Viewing pirategirljack's Garden Diary: what i pine for

Thursday, March 30, 2006 from http://www.seedman.com/austral.htm AU111 Coastal Wattle ( Acacia sophorae ): Small, bushy Shrub. Ideal for coastal planting, tolerates salt spray. Edible seeds. AU114 Yellow Orchid Tree ( Bauhinia tomentosa ): A small tree growing 50 12 ft. outside in warm climates ( min. 45 degrees ) or inside in tubs. Large racemes of fragrant yellow flowers and drooping branches with leathery leaves. AU115 Lipstick Tree ( Bixa orellana ): From the Amazon region and Central America. Large fragrant rose, pink or white flowers with yellow stamens. Maroon to vivid scarlet 2 inch spiny pods. Red dye from seed pods used by Amazon Indians for face and body paint. Cultivated throughout the tropics as a coloring for lipstick, cloth, soap, paint and cheese. Used in Latin American Cuisine in place of the more expensive Saffron for coloring and flavoring in rice, stews, soup and meat. Zones 9-11, indoors or greenhouse. Used medicinally. AU116 Tree Wisteria ( Bolusanthus speciosus ): A slow growing small tree with pendulous racemes of violet wisteria-like flowers. Needs warm conditions, can withstand light frosts. AU130 Black Coral Pea Vine ( Kennedia nigricans ): Quick growing climber, with twining, dull green leathery leaves, and deep yellow and purple-black pea flowers. AU134 Mountain Ebony ( Lysiphyllum hookeri ): Tall tree with large spreading crown, white flowers, edged in pink with deep pink stamens. Possible bonsai candidate. AU135 Wonga Wonga Vine ( Pandorea pandorana ): Evergreen twining plant with shiny, leathery leaves and cream to orange funnel-shaped flowers. AU140 Blue Lily of the Nile ( Agapanthus Orientalis ): A clump forming, evergreen perrenial with broad, strap shaped, dark green leaves growing about 24-30" tall. Bears large umbrels of rich blue flowers in summer. Can be container raised. Zones 9-11. AU142 Australian Wild Grape Vine ( Cissus hypoglauca ): An excellent hanging basket plant or for outside in warm climates. A climbing or trailing vine with dark green, shiny, 5 lobed leaves that are blusish underneath. Also offers pretty yellow flowers. Thursday, March 30, 2006 from http://www.seedman.com/limited.htm Seed Packet #2775 Moso Bamboo Phyllostachys pubescens The largest of the hardy bamboos, it can tolerated temperature down to 10 degrees. It will grow to 80 feet tall outside with stem 8 inches in diameter. An aggressive grower producing large clumps in a short time compared to other bamboos. Can also be container grown for an attractive patio plant. A running bamboo with a distinct groove above pairs of branches at mid-culm nodes. Edible shoots in spring. Young culms are covered with a velvety coat of soft hairs. It is one of the most used bamboos in China where it is used for food, timber, paper, plywood, flooring and many other things. Price per pack: $2.95 Seed Packet #Z1610 Giant Golden Grandilla Passion Fruit Passiflora edulis flavacarpa A must for tropical fruit growers! This vigorous, fast growing tropical vine will produce loads of sweet fragrance flowers, followed by large, golden passiflora fruits with a delicious sweet/tart taste. This is the preferred variety of Passion Fruit that produces more and larger fruit than Passiflora edulis. Seed Packet#Z1955 Sacred Water Lily Nelumbo nucifera This giant tropical lily produces pads up to 3 ft. in diameter and large, fragrant pink flowers. The seed and rhizome are edible. Can be grown in cooler climates if covered/protected from freezing. The hard seed coat must be filed or nicked, then soaked in warm water for about 15 days until the seed begins to sprout. The sprouting seed then must be anchored to the bottom of the pool. As a novelty, the sprouting seed can be left in a glass of common tap water, and it will begin to grow roots and pads. Seed Packet #Z1950 Red Sandalwood Tree Adenanthera pavonia A tropical tree with red heartwood that is often used in cabinetwork and for dyes. Lacy, mimosa like foliage. Brilliant red, shiny seeds that make striking red necklaces and are apparently innocuous compared to other poisonous red-seeded species. An individual seed also has a remarkably constant weight of about four grains (0.26 gram). In early times they were known as Circassian seeds and were used by goldsmiths throughout Asia as a standard measure for weighing gold, silver and diamonds Seed Packet#Z1935 Mescal Bean Tree Sophora secundiflora An evergreen tree growing to 35 ft. with fragrant violet flowers. A popular ornamental plant that produces bright red beans used in necklace making. The seeds are poisonous if ingested and were often used in making a hallucinogenic liquor used by Native Indians in a ritual called the Red Bean Dance. Seed Packet #Z1985 Rudraksha Bead Tree Elaeocarpus grandis Also called the "blue marble tree." It is a tall tree that is cultivated in tropical regions of the world, including the Hawaiian Islands. The drupe contains a woody, intricately sculptured endocarp that surrounds several small seeds. The endocarps are often strung into attractive necklaces and leis. They are also strung into prayer bead necklaces. According to Peter Francis (1984), the species most commonly used in India for prayer beads is E. ganitrus, also listed in some references as E. sphaericus. The endocarps are known as "Rudraksha beads," and were worn by Shiva worshippers at least since the 11th century. (Elaeocarpus Sphaericus) are the sacred beads among Hindus. According to the Siva Purana, one of the Vedic texts, "Even in hundreds of years it is impossible to describe adequately the benefit by wearing a Rudraska. Those who wish for salvation as well as worldly happiness need to wear rudraksha. Of this there can be no doubt." Seed Packet #Z2600 Tea Plant Camellia sinensis This is the tea produced commercially around the world. The tender, young leaves are used in the process of tea production. Can be grown in tubs inside, or in cool greenhouses, outdoors in warm climates. Prefers moist, well drained, humus rich, slightly acidic ( 5.5-6.5 )soil. We recommend maintaining a 2-3 inch deep mulch of shredded bark or leaves around base of plant. Hardy to zone 7. To make green tea, pick only the top 3 leaves from new growing tips, spread and dry in the shade for 6-8 hours, then in an open pot, heat ( simmer ) the leaves, stirring frequently for about an hour. For black tea, you must ferment the leaves Seed Packet # Z2419 African Wisteria Tree Bolusanthus A slow growing tree to 20 ft. outside in warm climates, but also makes an excellent bonsai plant as well. Grey trunk, alternate pinnate leaves and violet flowers in racemes. 10 seeds per pack. Seed Packet # Z2101 Seed Name: Black Pepper Vine (Piper Nigrum) A vigorous tropical vine with glossy green leaves grown for commercial production of pepper. Can be grown on trellises or used as a basket plant. A low germinating seed, we ship 50 seeds to a pack, you should get about 5 plants from these. Seed Packet # Z2315 Seed Name: Dwarf Catura Coffee (Coffee arabica This is the gourmet cafe coffee variety. Grows only 24-30" tall and a mature plant is loaded with beans. Can be grown inside as a houseplant, needs tropical warmth outside. $4.50 Seed Packet # Z2103 Seed Name: Catimor 5175 Coffee (Coffee aribica ) This is the gourmet cafe coffee variety. Grows to about 4 ft. tall and a mature plant can produce up to a pound of beans. Can be grown inside as a houseplant, needs tropical warmth outside. Price per pack: $4.50 Seed Packet # Z2104 Seed Name: Costa Rica 95 Coffee (Coffee Arabica) This is the gourmet cafe coffee variety. Grows to about 4-5 ft. tall and a mature plant can produce up to a pound of beans. Can be grown inside as a houseplant, needs tropical warmth outside. Price per pack: $4.50 Seed Packet #2011 Seed Name: Yerba Mate Tea Ilex paraguariensis Yerba Mate is a widely cultivated medium-sized 4 to 8 meter evergreen tree indigenous to Paraguay, Brazil and other south American countries. It is in the holly family with holly-like leaves that are somewhat leathery. In the wild, mate grows near streams. The white flowers produce small red, black or yellow berries, but it is Ilex's leaves which are used medicinally and as a natural refreshing tea beverage throughout South America. Seed Packet #2015Z Seed Name: Fragrant GranadillaPassiflora alata Also known as wild passion fruit, wingstem passionflower. A robust climber with sparsely branched, 4-winged stems and light green leaves. In Spring, it bears claret purple and white to bright carmine red, bowl shaped, fragrant flowers 5 inches wide, followed by ovoid to pear shaped yellow fruit. Grows to 20 ft. if trellised or trained. Minimum 40 degree temperature. Thursday, March 30, 2006 from http://www.seedman.com/oak.htm QUERCUS COCCINEA ( SCARLET OAK ) ( Q8 ) Good for zones 5-9. Rounded, deciduous tree with gray brown bark in scaly plates. Glossy, dark green leaves to 6 inches long, that turn a brilliant scarlet red in autumn. Likes acidic soil. Mature tree can reach 70 ft tall and spread to 50 ft. wide. Native to North America. ROBUR ( ENGLISH OAK ) ( Q30 ) Good for zones 5-8. A rugged, spreading deciduous tree with fissured gray-brown bark. Dark green 5-6 inch leaves. Mature tree can reach 120 ft tall and spread to 80 ft. wide. Native to Europe. FRD31 Chinese Hickory Carya cathayensis A small hickory native to China growing to about 18 feet tall. Produces sweet flavored nuts that can be eaten fresh or cooked, they store well, and will keep for up to 6 months in the shell. FRD11 Shagbark Hickory Carya ovata Shagbark hickory is probably the most distinctive of all the hickories because of its loose-plated bark. Common names include shellbark hickory, scalybark hickory, shagbark, and upland hickory. Shagbark hickory is evenly distributed throughout the Eastern States and, together with pignut hickory, furnishes the bulk of the commercial hickory. The tough resilient properties of the wood make it suitable for products subject to impact and stress. The sweet nuts, once a staple food for American Indians, provide food for wildlife. Zones 5-8A. FRD06 Manchurian Walnut Juglans mandshurica A spreading, suckering tree growing to 70 feet tall with dark green glossy leaves and large nuts up to 2 inches long. Best for zones 5-8, excellent shade tree FRD08 Black Walnut Juglans nigra One of the most popular nut trees in the US. It is abundant in hedgerows and oldfields, as well as river bottoms and coves. In the open, walnut has a short main stem with a broad crown. Thursday, March 30, 2006 from http://www.seedman.com/banana.htm Seed Packet # 2269 Burmese Blue Banana Musa sikkimensis var. A moderately sized banana, native to northern Thailand, that has been associated with both M. acuminata and M. balbisiana but quite probably is an undescribed species. The mature fruits are bluish to purple, rather small, and are used in Thai cuisine. Price per pack: $4.95 2694 Asian Edible Banana Musa acuminata ssp. A fast growing banana from Asia that makes huge bunches of edible, but seedy fruits best used for frying in our opinion. This is a really fast grower, and handles a bit of frost. Also does very well in containers. Price per pack: $3.95 Seed Packet #2050 Thomson's Edible Banana Musa thomsonii A subtropical species native to the Himalayas in Bhutan and northeastern India. Its pseudostems can reach a height of up to 4.5 m (15 ft.). The fruits are sweet but have seeds. Thursday, March 30, 2006 from http://www.seedman.com/banana.htm Seed Packet # 2269 Burmese Blue Banana Musa sikkimensis var. A moderately sized banana, native to northern Thailand, that has been associated with both M. acuminata and M. balbisiana but quite probably is an undescribed species. The mature fruits are bluish to purple, rather small, and are used in Thai cuisine. Price per pack: $4.95 2694 Asian Edible Banana Musa acuminata ssp. A fast growing banana from Asia that makes huge bunches of edible, but seedy fruits best used for frying in our opinion. This is a really fast grower, and handles a bit of frost. Also does very well in containers. Price per pack: $3.95 Seed Packet #2050 Thomson's Edible Banana Musa thomsonii A subtropical species native to the Himalayas in Bhutan and northeastern India. Its pseudostems can reach a height of up to 4.5 m (15 ft.). The fruits are sweet but have seeds. Thursday, March 30, 2006 from http://www.seedman.com/edible.htm 2121 Oregon GrapeMahonia aquifolium This is a very beautiful and useful evergreen shrub. Its upright stems and coarse leaves form an irregular mound up to 8' tall. As the bush matures, it sends out additional stems to form a clump up to 6' wide. The bluish green leaves are coarse and spiny and resemble holly. The compound leaves are radially arranged at the end of each stem. Bright yellow flowers appear atop the stem in spring. Location: Oregon grape holly is native from the northwestern United States on into Canada. It is widely grown as an ornamental. Culture: Light: Needs shady conditions, hot direct sun will burn leaves. Moisture: Likes moist soil high in organic material, but adaptable. Hardiness: USDA Zones 5-9. Propagation: Clumps can be divided. Usage: This plant thrives in shady areas where selection of plants is limited. Can be used in entry ways and under roof eaves if adequate moisture is maintained. I like to use mahonias under a canopy of pine along with azaleas and camellias. Can also be used as an outdoor container plant. Features: The bright yellow flowers are beautiful against the lustrous blue green leaves. The bright blue berries on dark red stems are even more striking. 3127 Black Chokeberry Aronia Melanocarpa Black chokeberry is a deciduous shrub that grows to about 6 feet tall in bogs, swamps, wet woods and occasionally in dry sandy soil of oak woods and pine barrens. It can tolerate partial shade, but produces the most flowers and fruit, and the brightest red fall color, in full sun. Best suited for zones 4-9. The leaves are up to 8 cm long, with finely serrated edges. The flowers bloom in May and are white, rounded and with a short claw. The flowers are in loose clusters of 8 to 10 up to 5 cm across. The fruit, which matures by late August, is round, up to 12 mm across, dark purple to black, and in drooping clusters on long red stalks. The fruit is technically a “pome”, like an apple or pear, where the seeds are in a stiff core surrounded by fleshy tissue. The fruit is sour, even when ripe, so that it persists until midwinter as a “last resort” food source for songbirds, upland game birds and small mammals. In northern Europe Aronia is commercially grown for bottled fruit juice. The fruit is valued for its juice which is very high in anthocyanins, blends well with other fruit juices and is reputed as a source of "phenols, leucoanthocyanins, catachines, flavonoles, and flavones" that are considered to be bioactive in humans. In the US it’s growing in popularity as a landscape shrub since it tolerates both wet and dry soil, is attractive from spring through fall and resists most diseases and pests. 3102 Juneberry, Saskatoon Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia Low water requirements, grows as high as 10,000 feet. A deciduous shrub that seldom exceeds 15 feet in height and occasionally suckering to form a slowly spreading clump. An easily grown plant, it prefers a rich loamy soil and thrives in any soil that is not too dry or water-logged. The largest yields, and best quality fruits, are produced when the plant is grown in a sunny position, though it should also do reasonably well in semi-shade. The plants are fairly lime tolerant and they will also grow well in heavy clay soils. They are very cold-hardy and will tolerate temperatures down to at least -20°c and probably much lower. Flowers in Early Spring, these white flowers are produced before the plants come into leaf, and are usually produced so abundantly that the whole plant turns white. They look particularly beautiful at this time. By late June, or more commonly early to mid July, the plants will usually be carrying large crops of fruits. These fruits are about 15mm in diameter, they are soft, sweet and juicy with a taste that reminds us of apples. Small enough to be eaten without problems, though they can add a slightly bitter almond-like flavour to the fruit if they are crushed whilst eating. The fruit can also be cooked in pies etc., when dried it is quite sweet and can be used in the same ways as raisins. 3115 Succulent Hawthorn Crataegus succulenta An attractive shrub growing about 20 ft with some of the largest fruits in the crataegus genus with specimens up to 1 3/4 inches in diameter. This fruit has a sweet, juicy and pulpy flesh that is excellent raw or for making jellies. Attractive flowers in Spring and a nice lawn specimen. Hardy to zone 4. Seeds are slow to germinate, but well worth the wait! D2209 Chinese HackberryCeltis Sinensis A hardy and easy to grow plant. Tolerates drought; any soil; gusty winds; smog; sun or shade, but does not like heavy fog. Makes an attractive, low-maintenance street tree. Deep, non-invasive roots rarely cause sidewalk problems. Disease and pest resistant. Berries attract birds. Tree grows to10m in cultivation. Small green flowers are borne in Spring followed by small, sweet, edible fruit which are a dark-orange ripening to red-brown. D2212 Tree TomatoCyphomandra Betacea The tree tomato is an unusual large shrub native to Peru. It is a tropical plant that only does well outside in zone 10 or higher, but is an excellent container plant as it has a very shallow root system and is easy to container grow for landscape purposes. The trees grow ten to twelve feet in height and may be single-or multiple-stemmed depending on how they are trained. The large, somewhat oval leaves may be six to twelve inches long, and are softly pubescent. The small pinkish fragrant flowers are produced in the spring and early summer and the fruits mature during the fall and following winter. Mature fruits are about the size of a normal chicken egg and also about the same shape. Fruits, at maturity, can be orange, red or purple, depending on the variety. Internally, they somewhat resemble a tomato. Like tomatoes, they can be be eaten as a vegetable and used in sauces, soups or other ways. The most popular way of consuming the tree tomato is as a conserve. It can be made into jams and jellies also, but unlike regular tomatoes, when being cooked the seeds and skin of the tree tomato should be removed. The fruits, although they somewhat resemble tomatoes, do not have a tomato taste, but are pleasant for most people. D2219 Russian Olive Elaegnus Angustifolia Zone 6-9. Russian-olives are non-native, deciduous shrubs or small trees that grow to 20 feet tall. It has yellow flowers and dry yellow mealy fruits. Silver scales occur on the underside of the leaves. The twigs of Russian-olive are typically covered with thorns. These shrubs begin to flower and fruit annually after 3 years. An individual plant can produce 8 pounds of fruit each year. The leaves are covered with small scales which give the foliage a distinctive silvery appearance. The fruit is berry-like, and is silvery when first formed but turns brown at maturity. Although its fruits are used in drinks and to make preserves, it is more sought after for its white shoots and silverundersides of leaves which give them an ornamental appeal. D2265 Carissa Tree Carissa Grandiflora Makes a great border shrub and is sometimes used as a hedge. It is a vigorous grower. Has red fruit. The source of Carissa jelly, sauce and pudding. Also known as Natal Plum, it is a South African shrub used as a hedge or free standing shrub because of its interestingly formed branches and shiny deep-green leaves, offset by white and pink flowers. The plant bears a 2" egg-shaped red fruit that can be eaten out-of-hand but does make good cranberry-like preserves. It is a salt tolerant plant. Cold hardy to about 28 degrees. D2285 Strawberry Tree Arbutus For zone 7-10. The strawberry tree is a beautiful small evergreen tree or shrub usually growing 20-35 feet tall, and can be container grown in large tubs. Considered cold hardy down to 10 degrees, it is a very easy plant to grow. The strawberry tree produces masses of beautiful white flowers in November and December. Since the fruit takes 12 months to ripen, the tree carries both mature fruit and flowers at the same time and is then incredibly beautiful. This is a superb plant to grow as a specimen in a lawn, and it also grows very well on the sunny edges of a woodland garden. The fruit varies considerably in size, though it averages about ½-¾ inch in diameter. It is a lovely red colour and, from a distance, does look a little like strawberries - hence the common name of the plant. The resemblance to strawberries, however, does not apply to the taste. While it does have a somewhat gritty skin, when fully ripe the fruit itself has the texture of a lush tropical fruit and has a delicate pleasant flavour. For those people with sensitive taste buds, this is a fruit that can be enjoyed when eaten in moderate quantities. The fruit can also be cooked and is used to make delicious and nourishing jams and preserves. Ripening over a period of several weeks in late autumn and early winter, the fruit will fall from the tree when it is fully ripe. Thursday, March 30, 2006 from http://www.seedman.com/fruit.htm D2221 Macadamia Nut Tree Macadamia Intergrifolia The Macadamia tree is grown both for its ornamental appeal and its nut producing. Has exotic, creamy bark with thick foliage. New leaves are reddish-bronze. Pink and white blossoms. A mature tree can yield up to 100 pounds of nuts. Its holly-like leaves are also used for decorations. Easy to grow. Macadamias are ideally suited to a mild, frost-free climate with abundant rainfall distributed throughout the year, roughly the same climate suitable for growing coffee. Both species, however, grow well in the coastal areas of California, although varieties often respond differently to a given location. Mature macadamia trees are fairly frost hardy, tolerating temperatures as low as 24° F, but the flower clusters are usually killed at 28° F. Young trees can be killed by light frosts. Consistently high summer temperatures will reduce yields. When grown in a large tub, macadamias make suitable container plants. 2300 Sweet Orange Citrus sinensis Grows both in tropical and sub-tropical conditions. Bears fragrant white flowers, and produces sweet, 3-4" oranges. Can be grown inside in large tubs in cooler Climates. The tree is sensitive to high concentration of salts and can not stand waterlogging. Planting should be about 20 ft. apart. Fruit bearing starts from fourth year onwards. 2310 Sweet Lime Citrus limethoides The sweet lime is often confused with the sweet lemon, which, in certain areas, is referred to as "sweet lime". In some of the literature, it is impossible to tell which fruit is under discussion. This is an easy to grow citrus, which can be grown inside in tubs on patios in northern areas, our outside in gardens in temperate areas. It produces sweet fragrant flowers, followed by fruits than may be solitary, or in bunches of 2-5. The sweet lime is self-compatible. In studies aimed at improving yield, Indian scientists found that self-pollination results in maximum fruit set, while cross-pollination with sweet orange or grapefruit results in greater fruit retention, at the same time increasing fruit size and seed count. Therefore, the practice of interplanting with sweet orange and grapefruit has been adopted in commercial orchards. In the West Indies and Central America, the fruits are commonly enjoyed out-of-hand. The stem-end is cut off, the core is pierced with a knife, and the juice is sucked out. The fruit is eaten fresh in India as well as cooked and preserved. It is popular for drinks in North America. The hand-pressed peel oil has a strong lemon odor. It contains pinene, limonene, linalool, linalyl acetate and possibly dipentene and citral. In India the sweet lime is therapeutically valued for its cooling effect in cases of fever and jaundice. Seed Packet #2776 Lemon Meringue Fruit Rollinia deliciosa Native to Brazil. This tropical fruit tree produces small 3" fruits that are similar in appearance and in taste to lemon meringue pie filling. The fruits are soft, sweet with a translucent pulp and numerous seeds. The outter skin is a creamy tan color and has overlapping scales very similar to the Sugar apple. Mature height is 25'. Best for zones 10a and higher, or large pots for warm greenhouses. Price per pack: $2.95 2566 Lemon Guava Psidium cattleianum lucidum Small bush or tree to 20-25ft, although often much smaller, best for zones 8b-10. The lemon guava is very adaptable and can be grown outdoors throughout much of Florida and California. It will fruit in a container almost anywhere if protected from hard freezes. Lemon guava's are hardy to 22F when full grown. Trees grow well in full sun and with ample water, although short periods of drought will not harm the plant. D2204 Paw Paw Tree Asimia triloba . Pawpaws are native to the Eastern half of the United States, from the Gulf Coastal plain to the Great Lakes. The fruit look like short, fat bananas. They have a fragrant aroma, a custardy texture, and a tropical taste. The best ones are rich, creamy and sweet, reminding some people of banana cream pie. Compared to apples, peaches and grapes, Pawpaw is higher in food energy, and has more than double the amount of vitamin C, and is much higher in minerals. It is higher in protein, fiber, and carbohydrate. It has a much higher content of amino acids in a good balance. It has mainly unsaturated fatty acids, and is a good source of linoleic and linolenic acids. It is a small tree, seldom taller than 25 feet. Grown in full sun, the pawpaw tree develops a narrowly pyramidal shape with dense, drooping foliage down to the ground level. In the shade it has a more open branching habit with few lower limbs and horizontally held leaves. Pawpaw trees require warm to hot summers, mild to cold winters, and a minimum of 32 inches (81 cm) of rainfall spread rather evenly throughout the year, with the majority falling in spring and summer. It can be grown successfully in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 (-15 F/-26 C min. temp.) through 8 (15 F/-9 C min. temp.) Shading for the first year, and sometimes the second, is normally required outside, and it is for this reason that pawpaws are almost always found in nature as an understory tree. Although the pawpaw is capable of fruiting in the shade, optimum fruit yields are obtained in open exposure, with some protection from wind (on account of the large leaves). Plant at least two trees for fruit production, to ensure cross-pollination. The soil should be slightly acid (pH 5.5-7), deep, fertile, and well-drained. Good drainage is essential to success. Pawpaws will not thrive in heavy soil or waterlogged soil. In its native habitat the pawpaw has few pests of any importance. 514 Gumi Plant Elaegnus multiflora Good for zones 4-9. Gumi is a rounded shrub that grows to 8 ft (2.4 m) in height. The deciduous leaves are egg-shaped, 1-2 in (2.5-5 cm) long, dark green on top and silver with tiny brown scales beneath. Young twigs are reddish and fuzzy. The cream-colored flowers are small and modest, but abundant and fragrant. The showy fruits are scarlet with silver flecks. About 1 in (2.5 cm) long, they dangle deliciously on 1 in (2.5 cm) stems. The red ripe fruits of gumi are juicy and sweet, but at the same time, pleasantly astringent. They pucker your mouth, but you keep coming back for more! An absolutely scrumptious jelly can be made from the juice. Note: Very slow to germinate! 2350 Japanese Rasin Tree Hovenia dulcis Japanese Raisintree can reach 40 to 50 feet in height but is most often seen at 30 to 35 feet with an open, upright, oval silhouette. Unfortunately it is a little too big for planting beneath most power lines. The tree usually maintains a fairly good central leader with small-diameter main branches. The four to six-inch-long, glossy green leaves are particularly striking and create light shade below the trees but they show no appreciable color change in autumn, dropping while they are still green. In early summer, the branch-tips of the trees are festooned with small, two to three-inch-long cymes of sweetly-fragrant, greenish-white flowers which are quite attractive to insects. These blooms are followed by the production of small, fleshy, brown drupes which ripen to bright red and have a flavor similar to a sweet raisin, giving the tree its common name. 1A007 Cashew Nut Anacardium A tropical tree that is famous for it delicious nuts. It is a very fast grower and will reach 40 ft. quickly in warm climates. It is a very handsome tree that can be raised in greenhouses for its tropical appearance. D2208 Start Fruit, Carambola Averrhoa A beautiful evergreen tree with delicate foliage that folds up at night. Bears the delicious "star fruit" you see in supermarkets. Easily grown indoors in bright light. D2203 Golden Yellow Papaya Carica papaya A palm like tree that bears the papaya fruit whose enzyme is able to digest 35 times its weight in lean meat. Excellent source of vitamin A and B. 3115 Succulent Hawthorn ( Crataegus succulenta ) An attractive shrub growing about 20 ft with some of the largest fruits in the crataegus genus with specimens up to 1 3/4 inches in diameter. This fruit has a sweet, juicy and pulpy flesh that is excellent raw or for making jellies. Attractive flowers in Spring and a nice lawn specimen. SO523 Custard Apple Annona A short deciduous tree that produces large fruits with a juicy sweet taste. Easily grown container plant, or zone 10 outside SO456 Japanese Persimmon Diospyros kaki A very popular fruit tree from the Far East that has gained popularity in the US. Easy to grow from seeds. Can be raised inside in tubs in the north and outside in mild climates. The fruits are large, up to 3" across and sweet. Zones 7-9. D2218 Grape Mahonia Mahonia Evergreen shrub with tough pinnate leaves. Flowers are yellow in dense terminal racemes followed by grape like black-blue berries that can be made into jelly. D2222 Siberian Crabapple Malus baccata This tree is grown for both its fruit and its ornamental value. Fruits are red or yellow and about 1 cm in size. Also called Flowering Crabapple. Very hardy and easy to grow. D2228 Common Olive Olea europaea A most useful tree that can be grown in any temperate climate. It also can be grown in containers. The tree itself is attractive and usually becomes gnarled with age. It bears the olive of commerce that reach up to 1½" in dia. and are filled with oil. The flowers are tiny and yellow, the foliage a light grey-green. D2230 Old Homestead Apple Malus pumila var. Wrigthii These apple trees have been growing in the south for generations providing cooking and fresh eating apples. The apples have a sweet/tart flavor that is unique to their strain. Excellent for pies. A heavy bearing fruit tree. Package of 10 seeds $2.00 2687 Antanovka Apple Malus var. antanovka Hardy to zone 3. The most popular winter hardy rootstock for commercial plantings. It also produces a delicious, tart apple, found in many old rural homestead sites. 1A030 Chinese Jujube Zizyphus jujuba The tree has a weeping ornamental growth pattern. The fruits are smooth and round like an apple and can be eaten right off the tree. Very high in vitamin C. Very fragrant flowers. D2289 Hawaiian Solo Papaya Carcia A very desirable sweet strain of papaya that has a sweet firm pulp of pink/orange color. The Solo name is derived from one fruit being a meal in itself. An average fruit will weigh up to 1 1/2 lbs. Best grown outside in warm climates, but can be raised inside. D2291 Waimanolo Papaya Carica waimanolo A compact variety that can bear fruit when only 4 ft. tall . Has sweet flavored orange/yellow fruits. The flowers are small white and very fragrant. The average fruit is 2 lb. The best variety for growing inside. 1A134 Sweet Quandong ( Australian Peach ) Santalum acuminata It is not a commonly found tree. At maturity it is 18' with spreading branches and pendulous foliage of thin sickle shaped leathery leaves. Its 3/4" red fruits are thick skinned and pleasantly tart. Much used in making a quality jam. The edible seed is also quite desirable. It is rich with oil, very tasty and wholesome. The seed coat may be burned as a candle. An excellent ornanmental for warm zones. Growing the seeds requires planting a host plant with the seeds (any type plant will do). Not only can its flesh be turned into nice jellies, jams and pies, it is also stuffed to the limits with Vitamin C and houses quite a number of valuable minerals. Furthermore, it may be dried and stored. The kernel contains valuable proteins and is rich in oil. The plant itself is not very fussy about different soil conditions and climates, nor about water quality. 2640 Giant Granadilla Passiflora quadrangularis The Giant Granadilla forms a larger leaf and is a more vigorous grower than the yellow passion fruit. This plant derives its botanical name from the fact that the stems are quad rangular in cross section. It is a vigorous grower that can grow 50 feet or more in a single season, for zones 10 and higher, or warm greenhouses. Fruit of the giant granadilla reach a length of up to 12 inches and turn yellow when mature. The pulp around the seeds is used to flavor ice cream and to make a cooling drink. In addition, the flesh of this fruit is edible. The green fruit is boiled and eaten as a vegetable. The fully ripe flesh is eaten alone or in combination with such fruits as papaya and pineapple. Thursday, March 30, 2006 from http://www.seedman.com/gard2000.htm FT04 Cheddar Hybrid Cauliflower A very unique cauliflower! Contains 7.57 ppm beta carotene. If you grow this new cauliflower, it will likely be the topic of conversation at your dinner table the first time you serve it. The orange curds have great taste whether cooked or raw. Brightens up a relish tray, and does not lose it's orange color when cooked. For maximum color intensity, do not tie- up the leaves. Suggest it be transplanted to the garden in August for fall harvest in areas where summers are hot. Limited seeds, we can only sell 10 per customer at this time. 2525 Giant Walking Stick Cabbage Brassica oleracea longata. 180-300 days to a walking stick. These unique plants have produced walking sticks for centuries. Plant 40 inches apart early in the spring. With good growing practices, the slender stem grows straight and strong. Allow it to harden in the garden. In late January or February pull the plants, cut off the roots and crown, and hang indoors to dry. When it feels solid like a baseball bat it is ready. 2383 Sunberry Solanum Burbankii Bred in the early 1900s by Luther Burbank, who called it Sunberry and lamented it being renamed Wonderberry by the dealer who purchased and introduced it. Critics immediately claimed Burbank had simply reintroduced S. nigrum, Garden Huckleberry, as a new plant. Burbank said it was the result of many years of crossing of Solanum guinense (a species native to Africa) and S. villosum (indigenous to Europe). Sunberry’s fruits are blue, slightly sweet and slightly larger than a pea. Said by its admirers to rival and even surpass Blueberries. Truly historic variety. FT10 Boule d'Or French Melon Also called Golden Perfection Melon, this Famous French melon listed by Vilmorin in 1885. Hard yellow skin, lightly netted, pale-green flesh is an absolute delight. Fruits will keep for several weeks if kept cool and dry. Very hard to fine. Fragrant, sure to be a new favorite. GA43 Amish Purple Popcorn Popular with the Amish; beautiful ears with lovely purple kernels; perfect for popping or as an ornamental crop. GO18 Coffee Chickory Chichorium An easy to grow coffee substitute costing pennies per pound. The large roots are roasted and ground to make a delicious caffeine free drink. G057 Hanging Basket Cucumber The perfect cucumber for small areas. Will produce loads of fruit when grown in hanging baskets or patio containers. Tasty cukes are straight and 5-8" in length. GO68 Black Aztec Corn The same corn raised by the Aztec Indians over 2,000 years ago. A fast grower and heavy producer. Corn kernels turn dark blue-black when mature. Good for fresh corn or for making decorative corn meal. GO71 Cassabanana Sicana odorifera Long slender orange fruits 1-2 ft. long borne on a long trailing vine over forty foot long. Very fragrant, sweet fruits that are eaten raw, cooked or preserved. Also used as an insect repelling room perfume. Eating the fruit is said to prevent tonsillitis. GO72 Mosquito Plant Agastache cana This hardy perennial will provide you with sweetly scented foliage and large 1" rosy-purple flowers. It attracts hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. The crushed foliage rubbed on the skin is said to repel mosquitoes. 1A052 Blue Navajo Flour Corn A must corn for making flour and decorative purposes. Bears large 10" ears of purple blue corn. A good northern corn. Harvest in 110 days. G134 Spanish Licorice Glycyrrhiza echinata Very similar to True Licorice in taste and uses. Grows to 4' with purple flowers. This is a must plant for anyone with a sweet tooth trying to cut down on their sugar intake. Wednesday, March 29, 2006 wisteria-type flowers mescal bean / mountain laurel: big wisteria-like flowers and then red beans poisonous to eat but perfect for jewelry. yellowbark: australian tree with white flowers that look like wisteria wisteria tree: related to the vine, but in tree form-- i think this is what we have at work ~:) Tuesday, November 29, 2005 spring-garden wishlist in an attempt to settle in for good, i want the following for my garden: HERBS: stevia, various basils, dill, fennel, anise, flat and curled parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme, cilantro, lavender, chamomile... BERRIES: straberries, blackberries, raspberries, currants, blueberries, lingonberries, gooseberries, huckleberries, cape gooseberries... VEGIES: peppers, tomatoes, onions, squash, cukes, peas, beans, corn, cabbage, broccoli, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, turnips, parsnips, beets... FRUITS: apples, oranges, lemons, limes, pears, loquats, kumquats, lychees, longans, guavas, peaches, cherries, almonds, pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, persimmons, pomegranates, chestnuts... FLOWERS: jasmine, honeysuckle, morning glory, moonflower, nasturtium, hummingbird vine... TREES: magnolia, mimosa, rowan, as, beech, birch... Thursday, October 20, 2005 my separate gardens wishlist: elemental gardens: one each for earth, air, fire and water, with plants appropriate in color and meaning for each. the water garden will include a pond or a series of smaller waters with little engineered waterfalls between them; koi and pond comets either way. the fire garden will include a barbecue pit and a handmade kiln, and will be where the firewood is cured for both the kiln and the winter hearth. the earth garden will have rock features and be as densely packed with trees and woodland gardening as i can manage. the air garden will be all floaty and tall and wave in the breeze and be full of ribbons tied to branches and windchimes hung from everything. a faerie garden: planted densely with all the plants that are considered sacred to the fae folk, and with statues of puck and oberon and titania and such tucked in amongst them. probably also glittery and irridescent things, too, and butterfly-attracting plants. if i have the space, this would be a nice place to set up a beehive. kitchen and herb gardens: near to the kitchen (which will, of course, have a back door and a walk-in pantry), and full of all the traditional things for a family to live off, as well as fruit and nut trees, exotics and unusual foodstuffs, and maybe some attempt at grains if i have a whole lot of space. the herb garden will be full to the brim of culinary, tea and medicinal herbs-- anything i can get my grubby little hands on. a traditional cottage garden: all those old-fashioned things i love like daffodylls and lilacs and pansies and violets and roses all growing together in wild abandon before the house. a non-grass lawn: full of aromatic groundcovers and clover. i like mother of thyme and chamomile so far, and i'll find others as i go. Thursday, October 20, 2005 spring planting wishlist ... that i'll likely never actually realize. from the 'royal dutch' catalogue. ahem: monsella tulips: yellow with red streaks, double flowers daylillies: all colors full tide iris: light blue on top fading to dark blue on bottom, tall, bearded black dragon iris: velvety black, tall, bearded darwin tulips: bright colors, some multicolored, single catherine hodgkins orchid iris: short, light purple with yellow orchid-like speckles scillia campanulata: pink, white and blue bells from bulbs hybrid lillies: bright colors pastel tulips: to counter the brights crocuses: all colors rembrandt tulips: red, yellow and white with streaks of the other colors triplet lillies: short, purple native lillies narcissus / daffodyll: mostly white with yellow trumpets, but some really pretty variations would be nice carnival de nice tulip: white with red streaks, double cloud nine bouquet tulip: branching, white with pink edges stargazer lillies: mostly for the name blue poppie anenome: look just like purple-blue poppies! tall dutch irises: all colors reblooming daylillies: all colors, especially the unusual ones silver lace vine: white and the pink variety we have around here hummingbird vine: the lovely orange we have here and the yellow my grandma has lollypop lillies: white and pink asiatic lillies robbinhood rose: red and climbing rose of sharon: tree-version hibiscus-- especially want the purple ones delphiniums: all colors lavendar mountain lillies: purple, grow in bunches, trumpet-shaped orange electric lilly: orange and white asiatic spring starflower: pretty little blue stars parrot tulips: really curly and fancy multicolored tulips trumpet lillies: all colors tree peonies: all colors patty's plum oriental poppy: deep purple; other colors wanted too blue lagoon tulip: real blue queen of the night tulip: real black eye of the tiger dutch iris: red and purple dwarf daylillies: all colors hardy cyclamen: looks like flocks of butterflies old-fashioned native daylillies: bright orange, us native hollyhocks: all colors harry lauder's walking stick: twisty branches viridiflora tulips: bright colors streaked with green oriental lillies: all colors bleeding heart: old-fashioned snowdrops: white and very early spanish bluebells: similar to the ones i grew up with in scotland antoinette tulips: change color as they grow hybrid lillies: brighter colors than natural gladiolas: low growing with lots of colors and flowers checkered lillies: open, downward-facing bells that look checkered-- all colors greenland darwin tulips: pink with green streaks grecian windflower: like purple daisies butterfly daffodylls: bells opened and curled back Saturday, August 13, 2005 plans to be implemented i think for the Fall Planting i'm going to get a bunch of windowboxes and hang them on the railings of the back porch-- i have some mini sweet corn i can plant, some loose-leaf lettuce, some rocket and other salad greens, some small-stature bush beans, a bunch of squashes... if i have the cash, i'll set up a whole winter garden out there in the back, away from the winds that'll dry out the front in a few months. i think i'll also add to the water garden after it's established. i'll put the willow near it so it feels like it has a lake-- a promise of the distant future. i wish i wish i wish i had enough space to set up a real garden and the time to tend it. interresting veggies are so expensive in the supermarket... it'd be so much more cost-effective for my poor-ass self to just grow them all and eat out of the garden like a european peasant... i should have been born to a seasonally nomadic culture, travelling in the winter and planting in the spring and summer... Tuesday, June 14, 2005 citruses i plan to eventually move out of the one-season-ness of the south, but before i do, i'm going to buy up baby citrus trees-- whatever ones i can't grow myself. these are the ones i want: ** lime-- plain old ordinary limes. the fruit we have at work doesn't have seeds, so i guess i'll have to buy a tree since i can't scavenger-hunt the seeds for free ** orange-- there's alot i'll not miss at all when i leave florida, but i will miss the readily-available oranges, and getting a baby tree while i'm still here will be alot cheaper then getting one when it is considered an exotic in, say, massachusetts or connecticut ** lemon-- i've got seeds for pink lemonade lemons, but no regular yellow lemons (the sunkist name-brand ones i scavenged seem to be infertile, despite their lovely plump size) ** key limes-- because i can't live without key lime pie ** meyers lemons-- a round, sweet lemon? i'm in! (thinking back, i remember emmy giving me what she called 'globe lemons', but i can't remember if any of the ones i lost the names to came from those seeds...) other citrus i want, seed OR plant: ** buddha's hand oranges-- the segments grow individually ** flying gragon oranges-- big creepy spines on the plant and another variety for my dragon garden! ** kaffir lime-- indispensible for thai cooking ** bitter / sour orange-- the original orange, and indispensible for old-time st aug cooking (which i have suddenly taken an interrest in) **** the complete list from wikipedia: * Amanatsu * Bergamot orange * Bitter orange (Seville Orange) * Calamondin (Calamansi) (have) * Citron * Clementine * Golden Lime - hybrid between the genus Citrus and the genus Fortunella * Dancy * Grapefruit * Ichang Lemon * Kaffir lime * Key lime * Kumquat - in the related genus Fortunella, not Citrus; forms hybrids with Citrus * Lemon * Lime * Limequat * Mandarin Lime * Mandarin Orange * Meyer Lemon (one of the unknowns may be this) * Mikan * Minneola * Orange * Orangelo (Chironja) * Orangequat * Persian lime (Tahiti lime) * Pomelo * Pummelo (Shaddock) * Rangpur (Lemanderin) * Rough Lemon * Satsuma * Shekwasha (Taiwan Tangerine) * Sweetie * Tachibana Orange * Tangelo * Tangerine (have, i think) * Tangor * Ugli * Yuzu (have) some of these sound reall fun and unusual... Tuesday, June 14, 2005 dragon garden plants containing the name 'dragon' in the title-- black dragon coleus dragon tree / dragon's blood tree (have) red dragon fruit (have) white dragon fruit flying dragon orange longan (fruit is called 'dragon's eye') Dracocephalum / blue dragon plant Sapphire dragon~ PAULOWNIA black dragon iris dragon arum / The Dragon Lady flower (or Voodoo Lily, Sauromatum venosum, Araceae family) / Dragon Arum ((Dracunculus vulgaris) is a flowering plant from the mediterranean. Also known as dragonwort. It used to be called Arum dracunculus) dragon's blood sedum dragon's tongue beans red dragon venus fly traps Dracaena reflexa (aka Pleomele reflexa) Persicaria microcephala 'Red Dragon' Arisaema dracontium Native Green Dragon Wildflower water dragon (bog plant) Thai Dragon chilli plant Dracocephalum (Dracocephalum thymifolium) is an annual, usually growing in bare or waste places. It has lilac blue flowers. Dragonmouth ((Horminium pyrenaicum) is a perrenial of rocky areas, grasslands, and open woodlands. It has dark blue-violet flowers) Dragon Spruce (This conifer tree orignates from western China, but is found in parks and gardens around the world. It grows to about 30m tall in the wild. Its Latin name is Picea asperata) Dragon's Teeth ((Tetragonololais maritimus) is found naturally in central and southern Europe. It is usually found in chalk grasslands, and similar habitats. It has large, pale yellow flowers. Also known as Lotus siliquosus) Lesser snapdragons ((Misopates orontium) are an annual plant. They have pink flowers, or very rarely, white. Also know as Antirrhinum orontium) Northern Dragonhead ((Dracocephalum ruyschiana) is a perrenial found in open woods or dry grassland. It has blue and violet (and occassionally white) flowers) Snapdragons ((Antirrhinum majus) come from the mediterranean. The flowers of wild forms can be pink, purple, yellow, or a bicolour combination) Black Dragon Japanese Cedar Dragon's wort (Bot.), a plant of the genus Artemisia (A. dracunculus). Candelabra Plant also called 'dragon bones' Dragon Wings Begonia SILVER DRAGON LILYTURF Liriope spicata 'Silver Dragon' lilly-of-the-valley said to symbolize the death of a dragon-- grows where the vaquisher's blood fell Marston Dragon sundew: Drosera binata dichotoma x binata multifida Hibiscus 'Dragon's Breath' red dragon flower (Huernia schneiderana Berger) Golden Dragon Clivia Thursday, June 9, 2005 water garden i desperately want a water garden, but there are a few issues with this: 1) i live in a rented building and have to share a back yard i'm not allowed to dig up too much 2) i'd hate to spend all the money it would cost to set up, just to leave it when i move out as i almost definitely will when the lease it up 3) mosquitoes are a terrible problem and so on. but i found a little version i can get from homedepot.com that may make me feel like i have a water garden! it's a 15-in half-barrel with a liner to hold the water and it comes with one water lilly and two aquatic accent plants, and it's big enough that if i get it i can put mosquito fish into it to eat the bugs in their larval state! that's my next project, i think... ~:) Thursday, June 9, 2005 water garden ii what i will plant in and around my water-garden / koi pond when i'm rich enough and settled enough to get one: weeping willows (the ones i have potted if they're still alive) persimmons marshmallows water cannas cat-tails papyrus water mint watercress koi ... to be continued as i learn more about water-loving plants... ~;) Thursday, June 9, 2005 wishlist for aaron's bulb farm (or whatever it's called) florence vaughn cannas wonderful pomegranates white pomegranates black olives green olives japanese persimmons black persimmons muscadine grapes ~;) Thursday, June 9, 2005 ebay wishlists: things i saw on ebay that i hope are still there when i can afford them) lychees longans guavas sugar cane tea plants / camelia sinensis smoking tobacco figs passion fruit rarities poppy collections Thursday, June 9, 2005 random other things i want woad weld indigo

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