brown cones. Picturesque spreading tree, often multi-trunked, to 75 feet or more. Striking whitish flaking bark. NW China. Tolerates heat & cold, to Zone 5, but may be bushy in severe climates. The pea-sized seed are edible. Germinates in 4 - 8 weeks.
—Pinus Cembra. (d,v) PINU-13. Packet: $2.50
Oz: $5.00
'SWISS STONE PINE'. Round-headed tree to 30 - 75 feet, with dark green, twisted, 5" needles, and 3 1/2" cones. Europe to N. Asia. Slow growing. Hardy to —35°F. The large seeds are edible. Sow in fall, or give seed 3 - 9 months cold to germinate in 3 - 12 weeks. Tough and undemanding.
—Pinus Coulteri. (d,h) PINU-17. Packet: $3.00
Germination: 92% Tested: 5/07, Oz: $10.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
'BIG-CONE PINE', 'PITCH PINE'. Deep green needles in threes, up to 6 - 14" long. Large 10 - 14" cones with large edible seeds. Much eaten by the Indians. Tree to 40 - 80 feet, with dark, almost black bark. Moderately fast growth. S. Calif. Hardy to Zone 7. Good in desert areas, stands heat & drought. Germinates in 6 - 16 weeks warm.
—Pinus densiflora. (c,h) PINU-19. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 60% Tested: 12/07, Oz: $12.00 (New Price)
'JAPANESE RED PINE'. Broad-crowned tree to 70 - 120 feet, with bright bluish-green 3 - 5" needles and tawny 2" cones. Japan. Fast growing, often multi-trunked tree, hardy to —20°F. Dislikes hot, dry climates. Used as flavoring in Korea. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks, and 3 weeks prechill may help.
—Pinus edulis. (d,g) PINU-20. Packet: $2.50
Germination: 40% Tested: 1/08, Oz: $6.00
'PINYON PINE'. Dense, dark green inch-long needles in pairs. Slow growing shrub or round topped tree to 10 - 20 feet, with 2" cones. Southernmost Wyoming to Arizona. Hardy to Massachusetts (Zone 5). The large, oily, protein-rich piñons are an important food for Indians, & are second only to the pecan as a commercial wild nut. Bears in 25 years. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks. Soaking or cold may help.
—Pinus koraiensis. (e,g) PINU-31. Packet: $2.50
Oz: $5.00
'KOREAN PINE'. Round-headed tree to 90 - 150 feet. with dark green 4" needles and 6" cones. SE Siberia to Japan. Hardy & slow growing. Edible seeds and pollen, and the needles used as flavoring. Give 8 - 12 weeks cold to germinate in 1 - 6 weeks.
—Pinus Mugo Mugus. (d,g) PINU-44. Packet: $2.50
'DWARF SWISS MOUNTAIN PINE'. Low shrub to 4 feet, with crowded 2" needles and 2" cones. Alps. Zone 3. Very ornamental. Produces Hungarian terebinth. Germinates in 2 - 24 weeks warm.
—Pinus patula. (b,h) PINU-55. Packet: $1.50
Germination: 48% Tested: 1/08, Oz: $5.00 (about 3450 seed)
'OCOTE MACHO', 'MEXICAN WEEPING PINE'. Foot-long grass-green drooping needles. Fast growing tree to 40 - 80 feet, with 4 - 5 " cones. México. Zone 8, to about 15°F. One of the fastest growing pines in the world. "An elegant species with gracefully drooping foliage." —Hilliers. Germinates in 2 - 6 weeks warm, a prechill helps some lots.
—Pinus Pinea. (e,h) PINU-62. Packet: $2.00
1/4 lb: $8.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
'ITALIAN STONE PINE', 'UMBRELLA PINE'. Round-topped tree to 40 - 80 feet, with stiff, bright to grey green 8" needles, and 4" cones. Mediterranean. Cultivated for the large, sweet, edible nuts. Considered sacred to Poseidon by the ancient Greeks. Zone 8. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks warm.
—Pinus pumila. (=cembra var. pumila) (e,v) PINU-64. Packet: $2.50
Oz: $12.00
'DWARF JAPANESE STONE PINE'. Dwarf, often prostrate shrub to 1 - 10 feet, with 3" needles and 1 3/4" cones. Mts. of E. Siberia and Japan. Seeds edible. Zone 4. Prechill 4 - 5 months, to germinate in 4 weeks.
—Pinus radiata. (d,h) PINU-68. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 88% Tested: 1/08, 1/2 Oz: $6.00
'MONTEREY PINE'. Fast growing tree to 50 - 150 feet, with bright green 3 - 7" needles and 7" cones. Native to only 4 stands in coastal California, but naturalized elsewhere, a fine example of preservation through dissemination. The fastest-growing pine, up to 6 feet a year when young, and 50 feet in 12 years. Zone 7 - 10. Widely planted for timber, best in cool coastal climates. Germinates in 2 - 7 weeks warm.
—Pinus Thunbergii. (e,g) PINU-82. Packet: $2.50
'JAPANESE BLACK PINE'. Fast growing, broad-crowned tree to 130 feet, with stiff, bright green 4 1/2" needles and 3" cones. Japan. Zone 4. One of the best evergreens for the seaside, and excellent bonsai material. Prechill 4 - 8 weeks, to germinate in 2 - 4 weeks.
PLANTAGO (plan-TA-go)
PLANTAGINACEAE. 'PLANTAINS'. About 250 species of herbs and some shrubs. Worldwide distribution. Easily grown and vigorous, some sown for ornament, medicine, food, erosion control, bird and wildlife food. A few are weedy, others are rare endemic endangered species. Generally easy from seed, which is long-lived. Sow on the surface.
—Plantago major atropurpurea. (a!,h) PLAN-15A. Packet: $2.00
'RED-LEAF PLANTAIN'. Perennial with bronzy red leaves. To 8 - 12", semi-hardy in Ohio. "Very nice in the perennial border." —C. Creasey. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks warm.
NEW—Plantago Psyllium. (a,h) PLAN-19. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 90% Tested: 10/07, 1/2 Oz: $5.00
'PSYLLIUM'. Branching annual to 2 feet, with dense 1/2" flower-spikes, and narrow, downy 3" leaves. E. Mediterranean. The seeds are an important medicine, used with water as a gentle laxative. Sprouted seeds eaten in salads. Germinates readily.
PLATYCODON (pla-te-KO-don)
CAMPANULACEAE. 'BALLOON FLOWER'. A single species. A showy hardy perennial thriving in well drained sandy loam. Easy from seed; blooms the second year. The flower buds are inflated and balloon-like before they open. Allow stems to die back in fall. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at warm temperatures. Do not cover seed. The young leaves are used in salads in Japan. Native to eastern Asia.
NEW—Platycodon grandiflorus Blue Pygmy. (d,h) PLTY-1BP. Packet: $2.00
Large single blue flowers on a dwarf plant to only 8 - 12" tall. "Very reliable and provides welcome color in August." —Boyd.
—Platycodon grandiflorus Florist Blue. (b,h) PLTY-1B. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 82% Tested: 10/07, 1260/gram, 5 grams: $7.50, 10 grams: $10.50
'BLUE BALLOON FLOWER' Large blue 3" flowers. Showy perennial to 2 feet. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Platycodon grandiflorus Hakone Blue. (b,h) PLTY -1HB. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 99% Tested: 10/07, Gram: $6.00
Large clear blue double flowers on a hardy perennial to 20". The flowers are two perfect, nested 5-pointed stars, with the points offset. Nice!
—Platycodon grandiflorus Perlmutterschale. (b,f) PLTY-1P. Packet: $2.00
'MOTHER-OF-PEARL'. Large pale pink flowers on a rare & unusual variety to 2 feet. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
PLECTRANTHUS (plek-TRAN-thus)
LABIATAE. 'SPUR FLOWER'. Warm region herbs and sub-shrubs closely related to Coleus. Grown in the greenhouse and outdoors in warm areas. Some species are grown as potherbs. This genus contains many highly ornamental species which are virtually unknown in this country and should be grown more. Many are adapted to indoor low light conditions.
—Plectranthus argentatus (b,f) PLEC-5. Packet: $2.50
Pale blue-white 1/2" flowers in foot-long racemes. Small shrub to 3 feet, with 2 - 4" silvery white leaves. Australia. Germinates in 2 - 6 weeks warm.
PLUMBAGO (plum-BA-go)
PLUMBAGINACEAE. Showy, half-hardy sub-shrubs, often climbing, grown for their abundant bloom. Good outdoors in mild climates or in the greenhouse. They stand poor soil and drought once established. Good for covering walls or ground cover on banks. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks.
—Plumbago auriculata (=capensis). (d,h) PLUM-4. Packet: $3.00
'CAPE PLUMBAGO'. Light blue, inch-wide, long-throated flowers in clusters from March to December. Scrambling shrub to 5 feet, reaching 15 - 20 feet if allowed to climb. South Africa. Give good drainage. Excellent trained up the rafters of the greenhouse. In cold areas, it may be planted out in spring, lifted & cut back in fall to overwinter in a cellar.
POINCIANA (poin-see-A-na)
LEGUMINOSAE. Showy warm-region small broad-crowned trees and shrubs with feathery pinnate foliage and spectacular flowers. Fast growing heat lovers, best in well-drained soil. Drought-resistant thriving in hot sun and warm regions, north to Oregon. Easy in pots in the greenhouse. Easy from seed, grow like Caesalpinia, which see.
—Poinciana Gilliesii (=Caesalpinia Gilliesii) (e,h) POIN-2. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 99% Tested: 9/07, 1/2 Oz: $7.00, Oz: $10.00
'BIRD of PARADISE BUSH'. Striking flowers with 3 - 5" long bright red stamens from 5-petaled yellow flowers in dense clusters. Blooms all summer. Shrub or small tree with feathery foliage. South America. Fast growing to 10 to 20 feet or so. An excellent ornamental, good in desert areas and the South, but grown as far north as Oregon. Easy in pots in the greenhouse in the North, and said to be possible as an annual if started early. The stamens have been used as a saffron substitute. "A very showy and worthy plant." —L. H. Bailey. Nick seed, germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Poinciana pulcherrima. (e,h) POIN-4. Packet: $2.00 Click for photo »
Germination: 70% Tested: 9/07, 1/2 Oz: $5.00, Oz: $8.00
'PRIDE OF BARBADOS', 'DWARF POINCIANA', 'FLOWER FENCE'. Striking flowers with red crinkled petals edged yellow, and bright 2 1/2" red stamens. Dense shrub to 10 feet with delicate dark green feathery foliage. West Indies. Fast growing, good hedge or screen in warm regions, blooming throughout warm weather. Stands some frost. Sacred in India. The seed and pods yield tannin & dye, and the orange colored wood is carbonized for ink in India. Leaves used as a fish poison in Guatemala. All parts have medicinal uses, and extracts have shown antiviral effects. Nick seed to germinate in 2 - 3 weeks.
NEW—Poinciana pulcherrima Pink. (10,h) POIN-4P. Packet: $3.50
New pink-flowered variety, more dwarf and slower growing, making it a choice plant for pots in the greenhouse. Nick seed, germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
POLLIA (PO-lee-a)
COMMELINACEAE. Attractive tropical plants.
—Pollia japonica. (b,v) POLL-13. Packet: $2.00
'YABUMYOOGA'. Small white flowers in whorls at the ends of thin stalks, in August and September, followed by showy blue berries in fall. Hardy perennial to 1 - 3 feet, with shiny, ginger-like, lance-shaped leaves. Japan. Zone 4 - 5. Forms nice clumps.
POLYGONATUM
LILIACEAE. Robust hardy woodland perennials grown for their handsome foliage and graceful arching branches. Best in shady places, but they do well in the border. Ideal for woodland and under trees, where they form nice colonies. Sow in fall or give warm then cold treatment.
NEW—Polygonatum biflorum. (c,v) POLO-2. Packet: $2.00
'SMALL SOLOMON'S SEAL'. Bell-shaped greenish 1/2" flowers in small clusters in April to July. Hardy perennial to 1 - 3 feet, with graceful arching branches and attractive foliage. E. N. America. "Wonderful in shade gardens." —Guttendorf.
POLYGONUM (po-LI-go-num or PO-li-GO-num)
POLYGONACEAE. 'FLEECE-FLOWER'. A large & varied genus of annuals and perennials grown for their abundant bloom and attractive foliage. They range from dry, rocky areas to deep woods, to aquatic habitats. Easily grown in the border & wild garden; some are good ground covers or great in hanging baskets. Various species provide food, in the form of seeds, greens or roots, or forage, medicine and dyes. Researchers might find this vigorous group a fertile source of new crops. Most germinate in 2 - 3 weeks, some up to 2 months. Seed viable up to 25 years.
—Polygonum Bistorta. (e,l) POLY-7. Packet: $2.50
'BISTORT', 'SNAKEROOT'. Dense 1 - 2" spikes of pink flowers from May to August. Hardy perennial to 2 feet, with bluish-green leaves. North Eurasia. Has a contorted S-shaped rootstock, much used in medicine as an astringent. The young leaves are cooked like spinach, & the root starch has been eaten. Give 1 month warm then 1 - 2 months cold to germinate in 6 weeks.
—Polygonum capitatum Afghan. (b,h) POLY-13A. Packet: $2.00
Pink flowers in clover-like 1/4" heads in July to October, held above a mat of green and bronze foliage. Perennial ground cover to 6". Himalayas. Good in hanging baskets. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Polygonum orientale. (d,l) POLY-18. Packet: $2.00
1/4 Oz: $7.00, 1/2 Oz: $12.00, Oz: $18.00
'KISS-ME-OVER-THE-GARDEN-GATE', 'PRINCE'S PLUME'. Bright pink or rose flowers in dense 3 1/2" spikes in autumn. Tall annual to 6 feet with large 10" leaves. Asia. Easily grown, self-sows. The roasted or steamed seeds are said to have been eaten in China. They were said to relieve thirst and fever, brighten the eye and breath. Give seed one month cold treatment to germinate in 2 weeks.
NEW—Polygonum tinctorium. (b,h) POLY-46. Packet: $2.00
5 hrams: $6.00, 25 grams: $20.00
'JAPANESE INDIGO', 'DYER'S KNOTWEED', 'AI' (Japan). Bright pink flowers in dense 3 1/2" spikes. Hardy annual to 2 - 3 feet. China. The leaves produce a beautiful blue dye of commercial importance in the Orient. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
POLYSTICUM (po-LIS-ti-kum)
POLYPODIACEAE. Mostly temperate zone woodland ferns grown for ornament. Easily grown. Prefers limestone and leafmold. See Fern Spores for germination.
—Polystichum munitum. (a!!,h) POLYS-12. Packet: $2.00
'GIANT HOLLY FERN', 'WESTERN SWORD FERN'. Large, deep green, pinnate, leathery evergreen fronds to 10" wide, in large clumps to 3 to 5 feet tall. Striking and hardy, living to great age. Alaska to California. The thick roots were peeled and roasted in embers or cooked like potatoes with salmon eggs by Northwest Indians. Said to have a banana-like flavor. I've got to try it someday!
PRIMULA (PRIM-you-la)
PRIMULACEAE. 'PRIMROSE'. A large genus of mostly cool-region hardy and half hardy perennials grown for their beautiful, showy winter and spring bloom. Popular for pot plants, bedding, in the rock garden, greenhouse & border. Most like deep, moist, well-drained soil and part shade. Mulch to keep soil cool. Sow seed in late fall or early spring; several weeks to months cold is beneficial to most hardy kinds. Most need light, sow on the surface and keep cool, best under 65°F. They may be irregular in germinating, taking from 2 - 10 weeks or more; usually 20 - 40 days. Seed viable 1 - 5 years.
—Primula Auricula ssp. bauhinii. (b,v) PRIM-12B. Packet: $2.50 Click for photo »
Large primrose-yellow flowers with white throats, in clusters on stems to 8". Very sweetly scented. Like P. Auricula, but larger in all its parts. Alps.
—Primula Florindae. (c,h) PRIM-54. Packet: $2.50 OUT OF STOCK
Fragrant yellow bell-shaped nodding 3/4" wide flowers in large clusters of 30 - 60, over a long period in summer. Large hardy perennial to 1 1/2 - 4 feet. SE Tibet. Good waterside plant, best in a few inches of water or in moist soil. Nutmeg scented. Germinates in 1 - 7 weeks at warm temperatures.
—Primula obconica Formula Mix. (b,g) PRIM-112X. Packet: $3.00
'GERMAN PRIMROSE'. Large 1 - 2" wide clustered flowers in shades of salmon-pink, deep red, deep blue, white, and red and white bicolor. Tender perennial, grown as an annual, to 10". Early blooming and floriferous. Originally from China, this species was developed in Europe for winter bloom. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks warm.
—Primula veris (=officinalis). (b,v) PRIM-165. Packet: $2.50
'COWSLIP', 'MAYFLOWER', 'KEY OF HEAVEN'. Bright yellow fragrant nodding inch-wide flowers clustered on 8 - 12" stems in spring. The petals each have a red spot. Attractive rosettes of crinkled leaves. Europe. A legendary plant of the herbalists, with a long history of use. Norse mythology dedicated it to the goddess Freya, and it was held to be the entrance to her treasure palace. The sedative flowers are made into cowslip wine, an old folk remedy for insomnia, giddiness & nervous troubles. The fresh blossoms are added to salads or are made into conserves. They were once held in high esteem as a cosmetic, believed to remove spots and wrinkles. Seed viable 2 - 5 years. Give seed 2 weeks warm, then 8 weeks cold, to sprout in 1 - 8 weeks.
PROSOPIS (pro-SO-pis)
LEGUMINOSAE. 'MESQUITE'. Trees and shrubs with pinnate leaves and small flowers in spikes. They thrive in hot, dry, desert regions, and are a major source of food, forage, firewood, and erosion control. Surviving as shrubs down to 3" rainfall, they can become trees to 60 feet tall in favorable areas. The pods are filled with sweet, dry, nutritious pulp. Up to 1000 pounds per acre are produced. They are relished by livestock, with a feed value comparable to corn, and were a staple of the Indians. The seed are 30 - 60% protein. They enrich the soil, and give superior honey. Hard and beautiful wood.
—Prosopis pubescens. (b,h) PROS-20. Packet: $2.00
Seed has been treated with Sevin, then washed.
Germination: 50% Tested: 11/07, 1/4 Oz: $6.00, Oz: $12.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
'SCREW-BEAN MESQUITE', 'QUINYAL' (Cauhilla name), 'TORNILLO'. Greenish puff-like flowers in 3" spikes followed by peculiar, tightly coiled 1 1/2" pods. Shrub or small tree to 10 - 35 feet. Texas to California & México. Valuable staple food of many desert Indians, the pods are pounded into a sweet meal, which is shaped into cakes and eaten out of hand, or mixed with water for a refreshing drink. Soak seed, nick unswollen, germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
PRUNELLA (proo-NELL-a)
LABIATAE. Showy-flowered low growing perennials from north temperate regions. Easily grown long blooming, attracts pollinators & good groundcover.
—Prunella vulgaris. (b,h) PRUL-25. Packet: $2.00
'SELF-HEAL', 'HEAL-ALL'. Violet-blue 1/2" flowers in short, dense spikes, in May to October. Hardy perennial to 4 - 20", with 4" leaves. Eurasia. Highly regarded medicinal herb. Sow on the surface. Germinates in 2 - 8 weeks warm.
PSIDIUM (SI-dee-um)
MYRTACEAE. Tropical American trees & shrubs with large white flowers and edible fruits. Easily grown in mild climates (wherever oranges grow), or in tubs in the greenhouse. Easy from seed, which germinates in 2 - 8 weeks at warm temperatures.
—Psidium littorale v. longipes. (d,h) PSID-48C. Packet: $2.00
'RED STRAWBERRY GUAVA'. Red to purple 1" wide round fruits with a sweet-acid flavor. Small dense tree to 10 - 20 feet, with white, inch-wide flowers & oval 3" leaves. South America. Made into a jam said to taste like strawberries. One of the hardiest. Popular in California. Germinates in 4 - 8 weeks.
—Psidium littorale v. littorale. (c,h) PSID-48L. Packet: $2.00
'YELLOW STRAWBERRY GUAVA'. Sulfur-yellow 1 1/2" round fruits with a sweet-acid flavor. Small tree to 10 - 25 feet, with inch-wide white flowers, oval 3" leaves & smooth grey bark. South America. Sweeter & more delicate flavor than the red-fruited form. Good for tropical reforestation. Germinates in 4 - 8 weeks.
PSORALEA (so-RA-lee-a)
LEGUMINOSAE. Many attractive ornamental scented herbs and shrubs. Valuable in the border. Blue, purple or white flowers in racemes or spikes. Some are hardy, others are greenhouse plants.
—Psoralea physodes. (e,g) PSOR-64. Packet: $3.00
'CALIFORNIA TEA'. Clover-like heads of greenish-white, purple tipped 1/2" flowers. Sprawling rhizomatous perennial to 10 - 23" tall, with attractive light green trifoliate leaves. California hills. The fragrant leaves are used as tea. Nick seed to germinate in 8 - 12 weeks.
"Economic growth is not only unnecessary, but ruinous." —Alexander I. Solzhenitsyn.
PULSATILLA (pul-sa-TIL-a)
RANUNCULACEAE. Herbaceous perennials with poppy-like flowers. Sometimes included in Anemone. Good in the rock garden and wild garden.
NEW—Pulsatilla slavica. (c,l) PULS-36. Packet: $2.50 Click for photo »
Gram: $8.00
Dark lavender upward-facing flowers on stems to 15". Romania. Very profuse bloom in 2 - 3 years once mature. Give seed 6 - 8 weeks cold.
NEW—Pulsatilla turczaninowii. (d,l) PULS-42. Packet: $3.00 Click for photo »
Gram: $23.40
Nodding royal purple 3/4 - 1" wide flowers on 12 - 18" stems. Hardy perennial with divided leaves. Siberia & NE Asia. "An awesome pasqueflower, and I've grown 'em all. This one is a gem. A mature 3 - 4 year old plant will have over 50 blooms open at a time." —Bertrand. Germinates in 2 - 6 months.
PUNICA (POO-ni-ka)
PUNICACEAE. Two species of trees and shrubs widely grown in warm regions for ornament and their beautiful flowers and edible fruit. Popular in the greenhouse in the North. Can stand to 0°F with protection, hardy to D.C. against a south wall, but likes hot sun and good drainage. Fruits in 3 or 4 years from seed, and best in hot arid regions. Stands alkaline soil. Good for hedges. Soak overnight to germinate in 2 - 10 weeks warm.
Punica Granatum Varieties:"
'POMEGRANATE'. Spectacular brilliant deep orange-red flowers 1 - 2" across, sometimes reaching 4", from succulent scarlet buds. Satiny crinkled petals surround gold-tipped stamens. The apple to grapefruit-sized red fruits are filled with seeds, each surrounded by red juicy pulp, resembling a mass of rubies when the fruit splits open. Tree or shrub to 6 - 25 feet, with attractive glossy narrow foliage, bronze when young. West Asia. Grown for its delicious fruit since ancient times, it is mentioned in the Ebers Papyrus, and by Homer, Pliny and Theophrastus. Wine was made from the juice in Ancient Egypt, and is used to make 'Grenadine' today. The Greeks believed it to have been brought by Aphrodite, and the fruit is to have kept Proserpina from returning to Earth, hence the origin of winter. The Phoenicians & Syrians used the fruit and bark for tanning. It was grown in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and it is the national emblem of Spain. Black ink can be made from the rind, and red cloth dye from the flowers. The wood is hard. Can live several hundred years. The rind and bark are well known as vermifuges, and used against dysentery.
NEW—Granatum. (b,h) PUNI-1. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 68% Tested: 12/07, Oz: $6.00
'POMEGRANTE'. Crimson pulp in medium-sized tart, flavorful pomegranates. From my father's tree; he used to put the pulp through the blender for a marinade in Greek cooking. Also makes a nice drink, strained, sweetened, and diluted. Germinates in 4 - 6 weeks.
—Punica Granatum var. nana. (d,g) PUNI-1N. Packet: $2.50
'DWARF POMEGRANATE'. A diminutive plant reaching only 1 - 3 feet tall, often blooming when only 6" tall. Beautiful inch-wide pink or scarlet flowers followed by tiny 2" fruits. The best for ornamental pot growth indoors in the North.