2010 list
Updated 21 June 2010
The Plantsman's Pocket is a more formal name for the seed offerings of a horticultural ally with very diverse plant interests.
Seeds offered in this section are $4.50 per packet.
New ArrivalsAlbuca spiralis -- Hyacinthaceae. This winter growing South African bulb has narrow, smooth, glistening leaves that spiral tightly like corkscrews. Common names range from ringlet plant to "finger in an electric socket plant." In spring inflorescences are produced one after another until water is withheld. The one inch yellowish-green flowers are reminiscent of lanterns and produce an intense, sweet, vanilla-like fragrance late in the day. Although stocks in cultivation vary, in our source plants the tangle of tightly spiraled leaves grows to about 8 inches high and inflorescences reach to 12 inches. Bulbs proliferate slowly by dichotomizing growing points. Two individuals are needed for seed set. USDA zones 9-11 20 seeds per packet
Eucrosia mirabilis -- Amaryllidaceae. This rare bulb was thought extinct until recently. The original collector listed Peru as the locality, but the plants were actually in a remote, dry mountain habitat in Ecuador. Reputed to bear 30 or more flowers per umbel, each flower has a short yellow skirt of tepals and a spray of 3 inch long, arching, cream-colored stamens. Bulbs sell for $45 each, but here is your chance to grow several from seed. 3 to 5 years to flowering, then flowers each year after a dry dormancy that can be timed by the grower. Not frost hardy. Use a free draining mix. 8 seeds per packet.
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Allocasuarina torulosa - Casuarinaceae. An upright tree to 25 feet with deeply fissured corky bark and very fine textured foliage with a purplish plum cast deepening in winter. Male trees have rusty tips during summer flowering while females bear dispersed clusters of small, white to pale pink flowers that produce small, dry, cone-like fruits remaining on the tree. Will re-sprout in a multi-trunk form if cut to the ground. Can be damaged by temperatures of about 20 deg. F (zone 9) but regenerates rapidly from the base the next season. Tolerates drought, but looks best with average garden watering. Roots form a nitrogen fixing symbiosis with bacteria of the genus Frankia. Seedlings may require extra feeding until bacterial acquisition. Plant in spring. 15 seeds per packet.
Barbacenia cf. purpurea - Velloziaceae, Brazil. A
striking diversity of plants in this family is found in Brazil, but very few
have entered cultivation because of restrictions on field collection and difficulties
in cultivation. This is seed from a Fred Meyer collection made before
restrictions were in place and is one of the easier to grow. A shrubby monocot
with strap-like, hinged leaves, and elegant, 2” royal purple flowers on long
glandular stalks produced throughout the summer. Seed should be sown in a
pasteurized, sandy soil mix under warm and humid conditions. Germinate warm (70
deg.F.) and humid with glass or plastic cover on pot. Plants grow and flower
under cool house temperature range as defined for orchid culture. (50 deg. F.
nights, warm days). Reduce watering in winter. Seed MUST be refrigerated if
stored. 30-50 seeds
Begonia boliviensis - Begoniaceae. This winter
dormant, montane (to 2400 m) Andean species develops a large tuber and in the
ground may grow 2’ tall and 3’ across. Hundreds of vivid orange-red, pendant
flowers are produced to the delight of hummingbirds. First collected in the mid
1800’s from shady, moist cliff faces in Bolivia, this plant was involved in
development of modern tuberous begonias, but is a more vigorous and adaptable
plant than most of its horticultural progeny. Grow in part shade to full sun in
coastal California. Tolerates clay soils raised or amended for increased winter
drainage. Suitable for pot and hanging basket culture. Surface sow on a fine
textured acid mix. Cover for added humidity until producing several true
leaves; then carefully acclimate. Keep young plants growing until dormancy is
demanded to hasten development. Hardy to zone 7b-8. Countless tiny seeds per packet.
Beschorneria albiflora - Agavaceae, S. Mexico, trunk
forming monocot. This is the only species of the genus, (close relatives to Agave) that forms a trunk. In time it can exceed 6’. The dense
rosettes of soft textured (user friendly), avocado green leaves are 2.5 to 3’
across. The inflorescences can be 5’ in length and 4’ across. The stalk and
side branches turn vivid red and maintain the color for months. The flowers are
very attractive to hummingbirds, mature over a 2 month period, and are cream or
chartreuse flushed with salmon pink. Although most species are from dry
woodlands and appreciate a bit of shade, this one thrives in light shade to
full sun in coastal CA. Sow the seeds in late spring with warm weather. Plants
survived 16 deg. F. without damage in the 1990 freeze. 30 seeds
Bomarea distichifolia - Alstroemeriaceae. A small
statured (to 18 inches) non-climbing species with elegantly spiraled, dark
stems in juvenile plants, later with arching stems terminating in a small umbel
of orange flowers with blue pollen. The handsome leaves are glaucous beneath.
Fruits are freely produced (in the presence of hummingbirds) almost spherical,
and bright yellow orange. Responds well to fertilizer and regular watering in
bright shade. Although from wet areas in Ecuadorian cloud forest, surprisingly
tolerant of reduced watering, as well as deep shade, and root competition.
Germination may be slow, but is reliable. 10
seeds per packet
Bomarea salsilla - Alstroemeriaceae, Chile. Herbaceous climber.
This small twining vine to 4' comes from the Mediterranean zone of south
central Chile where it grows during the winter and spring, flowering heavily in
mid spring. The flowers are about an inch long and open wider than many Bomarea species. They are deep pink with blue and black markings
on the inside. After flowering, plants rapidly enter dormancy, and need no
water again until fall. They may be kept green longer with supplemental
watering. Hardy to 25 degrees F. 20
seeds
Capparis spinosa - Capparidaceae. The caper plant
not only yields tasty dinner sauces through sacrifice of its flower buds, but
is highly ornamental. Arching stems clothed in handsome round leaves bear large
white flowers with a purplish tinge and a tuft of stamens on long filaments.
Complex germination instructions will be provided. 10 seeds per packet. Sold out 2010
Cyrtanthus smithiae - Amaryllidaceae. Summer growing
bulb from the Eastern Cape of S. Africa with handsome gray-green, spirally
coiled foliage and large white to buff flowers, with or without pink stripes.
Source plants have strong pink
striping. Keep dry in winter, water and feed regularly during summer. Growing
period can be lengthened in juvenile plants for quicker development. One of the
easiest Cyrtanthus species to grow from seed. Sow in early spring. 6
seeds per packet
Dioscorea sylvatica - Dioscoreaceae, Eastern South
Africa, Drakensberg. A summer growing/winter dormant perennial herbaceous vine
that rapidly forms a fascinating corky caudex. This species, close to the
classic elephant's foot plant, grows much faster and is more cold hardy,
probably tolerating hard frosts. Young plants sometimes skip dormancy in
mild climates. The vine, bearing glossy heart-shaped leaves, can twine 15’ up
into trees or on a trellis. Male plants bear small spikes of yellow, fragrant
flowers. Female plants produce spikes of papery, three-winged fruit. The caudex
is low and broad, widening by growth at its periphery. The surface is covered
with tubercles of dark cork. It is possible to raise the caudex gradually with
each repotting to produce interesting forms. In the ground the caudex may reach
2’ across in 4 years and must be shaded from direct sun. Sow seed in
spring. 25 seeds
Drosera capensis - Droseraceae. The Cape
sundew is one of the easiest to grow with rosettes of be-dewed foliage up to
about 6” tall and flower spikes up to 10”. Prolific from seed or root cutting
and may be used as a bio-control for fungus gnats in a greenhouse. Grow in a
mixture of peat and sand from 2/1 peat/sand to 50/50 and keep in a shallow pan
of water. Full sun to bright diffuse light. This seed is from a mix of red
foliaged, pink flowered wild type with white flowered “albino” and their
intermediate form. Sprinkle the tiny seeds on the surface of damp medium
sitting in shallow pans of water, or cover with plastic until plants have
several leaves. Countless seeds per
packet.
Erica glauca var elegans ‘ Alba’ - Ericaceae. One of the most
beautiful Erica species with handsome glaucous foliage resembling a
conifer. Slow growing to 3 or 4’ tall and wide. The flowers have petaloid
calyces and are borne in clusters surrounded by petal-like bracts. Flowering
may be so heavy as to hide most of the foliage. Seed harvested from the “Alba”
form, but in proximity to Erica glauca var. elegans and var. glauca
with pale magenta pink and salmon pink flowers respectively. Sow seeds in fall.
Treat with smoke extract. Use a sandy, acid mix and cover with plastic until
several true leaves appear. 10
seeds per packet.
Fuchsia campos-portoi - Onagraceae. A species
from above tree line in a narrow area of southeastern Brazil related to F.
regia, but of smaller stature. It makes an attractive shrub to 3 or 4’and
as wide with very fine, lacy foliage. The bright pink flower buds have a tear
drop shape and open to reveal the typical purplish skirt of petals. Fuchsia
mite resistant. Particularly cold hardy, having maintained undamaged foliage in
the SF Bay area during the '90 freeze at 16 deg. F. Also said to be exceptionally
heat tolerant. Germinates without special treatment. 30
seeds per packet
Gladiolus flanaganii - Iridaceae. The famous
(infamous?) suicide glad produces 2”, rich blood red flowers with white linear
markings in the throat on arching spikes above grey-green foliage. It is so
named because it is usually seen from a distance in inaccessible locations
midway along steep waterfalls and cliffs high in the Drakensberg of Eastern S.
Africa. Summer growing. Apparently hardy to USDA zone 8a (10 deg. F). Needs
good air circulation and consistent watering for best flowering. Easy to
germinate and grow. 8 seeds per
packet.
Geranium richardsonii - Geraniaceae. Herbaceous perennial native to the western US
with handsome, dissected leaves, grows in bright shade to full sun in coastal
California. Mounds to about 12” tall and 18” wide. This form from Colorado has
particularly large flowers and was brought into cultivation by Robin Parer of
Geraniaceae Nursery. The flowers are about 1” across, white streaked with purple.
This is a dimorphic species that has a certain number of smaller flowered,
strictly female plants in nature, but this seed was produced by selfing the
large, hermaphroditic form and we expect most of the seedlings to be large
flowered. Sow seeds in fall for spring germination. 6-8 seeds per packet
Hydnophytum formicarium - Rubiaceae. Sold only when fresh,
description under short viability seeds.
Liparia (formerly Priestleya)
tomentosa - Fabaceae. This spare, upright, South African shrub
has lustrous, silvery white, pointed, 1” leaves covered in dense silky hairs.
The leaves wrap the stems in tight spirals and are somewhat imbricate at the
growing tips. Many species in this Cape fynbos endemic genus have exquisite
imbricate foliage harvested from the wild for use in floristry. This is one of
the easiest of a generally difficult group. Seed germinates with smoke
treatment, and initially seedlings grow well in a low phosphate, acid soil mix,
but they need nodulating Rhizobium bacteria in order to progress.
Feeding with Dr. Green Chelated Iron (5-0-0) helps get seedlings through Rhizobium
acquisition. Plants reach 3” in 2-3 years and begin producing bright yellow
pompoms of pea flowers. Limited
-8 seeds per packet.
Medinilla cummingii – Melastomataceae. Native to mountain forests of Indonesia, this
small woody shrub makes a dramatic house plant and may be grown out of doors
with protection in coastal California. Large leaves up to 8” long and 6” wide
have heavy substance and prominent veins. Numerous small pink flowers are borne
on pink stems in large, long lasting, pendant panicles. Fruits begin pink and
slowly turn dark blue when ripe. Germination prompt. The fine seed may be
treated as in Rhododendron. Use a fine, free draining acid mix to start.
As plants grow, transfer to a coarser, fir bark based mix and feed
regularly. 25 seeds per
packet
Myrmecodia solomonensis Sold only when fresh, description under short viability seeds
Nivenia corymbosa - Iridaceae, South Africa. One
of the winter-growing woody irids that grow into true woody shrubs and produce
hundreds of gentian blue flowers in the heat of summer. The more sun, the more
flowers. This is the easiest species to grow and large container plants in full
sun will flower from June to November. Grow in a well drained sandy mix with
peat. Seed should be sown in fall or winter (in coastal California) and may
take a month to six weeks to germinate.
20 seeds
Petronymphe decora -Themidaceae (Anthericaceae)
Extremely rare Mexican bulb related to Bessera. Atop 8 to 18” stalks, drooping
umbels 4” across bear gracefully pendant, tubular, yellow green flowers with
faint vertical striping 2.5” in length. Probably pollinated by hawk moths.
Leaves are shiny green and fleshy. Summer growing and flowering, winter
dormant. Provide good drainage, plenty of water and regular fertilizer in
summer. Keep completely dry in winter. Sow seeds with warm weather. Germination
can be slow and may be erratic over a 3 month period. 10 seeds per packet
Philesia magellanica - Philesiaceae. Chilean Coicopihue
is a shrub with small, stiff, elliptical, glaucous-backed leaves that slowly
spreads into a wide clump by underground stems. The spectacular flowers are
almost as large as those of its climbing relative, Lapageria rosea, at
three inches and range from deep red to a translucent magenta pink. Mature
plants are covered with flowers in late summer. Sow seedlings in a layer of
milled sphagnum moss over a well draining acid mix and keep covered and away
from slugs and snails. Seed sent when fresh and still moist. Limited,
5 seeds per packet Sold out 2010
Polylepis australis - Rosaceae. Small tree to about
20’ is endemic to high elevations in northern and central Argentina. This genus
holds the record for growing at the highest elevations of any tree and once
covered much of what is now paramo grasslands in the Andes. Odd pinnate, 3”
leaves and marvelous peeling bark appear very much as in Acer griseum
(or baklava!). Full sun to bright shade. Place for cool conditions in summer –north
exposures. Pendant racemes of small white flowers give rise to chains of papery
seeds. Sow in fall. 10 seeds per
packet.
Puya venusta - Bromeliaceae, One of the
smaller Chilean species with silvery rosettes of spiny leaves 1 to 1.5’ across
and 1’ tall. In fertile soils many tightly appressed rosettes develop and
plants slowly become quite broad. Inflorescences are from 2 to 3’ above the
foliage, branched or not, with club like masses of pink bracts and deep blue
flowers. Hummingbird pollinated. Source plant is an initially spineless
seedling with greatly reduced numbers of spines as an adult. Since self
incompatible, the pollen parent had the normal, vicious leaves, but eventual
crosses between progeny, or back crosses to source plant might one day yield a
spineless puya! Original seed collected in Zapallar, Chile. Easy from seed, 25
per packet.
Pseudopanax ferox - Araliaceae. Toothed lancewood
is an unusual, slow growing, small to moderately sized New Zealand native
evergreen tree that grows for 10-15 years as an un-branched, upright stem to 8
or more feet with extremely narrow leaves to 16” long like coarse hacksaws
pointing down along its length. The odd leaves are silvery brown, mottled with
cream makings. Full sun to part shade. As the tree reaches maturity, branching
begins and the leaves become shorter, broader, and very dark green. The slender
trunk also broadens and develops many deep vertical ridges. Clusters of small
flowers producing deep blue fruit eventually follow. Cold stratify seeds for 1
month. 10 seeds per
packet. Z8b
Semele androgyna – Ruscaceae. Climbing butcher’s
broom, or gibalbera, from Madeira and the Canary Isles is known for its
elegant, shining, pinnately arranged, leaf-like phylloclades that make
beautiful cut foliage for flower arrangements. This plant requires no summer
water once established. Two to three robust twining stems emerge like asparagus
shoots each spring and spiral more than 15’ up into trees or around a pole,
extending numerous, gracefully arching lateral branches. In mature plants
distal branches bear phylloclades edged in small cream flowers that produce
large red berries in summer. More berries are produced with two individuals
present. Sow seeds in fall. Germination may be slow, but is reliable. Growth is
slow for the first 2-3 years and then quickens. Plants were undamaged at 16 deg.
F. in the 1990 freeze. 10 seeds per packet.
Sinningia leucotricha – Gesneriaceae. This winter dormant Brazilian tuberous
or caudiciform perennial sends up new shoots covered with bright white silky
hairs and is usually potted high to expose the tuber which can grow to 12”
across. Terminal whorls of broadly elliptical leaves bear numerous tubular red
to orange flowers curved to fit a hummingbird's beak. An indoor or greenhouse
plant for bright light. Seeds like dust may be sown on sphagnum moss and grown under
plastic until they have several true leaves. Or sow directly on potting medium
under humid conditions. Juvenile plants may be tricked out of their dormancy
for the first few years to more quickly gain tuber size.
Sinningia douglasii – Gesneriaceae. Epiphytic
perennial from Brazil holds medium red-orange flowers over dark green leaves.
This and the following entry from seed shared by a hummingbird expert from
Louisiana. She reports “late last winter and into spring, the plant was
absolutely spectacular. It enjoyed considerable attention from the hummingbirds…..” Z10?
Sinningia sellovii – Gerneriaceae. South American
perennial known as the hardy red gloxinia. Leaves have a stiff quilted texture.
It “produces dusty pink flowers through some branches on the pink-flowered
plants will produce butter yellow flowers” and there is much interest from
hummingbirds. Both species are good container plants. Z8
Solandra sp. – Solanaceae. This is a “big
boned” scandent plant originating from Costa Rican cloud forest (Braulio
Carillo) above 2000 m that produces hundreds of large “cup of gold” flowers all
summer in a bright situation. The handsome foliage with purplish petioles and
veins may be more cold hardy than species already in cultivation as it
continues to grow through SF Bay area winters and has yet to show significant
leaf drop. Best sown in late spring. 6-8
seeds per packet.
Sophora microphylla - Fabaceae. A slow growing, fine
textured, small, semi-deciduous tree to about 25’ with pinnate leaves and elegant
divaricating shoots in juvenile plants. Full sun to bright shade. Native to
both New Zealand and Southern Chile. Seeds sold here originate from a
Chilean specimen. Seedlings remain juvenile for 5 to 10 years when bright gold,
pendant, 1.5” pea flowers begin to appear in spring just after the leaves drop,
covering the trees before foliage is renewed. Long pendant pods like chains of
beads follow and remain on the trees until fall. 10 seeds
Talbotia(=Xerophyta) elegans - Velloziaceae. A tough,
herbaceous perennial to 12 inches in height with glossy, three-ranked leaves
and 1 -1.5”, white or pale pink, star-shaped flowers on wire-like 4-5” stems,
native to the Drakensberg Mts. in eastern S. Africa where it is found in forest
shade on mossy rocks that dry during the winter. This plant and many of its
relatives possess amazing "desiccation tolerance" allowing them to
slowly dry out almost completely and revive within hours when watered. As
drying proceeds, leaves fold closed along the midvein, and turn purple. Water
thoroughly, and the plant is lush and green again the next day. Cold hardy down
to at least 16 degrees F. Approx. 20 seeds per packet.
Vriesia guttata – Bromeliaceae. This is an
atypical form of the handsome species from Brazil. Maximum size of the plant is
6” tall and wide. The dark green leaves are borne in a dense rosette and
covered with round purple spots, especially on the outside. The inflorescence
is 1’ long, held out laterally instead of loosely pendant with 8-10 pale cream,
2” flowers and spotted bracts. After flowering, one or two new rosettes arise
from among the leaves. An indoor or greenhouse plant for low light. Surface sow
fluffy seeds on sphagnum moss (don't let them fly away!) over a loose, epiphyte
mix and cover for the first few months to keep moist. Feed regularly to quicken
development. Young plants closely resemble Tillandsia before acquiring
the adult form. Many seeds per packet
Wachendorfia thyrsiflora - Haemodoraceae. The source
plant for this seed derives from a more attractive, high elevation Langeberg
form of W. thrysiflora with glaucous leaves and large flowers with
exceptional central “eye” markings. As in the usual form, individual plants are
either left or right “handed.” The flowers bear styles bent in a right angle
either to the left or to the right to take up the position of an anther in the
oppositely arranged form. Needs cool, wet growing conditions. Limited -8 seeds
per packet.