2012 list

Updated 13 December 2011

All packets are $3.50, packet size is at least 50 seeds, unless otherwise specified. Ordering information is on the home page at How to Order. Zones included at the end of the description correspond to climatic zones used by the USDA and the RHS Index of Garden Plants. CN at the end of the entry denotes plants native to California.

Abutilon palmeri - Malvaceae, S. California, Arizona, Mexico. Bright apricot cup-shaped flowers are held on long wands over soft gray green leaves on this subshrub. From desert habitats, but not difficult to grow. Z9? CN
Allium falcifolium - Liliaceae, California. photo Low very ornamental onion with gray-green falcate leaves and round heads of vivid rose purple flowers in spring. 30 seeds Z8 CN
Agoseris grandiflora - Asteraceae, California. Just a dandelion, but with truly grand fluffy seedheads over 2" wide. Lemon yellow flowers over deeply lobed leaves on a basal rosette. Perennial. Should be very tough. To 12" tall. CN
Albuca humilis – Liliaceae, South Africa. Compact bulb sends up stems to 16" in summer with pendant white bells striped green. Flowers have a delightful fragrance—cinnamon, root beer and something else. Great in containers. Z9
Amsinckia vernicosa var. furcata - Boraginaceae, California. photo The typical large flowered annual species carries bright golden orange flowers in “fiddlenecks” in spring. Native to dry hills of the interior coastal ranges. CN
Amsinckia vernicosa var. furcata 'Griswold Hills' - Boraginaceae, California. photo Very pretty pale yellow flowered form of the large flowered annual golden orange fiddleneck. Flowers are sweetly fragrant. Original seed received from Bart O'Brien of Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in Claremont, California. CN
Anigozanthos flavidus- Haemodoraceae, Australia. Erect iris-like clumps of leaves to 30"; dark stems to 5'+ bear fuzzy burnt orange flowers on this selection of kangaroo paw. Seedlings may be variable, but there are no other colors nearby. Z9
Asclepias speciosa - Asclepiadaceae, Western N. America. photo Wide gray leaves on stems to 4' and large rounded heads of pinkish white flowers. Spreads at the root. Larval food for monarch butterflies. Seed strain from northern California. Z2 CN

Brodiaea californica- Liliaceae, n. California. photo Native bulb makes strong stems to 18"+ with upfacing umbels of dark lavender purple flowers in late spring and early summer. 30 seeds Z8 CN
Brodiaea elegans – Liliaceae, California. Harvest brodiaea is from California grasslands, and puts up loose umbels of upfacing vivid shining blue purple flowers in late spring and summer. Z8 30 seeds CN
Camissonia boothii ssp decorticans – Onagraceae, southern and central California. Tightly clustered white flowers emerge from pink buds on this 12-18" annual generally found on steep rocky slopes. Quite showy in a mass. CN
Camissonia californica – Onagraceae, California. Shiny green stems on this erect annual can rise to over 4' in fertile conditions. Bright yellow "sun-cup" flowers are dotted along the upright stems. Blooms for a long time. CN
Camissonia cheiranthifolia – Onagraceae, California. Beach evening primrose forms wide, gray mats and produces bright yellow flowers along its stems over a long season. Not particularly long-lived, but pretty in its time. 100 seed CN
Carpenteria californica – Philadelphaceae, California. Clusters of large white showy fls. are displayed in spring over shiny green leaves on this attractive shrub. Dust-like seed to young seedling stage needs very close attention. Z8 100+ seed CN
Cassia odorata prostrata - Fabaceae, Australia. Flat growing, with dark green leaves, this neat shrub has bright yellow, sweet smelling flowers that appear in spring and early summer. Said to grow well under eucalyptus. Z9, at least

Caulanthus inflatus - Brassicaceae, California. Spectacular annual with striking inflated yellow stems; terminal tip and buds are dark purple. Small petals are bicolored purple and white and stigmas are pink. Needs excellent drainage, and grows well in containers. Can grow to 2'. There is nothing quite like this plant, commonly known as desert candle, when it blooms. CN
Centaurium muehlenbergii – Gentianaceae, California. Slender annual carries heads of silky clear pink flowers in spring. Beautiful in a mass, or a meadow. 200+ seed CN
Ceratostigma griffithii – Plumbaginaceae, Himalayas. Low shrub with firm oval, medium green leaves and mounding habit; dense clusters of 5 petaled bright gentian blue flowers in summer and fall. Remarkably drought tolerant.  Z7
Cerinthe major var. purpurascens – Boraginaceae, Mediterranean. Wide bluish leaves on upright stems produce pendant flower clusters. Flowers are dark purple, with prominent steely blue purple bracts. Annual, reseeds readily. 30 seeds
Chaenactis artemisiifolia – Asteraceae, California. photo Ferny, finely dissected gray leaves are set against well branched purplish stems that can reach 5’ in a season; dense white heads of “pincushion” flowers are abundant. Annual. CN
Chlorogalum pomeridianum - Liliaceae, California, Oregon. photo Soap plant. Starry white flowers on 3'+ stalks appear in early summer. Flowers open late in the day. Bulbs used by native Americans. Z8 CN
Chorizanthe douglasii – Polygonaceae, central California. photo Heads of hot pink flowers on slender stems are held over low leaves in late spring on this buckwheat relative. Best in lean soils, found in grassland or open woodland. Annual. CN
Chorizanthe membranacea - Polygonaceae, California. photo In natural settings, this annual is quite understated, with half-inch round heads of pinkish white flowers on erect stems. Planted closer together or in containers, it can present an impressive display of densely interlaced stems carrying white round flower heads in late spring and summer. CN
Chorizanthe stacticoides- Polygonaceae, California. Turkish rugging. Abundant on dry slopes, this annual puts on its show in late spring or early summer. Branched stems make broad heads of bright purplish magenta, prickly flowers. CN
Cirsium occidentale – Asteraceae, California. photo Coastal thistle makes rounded gray mounds to 2-3’; densely cobwebby heads open with red flowers. Literature calls it biennial, but it acts annual. 20 seeds CN

Clarkias are beautiful hardy annuals; they have been hybridized and bred for larger and more double flowers, but some of the species and varieties are the best. These species have been separated in the garden by space and time of bloom, so seed should be true to name. Packets contain 100+ seeds.
Clarkia amoena ssp. whitneyi - Onagraceae, Humboldt, Mendocino Co.,Calif. photoVery large light lavender pink fls. have whitish areas at the bases of the petals. Probably the largest clarkia in size--to 3'--of plant and of flower--to 3"+across. CN
Clarkia [lewisii] – Onagraceae, central California. Creamy white petals edged pink, with reddish speckles through the white central portion, and a basal red ring. Plants appreciate good drainage. CN
Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera – Onagraceae, California. photoThe usual shiny deep reddish purple fls. have an unusual white center. Stems can reach 3-5’ in a garden setting and carry many flowers. CN
Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera—white fl. photo Erect willowy annual displays small white flowers along the stems in spring. From a white flowering population in Monterey County. Grows 3-5’ in garden setting. CN
Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera hybrid - Onagraceae, California. photo With the same vivid, shiny deep purplish red fls. as ssp. quadrivulnera, but with somewhat larger flowers held in dense clusters at the tips, as well as singly along the stems, this is thought to be a hybrid with ssp. purpurea. Very nice. Erect to 18"-2'. CN
Clarkia rubicunda ssp. blasdalei - Onagraceae, California. photoLarge lavender pink flowers have red centers on this showy annual. Floriferous and very striking in containers or the garden. Good cut flower. Can grow to 2'+, blooms for months. CN

Clarkia speciosa ssp. immaculata - Onagraceae, California. photo Silky mauve purple flowers with striking white centers are 1.5" across in this subspecies. CN Can only be sold within California
Clarkia speciosa ssp. speciosa – Onagraceae, California. photo Dark purplish red flowers are incredibly vivid with occasional orange staining at the base of the petals. Moderately sized flowers, best with reasonable drainage. CN
Clarkia unguiculata - compact form - Onagraceae, California. photo From a colony found in Santa Cruz County, this very distinctive seed strain makes stocky columnar plants to 18". Bright mauve-red flowers and leaves are densely held. CN
Clarkia williamsonii - Onagraceae, California. photoGaudy lavender pink flowers are good sized, with a broad white central zone, and wedge shaped patches of dark red violet on the petals. Best results with good drainage. CN

Claytonia parviflora – Portulacaceae, California and the west. photo Diminutive form of miner’s lettuce forms tight mounds with white flowers nestled in the typical cupped leaves. Whole plant turns peachy gray as it matures. Buns to 8”. CN
Collinsia heterophylla--coastal form – Scrophulariaceae, California. photo Typical Chinese houses are bi-colored pinkish lavender and white; this form is from a relatively coastal population flowers are quite pale. At home on shaded slopes. CN
Collinsia heterophylla—Sierra form - Scrophulariaceae, California. Plants from the Sierras of this species have dark purple flowers, with light central patch and red lines in the usual places. Striking annual for part shade. CN
Collinsia parviflora - Scrophulariaceae, California.photo Roundish bright dark green leaves are densely held on short stems. Vivid small violet blue flowers nestled in leaf axils are very well displayed. Great annual for small scale or containers. CN
Collinsia tinctoria - Scrophulariaceae, California. photo Annual grows 2’ high. Abundant flowers in tiers are creamy white, with purple lines that seem almost painted on. Easy to grow. CN
Collomia grandiflora - Polemoniaceae, W. United States. photo Erect annual to 3' with shiny green leaves and very broad dense terminal heads of beige to salmon pink starry flowers. A very unusual color in flowers. CN

Cynara baetica ssp. maroccana - Asteraceae, Morocco. photo A spectacular, smaller scale artichoke-like perennial with spiny gray-green leaves and incredible flowers. Stiff magenta spiny buds open to display blue-purple florets. Spring to early summer blooming here, dormant after bloom. To 18". Formerly known as C. hystrix. Z8 20 seeds Sold out 2012
Cypella coelestis - Iridaceae, Mexico. photo Upright pleated leaves form clumps; these produce open, Tigridia-like flowers in succession for many months in summer. Flowers are pale blue with yellow markings. Forms bulbs, deciduous. Z9
Cypella peruviana – Iridaceae, Peru, Bolivia. Glowing 3” golden orange Tigridia like flowers with dark central markings appear in waves through late summer and fall. Stems to 2’. Flowers fade by mid-day, but the show is worth it. Z9
Cyrtanthus breviflorus – Amaryllidaceae, South Africa. Easy bulb from summer rainfall areas of S. Africa keeps putting up vivid yellow flared flowers from spring to fall. Glossy green leaves, great in containers. Z9, at least. 30 seeds