Seed Exchange 2008

Thanks to those who donated seed for the exchange this year, without whose participation this program would not be possible, and whose initials in the list below indicate their expressed willingness to be contacted about the plants from which the donated seed came and the conditions under which they grow:

and those whose gratefully received donations remain anonymous. Nomenclature and descriptions are those given by these donors.

1.Acacia cavenia (KE)

2.Acacia iteaphylla (KE): shrub to 6’x6’; early and showy flowering, from late October all the way to March; new growth is pink; tolerates drought; deer and horse proof

3.Acer macrophyllum (AB*): from San Anselmo Hills

4.Acer truncatum (LB): Chinese Maple

5.Aesculus pavia (BD): Red Buckeye; 20’ deciduous tree; reddish pink flower in spring

6.Alcea rosea (AB*): Hollyhock; pink to dark red single flowers

7.Alcea rosea: Hollyhock; Indian Spring strain, 4” chalice flowers white through deep rose

8.Allium sp (AB#): tall; lavender flower

9.Allium sp (AB#): to 3’; deep red flower

10. Allium sp (AR): leaves to 8”; 1” diameter head of some 50 pink flowers

11. Amaranthus tricolor ‘Cinco de Mayo’: annual; brightly colored foliage all summer in full sun

12. Ammi majus ‘Casablanca’ (PVA): finely divided green foliage; large umbels white with green undertone; haven for beneficial insects

13. Anchusa capensis (DM#)

14. Anethum graveolens: Scandinavian Dill

15. Anthriscus cerefolium: Chervil

16. Antigonon leptopus (DH): Coral Vine; dark pink flowers in large sprays in summer and fall; may die to the ground in winter, returning with warm weather to grow to 30’

17. Aquilegia ‘Woodside Gold’ (DH): open pollination

18. Aquilegia hyb: tall; purple flower (KE)

19. Aristea ecklonii (AB*): clear blue flowers above spiky leaves; deer resistant; sun or part sun, average or little water

20. Arum italicum 'Pictum' (LB)

21. Asclepias fruticosa (PVA): biennial to 3’x3’; covered with white flowers

22. Asphodeline alba? (KE): from Wayne Roderick; strap leaves; showy spikes of white stars with pink stripes in spring, blooms second year from seed; tolerates drought

23. Bartletina sordida (SF): to 7’; purple-blue flower

24. Beschorneria wrightii (SF): 18” clumps

25. Borago officinalis ‘Alba’ (PVA): white flower

26. Brachychiton populneus (KYH): formerly sterculeaceae, now malvaceae; beautiful evergreen specimen in the garden – one of the bottle trees making a large bulbous trunk at maturity; very cold hardy having made it down to the low twenties and losing only a few leaves in the process; flowers not very showy because of dense foliage but very pretty to look at close up

30. Bulbinella ruscifolia (KYH): wonderful winter perennial for either watered or dry garden; bloom red drumsticks in February

39. Cantua buxifolia (AB*): Sacred Flower of the Incas; rangy shrub to 5’; 3” cerise flower

41. Cercis occidentalis (AB*): Western Redbud; California native shrub to 12’; from Putah Creek, NE Napa County

42. Chimonanthus praecox v luteus (CH): Winter Sweet; light yellow flower in winter

43. Chlorogalum pomeridianum (AB*): Indian Soap Plant, Amole; California native from San Anselmo Hills

50. Crossandra infundibuliformis (KYH): red form, might be C. puberula; tropical plant, does very well in the heat, source at Big Bloomers in North Carolina; flowers very red compared to the regular form

55. Dianthus caryophyllus: Enfant de Nice strain carnation; intensely scented; flower may be scarlet, salmon, rose, pink, white, pastel yellow, many with stripes or picotee

56. Dichelostemma ida-maia (MSI): native bulb, striking red flowers attractive to hummingbirds

72. Eryngium giganteum (PVA): perennial to 4’; blue stems, half-inch blue conical flower heads with silvery bracts

80. Fritillaria affinis (RW): flower brown and yellow; wild collected at 600’ near Ukiah CA

86. Gasteria sp (KE): large 1.5” brownish-green leaves without spots or bumps

87. Gasteria sp (KE): seedling from Strybing; large 2.5” leaves from a star-shaped crown; branching flower spikes to 3’

89. Gladiolus huttonii hybrids (MSI): probably originally a cross from G huttonii and G tristis, both winter growing South African bulbs; seeds should yield flowers in various gorgeous combinations of red and yellow

95. Helianthus angustifolius x maximiliani (KYH): perennial sunflower likely crossed and seeded in my garden several years ago – would be considered an F-2 hybrid; blooms earlier than H. angustifolia, at the same time as H. maximiliani, but does not run like the latter

96. Helianthus annuus ‘Angel’s Halo’: to 6’; early blooming semidouble flowers on branching stems

97. Helianthus californicus (KYH): perennial sunflower; bloom nearly all summer; can get up to 8’ but only reached 5’ in my garden; a fast clumper; needs some water

98. Helianthus maximiliani: plains sunflower to 8’; 3” yellow flowers on branching stems late summer and fall

99. Helianthus salicifolius (KYH): perennial; source at Annie’s; definitely a foliage lovers’ sunflower

104. Hesperaloe parviflora (KE & SF): strap leaf clump to 4’x4’; spikes of coral tube flowers; tolerates drought

106. Hesperantha latifolia (MSI): South African bulb, early blooming bright pink flowers

108. Hibicus cameronii (KYH): Australian Hibiscus still needs to be explored – hardiness uncertain; flowers pale pink with deep pink striations

109. Hibiscus coccineus (KYH): Texas Star Hibiscus; beautiful red flowers in late summer; needs at least regular garden water, can also be grown in ponds

110. Hibiscus poepigii (KYH): rare little mallow with upside down bells; though native to Florida, the native plant society of Florida could not provide any sources for the seed – in fact they hadn’t seen one for a long time; loves the heat and can take quite a bit of dryness; doesn’t like our cold wet winters in the ground, so protect it from the rain

112. Howittia trilocularis (SF): native to Australia; malvaceous shrub to 8’

120. Kitaibela vitifolia (KYH): white blooming mallow sometimes called Russian Hibiscus though from Yugoslavia; can get quite tall; does well in partial shade

123. Kniphofia uvaria ‘Christmas Cheer’ (KE): orange and yellow flowers in winter; tolerates drought

125. Lathyrus grandiflorus ‘Matucana’ (PVA): Sweet Pea; heirloom variety with smaller flowers more strongly scented than modern hybrids

129. Lilium maritimum (MSI): rare California north coast native found growing at edges of Redwood forests and in areas next to the road where it gets extra water; garden collected seed

131. Limonium minutum (KE & DM*): perennial Statice to 6” high, 12” across; low water

136. Lunaria annua (AB*): Money Plant; biennial; lavender flowers followed by shiny white 1” seed pods

142. Manfreda sp (BF): succulent; leaves spotted red; tall flower stalk; protect from winter rain

151. Nigella damascena (BF): Love-in-a-Mist; annual to 2’, reseeds easily; blue flower in spring and summer, followed by ornamental seed pod

166. Penstemon sp (AB#): low growing, likes gravel; reddish flower; resembles P. newberrii

170. Phymsoia rubra? (KYH): original plant found near the California Academy of Sciences; saved from near destruction by Don Mahoney; winter bloomer, does equally well in our hot summer heat and cool coastal weather

172. Reinwardtia indica (KYH): little tropical does well in a pot; blooms on and off all year although it seems to bloom better in the cool season; not tried it in the ground, but cool weather tropicals usually don’t do well in our Danville winters

174. Romulea bulbocodium (MSI): Mediterranean bulb, early blooming purple flowers, increases well

175. Romulea bulbocodium var. crocea (MSI): Mediterranean bulb, yellow flowers

176. Romulea tetragona (MSI): South African bulb, early blooming, hairy leaves

178. Salvia gesnerifolia (DM#): mountain form; to 6’; hardy to 20-25 degrees

181. Salvia sclarea (KE): biennial large showy sage to 4’ in bloom and 3’ across; tolerates drought

182. Scilla peruviana (AB*): cone of lavender-blue flowers in spring; summer dormant; dry, sun

185. Senna artemisoides (KE): shrub to 4’x4’; gray cut leaf; yellow flower nearly year round; tolerates drought

191. Talinum paniculatum (AB*): Jewels of Opar; winter dormant perennial; sun, water

195. Trachelium ‘Hamer Pandora’ (BF): 2’ dark purple umbels; branching habit; sun

196. Tradescantia sp (AB*): to 4’; blue flower in summer; average water, sun

198. Tulbaghia violacea pallida (BF): Society Garlic (scented narrow foot-long foliage); flower stem to 2’ holding terminal group of very pale pink flowers

199. Veltheimia bracteata (DC & MSI): South African bulb from summer rainfall areas, can be grown in the ground, but does best grown in large container with some water year round, less during the several-month summer dormancy, sheltered somewhat from sun and heavy rain; gorgeous shiny leaves and beautiful flowers; start seeds in moist paper towel

202. Veronica altissima or angustifolia (KYH): Ironweed; prairie plant to 6’; starts to bloom around July 4, continuing for about a month, flowers really holding their color well in the heat

203. Wachendorfia thyrsiflora (BF): native to South Africa; pleated strap leaves; yellow flowers on stalks to 10’

209. Zinnia elegans: Benary’s Giant strain, long-stemmed flowers either apricot blush or chartreuse

210. Zinnia haageana: summer flower color combinations of cream, gold, chestnut, orange, burgundy, pale yellow, with petal tips and circled centers in contrasting shades; to 18”

213. mystery seed (BC): annual poppy; single pale orange flower in May – Papaver californicum?

214. mystery seed (PVA): Peruvian Chili, probably Capsicum hybrid, edibility unknown; lavender flowers, very dark purple leaves, black fruit