2016 list

Updated 20 October 2015

All packets are $4.00, packet size is at least 50 seeds, unless otherwise specified. Ordering information is on the main 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.

All Salvias are in the Lamiaceae.
Salvia apiana – California. White sage. Subshrub makes 2-3’ mounds of broad white, highly aromatic leaves. Flower stems to 6’+ carry white to pinkish white flowers in spring. 50 seeds CN
Salvia barrelieri - SW.Spain, N.Africa. Strong basal rosettes are somewhat blue green; very ornamental flower stalks to 5' rise in late spring and carry many large lavender blue flowers for a long period. A striking species. Z8 ? 30 seeds
Salvia broussonetii - Canary Islands. Large light green leaves densely held on a rounded perennial shrub are very attractive set among other garden plants on this white flowered sage. To 30". Z9 30 seeds
Salvia carduacea - California. photo Pale lavender blue flowers with an incredibly frilly lower lip are borne in spiny, cobwebby heads. Annual, good in containers. Z8 30 seeds CN

Salvia clevelandii hybrids - California.  Seed was collected from Salvia clevelandii 'Winnifred Gilman' in the presence of other California species and they are known to cross freely. Parent has aromatic leaves, bright blue fls. 50 seeds    CN

Salvia coccinea 'Brenthurst' – Tropical S. America.   Generally used as an annual bedding sage, this plant can be perennial in mild areas. Warm pink flowers are set off nicely by dark stems during a very long blooming season.   30 seeds

Salvia coccinea 'Vermilion '– Tropical S. America.   Freely blooming sage carries bright orange red flowers for months and is most attractive to hummingbirds.    30 seeds

Salvia columbariae - California, southwest U.S. Chia is a great annual for open ground. Prickly round heads of bright blue purple flowers on very straight stems. Plants can bloom at 4" or 2', depending on cultural conditions. 50 seeds CN

Salvia desoleana - Sardinia. photo Wide light green leaves have undulating edges and make a tight clump to 2’. Pale cream and light blue flowers are carried on 18” stems in spring and summer. Wonderfully pungent leaf aroma. 20 seeds
Salvia disermas - pink fl. South Africa. Light gray green leaves form a large mounding perennial clump; many small pale pink flowers (in this form) almost year-round. Z9, at least 30 seeds
Salvia disermas - white fl. - South Africa. Light green leaves on this form look good all year and form a pleasant mound to 2'; many white flowers in spring and summer. Z9, at least 50 seeds

Salvia greggii – white flower.  Texas and Mexico. Sturdy shrub to 24 inches has bright white flowers and shiny green leaves. Flowering can continue for months.          Z8         30 seeds

Salvia hierosolymitana – Middle East. photo Very large basal leaves are green. Early spring brings long flower stems with a succession of deep red purple—almost maroon-- flowers. Plants are hardy, but spring frosts can damage flowers.  50 seeds

Salvia macrophylla—purple undersides – Peru. Shrub to 6’+ with large dark green leaves with purple undersides. Spikes of dark blue flowers are abundant spring to fall. Vigorous and impressive, but tender to hard frost. 30 seeds

Salvia macrophylla - upright form - Peru. Upright sage, to 5'+. Flower spikes are a long series of lime green calyces from which bright blue buds develop into gentian blue flowers with a severely swept back lower lip. Styles and stamens are lightly blue flushed too. Broad green leaves. 30 seeds
Salvia namaensis – southern Africa. Twiggy light shrub to 5’ has a distinctive “medicinal” aroma and small pale blue flowers. Botanists call the light green leaves “lyrate pinnatifid” and they are quite attractive. No hard frost. 30 seeds

Salvia patens 'Pink Ice' – Mexico. photo Pale pink form of the large flowered sage. Plants can be over 2' tall and flowers appear throughout the summer.            20 seeds


Salvia pratensis 'Haemotodes' - Europe. photo Green basal rosette; the great display of clouds of lavender blue flowers on dense spikes continues spring through the summer. Hardy and quite lovely.   Z3      50 seeds

Salvia scabra - South Africa.  Blooming from early summer to fall, this sage displays its pretty clear lavender, long tubed flowers very effectively. Dark green foliage is low.    Z9        50 seeds


Salvia semiatrata – Mexico.  Well branched shrub to 4-5' has rich green leaves with a pebbly texture; spring and summer flowers combine light violet and deepest purple, and are held in a hot pink calyx.   Z9            30 seeds

Salvia splendens – pink fl.  – Brazil. Majestic shrubs to 5'+ bloom all summer into fall with spikes of light peachy pink flowers set in peach calyces among lush green leaves. Backlit flowers are translucent and honeybees have been observed entering the flowers and sipping nectar, with extended tongues! Easy in a watered shady spot. Tender to frost.      30 seeds

Salvia subrotunda – Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina. Small vivid orange flowers are in perfect contrast to green stems and leaves on this 4' bushy tender perennial. Blooms from spring to frost, and is especially attractive to hummingbirds.   30 seeds

Salvia taraxacifolia - Morocco.  Gray, sweet-smelling rosettes look like dandelions when they are young; spikes of palest pink flowers appear late spring to fall. Very nice combined with red-violet flowers. Perennial, to 18".  Z9     30 seeds

Salvia texana – Texas, New Mexico, Mexico. Sturdy small perennial sage to 18" has bright blue-purple flowers. that show up well among bristly calyces. Great for dry gardens.     30 seeds

Salvia tingitana – perhaps Morocco, but uncertain.  Large pungently aromatic leaves are luminous pale green; spring flowers are soft yellow and light lilac. Forms an erect shrub to 2'.   Z9 at least     30 seeds

Sanicula bipinnatifida – Apiaceae, California. photo Charming perennial from grasslands throughout California puts up branched stems to 18” with rounded balls of maroon flowers in spring and early summer. Z8? CN

Scrophularia californica - chartreuse fl.  Scrophulariaceae, California. The typical figwort has small dark red flowers; this seed strain has the same small flowers but they are a striking yellow green. Perennial, to 5’+.   Z7       100+ seeds   CN

Solanum pyracanthum - Solanaceae, Madagascar. Brownish leaves have prominent bright orange spines on their midribs, stems are covered with orange fuzz and violet flowers are in typical Solanum clusters. Great when backlit. Z10         30 seeds

Stipa (Nassella) cernua - California.  Nodding needlegrass. Slender stems carry long sleek 3" awns on this native California bunchgrass. Narrow leaves are blue-green. Very ornamental in flower and seed.    Z8                              CN

Stipa (Nassella) lepida – Poacaee, California. Foothill needlegrass. Similar to N. cernua, but a little smaller with shorter awns. Graceful flower sprays are silky blond, over fine textured low foliage. Looks great on banks or backlit.   Z8        CN

Stipa (Nassella) pulchra - Poaceae, California.  Purple needlegrass. State grass of California. This bunchgrass is more robust than the preceding species. There is a purplish cast to the very gracefully displayed, long awned flowers.      Z8               CN

Streptanthus farnsworthianus - Brassicaceae, California. photo Startling shiny red violet to navy blue bracts are up to 4" long and 2" wide on this spring annual. Actual small flowers are white. To 18" tall. Easy to grow.                CN

Streptanthus glandulosus ssp glandulosus (albidus ssp. peramoenus) - Brassicaceae, California. photo  An uncommon annual with bright mauve-purple inflated flowers on slender stems. Easy.                                    CN

Streptanthus glandulosus ssp. secundus - Brassicaceae, California. photo Little white pouch flowers set along thin stems are pretty in mass on this easy spring annual. To 12-18".          CN

Streptanthus insignis - Brassicaceae, California.  photo A slender spring annual that sends flowers up from a basal rosette. Showy sterile bracts held at the top are rich, dark purple; actual flowers are paler, but interesting. Most effective in a colony.  CN


Thalictrum fendleri var. polycarpum – Ranunculaceae, California and the west. The local meadow rue lacks the vivid pinks of garden varieties, but it is a thoroughly graceful perennial. Typical delicate leaves stay below 2', flower stems to 6' carry clouds of subtle flowers. A flower panicle of male stamens all hanging strictly vertical on threadlike filaments is quite a show.      CN

Thysanocarpus curvipes - Brassicaceae, California, western U.S. photo Lacepod is a slender spring annual with small white flowers, but elegant and well displayed fruits. Dangling round seeds display a network of veins to the edges of the "pod", and are subtly colored pink and green and cream as they mature. 30 seeds CN
Tigridia chiapensis – Iridaceae, Mexico. photo Diminutive bulb from wet meadows blooms in summer on 12-16" stems. Pure white flowers have yellow centers and clean brown dashes near the central zone. Z8? 50 seeds
Tigridia pavonia –white fl. – Iridaceae, Mexico. photo The typical huge bowl-shaped summer flowers are pure white in this seed strain, with a yellowish flush in the center, but none of the usual markings. Probably ‘Alba Immaculata’. Z9 50 seeds
Tigridia vanhouttei – Iridaceae, Mexico. photo Clusters of flowers for a long period in summer. Outer petals pale yellow with purple streaks. Inner cupped petals cream with perfect painted purple veins leading to deep purple center. Z8 50 seeds

A closer look at the California clovers has been very rewarding. Seeds offered are from annual species with richly colored flowers and often they have interesting patterns on their leaves too. Special thanks to Randall Morgan for sharing seeds.

Trifolium fucatum - Fabaceae, California, Oregon. photo A very nice annual from wet meadows, lush green leaves often have interesting brown and silver markings. Large flower heads start out creamy white and age to a light rosy pink.   CN

Trifolium jokerstii – Fabaceae, Butte County, California. photo Bright golden flower heads glow over green –sometimes with red markings—leaves on this small annual cushion. Spring bloom. 20 seeds limited supply CN
Trifolium lilacinum - Fabaceae, California. photo Green, pink, cream and black are combined on (smallish) intricately patterned leaves. Flowers combine lilac and white. Included within T. barbigerum var. andrewsii in Jepson Manual. CN
Trifolium phaeocephalum Greene - Fabaceae, California. photo Flowers are darkest purple and white on this species; and can appear for a long time if season is mild. Some markings on the leaves. Classified in Jepson under T. variegatum. CN
Trifolium species or subspecies—cub clover. Fabaceae, central California. Affectionately called "cub clover" because it is a junior form or subspecies of bear clover, T. virescens, this annual has lush green leaves with brown speckles and round greenish yellow flower heads that age rose. Grows on grassy slopes and in meadows. 30 seeds CN
Trifolium virescens Greene - Fabaceae, California, Oregon. photo Lush green leaves form strong clumps on this annual; good sized flower heads start out bright greenish yellow and age to vivid rose. A very ornamental clover; also used by native Americans. Some of the seedlings may have dark patterns on the leaves. CN

Trifolium willdenovii - Fabaceae, W. United States. photo Thin leaves and many rich purple and white flowers on rounded heads. Some seedlings have burgundy leaves. Annual. Good on heavy soils.                                                                    CN

Urospermum dalechampii – Asteraceae, Mediterranean. Pale yellow chicory-style daisies are carried over deep green leaves from late spring to fall on this easy perennial dandelion. Flowers attract all kinds of beneficial insects.  Z6

Wattakaka (Dregea) sinensis - Asclepiadaceae, China. photo A climbing milkweed from China, with rounded heads of fragrant starry whitish-pink flowers in summer. Deciduous in winter. Leaves are usually variegated in this seed strain. Z9 or less 30 seeds