2012 list

Updated 10 February 2012

All packets are $3.50, 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 Sold out 2012
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. 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 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 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. 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 forskaohlei - S.E. Europe, W. Asia. Large rough leaves make low rosettes; flowers are on 30" stalks. Blue purple flowers with white throats are set in subtly ruby calyces in this seed strain. Perennial, seeds a bit. Z7 30 seeds
Salvia lanceolata - South Africa. Very dense shrub to 3' with irregular gray leaves, and shortly spreading by underground stems. Large dusty pink flowers appear in spring and summer, and the calyces expand in fruit. 20 seeds limited supply
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 mellifera - California. Dark green leaved shrubs of black sage perfume the chaparral hillsides of coastal California. Dense whorls of white flowers in spring. Z8 50 seeds CN
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 nilotica - Africa. Dense heads of small light blue purple flowers are carried over attractive, dark green foliage. More for the collector than for show, but rather nice in mixed plantings. 30 seeds
Salvia patens'Guanajuato' - Mexico. Oversized gentian blue flowers are a third again as big as in the typical species. Flower stems rise to 5' and blooming goes on most of the summer. 20 seeds
Salvia patens 'Cambridge Blue' – Mexico. Pale blue form of the large flowered sage. Plants are over 2' tall and flowers appear throughout the summer. 20 seeds

Salvia praeclara ( S. exserta)- Bolivia. This species can best be described as a S. coccinea on steroids, leaves are thin and light green, flower stems reach to 18" and carry vivid orange red fls all summer. To 5’. 30 seeds
Salvia pratensis 'Haemotodes' - Europe. 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 radula – southern Africa. Robust perennial has green leaves felted white beneath. Prominent spikes of clear white flowers to 3' are carried in summer and fall. Long bloom. 30 seeds
Salvia raymondii ssp. mairanae – Bolivia. Leafy shrub to 4-5’ has oval-pointed dark green leaves and carries spikes of red violet flowers in spring. Z9-10 30 seeds
Salvia repens - South Africa. Low green lvs. are sometimes lobed; flower stalks to 16" carry light blue and white flowers set in a red violet calyx. Blooms for months, and the plants spread at the root with enthusiasm in light soils. Z8-9? 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 30 seeds
Salvia spathacea - California. A matting perennial with the sweetest smelling rough green leaves, pitcher sage produces thick spikes of dark pink flowers in spring and early summer. To 2'. Z8 30 seeds CN Sold out 2012
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 stenophylla – South Africa. Perennial keeps low, green rosettes; fl. stems extend 1’ and carry many small light blue flowers in spring. Easy. Z9 50 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 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
Satureja thymbra – Lamiaceae, Balkans. Dome shaped dense shrublet to 2’ is covered with very aromatic small, rough leaves; many short heads of pink flowers spring and summer. Z7
Sedum spathulifolium – Crassulaceae, California to British Columbia. Rounded grey rosettes on short stems form a loose mat; yellow fls in summer. Seed offered is from the form with leaves flushed purple. Takes dry shade. Z7? 100+ seeds CN
Sideritis cypria - Lamiaceae, Cyprus. Relatively large firm textured leaves are a soft, luminous gray-white, and this species forms a domed mound to 12". Striking chartreuse flower spikes rise to 30" and carry the usual pale yellow flowers. Z8?
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 cernua, S. lepida listed under Nassella
Streptanthus albidus ssp. peramoenus - Brassicaceae, California. photo An uncommon subspecies with bright mauve-purple inflated flowers on slender stems. Annual. Easy. 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

Tanacetum niveum – Asteraceae, origin uncertain. Generous mounds of soft grey, aromatic divided leaves to 18" are covered with single white daisy flowers in spring and summer. Can reseed, but not troublesome. 100+ seeds
Tellima grandiflora – Saxifragaceae, California to Alaska. Perennial for shade resembles a heuchera with rough green leaves; delicate flowers have reddish fringed petals along 18" stems. Good grower in shady, moist spots. Z8 100 seeds CN
Thysanocarpus curvipes - Brassicaceae, California, western U.S. 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. 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? 30 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 20 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 20 seeds
Thermopsis macrophylla – Fabaceae, California. Rhizomatous perennial to 2-4’ with fuzzy light green leaves and spikes of golden pea flowers in spring. Common name is false lupine or golden pea. Z8 30 seeds CN
Trichostema lanceolatum – Lamiaceae, California. Fall blooming annual vinegar weed has long spikes of intricate light blue flowers and distinctively pungent light green leaves. Bushlets to 18”, best with good drainage. CN

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 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. 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. Thin leaves and many rich purple and white flowers on rounded heads. Some seedlings have burgundy leaves. Annual. Good on heavy soils. CN
Viola stojanowii - Violaceae, Balkan Peninsula. This diminutive and very neat violet grows to about 4" by 8". Leaves are small, and the bright acid yellow flowers are produced in abundance. Great in containers. Z9 30 seeds
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