Canteen Gourd is a distinctive hard-shelled heirloom prized for its broad, flattened, disk-like shape and short central stem. The unusual fruits resemble an old-fashioned canteen or water vessel, giving this unique variety its descriptive name. As the gourds mature, their pale green rind gradually hardens into a durable shell, making them excellent for decorative and practical craft projects.

The wide, rounded form provides an ideal surface for painting, carving, woodburning, and other artistic techniques. Once fully cured, the gourds can be transformed into decorative bowls, lidded containers, display pieces, ornaments, and a variety of handcrafted creations. Each fruit develops its own subtle variations in color and shape, ensuring every finished project is one of a kind.

Plants produce vigorous climbing vines that thrive in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Grow them on a sturdy fence, arbor, or trellis for the best fruit development, or allow the vines to spread naturally across the garden. Leave the gourds on the vine until fully mature before curing them in a warm, dry, well-ventilated location. Easy to grow and highly rewarding, Canteen Gourd is an outstanding choice for gardeners, crafters, and anyone who enjoys growing unusual heirloom gourds. 95 days.

Caribbean Agave (Agave angustifolia 'Marginata') is a striking variegated succulent admired for its bold architectural form and colorful foliage. The graceful rosettes are composed of long, narrow blue-green leaves edged with broad creamy-yellow margins, creating a dramatic contrast that brightens gardens year-round. Small marginal teeth and a sharp terminal spine give the plant its classic agave character while maintaining an elegant, symmetrical appearance that makes it an outstanding focal point.

This beautiful selection thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, where it develops into an impressive specimen well suited for xeriscapes, rock gardens, Mediterranean-style landscapes, and large decorative containers. The colorful variegation remains attractive throughout the year and pairs beautifully with cacti, yuccas, aloes, ornamental grasses, and other drought-tolerant plants. Its exceptional heat tolerance and low water requirements make it an excellent choice for water-wise gardening.

Easy to grow and requiring very little maintenance once established, Caribbean Agave is valued for its durability as well as its ornamental beauty. Plants tolerate prolonged periods of drought and thrive in hot, sunny locations with excellent drainage. Whether planted as a dramatic landscape accent or displayed in a decorative container on a patio or terrace, this handsome variegated agave provides year-round color, texture, and architectural interest with minimal care.

Tequila/Mezcal Agave (Agave americana), commonly known as the Century Plant, is one of the world's most recognizable succulents, admired for its massive architectural rosettes of blue-gray leaves and its remarkable cultural history. Native to Mexico, this spectacular plant forms impressive clumps of broad, heavily armed leaves that may reach 6 to 8 feet in height and even greater width. Although often called the Century Plant, it typically flowers after 10 to 30 years depending on climate and growing conditions, producing a towering flower stalk that may exceed 20 feet before the original rosette completes its life cycle.

For thousands of years, agaves have played an important role in the daily lives of the peoples of Mexico and the American Southwest. Long before European settlement, Indigenous cultures harvested agaves for food, fiber, roofing material, rope, soap, needles, and fermented beverages. The large central heart, or "piña," was traditionally roasted in underground ovens where the natural starches were converted into sweet sugars, creating a nutritious food with a rich, caramel-like flavor. Strong fibers extracted from the leaves were woven into cordage, nets, sandals, mats, and textiles, while the sharp leaf tips often served as natural sewing needles complete with attached fiber thread.

Perhaps no plant is more closely associated with the history of Mexico than agave. For centuries, roasted agave hearts were fermented to produce pulque, a traditional beverage considered sacred by many Indigenous civilizations. Following the introduction of distillation by Spanish settlers during the 16th century, distilled agave spirits gradually evolved into what are now known as mezcal and, later, tequila. While true tequila is produced exclusively from Blue Weber Agave (Agave tequilana), many other agave species, including Agave americana, have historically been used in the production of regional mezcals and continue to be utilized in certain traditional spirits today. This rich heritage has made agaves an enduring symbol of Mexican culture and craftsmanship.

Beyond its fascinating history, Tequila/Mezcal Agave is an outstanding ornamental landscape plant. Its bold, symmetrical form creates a dramatic focal point in xeriscapes, desert gardens, Mediterranean landscapes, and large decorative containers. The striking blue-gray foliage contrasts beautifully with flowering perennials, ornamental grasses, cacti, yuccas, and other drought-tolerant plants. Mature specimens become increasingly impressive with age, developing into magnificent architectural features that require very little maintenance.

Easy to grow and exceptionally drought tolerant, Tequila/Mezcal Agave thrives in full sun and well-drained soil where it requires only occasional watering after establishment. Plants are well suited to hot, dry climates and perform best in locations with excellent drainage. Whether grown for its remarkable beauty, historical significance, or as a living connection to one of the world's oldest cultivated plants, Tequila/Mezcal Agave is a rewarding addition to any succulent collection or water-wise landscape.

Biquinho Red Pepper (Capsicum chinense) is a delightful heirloom pepper from Brazil that has become one of the fastest-growing favorites among home gardeners and gourmet cooks. Its tiny, glossy, bright red fruits feature a distinctive pointed "little beak" shape, giving rise to the Portuguese name Biquinho, meaning "little beak." Unlike many members of the Capsicum chinense family, Biquinho is exceptionally mild, offering a pleasantly sweet, fruity flavor with only a hint of warmth. Its crisp texture and attractive appearance have made it especially popular in fresh salads, appetizer trays, and specialty produce departments.

Compact plants grow approximately 24 to 36 inches tall and become covered with dozens, often hundreds, of dangling peppers throughout the summer. The small fruits ripen from green to brilliant scarlet red, creating an ornamental display that is equally attractive in vegetable gardens, patio containers, and raised beds. Heavy yields continue until frost, making Biquinho Red an excellent producer for gardeners looking for both beauty and productivity.

One of the reasons Biquinho Red has gained tremendous popularity in supermarkets is its versatility in the kitchen. The peppers are delicious eaten fresh right off the plant, but they truly shine as a salad pepper where their crisp texture, vibrant color, and mild sweetness add flavor without overwhelming heat. They are equally excellent for pickling, garnishing charcuterie boards, stuffing with soft cheeses, preserving, or adding whole to stir-fries and vegetable dishes. Their attractive shape and brilliant color also make them a favorite for decorative culinary presentations.

Easy to grow in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil, Biquinho Red performs well in both garden beds and large containers. Plants thrive during warm weather and continue producing heavily with regular harvesting. Gardeners appreciate its dependable yields, ornamental appearance, and unique combination of sweetness, mild flavor, and exceptional versatility. Whether grown for fresh eating, gourmet cooking, or simply as an attractive edible ornamental, Biquinho Red Pepper is quickly becoming one of today's most sought-after specialty peppers.

Specifications:
Botanical Name: Capsicum chinense
Common Name: Biquinho Red Pepper, Little Beak Pepper
Plant Type: Warm-season annual
Days to Maturity: Approximately 85–95 days
Plant Height: 24–36 inches
Fruit Size: About 1 inch long
Fruit Color: Green maturing to bright red
Heat Level: Very mild (approximately 500–1,000 Scoville Heat Units)
Light: Full sun
Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil
Uses: Fresh salads, snacking, pickling, stuffing, charcuterie boards, containers, gourmet cooking, ornamental gardens

Disease Resistance:
No specific disease resistance has been documented for this heirloom variety. Healthy plants perform best when grown in well-drained soil with good air circulation and proper crop rotation.

Seedman Notes:
Biquinho Red has become one of the hottest trends in specialty produce markets, largely because of its outstanding qualities as a fresh salad pepper. The tiny fruits deliver sweet, crisp flavor with almost no heat, making them enjoyable for nearly everyone. Combined with tremendous productivity and ornamental beauty, this Brazilian heirloom is an excellent addition to any vegetable garden.

Confetti Rose Hypoestes (Hypoestes phyllostachya), commonly known as the Polka Dot Plant, is a striking foliage variety prized for its deep green leaves generously splashed with vibrant rose-pink markings. The colorful foliage provides continuous ornamental interest from spring until frost, making it an excellent choice for borders, containers, hanging baskets, and indoor displays. Native to Madagascar, this compact plant has become one of the most popular foliage annuals for brightening shaded gardens and interior spaces.

Growing approximately 10 to 18 inches tall with a naturally bushy habit, Confetti Rose produces dense branching covered with colorful leaves that become even more vivid in bright filtered light. Unlike flowering annuals that bloom for only part of the season, this variety maintains its attractive foliage throughout its growing cycle. Occasional small lavender flowers may appear late in the season, but the brilliantly colored leaves remain the plant's greatest ornamental feature.

Confetti Rose performs best in fertile, well-drained soil that remains consistently moist without becoming waterlogged. It thrives in partial shade outdoors where the foliage retains its richest coloration, while indoors it flourishes in bright indirect light as an attractive and easy-care houseplant. Regular pinching encourages fuller branching, resulting in a compact, well-shaped specimen ideal for decorative containers and mixed plantings.

Easy to grow from seed, Confetti Rose quickly develops into an attractive landscape or container plant that pairs beautifully with impatiens, coleus, begonias, caladiums, and other shade-loving ornamentals. Whether used to brighten shaded flower beds, patio planters, hanging baskets, or sunny windows indoors, its cheerful rose-speckled foliage provides dependable season-long color with very little maintenance.

Specifications:
Botanical Name: Hypoestes phyllostachya
Common Name: Confetti Rose Polka Dot Plant
Plant Type: Tender perennial grown as an annual or houseplant
Height: 10–18 inches
Spread: 10–16 inches
Light: Partial shade to bright indirect light
Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Water Needs: Moderate; keep evenly moist
Bloom Time: Late summer (small lavender flowers)
Foliage: Green leaves heavily spotted with bright rose-pink
Uses: Containers, hanging baskets, borders, houseplants, mixed planters, shaded gardens
Hardiness: USDA Zones 10–11 (grown as an annual elsewhere)

Seedman Notes:
Confetti Rose is one of our brightest foliage selections, producing continuous color even when flowers are absent. Its compact growth, easy maintenance, and brilliantly speckled leaves make it an excellent choice for shaded landscapes, decorative containers, hanging baskets, and indoor displays throughout the growing season.

Nolana Bluebird (Nolana paradoxa) is a breathtaking trailing annual prized for its abundant trumpet-shaped flowers in brilliant sky-blue with luminous white centers. Native to the coastal deserts of Chile, this heat-loving plant thrives in sunny, dry conditions where it quickly forms a spreading carpet of lush green foliage covered with hundreds of cheerful blooms. Its vivid flower color and naturally cascading habit make it one of the finest choices for rock gardens, raised beds, hanging baskets, containers, and sunny borders.

Growing only 4 to 8 inches tall while spreading 18 to 30 inches or more, Bluebird creates an attractive mat of succulent foliage that remains fresh throughout the season. Beginning in late spring and continuing well into summer, the plant produces an endless succession of large, funnel-shaped blossoms that open fully in bright sunshine. The striking blue flowers closely resemble miniature morning glories, creating a brilliant display that attracts bees and other beneficial pollinators while providing continuous color in even the hottest weather.

Bluebird performs best in full sun and well-drained sandy or gravelly soils where excessive moisture is avoided. Once established, it demonstrates excellent drought tolerance and flourishes with surprisingly little care, making it ideal for xeriscapes, rock gardens, retaining walls, and coastal landscapes. Its trailing stems spill gracefully over containers and stone walls, softening edges while producing waves of vivid blue flowers throughout the growing season.

Easy to grow from seed, Nolana Bluebird germinates readily in warm soil and quickly develops into a vigorous flowering groundcover. It combines beautifully with other drought-tolerant annuals and alpine plants while adding brilliant color to difficult sunny locations where many other flowering plants struggle. Whether grown as a spreading groundcover or cascading from hanging baskets and containers, Bluebird provides one of the most spectacular displays of true blue flowers available from seed.

Specifications:
Botanical Name: Nolana paradoxa
Common Name: Nolana Bluebird, Chilean Bellflower
Plant Type: Annual
Height: 4–8 inches
Spread: 18–30 inches
Light: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained sandy, gravelly, or moderately fertile soil
Water Needs: Low once established
Bloom Time: Late spring through summer
Flower Color: Brilliant sky-blue with white centers
Uses: Rock gardens, hanging baskets, containers, groundcover, borders, retaining walls, xeriscapes
Hardiness: Grown as an annual in all USDA zones

Seedman Notes:
Bluebird is one of the finest trailing annuals for sunny gardens, combining exceptional drought tolerance with a remarkable display of brilliant blue flowers. Its cascading growth and long bloom season make it equally valuable in rock gardens, hanging baskets, and containers where its vibrant blossoms provide months of dependable color.

The world's most famous carnivorous plant! The Venus Flytrap is one of nature's most remarkable creations. Native to the bogs of North and South Carolina, this fascinating plant captures insects using specialized leaf traps that snap shut with astonishing speed. Its unique appearance and insect-catching abilities have made it a favorite among plant enthusiasts, collectors, and curious gardeners for generations.

Despite its exotic reputation, the Venus Flytrap can make an excellent houseplant when provided with the proper conditions. Its compact size, unusual growth habit, and interactive nature make it one of the most entertaining plants you can grow indoors.

• One of the most unusual and fascinating houseplants available.
• Produces specialized traps that capture small insects.
• Excellent conversation piece for home or office.
• A favorite educational plant for children and adults alike.
• Long-lived when given proper care.
• Compact enough for windowsills, terrariums, and small spaces.

Each trap contains tiny trigger hairs. When an insect touches these hairs twice within a few seconds, the trap rapidly closes. This clever mechanism helps prevent the plant from wasting energy on raindrops, falling debris, or other false alarms.

Once captured, the insect is digested over several days, allowing the plant to obtain nutrients that are scarce in its naturally nutrient-poor bog habitat.

Venus Flytraps are different from most common houseplants and should not be treated like ordinary potted plants.

• Light: Requires very bright light and benefits from several hours of direct sun daily.
• Water: Use only rainwater, distilled water, or reverse-osmosis water.
• Soil: Plant in a carnivorous plant mix, typically peat moss and perlite.
• Humidity: Appreciates moderate to high humidity.
• Fertilizer: Never fertilize Venus Flytraps.
• Feeding: The plant can catch its own insects and usually does not require feeding.

Unlike tropical houseplants, Venus Flytraps naturally experience a winter dormancy period. During this time growth slows, some leaves may die back, and the plant rests before resuming vigorous growth in spring. This dormancy helps maintain long-term health and vigor.

Sow seeds on the surface of a moist carnivorous plant mix and do not cover deeply. Provide bright light, high humidity, and consistently moist conditions using distilled, rain, or reverse-osmosis water. Germination generally occurs within several weeks, though patience is often rewarded with stronger seedlings.

Venus Flytraps can count! Research suggests the plant responds differently depending on how many times its trigger hairs are stimulated. This allows it to distinguish between a potential meal and a false alarm, making it one of the most sophisticated plants in the natural world.

Whether grown for science, curiosity, or pure enjoyment, the Venus Flytrap remains one of the most captivating houseplants ever discovered.

Fresca Strawberry is an exceptional alpine strawberry prized for its continuous production of small, intensely sweet berries and delightful fragrance. Unlike traditional garden strawberries, Fresca produces charming, bright red fruits throughout the growing season without relying on runners, making it an excellent choice for borders, containers, hanging baskets, window boxes, and small garden spaces. The berries possess an old-fashioned wild strawberry flavor that is remarkably rich and aromatic, making every harvest a special treat for fresh eating and gourmet desserts.

Compact, attractive plants form neat mounds of lush green foliage covered with delicate white blossoms that continually give way to bright red berries from late spring until frost. Because Fresca is a day-neutral alpine type, it flowers and fruits over an extended season rather than producing a single large crop. The plants devote their energy to flowering and fruit production instead of producing runners, resulting in tidy, easy-to-manage plants that remain beautiful throughout the season. The blossoms are also highly attractive to bees and other beneficial pollinators.

Fresca thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Regular watering and mulching help maintain steady production while keeping the berries clean and healthy. Its compact habit makes it especially well suited for patios, balconies, and decorative edible gardens where space is limited. The flavorful berries are naturally rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, manganese, and dietary fiber, providing a healthy harvest over many months.

Whether enjoyed fresh from the plant, sprinkled over cereal, added to desserts, garnished on pastries, or used to make small batches of preserves, Fresca delivers exceptional flavor in every bite. Its continuous harvests, ornamental beauty, and rich woodland strawberry taste make it one of the finest alpine strawberries available for gardeners seeking both beauty and outstanding eating quality.

Botanical Name: Fragaria vesca

Type: Day-Neutral Alpine Strawberry
Days to Harvest: Approximately 90–120 days from seed; continuous harvest thereafter
Berry Size: Small (½–1 inch)
Plant Height: 8–10 inches
Growth Habit: Compact, clump-forming perennial with few or no runners
Primary Uses: Fresh eating, containers, hanging baskets, borders, desserts, gourmet garnishes

Seedman Notes: Fresca is one of the finest alpine strawberries available, producing a continuous harvest of wonderfully aromatic berries with the rich flavor of wild strawberries. Its runnerless habit, compact growth, and season-long production make it an outstanding choice for gardeners with limited space or anyone seeking exceptional flavor from a truly unique strawberry.

Strawberry Foxglove (Digitalis × mertonensis) is one of the most beautiful and distinctive foxglove hybrids ever introduced, combining the vigor of the common foxglove with the rich coloring of rusty foxglove. Tall, stately flower spikes are covered with large, outward-facing, strawberry-rose blossoms that glow with warm coppery undertones and speckled throats. Blooming from late spring into early summer, this remarkable perennial creates an elegant vertical accent in the garden while attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Its unique flower color, exceptional hardiness, and long bloom period have made Strawberry Foxglove a favorite among collectors and cottage gardeners alike.

Garden Uses:

Strawberry Foxglove is an excellent choice for perennial borders, cottage gardens, woodland edges, pollinator gardens, English-style landscapes, and naturalized plantings. The tall flower spikes blend beautifully with delphiniums, lupines, peonies, campanulas, salvia, Shasta daisies, ornamental grasses, and old-fashioned roses. They also make outstanding cut flowers, adding height and elegance to fresh floral arrangements.

Growing Information:

Sow seeds on the surface of moist growing medium, as light aids germination. Maintain temperatures between 65-70°F and keep evenly moist until germination, which generally occurs within 14-21 days. Plants thrive in full sun in cooler climates or light afternoon shade in warmer regions. Rich, moist, well-drained soil produces the strongest plants and tallest flower spikes. Water regularly during dry periods and remove spent flower stalks after blooming unless seed production or natural reseeding is desired. Plants often behave as short-lived perennials but may gently self-seed in favorable locations.

Seedman Notes:

Strawberry Foxglove is one of the most elegant foxgloves we offer and a personal favorite for cottage gardens. The soft strawberry-colored blooms are simply breathtaking when planted in groups, and the plants attract an incredible number of bumblebees throughout the blooming season. For gardeners seeking something beyond the traditional purple foxglove, this remarkable hybrid offers outstanding beauty and dependable performance.

Quick Facts:

Pistachio is one of the world's oldest and most prized nut trees, valued for its delicious nuts, exceptional drought tolerance, ornamental beauty, and rich cultural history. Native to Central Asia and the Middle East, Pistacia vera has been cultivated for thousands of years and remains one of the most important nut crops in the world today.

This attractive deciduous tree develops a broad, rounded canopy and produces clusters of nuts enclosed in fleshy outer hulls. As the nuts mature, the shells naturally split open, revealing the distinctive green kernel that has made pistachios a favorite snack and culinary ingredient for centuries.

Beyond their outstanding flavor, pistachios are highly nutritious and rich in protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Their combination of taste and nutrition has earned them a place among the world's most popular nuts.

• Fresh roasted nuts.
• Baking and desserts.
• Ice cream and confectionery.
• Mediterranean cuisine.
• Nut butter production.
• Ornamental shade tree.
• Drought-tolerant landscaping.
• Food forest plantings.

1. Soak seeds in room-temperature water for 24 hours.
2. Cold stratify seeds for 30-60 days at 35-40°F (2-4°C).
3. Sow seeds approximately 1 inch deep in a well-drained growing medium.
4. Maintain temperatures of 70-85°F (21-29°C).
5. Keep soil lightly moist.
6. Provide bright light after germination.
7. Germination may occur within several weeks.
8. Transplant seedlings carefully due to developing taproots.

• Botanical Name: Pistacia vera
• Plant Type: Deciduous nut tree
• USDA Zones: 7-10
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained soil
• Water: Low to moderate once established
• Height: 20-35 feet
• Spread: 20-30 feet
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• Nut Harvest: Late summer to fall

Pistachio thrives in regions with hot, dry summers and cool winters. Once established, it is among the most drought-tolerant nut trees available and performs exceptionally well in arid climates.

Pistachio trees are generally either male or female. Female trees produce the nuts, while male trees provide pollen. In commercial orchards, a single male tree is often planted among several female trees to ensure pollination and nut production.

Pistachios are rich in protein, dietary fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, healthy fats, and antioxidants. They are often considered one of the healthiest nuts and are widely recommended as part of a balanced diet.

• Produces highly prized edible nuts.
• Extremely drought tolerant.
• Long-lived tree.
• Suitable for hot climates.
• Attractive ornamental appearance.
• Excellent food forest species.
• Highly nutritious harvest.
• Ancient cultivated crop.

Many gardeners are surprised to learn that pistachios are closely adapted to desert-like conditions. In fact, the same hot, dry climates that challenge many fruit and nut trees are often ideal for pistachio production.

Another interesting feature is the natural splitting of the shell as the nut ripens. This characteristic has made pistachios easy to harvest and enjoy for thousands of years and contributes to their popularity worldwide.

Pistachio (Pistacia vera) combines ancient history, exceptional nutrition, drought tolerance, and delicious nuts into one remarkable tree. Whether grown for its harvest, ornamental value, or historical significance, it remains one of the most celebrated nut trees in human history.