Join the Seedman Explorer Club offered exclusively by Seedman.com
The ideal behind the Seedman Explorer Club is to assimilate germination information of difficult to germinate seeds and share this information with other gardeners, we hope to learn this information by making selected seeds and unique germination aids available to interested gardeners. We hope to then make these seeds and information available to the general public in the years to come if successful techniques can be learned.
The Seedman Explorer Club is an exciting way to test your gardening skills and experiment with new types of seed not available to the average gardener and wind up with exciting new plants for only a tiny fraction of what you would pay for such plants from a nursery, for example, the Common Fringe Tree ( Chionanthus retusus ) is a wonderful lawn plant for zones 5-9, loaded with fragrant blooms that will fill your lawn with a delightful fragrance during the spring, but is almost impossible to find as a nursery plant except in areas where it is common. The few nurseries we found on-line that even offered them were either sold out, or offering them for about 20 bucks apiece. Plus you have the pleasure of starting them yourself and sharing your experience with other gardeners on-line.
All of the seeds we list on the SEC are already germinated by large commercial nurseries or forestry supply firms, but are too erratic or difficult in germination to be offered to the retail public.
It's free to join, and you can purchase small batches of seeds
you would not normally be able to find in packet size, if at all.
And they are only a buck a pack!
Our goal is to experiment with "non standard" seeds, ones that
are not readily available to the public, and determine the best
way for average gardeners to germinate these seeds using our
unique seed germination aids:
Seedman's Gibberellic Acid Kits
and Cape Seed Primer
these unique germination aids now make it possible to germinate
some rather unique seeds at home that were in the past only
germinated by experienced nurserymen in large commercial
operations.
To become a member, simply fill out the form below and submit it, that's it, you are automatically a member, no need wait for a password, you are ready to start ordering the seeds listed below.
Seeds available to Seedman Explorer Club members offered exclusively by Seedman.com
We make these seeds available for testing purposes, and
would like for you to share your germination experience with
us. We do not warrant these seeds as germination standards
for the home gardener are not known to us, we only
guarantee that they are fresh seeds from the latest harvest,
and are labeled correctly, and have been stored in our climate
control chambers until the time they are shipped.
Germination instructions are not supplied, as we get feedback
from gardeners, we will make this information
available.
We suggest you take advantage of our germination aids to greatly increase your chance of success.
SEC101 American Beauty Berry Callicarpa americana
American beautyberry is an outstanding deciduous shrub that
grows 6-8 ft (1.8-2.4 m) tall with a loose, open form and
outward pointing branches. Grows in a wide variety of soils, in
zones 6-10.
SEC102 Deerbush Ceanothus integerrimus
A deciduous shrub growing to 4m. It is hardy to zone 7. It is
in flower in June, and the seeds ripen from August to October.
The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female
organs) and are pollinated by Bees. Tiny flowers in large
"frothy" clusters in late spring, usually pure white, but there
are pale bluish and pinkish form.
It can fix Nitrogen. The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium
(loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers
acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in
semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry or
moist soil.
SEC103 Button Bush Cephalanthus occidentalis
Buttonbush is a rounded, open branched wetland shrub that can
potentially get as large as 20 ft (6.1 m) tall but is normally
about 6-8 ft (1.8-2.4 m) tall with a similar spread. Buttonbush
occurs in swamps and marshes, and along streams and ponds, from
Nova Scotia south throughout Florida and the West Indies, west
to Minnesota, Texas, and Mexico, and scattered across the
southwestern US to central California. It typically grows in
places that have standing water part of the year, and sometimes
forms pure, very dense stands.
Buttonbush is a wetland plant, but it can be grown in ordinary
soils in a shrub border or naturalized landscape if given
supplemental water during dry spells. Buttonbush is at its
best, though, along a pond or stream, or in an area where the
soil is frequently wet. It does best with moisture retentive
soils and it tolerates soggy soils. Buttonbush responds well to
pruning and can be kept at a small size.
The Choctaw and Seminole peoples used decoctions of buttonbush
bark for treating several internal maladies including diarrhea
and stomach aches. Grows in zones 5-10.
SEC104 Chinese Redbud Cercis chinensis
A deciduous tree growing to 15m at a slow rate. It is hardy to
zone 6 and is frost tender. It is in flower in May. Bright
pinkish-purple flowers open along stem in early spring before
the heart-shaped leaves emerge. Unlike our native eastern
redbud (Cercis canadensis), which is usually a single trunked
tree, Chinese redbud bears flowers all along its many stems,
creating wand-like columns of bloom.
SEC105 Judas Tree Cercis siliquastrum
Judas-tree (Cercis siliquastrum) is a small tree to 10-15 m
tall native to the south of Europe and southwest Asia, in
Iberia, southern France, Italy, Greece and Asia Minor, which
forms a handsome low tree with a flat spreading head. In early
spring it is covered with a profusion of magenta pink flowers,
which appear before the leaves. The flowers have an agreeably
acidic bite, and are eaten in mixed salad or made into
fritters. Grown in zones 6-9.
SEC106 Japanese Flowering Quince Chaenomeles
japonica
This ugly duckling of the garden spends most of the year as a
shrubby tangle of branches and nondescript foliage. However,
for a brief few weeks in late winter to early spring, it
transforms into a ravishing beauty. Flowering quince is a
deciduous shrub growing from 5-10 ft (1.5-3 m) in height and
about as wide. The simple leaves are arranged alternately on
the stems which are typically thorny and densely tangled. Very
early in the season, the bare branches are adorned with
brilliant 1.5-2 in (4-5 cm) blossoms.
This is not the edible quince, which is a related species of
the genus Cydonia but delicious marmalades and jellies can be
produced from flowering quince's hard aromatic fruit. Grows in
zones 4-9.
SEC107 Sweet Desert Willow Chilopsis linearis
Large deciduous shrub to small tree. Its long narrow leaves are
willow-like. Its flowers are fragrant, pink to lavender. They
appear in May and keep coming until Sept. or frost. Native near
waterways in Mojave and Col. desert. Likes moderate water and
sun. Does best inland and in desert. Easy to grow. It's nice
looking and fast. The leaf tips will freeze each winter, but is
considered hardy to 0 deg. F. It has a nice deciduous form. Can
be pruned to make a weeping willow effect. (A weeping willow
with 1-2"pink-purple catalpa-like flowers!) Plant and stems
look dead when dormant. A favorite of hummingbirds who
practically live in this most of the summer. A favorite in the
garden all summer.
SEC108 Chinese Fringe Tree Chionanthus retusus
Chionanthus retusus is a beautiful spring flowering deciduous
tree, the name Chionanthus is from the Greek chion and anthos a
flower, in reference to the abundant white fringelike flowers.
Chinese Fringe Tree grows to 20 feet tall in cultivation with a
rounded crown of dark green leaves that turn golden in late
fall. A hardy tree that can be planted in a lawn in full sun or
used as an understory in partial shade. Best in fertile well
drained soils and ample water. Although this is a
polygamodioecious plant (either male or female but with some
bisexual flowers present) with male flowering plants slightly
more showy and producing little or no fruit, the trees are
rarely segregated by sex in nurseries.
Grows 15-25 ft (4.5-7.5 m) tall and 30-40 ft (9-11 m) wide,
hardy to zone 5.
SEC109 Common Fringe Tree ( Old Man's Beard Tree )
Chionanthus virginicus
Fringetree is a large shrub or small tree t hat grows to about
20 ft (6.1 m) high, with one or a few short trunks and a
rounded crown. It has opposite, deciduous, elliptical dark
green glossy leaves. In spring the fringetree produces very
showy, white flowers with narrow straplike petals that appear
at the same time as the foliage. This tree is famous for its
lovely sweet fragrance that is potent but never overpowering.
Fringetree bears brownish, oval drupes about 1 in (2.5 cm) long
in late summer.
Full sun to partial shade. Fringetree does well in the filtered
shade under large trees. Prefers moist, well drained situations
but is also tolerant of drought conditions. USDA Zones
6-10.
SEC111 Smoke Tree Cotinus coggygria ( pink/rose )
Smoketree is a rounded, broadly spreading, and sometimes
multistemmed shrub that grows to 15 ft (4.6 m). The actual
flowers are inconspicuous little yellowish green blossoms that
appear in early summer, but the long pinkish filaments on the
stems of the bloom clusters create a striking cloudlike effect
through the summer. The fruits are tiny kidney shaped brown
berries.
Sun brings out the best leaf color, but smoketree will tolerate
light shade. Smoketree prefers well-drained moist to dry soil.
It will grow on damp sites, but is prone to root rot in such
situations. Deep infrequent watering is ideal. Zones 5 - 8.
SEC112 Pekin Cotoneaster Cotoneaster acutifolia
Moderately fast growing shrub to 6 feet tall. Dense compact
habit. Upward arching branches with dark green leaves that
produce an autumn blaze of yellow. Tolerates full to partial
sun, heat, cold, wind, drought, alkaline soil. Good landscape,
windbreak, wildlife cover. Zone 3
SEC114 Rockspray Cotoneaster Cotoneaster
horizontalis
This low-growing, flat-topped cotoneaster makes a good
groundcover with its glossy dark green leaves and bright red
autumn fruit. It is a horizontally spreading layered shrub with
ascending branches growing 2 to 3' high, spreading to 8' per
plant. Dark green leaves and colorful fruit, excellent
landscape plant, hardy to zone 5.
SEC118 White Ash Fraxinus americana
White ash is the largest and grandest of the 16 North American
ash species. This handsome deciduous forest tree once grew to
heights of 100-120 ft (30.5-36.6 m), with tall straight trunks
4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m) in diameter, but such giants were confined
to the finest soils of the Tennessee and Ohio River Valleys,
and have been replaced by farmland. Today white ashes commonly
grow 40-60 ft (12.2-18.3 m) tall with 40 ft (12.2 m)
crownspreads. White ash has a strong framework with stout main
branches growing upright and smaller branches spreading
outward. The bark of mature trees is dark brown and deeply
fissured by interlacing ridges forming a characteristic diamond
pattern.
The white ash is a beautiful specimen and shade tree for parks
and larger landscapes. It is tolerant of urban pollution and
exposed conditions. With its stout, upward reaching branches
and symmetrical crown, the white ash presents a handsome
silhouette in winter. They are sometimes used as street trees.
White ash is quite tolerant of salt (but not highly exposed
beach front conditions), and is well suited to the coastal
garden. Choose nonfruiting cultivars if the litter of fallen
samaras and numerous volunteer seedlings are undesirable.
White ash is the most valuable of the ashes for timber; the
wood is lightweight yet hard and strong, and used to make tool
handles, furniture and baseball bats. Native Americans made
baskets and snowshoes from the flexible but strong young
branches. The fruits are eaten by birds and small mammals, and
deer browse the young twigs.
For zones 4-9.
SEC119 European Ash Fraxinus excelsa
The European Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is a tall tree, native to
most of Europe, with the exception of northern Scandinavia and
southern Mediterranean Europe. It is a deciduous tree 20-35 m
tall, and is readily distinguished from other species of ash in
that it has black buds, unlike the brown buds of most other
ashes. The leaves are 20-35 cm long, pinnate compound, with
9-13 leaflets. It is usually one of the last trees to burst
into leaf.
The leaves of the European Ash are often among the last to open
in spring, and the first to fall in autumn if an early frost
strikes. The flowers open before the leaves, the female flowers
being somewhat longer than the male flowers. Both male and
female flowers can occur on the same tree, but it is common to
find all male and all female trees.
Surprisingly, a tree that is all male one year can produce
female flowers the next, and similarly a female tree can become
male. The female flowers develop into fruits, and because they
hang in bunches the fruits of the ask tree are known as 'ash
keys'.
Ash wood is a traditional material for tool handles, tennis
rackets and snooker cues; it is also used as firewood because
it burns well even when 'green' (freshly cut). Ash was
coppiced, often in hedgerows, and evidence in the form of some
huge boles with multiple trunks emerging at head height can
still be see in parts of Britain. Zones 4-9.
SEC120 Fragrant Flowering Ash Fraxinus ornus
Deciduous tree, 40-50 ft (12-15 m), rounded outline; bark
smooth, gray. Flowers white, fragrant, appear with or after
leaves, in dense, terminal clusters (panicles)7-12 cm long, one
of the few ashes with calyx and corolla. Fruit narrow-oblong,
2-2.5 cm long, clusters may hang on until late winter. Needs
full sun, hardy to USDA Zone 5 Native to southern Europe and
western Asia.
SEC121 Green Ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica
lanceolata
Grows in Zones 2b-9 up to 15m high. A hardy, well shaped tree
with glossy foliage that turns yellow in the fall. Very
ornamental and adaptable to a lot of different regions.
SEC122 Chinese Parasol Tree Firmiana simplex
Chinese Parasol tree has a very unusual appearance for a
deciduous tree, having green stems and bark and extremely
large, three to five-lobed bright green leaves. Most people
either love it or hate it due to its striking habit and coarse
texture. Each leaf is up to 12 inches across and casts as much
shade as an actual parasol. Chinese Parasol tree has a dense,
upright, oval canopy and reaches 35 to 50 feet in height,
spreading 15 to 20 feet. In June or July, 10 to 20-inch-long,
upright, loose, terminal panicles of yellow/green blooms appear
and are followed by the production of peculiar pods which split
open into four petal-like sections to reveal the small, round
seeds. These pods are often harvested for use in winter
decorations. The foliage of Chinese Parasol tree can turn
brilliant yellow before dropping in fall to reveal an
interesting branching structure of green stems. The yellow
complements the green trunk very nicely. For zones 6-9.
SEC124 Witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana
Witchhazel typically is thought of as a coarse-textured broadly
rounded shrub with a short trunk and numerous crooked branches.
But it can grow into a 20-30 ft (6.1-9.1 m) tree with a trunk
diameter of up to 10 in (25.4 cm) and an open crown with a
spread of 20-25 ft (6.1-7.6 m). The smooth thin bark is light
brown, developing rough patches and becoming scaly as the tree
ages. The slender brown zigzag twigs arise from forked flexible
branches. They start out covered with gray or rust colored
hairs, but become smooth as they harden. The alternate leaves
emerge from scaleless stalked hairy buds.
The leaves are elliptic to nearly circular in shape, and
irregularly roundtoothed along their wavy edges. They are 2-6
in (5.1-15.2 cm) long, nearly as broad, and have 5-7 prominent
veins. The upper surfaces are usually smooth, but both sides of
the leaf may be hairy and the veins typically are. The leaves
are a medium green above and paler below during the growing
season, then turn a clear yellow in the fall. After the leaves
have fallen, in late autumn and winter, squiggly clusters of
fragrant flowers appear dangling from the bases of the leaf
scars. The very narrow and crumpled looking 2/3 in (1.7 cm)
long petals and sepals (four of each) droop and curl in such a
way as to make the blossom look rather like a little yellow
octopus. The fruits that follow are hairy brown 1/2 in (1.3 cm)
oval capsules. After ripening the following summer, they split
open explosively and shoot small shiny black seeds up to 30 ft
(9.1 m) in all directions.
Witchhazel is a useful species for shrub borders, forest edge
plantings, wildlife habitat enhancement projects, and
naturalistic landscaping. The nutty seeds taste sort of like
pistachios and were greatly enjoyed by native Americans. They
considered witchhazel an important medicinal plant. The bark
was used to treat skin ulcers, sores, and tumors. Boiled or
steaming twigs were employed to loosen and soothe sore muscles.
Witchhazel tea was taken to stop internal bleeding and to treat
dysentery, colds, and coughs. A decoction of leaves and twigs
was applied to cuts, bruises, and insect bites. The modern
witchhazel industry is centered in Connecticut, where the
branches are harvested from the wild by cutting them off at
ground level in the fall. The bushes resprout so that they can
be cut again a few years later. The distilled oil, which is one
of the few herbal products approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration as an ingredient in nonprescription drugs, goes
into extracts, lotions, and salves for pain relief, skin care,
and hemorrhoid treatment. Since its antioxidant, radiation
protective, antiinflammatory, and antiviral properties have
been acknowledged, witchhazel may have potential for many more
medical applications. For less scientific reasons, forked
witchhazel branches are also favored as divining rods for
locating sources of underground water.
Witchhazel's most outstanding characteristic is its habit of
flowering in the winter when other blooms are scarce. It is
cherished for branches that can be cut and brought indoors to
flower where their soft sweet perfume can be savored. It is
also useful for its tolerance of urban environments and its
yellow fall color. Grown in zones 3-9.
SEC125 Seabuckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides
Seabuckthorn is a large hardy shrub widely used for it's
appearance and fruits. It produces orange berries that are used
for jams and jellies. The fruit remain on the tree throughout
the winter and is a very popular food for many birds.
Seabuckthorn is suitable to most soils and is fast growing
sometimes reaching a height of twelve feet in six years. Plant
three feet apart for a shrub row that makes a good hedge or
living fence.
Can be pruned to size, will grow 10-25 feet tall left
unchecked, salt tolerant, hardy to zone 4.
SEC126 English Holly Ilex aquifolium
Broadleaf evergreen shrub/tree, 30-50 ft (9-15 m), dense,
pyramidal. Leaves, alternate, simple, 2.5-7.5 cm long and 2-6.5
cm wide, lustrous dark green, undulating, spiny-margins. Dull
white fragrant flowers appear in spring, usually male and
female plants. Fruit bright red, 6 mm diam, persists into
winter.
Sun or partial shade. Needs protection from sun in hot, dry
areas. For good fruit set a male shrub is needed.
Hardy to USDA Zone 7 Native range from the British Isles to
southern and central Europe. Grown commercially in the Pacific
Northwest, but not common in the eastern U.S.
SEC127 Chinese Holly Ilex cornuta
A very adaptable shrub. Prefers slightly acid, rich, well
drained soil but tolerates a wide pH range and many soil types.
Resistant to drought and heat, and tolerates wet soil as well.
Sun to partial shade. Chinese Holly is an uncommon escape from
cultivation. The glossy leaves are coriaceous, evergreen, and
prickly like those of American Holly, but have a unique shape
-- the central spine points down, while the next two point up
like horns (hence the name cornuta, which means horned). Many
of the planted Chinese Hollies lack these horns. Zones 8-9.
SEC128 American Holly Ilex opaca
Most of us have seen holly leaves and berries in Christmas
decorations. The tree from which those pretty wreaths are made,
American holly, is evergreen, rarely more than 50 ft (15.2 m)
tall, with light gray bark, short, crooked branches and a
pyramid-shaped crown. The oval leaves are shiny dark green, 2-4
in (5.1-10.2 cm) long, rather stiff, and armed with sharp
spines. The flowers are tiny with 4-6 creamy-white petals; the
male flowers in clusters of 3-9, and the female flowers (on
separate trees) in clusters of 1-3. The berries (actually
drupes: each seed within the fruit is encased in a stone-like
covering) are red (occasionally orange or yellow), about 1/3 in
(0.8 cm) in diameter and persist into the winter until hungry
songbirds find them. American holly is a very popular
ornamental tree. Found in USDA Zones 5 - 9. The species can be
propagated by seeds, but they require extensive pre-treatment
to bring them out of dormancy. Germination normally takes from
16 months to 3 years! This one is sure to test our club
members!
SEC129 Yaupon Holly Ilex vomitoria
The yaupon holly is an evergreen shrub or small tree that grows
20-25 ft (6.1-7.6 m) in height. It typically produces multiple
stems to form dense shrubby clumps. The yaupon has simple,
leathery, dark green leaves that are held alternately on the
branches. Leaves are oval shape, usually about 0.25-1 in
(0.6-2.5 cm) and crenate (like sawteeth) along the edges.
Yaupon is dioecious which means that male and female flowers
are born on separate plants. The tiny white flower appear in
spring in great numbers and are borne in the leaf axils, close
against the stem. Female flowers are following by small bright
red berries that persist on the trees through fall and winter.
The bark is smooth and gray and is often mottled with
yellow-green patches of lichen.
The yaupon is commonly grown as a trimmed hedge, screen or
windbreak. When used as an enclosing barrier, it is planted
approximately 5 ft (12.7 m) apart and allowed to grow together.
Dwarf varieties like 'Nana' are available that are perfect for
foundation plantings and their drought and disease resistance
make them ideal candidates for low maintenance commercial
landscapes. Use yaupon holly in natural plantings and whenever
possible plant a few to provide food and shelter for birds and
wildlife. Yaupon holly's fast growth rate and small leaves make
it a perfect choice for topiary. For zones 8-9.
SEC131 Asian Keteleeria Keteleeria evelyiana
They are Asiatic evergreen trees reaching 35 m tall. They
resemble conifers but have a unique look that makes them stand
out from other evergreens. A very useful plant in Asia, the
wood is used for houses, fencing, bridges, etc. We spotted
these in a park in South Florida and had a collector to send us
some seeds. We do not have a lot of info on these at this time,
but believe them to be good for zones 7-9. It is in leaf all
year, in flower in March, and the seeds ripen from October to
November. The flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are
either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same
plant) and are pollinated by Wind.
The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and
requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and
basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It
requires dry or moist soil.
SEC132 Chinese Beauty Bush Kolkwitzia amabilis
Chinese Beauty bush is a hardy deciduous shrub in the
honeysuckle family, aprifoliaceae. It is native to China and
grows up to 4.5 m (15 ft) high in temperate regions. Leaves are
ovate, up to 7.5 cm (3 in) long. Both the young leaves and
branches are hairy when young. Its bell-shaped flowers are soft
pink with a yellow throat. The flower stalk and sepals are
covered with white, bristly hairs. Hardy to zone 4, this is an
outstanding ornamental bush.
SEC134 Dwarf Shrubby Bush Clover Lespedeza bicolor
sp.
A less aggressive form of the invasive exotic shrub from Asia,
this shrub is fast growing and covered throughout the summer
months with beautiful pea like blooms. Hardy for zones 4-7. It
is a fast spreading shrub, and could cause problems for small
areas.
SEC135 Formosa Sweetgum Liquidambar formosa
Formosa Sweetgum has a wide, pyramidal shape when young but
eventually grows to a rounded or irregular form, reaching 40 to
60 feet in height with a 35 to 45-foot spread. Young specimens
may vary in form and be somewhat irregular. It has a more
rounded crown than native Sweetgum. The large, three-lobed
leaves, purplish-red when young, are dark green through the
growing season and in fall turn a beautiful yellow-red color in
the south or red in the north. Branches are covered with
characteristic corky projections. Formosa Sweetgum makes a nice
park, campus or residential shade tree for large properties.
Good for zones 7-9.
SEC136 Amur Honeysuckle Lonicera maackii
The largest of the common honeysuckles, the opposite, simple
and ovate-elliptic to ovate-lanceolate leaves are 2 to 3 1/2"
long and entire with a short petiole. The leaves have a rounded
base, acuminate apex and are pubescent on the veins only. Like
many honeysuckles, this species leafs out very early.
Fragrant flowers are white, fading to yellow with the familiar
honeysuckle fragrance. Makes informal large hedges, deciduous
screens, or wildlife attractant when utilized in a landscape
situation. Hardy to zone 3.
SEC137 Winter Honeysuckle Lonicera fragantissima
Winter honeysuckle is a bush, not a vine, but it has those
familiar honeysuckle flowers and that sweet honeysuckle scent.
Winter honeysuckle gets 6-8 ft (1.8-2.4 m) tall, and its
irregular, tangled branches form a twisted labyrinth as much as
8-10 ft (2.4-3 m) across. The leaves are nearly evergreen in
the South, but deciduous in cooler climes. They are borne in
opposing pairs along the slender, arching stems. Flowering
begins in late winter and lasts for several weeks, filling the
air with fragrance when nothing else is blooming. The flowers
are extremely abundant, creamy white, about a half inch (1.5
cm) long and arranged in pairs in the leaf axils.
USDA Zones 5-9. Winter honeysuckle is hardy to at least
-13°F (-25°C).
SEC139 Wax Myrtle Myrica cerifera
Three features make the wax myrtle a popular ornamental: it has
dense attractive evergreen foliage; it is a fast grower; and it
responds well to pruning. Pioneers fashioned candles from the
waxy berries and a close relative the northern bayberry (Myrica
pensylvanica), has similar berries that are the commercial
source of wax for the bayberry candles we burn at Christmas
time. The waxy berries are a high energy food source for birds
in the winter, attracting and holding migratory warblers, among
others. Like legumes, wax myrtle fixes atmospheric nitrogen and
so is able to thrive in infertile soils.
The aromatic compounds present in wax myrtle foliage seems to
repel insects, particularly fleas. It was traditionally planted
around southern homes to help keep living spaces pest free. A
sprig of wax myrtle in a closet or drawer is reputed to keep
cockroaches out!
Wax myrtle can be used to create wildlife-friendly screens and
hedges that provide food and shelter that you'll enjoy as much
as the local critters. This plant can be pruned and even
sheared to encourage dense foliage and to maintain formal
shapes. Untrimmed the shrubs have interesting open natural form
that allows for enjoyment of the attractive irregular shapes of
multiple trunks (prune away the numerous suckers that are
produced to keep your wax myrtle from forming a thicket).
Create spectacular specimens by removing lower limbs and
training into bonsai-like shapes.
The simple narrow leaves of the wax myrtle range from 1-5 in
(2.5-13 cm) in length and about 0.5 in ( 1.3 cm) wide. They are
gray-green to yellow-green and aromatic when crushed. If you
look at the leaf surface under magnification you'll see that it
is covered with tiny yellow glands. Wax myrtle sends up
multiple trunks that can grow to as high as 25 ft (7.6 m) and
will eventually form a colony if suckers are not removed. The
flowers appear in late winter. The males are yellow-green
catkins that grow up to 1 in (2.5 cm) long while the females
are small and inconspicuous little bumps that grow into small
blue berries, 1/8 in (0.3 cm) in diameter, that are held
closely to the stem. For zones 7-10.
SEC140 Amur Maackia Maackia amurensis
These delightful small trees fit neatly into a limited space or
under power lines, since they grow very slowly and top out at
15 to 25 feet tall and wide. They combine delicate beauty with
incredible toughness, surviving deep frost and extreme drought.
Every feature seems designed to appeal. The many branches form
a full round shape, with silvery-downy new leaves maturing to a
rich green. They bloom when quite young with upright spikes of
creamy blossoms, 4 to 6 inches long in late summer. Even the
bark develops an intriguing green-and-copper pattern as patches
peel off. Many nurseries carry the popular Maackia amurensis.
Other species may be hard to find. Develop best with full sun.
Tolerate a wide range of well-drained fertile soils, but prefer
well-drained loam. Hardy to 5° F. Unlike most leguminous
plants, they transplant well. Slow to heal, so avoid pruning
mature plants. No serious insect or disease problems.
We have had good results germinating seeds by pouring hot
water ( hot tap water ), letting them soak for 24 hours, then
starting in the special seed starting tents ).
SEC172 Wild Date Palm Phoenix reclinata
The wild date palm grows naturally from the Eastern Cape
extending as far north as Egypt. Its natural habitat is
riverbanks and swamps, although it is occasionally found in
grasslands if the water table is high enough. The roots are
usually in water, therefore it would be tolerant of waterlogged
conditions in cultivation. It will also take light frost but
this will most likely affect the ultimate shape, making the
palm dense and bushy rather than tall and elegant.
Birds, monkeys and baboons eat the ripe fruit. Bushpig, nyala
and bushbuck feed on fallen fruit. This is possibly a means of
seed dispersal. The leaves are eaten by the palm-tree
nightfighter butterfly caterpillar.
The leaves are used to make mats, baskets and hats. Brooms for
sweeping around rural dwellings are made from the dried
inflorescences. The midrib of the frond is used to construct
fish enclosures (kraals). Palm wine is made from the sap. The
heart of the crown is sometimes eaten by people. Children enjoy
the gum produced by the roots. Special skirts made from the
leaves are worn by Xhosa boys when undergoing their initiation
rites. The fruits are edible and apparently taste quite similar
to the commercial date. The spines apparently have traditional
medicinal use.
Can be grown outside in southern states, it also is a very nice
tub plant, we have seen them 12 foot tall in patio tubs.
SEC141 Norway Spruce Picea abies boehmerwald
Norway spruce is the most common spruce in cultivation and
there are more than 120 different named cultivars in a wide
range of forms and sizes. The typical wild Norway spruce is a
large evergreen conifer, cone shaped when young but becoming
more columnar with maturity. It gets 80-150 ft (24-46 m) tall
with a crown spread of 20 ft (6 m) or more, and a trunk
diameter up to 5 ft (1.5 m). In cultivation, they rarely exceed
50 ft (15 m) in height. The trunk bark is reddish brown to
purplish and flakes off in thin plates.
Norway spruce requires abundant moisture. Even established
specimens should be given supplemental watering during
prolonged dry periods. Zones 3-8.
SEC142 Dragon Spruce Picea asperata
A beautiful evergreen tree growing 80 feet tall with broadly
conical crown; horizontal branches; somewhat pendulous with
age. Leaves are .75" 4-sided bluish needles; more dense on
upper surface; stiff, prickly. Bears 4" chestnut brown cones
that are popular for decorations. Requires full sun, grows in
zones 5-8.
SEC144 Oriental Spruce Picea orientalis
Oriental spruce grows in a dense narrow pyramid of glossy dark
green foliage. This is a tall, symmetrical tree with attractive
pinkish gray bark that cracks and exfoliates on mature
specimens. The needles are very short, less than a 0.5 in (1.3
cm) long, and closely packed all around the twigs. They are
blunt tipped and four angled. The large main branches of older
trees come off the trunk in horizontal tiers, and the
branchlets are slightly drooping. In its native habitat
oriental spruce can get over 120 ft (36.6 m) in height, but
cultivated specimens are usually 50-70 ft (15.2-21.3 m) tall
with a 20-30 ft (6.1-9.1 m) spread. Male flowers are a showy
brick red, appearing in spring. Fruiting cones are purple at
first, maturing to brown; they are about an inch wide and 2-4
in (5.1-10.2 cm) long, and droop when ripe in the fall.
With its extremely dense foliage and elegant habit, oriental
spruce is an excellent specimen conifer for medium sized to
large areas. Many professional landscapers consider it superior
to the more commonly cultivated Norway spruce. Use oriental
spruce as a lawn specimen or massed for screening. Zones
4-8.
SEC145 West Himalayan Spruce Picea morinda, Picea
smithiana
The Morinda Spruce or West Himalayan Spruce is a spruce native
to the western Himalaya and adjacent mountains, from northeast
Afghanistan east to central Nepal. It grows at altitudes of
2,400-3,600 m.
No other Spruce has such gracefully drooping branches as this
Himalayan tree, which is also known well by its other name, P.
Smithiana.
An evergreen tree growing to 30m by 6m at a slow rate. It is
hardy to zone 7 and is frost tender. It is in leaf all year,
and the seeds ripen from October to November. The flowers are
monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but
both sexes can be found on the same plant) and are pollinated
by Wind.
The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy
(clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant
prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow
in very acid soil. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires
moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not
maritime exposure.
SEC146 Eastern Nine Bark Physocarpus opulifolia
A shrub with 9 ‘ to 10 ‘ spread. Spirea-like but
more coarse growth habit. Useful for screen or mass planting.
Some fall color. Zones 3-8.
SEC149 Lacebark Pine Pinus bungeana
Known for its patchy multi-colored bark, this Asian species
makes an excellent medium-sized ornamental plant. It's growth
is initially oval to narrow pyramidal when young and usually
multi-stemmed; it becomes open and rounded or slightly
broad-rounded and loses its lower branches with age;
picturesque. Bark peels in patches, revealing a mottled pattern
of green, tan and brown. Grows 30-50' high. Foliage is medium
to dark green and medium fine texture. Hardy to zone 4b.
SEC150 Slash Pine Pinus elliotti
A tall coniferous tree growing to 100' tall and up to 3' in
diameter. Leaves occurring as dark green needles 10"-12" long
in groups of two per fascicle. Slash pine produces annual crops
of cones 6"-10" long. Growing straight and tall with a strong
central leader, most trees have cone shaped crowns which are
relatively small unless grown in the open. The bark grows in
plates and is red-brown.
Native to the southeastern coastal plain of the United States
from South Carolina to Louisiana, down to the Florida Keys.
Normally grows on sandy, poorly drained flatwoods soils. Has
been planted widely outside its native range as a timber tree
for the forest products trade.
Common landscape tree in the southern United States. Excellent
trees for giving the feeling of depth to plantings and for
framing. Slash pine has great economic value as a timber tree
for lumber, pulp and paper, and formerly for the production of
turpentine and naval stores. Its common name, slash, is derived
from the method of extracting the resin from the trees by
scoring or slashing the trees to start resin flow. Zones
7-10.
SEC152 Western White Pine Pinus monticola
A tall pine of western North America with stout blue-green
needles; bark is gray-brown with rectangular plates when
mature, 5 to 8" cylindrical cones singly or in groups of up to
5; becomes pendulous, for zone 5-7.
SEC153 Maritime Pine Pinus pinaster
The Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster) is a pine native to the
western Mediterranean region. The range extends from Portugal
and Spain north to southern and western France, east to western
Italy, and south to northern Morocco, with small outlying
populations in Algeria and Malta (possibly introduced by man).
It generally occurs at low to moderate altitudes, mostly from
sea level to 600 m, but up to 2000 m in the south of its range
in Morocco.
It is a medium-size tree, reaching 20-35 m tall and with a
trunk diameter of up to 1.2 m, exceptionally 1.8 m. The bark is
orange-red, thick and deeply fissured at the base of the trunk,
somewhat thinner in the upper crown. The leaves ('needles') are
in pairs, very stout (2 mm broad), 12-22 cm long, and
bluish-green to distinctly yellowish-green. The cones are
conic, 10-20 cm long and 4-6 cm broad at the base when closed,
green at first, ripening glossy red-brown when 24 months old.
They open slowly over the next few years, or after being heated
by a forest fire, to release the seeds, opening to 8-12 cm
broad. The seeds are 8-10 mm long, with a 20-25 mm wing, and
are wind-dispersed.
Maritime Pine is closely related to Turkish Pine, Canary Island
Pine and Aleppo Pine, which all share many features with it. It
is a relatively non-variable species, with constant morphology
over the entire range.
It is widely planted for timber in its native area, being one
of the most important trees in forestry in France, Spain and
Portugal; the largest man-made forest in the world, at Les
Landes in southwest France, is composed of this species. It is
also a popular ornamental tree, often planted in parks and
gardens in areas with warm temperate climates. It has become
naturalized in parts of southern England, South Africa and
Australia. It is a serious pest in parts of South Africa, where
it is called the cluster pine (Stirton, 1978).
May be restricted in some areas. Zone info not available at
this time.
SEC154 Macedonian Pine Pinus peuce
The Macedonian Pine (Pinus peuce; family Pinaceae) is a species
of pine tree that occurs in the mountains of Macedonia,
Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia and the extreme north of Greece in
southeastern Europe, growing typically at (600-) 1,000-2,200
(-2,300) m altitude. It often reaches the alpine tree-line in
this area. The mature size is up to 35-40 m height, and 1.5 m
trunk diameter.
It is a member of the white pine group, Pinus subgenus Strobus,
and like all members of that group, the leaves ('needles') are
in fascicles (bundles) of five, with a deciduous sheath. They
are 6-11 cm long. Macedonian Pine cones are mostly 8-16 cm
long, occasionally up to 20 cm long. The 6-7 mm long seeds have
a 2 cm wing and can be wind-dispersed, but are also very often
dispersed by Spotted Nutcrackers.
Like other European and Asian white pines, Macedonian Pine is
very resistant to White Pine Blister Rust (Cronartium
ribicola). This fungal disease was accidentally introduced from
Europe into North America, where it has caused severe mortality
in the American native white pines (e.g. Western White Pine,
Sugar Pine, Whitebark Pine) in many areas. Macedonian Pine is
of great value for research into hybridisation and genetic
modification to develop rust resistance in these species.
Macedonian Pine is also a popular ornamental tree in parks and
large gardens, giving reliable steady though not fast growth on
a wide range of sites. It is very tolerant of severe winter
cold, hardy down to at least -45 degrees, and also of wind
exposure.
SEC155 Chir Pine Pinus roxburghi
The Chir Pine (Pinus roxburghii) named after William Roxburgh,
is a pine native to the Himalaya. The range extends from
northern Pakistan (North-West Frontier Province, Azad Kashmir),
across northern India (Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh,
Uttaranchal, Sikkim) and Nepal to Bhutan. It generally occurs
at lower altitudes than other pines in the Himalaya, from
500-2000 m, occasionally up to 2300 m. The other Himalayan
pines are Blue Pine, Bhutan White Pine, Chinese White Pine,
Chilgoza Pine and Sikang Pine.
It is a large tree, reaching 30-50 m tall and with a trunk
diameter of up to 2 m, exceptionally 3 m. The bark is
red-brown, thick and deeply fissured at the base of the trunk,
thinner and flaky in the upper crown. The leaves are
needle-like, in fascicles of three, very slender, 20-35 cm
long, and distinctly yellowish green. The cones are ovoid
conic, 12-24 cm long and 5-8 cm broad at the base when closed,
green at first, ripening glossy chestnut-brown when 24 months
old. They open slowly over the next year or so, or after being
heated by a forest fire, to release the seeds, opening to 9-18
cm broad. The seeds are 8-9 mm long, with a 40 mm wing, and are
wind-dispersed.
Chir pine is widely planted for timber in its native area,
being one of the most important trees in forestry in northern
Pakistan, India and Nepal. It is also occasionally used as an
ornamental tree, planted in parks and gardens in hot dry areas,
where its heat and drought tolerance is valued. Cold hardy to
about 10 degrees.
SEC160 American Elder Berry Sambucus canadensis
American elder, or elderberry, is a bushy, multi-stemmed, wide
spreading shrub with deciduous compound leaves. It gets 10-15
ft (25.4-38.1 m) tall with a similar spread, and its brittle
branches are pithy and soft. Elderberry often forms dense
thickets, a result of suckering from the roots. The leaves are
opposite, pinnately compound (featherlike), and up to a foot
long. There are 5, 7 or 9 saw toothed leaflets, each about 2-6
in (5.1-15.2 cm) long. The crushed foliage has an unpleasant
smell. The twigs have wartlike corky lenticels on the outside
and a spongy white pith on the inside. The star shaped white
flowers are tiny, but arranged in showy sprays up to 10 in
(25.4 cm) across. The flat-topped circular flower clusters
(cymes, actually) can be very abundant, often covering the
whole plant. In most regions, elderberry flowers are produced
throughout the spring and summer, but in much of Florida there
are some elderberries in bloom every month of the year.
Elderberry is normally deciduous, but in central and south
Florida they may have leaves all year round. Where they are
deciduous, elderberries put on a colorful autumn display of
yellows, oranges and reds. The edible fruits are shiny
blue-black drupes with 3-5 stoney seeds.
The flowers of American elder are used to make elderflower
water which is used in perfumes and confectioneries. Raw
elderberries have an unpleasant taste and contain small amounts
of poisonous alkaloids. Cooking destroys the alkaloids and
improves the taste. (The dried berries are said to be good to
eat raw, however.) Cooked elderberries are made into pies,
jellies, and of course, elderberry wine. Harvest entire
clusters of fruit, strip from the stems, simmer with a little
water for 15 minutes, squeeze out the juice in a cheesecloth
jelly bag, and prepare jelly or wine as you would with any
other fruit juice. The flowers are also edible, and used in
jams, jellies and are the basis of elderflower fritters. Dip
entire clusters of blossoms in flour and fry. A delightful,
pale wine resembling champagne is also made from the flowers.
Zones 3-11.
SEC161 Blue Elderberry Sambucus glauca
Said to be same as Sambucus caerulea, we are not positive about
this, although they seem to be identical in every way. Very
similar to American Elderberry except flowers heads are larger,
and flowering season seems to be over a longer period.
Hardy for zones 4-10.
SEC162 Mountain Ash Sorbus aucuparia
Long a landscape favorite, mountain ash is an upright tree
growing 25 - 40 feet high with a rounded open crown. In late
spring it covers itself with clusters of delicate white
flowers. The real show, however, starts in late summer when the
flowers mature into spectacular clusters of bright orange-red
berries. Dull green pinnately compound leaves are composed of 7
to 13 leaflets. This feathery foliage and flamboyant fruit give
this beauty an almost tropical dazzle. While the leaves provide
little color in the fall, they turn reddish brown and quickly
drop, the pea-sized berries persist in a display of color that
lasts into winter.
Native to most Europe and western Asia. Mountain ash is now a
popular landscape item in cooler climates all over North
America. For zones 2-7.
SEC163 Common Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus
A deciduous shrub growing 3-6 feet tall and about the same
width. Very ornamental with dark almost blue-green leaves,
small pink flowers in early summer followed by half inch
"snowberries" ( inedible ) that are a favorite of wildlife in
late winter. For zones 3-7.
SEC164 Pond Cypress Taxodium ascendens
Pond-cypress (Taxodium ascendens) is very similar to
bald-cypress (T. distichum), and has been considered a variety
of that species by some authorities. Most recent experts,
however, now believe that pond-cypress is a distinct species.
Pond-cypress has awl shaped or scalelike leaves which are
closely appressed and overlapping on the twigs, whereas
bald-cypress has linear leaves which spread out and are
arranged in two ranks on opposite sides of the twigs. The
branchlets of bald-cypress tend to spread horizontally outward,
while those of pond-cypress are more ascending. Pond-cypress
isn't as prone as bald-cypress to have knees, and when it does,
they tend to be shorter and more rounded. Pond-cypress is
usually more columnar than bald-cypress. The two species are
not always easy to tell apart.
Pond-cypress occurs naturally in shallow ponds and wetlands
along the southeastern U.S. coast from Virginia to Louisiana.
Its distribution is smaller than that of bald-cypress, and it
rarely grows along flowing streams and rivers or in floodplain
bottomland swamps as does bald-cypress. Pond-cypress rarely is
found at elevations above 100 ft (30 m). Zones 5-11.
SEC165 American Basswood Tilia americana
American basswood (usually called American linden in the
horticultural business) is a stately and well formed deciduous
tree with large heart-shaped leaves, a clean, straight trunk,
and a broad, rounded crown. Basswood gets 60-80 ft (18.3-24 m)
and occasionally over 100 ft (30.5 m) tall with a spread of
about half its height. Young trees are columnar; mature trees
develop a broad, spreading crown. The trunk is straight, free
of branches for a considerable height, and the bark is light
brown and smooth, becoming darker and deeply furrowed on older
trees. The leaves are 4-8 in (10-29 cm) long and 3-5 in (7.6-13
cm) wide, broadest near the base and pointed at their tips.
American basswood is a fine shade and street tree, although it
is not used as much as the European and Asian lindens, which
are a little smaller and more tolerant of urban conditions.
This is a large tree, but well suited for parks and golf
courses.
The soft, light colored and light weight, straight grained wood
of American linden is used in cabinetry, interior paneling and
trim, for musical instrument soundboards and for pulp. The
tough and fibrous inner bark was probably used by all Native
American peoples within its range for fabric, clothing,
cordage, basketry, and canoe construction. The honey that bees
make from American linden flowers is said to be of the finest
quality. Zones 3-9.
SEC166 Cigar Box Toona Toona serrata
Cigar Box Toona is a native of southeastern Asia, from China to
the mountains of Malaysia. It functions as a shade tree for
coffee plantations in the Far East and as a street tree in
Europe but is rarely grown in the United States. It is prized
for it's beautiful wood used in furniture and cabinet making.
We are not sure of zone information, but one of our master
gardeners claims it is good from 5 to 9.
SEC167 Siberian Elm Ulmus pumila
Siberian Elms are a common roadside and farm tree and can be
seen throughout the Four Corners region. Long lines of Siberian
Elms have been planted as wind-breaks and lone, fifty-foot
crown-spread trees are common around farm houses. Birds find
homes, bugs, and seeds in the Elms.
Ulmus pumila was introduced from Asia and has spread widely
because it is drought tolerant and produces numerous seeds
which sprout and root easily, especially in areas that receive
some moisture: roadsides, gardens, edges of buildings. Because
Ulmus pumila does not choke waterways, does not reproduce in
tangled thickets, and does not suck dry aquifers, it does not
pose the same serious ecological problem as the other windbreak
trees. Hardy for zones 5-9.
This is a brittle wood, it can split during storms, wouldn't
recommend it next to house or barn, Jim
SEC168 Witherod Viburnum Viburnum cassinoides
A deciduous shrub growing about 6 feet tall, hardy for zones
5-9. Witherod Viburnum is not as common as other viburnums. The
small, white flowers are produced in late spring or early
summer. The fruits are at first green, then pink, then blue and
finally black. The fall foliage color is an excellent red. As
beautiful as it is in the spring, the plant is valued more for
its fruits and fall color than for its flowers.
SEC169 Nannyberry Viburnum lentago
Viburnum lentago (Nannyberry, Sheepberry, or Sweet Viburnum) is
a species of Viburnum native to the north-eastern United States
and southern Canada, from New Brunswick south to New York and
west to the Dakotas.
It is a large shrub or small tree growing to 9 m tall with a
trunk up to 25 cm diameter. The bark is grayish-brown, and
broken into small scales. The twigs are smooth, tough, flexible
and produce an offensive odor when crushed or bruised. Like all
viburnums, the leaves are arranged in opposite pairs on the
twigs; they are oval, 5-10 cm long and 2-5 cm broad, finely
serrate, with a winged petiole. The flowers are small, 5-6 mm
diameter, with five whitish petals, arranged in large round
cymes 5-12 cm diameter. The fruit is a small round blue-black
drupe, 8-16 mm long on a reddish stem. The fruit is said to be
sweet and edible.
Height: 12-15', Width: 6-10', Hardiness Zone: 3a
SEC171 American Cranberry Bush Viburnum trilobum
American Cranberrybush Viburnum is a large attractive native
shrub that is often found in the wild in bogs. They are showy
in spring for their large 4-5" clusters of small white flowers.
In late summer the fruit turn bright red and remain on
throughout the winter or until harvested by birds. The foliage
turns a bright red in fall.
Cranberrybush Viburnum prefers a rich soil with ample moisture.
It does well in full sun or shade. Can become leggy and
requires occasional renewal pruning to keep it in good
form.
A deciduous shrub, 8-12 ft (2.1-3.5 m) high with a similar
spread, upright, spreading, round topped, arching branches.
Leaves opposite, 3-lobed, 5-14 cm long, lobes acuminate,
sometimes middle lobe elongated, dark green above, soft hairs
on veins below, petiole 13-25 mm long, with shallow grove,
usually with sticky glands. Fall color ranges from yellow to
red-purple. Flowers white, in 10 cm flat-topped clusters
(cymes), those in the outer ring are 2 cm across, showy, and
sterile; the inner ones are inconspicuous, with yellow anthers.
Fruit is 9 mm diam, scarlet red in fall. (Similar to V.
opulus).
Sun to part shade, best in good, well-drained, moist soil.
Hardy to USDA Zone 2. Native range from New Brunswick to
British Columbia, south to New York, Michigan, South Dakota,
and Oregon.
Note, you can only purchase one pack of each variety from the Seedman Explorer Club listings, you cannot purchase multiple packs of the same variety.
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