Flowers & Decorative Plants Most of the following are old fashioned self seeding varieties. I probably grew about half of them. The rest come from friends and relatives, total strangers, small seed growers and a few from commercial sources. For other decorative plants see Grains and Seed Crops, and Runner Beans.

ANNUAL FLOWERS

Annual Flowers and Grasses: $2.50 per packet

AGROSTEMMA
CORN COCKLE (Agrostemma Githago), a wildflower from Europe, is a close relative of Lychnis. The single flowers, pink with dark veins, open flat and are about 2" across. The plant's growth habit resembles that of bachelor's buttons.

AMARANTHUS
All varieties of amaranth have high protein edible seeds, and the young leaves and shoots can be eaten like spinach. For more amaranth varieties see Seed Crops.
LOVE LIES BLEEDING or CHENILLE PLANT (A. caudatus) makes a good display: green foliage contrasting with bright red seed heads that hang down to the ground like ropes. Pink seeds.
GOLDEN MAGIC FOUNTAINS (A. cruentus) has tall erect golden panicles.
PIGMY TORCH (A. hypochondriacus) is a smaller version of Burgundy amaranth. It is about 4' tall and has brown seeds.
TWIN TOWERS RED stands about 3' tall with half of that height a very dense spike of small deep red flowers.

AMETHYSTIA
TURQUOISE (A. caerula) is an annual 2' member of the mint family. The purplish plants with tiny metallic blue flowers are sweet scented and dry well.

BROWALIA
BROWALIA (B. americana) is native to South America and a close relative of petunias. The bushy plants are about 1' tall and are covered with blue flowers (to 1") all summer until the first frost.

CALENDULA
CALENDULA or POT MARIGOLD (C. officinalis) usually blooms in a mixture of yellow and orange shades. This selection also has some darker shades and contrasting centres. The flowers have been used for centuries in cooking (hence pot marigold), dying and in skin ointments. FLASHBACK MIX has red or maroon backs on the petals. The upward facing side may be orange, apricot, peach, vanilla or yellow with sometimes several colours on one flower. The flowers close in the evening showing off the red backs.

CAMISSONIA
SUNFLAKES (Camissonia bistorta) is a low growing sprawling plant that is covered with 1/2" bright yellow, open, cup shaped flowers most of the summer. Likes full sun and is drought tolerant.

CENTAUREA
BACHELOR'S BUTTON or CORNFLOWER (C. cyanus) is a slim 2' plant native to Europe where it grows in farm fields (hence cornflower). Flowers are blue, or less commonly pink, light blue or mauve. Self seeds easily.
SWEET SULTAN (C. moschata) is taller and more branched than the previous variety, and has large mauve or white thistle-like flowers.

CERINTHE
HONEYWORT (C. major purpurea) is a striking Mediterranean plant with glaucous (covered with a white "bloom" which can be rubbed off) grey green leaves. The blue flowers, yellow at the base, are small but the deep blue bracts are very showy. Tolerates some frost and the plants retain their colour well into the fall.

CHAENORRHINUM
DWARF SNAPDRAGON (C. origanifolium) BLUE DREAM is a compact 6" plant from the Pyrenees. The lilac-blue flowers with yellow throats cover the plants from June to frost.

CISTANTHE
CISTANTHE GRANDIFLORA is a portulaca relative from Chile which forms succulent light green rosettes above which rise 1' stems of large glossy pink single flowers.

CLARKIA
DEERHORN CLARKIA (C. pulchella) CONFETTI MIX has slender spikes of pink, lavender and lilac flowers with lobed petals like antlers on a slender upright plant with willow-like leaves.

CLEOME
PINK CLEOME (C. serrulata) is also called spider flower because of its narrow petals and long stamens. The 2'-3' plants have loose heads of soft pink flowers and self sow easily.

CNICUS
BLESSED THISTLE (Cnicus benedictus) has bright yellow 1" flowers on a thistle-like plant to 2', with attractively marbled leaves. Has been used for many medicinal purposes.

CONSOLIDA
LARKSPUR (C. ajacis) is an annual delphinium, a very erect plant about 2' tall with finely divided leaves. The flowers are borne in spikes over a long season. Both the flowers and seed pods are used in dried arrangements. All larkspurs do better if fall seeded. I am offering a PURPLE AND BLUE MIX which might also contain a few pinks and whites.
BLUE CLOUD (C. regalis) is taller than the other varieties and looks like a blue baby's breath but with larger (1/2") florets. A few plants will probably be pink flowered.

COREOPSIS
COREOPSIS -- I am offering a MIX of C. tinctoria and C. basalis which will give you a mix of yellow, red and bi-coloured flowers.

CORYDALIS
GOLDEN CORYDALIS (C. aurea) forms low mounds of pale green finely divided leaves, out of which rise racemes of golden yellow flowers. Annual or biennial which self-seeds in our garden. The plants which pass the winter as a rosette make a good display early in the spring. Those seedlings which come up in the spring bloom summer to fall but generally suffer from the heat of summer. Common on the edge of woodlands and in areas of disturbance throughout Saskatchewan.

COSMOS
Native to Mexico and cultivated since 1799. Direct seed to produce 3' plants that bloom from mid summer until frost. SENSATION MIX flowers in pure white, pink or red.
COSMOS SULPHUREUS has bright orange-red double flowers about 11/2" across. I am offering SUNNY RED, a compact variety with flowers in orange-red shades.

DATURA
Daturas are tall robust plants, usually annuals but some are perennials in warmer climates. The trumpet-shaped flowers are usually large and often scented. All parts of these plants are poisonous. Seed many take several months to germinate, and is greatly helped by treatment with Gibberelic Acid (GA-3), which is available from Gardens North.
TORNA LOCO (D. ceratocaula) is unlike any other Datura I've grown. It will grow in shallow water in its native Mexico. The leaves are narrow and oaklike. The fleshy stems grow to about 3' and sprawl on the ground. The large scented flowers are white trumpets with 5 mauve stripes in the throat. They last for less than 24 hours, opening in the evening and closing the next morning, except on cloudy days. Seed very difficult to germinate without GA-3.
DESERT THORNAPPLE (D. discolor) has white 4"-6" trumpet flowers with purple throats. Rather short (1 1/2') for a datura with greyish foliage and nodding spiny pods.
LONG SPINED THORNAPPLE (D. ferox) has smaller white flowers and pods with very long spines.
TRUMPET FLOWER (Datura sp.) Has large, lightly scented pure white trumpet flowers followed by spiny pods which split open when mature.
JIMSONWEED (D. stramonium) is a sturdy, fast growing annual about 3' tall and almost as wide. The scented white flowers only open at night and are followed by large prickly seed balls. It has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes. Self seeds to a small extent here and, as the seeds are very long lived, seedlings will probably come up for a number of years.
DATURA TATULA var. INERMIS has large pale lavender trumpets followed by round spineless egg-shaped pods.

DICRANOSTIGMA
ARISTOCRAT (Dicranostigma Franchetianum) is a well-branched 2' plant with grey green foliage. The bright clear yellow 2" poppy flowers cover the plant most of the summer, followed by long slim pods similar to those of California poppy.
DICRANOSTIGMA LEPTOPODUM forms a large rosette of leaves divided almost to midrib. From the rosette rise 11/2' stems which are almost leafless and somewhat divided. The 1" yellow flowers are almost identical to Aristocrat and are borne liberally most of the summer with some re-blooming in the fall.

DIGITALIS
FOXY (D. purpurea) (AAS 1967) This foxglove blooms the first year from seed and only grows about 3' tall. Mixed colours.

DYSSODIA
DAHLBERG DAISY (D. tenuiloba) is a low (under 1') mound forming plant with finely divided foliage nearly covered by its small yellow daisies. Blooms all summer and fall and likes full sun and dry growing conditions.

ECHINOCYSTIS
WILD CUCUMBER (E. lobata) is a native Saskatchewan vine that grows about 8 feet. In the wild this fast growing annual climbs bushes but you might try covering a trellis with it. Leaves are light green, yellowish-white flowers are followed by prickly seed balls. Seeds need cold to germinate properly. Seed in the fall or very early in the spring, or refrigerate before seeding.

ESCHSCHOLZIA
CALIFORNIA POPPY (E. californica) self seeds all over the garden but it is not especially difficult to control. With its cheerful yellow orange flowers and finely cut blue green foliage, it is a "weed" I can live with. It is one of the earliest flowers in the spring and blooms most of the summer.

EUPHORBIA
SNOW-ON-THE-MOUNTAIN (E. marginata) is an upright plant about 1 1/2' tall with insignificant flowers but very showy leaves with clear white margins. Direct seed in the garden as soon as the soil is dry enough to work. Likes full sun and is drought resistant.

GAILLARDIA
FIREWHEEL (G. pulchella) is an annual blanket flower with downy deeply cut leaves. The showy flowers are about 3" across and come in a mixture of yellow/orange/red shades.

GAURA
LINDHEIMER'S GAURA (G. lindheimeri) is perennial in its native Texas but not in most of Canada. This is a slender graceful plant, 2'-3' tall, with a loose spike of tubular rosywhite flowers, blooming all summer and fall.

HELIANTHUS – SUNFLOWER
AUTUMN BEAUTY (H. annuus) produces many 6" flowers in yellow, bronze and mahogany- red, with a darker zone. Branching plants to about 7'.
VELVET QUEEN (H. annuus) has dark-burgundy red flowers with almost black centres. Branching plants to about 7'.
TAIYO (H. annuus) is a Japanese heirloom with 5'-6' plants and 10"-- 12" heads. The petals are golden-yellow and rather short and the huge centres are chocolate coloured.
TEDDYBEAR (H. annuus) has 4"-6" very double golden-yellow blooms on plants only about 2' tall.
MUSIC BOX (H. annuus) is a multi-branched sunflower 2" -- 2 1/2 " tall with 2" -- 4" single flowers in shades of yellow.

HELICHRYSUM
TALL SPLENDID EVERLASTING (H. bracteatum monstrosum) has large double flowers in a good range of colours – red, orange, yellow to white. The most popular flower for drying.

HIBISCUS
SIMPLY LOVE is a named variety of H. trionum with open light yellow flowers with dark centers followed by interesting seed pods. Easy to grow from transplants. About 1 1/2' tall by 1' wide.

IMPATIENS
TOUCH-ME-NOT (I. roylei) or Himalayan orchid was introduced in Europe in 1839. Its self-seeding habit can make it a nuisance in wet mild climates. It is a fast growing annual, reaching 5'-6' tall with stems 1" in diameter at the base. The orchid-like flowers hang from the ends of the branches and are in varying shades of pink. The ripe seed pods "explode" and shoot their seeds with the least pressure.

LATHYRUS
OLD SPICE MIX (L odoratus)has red, rose, blue, violet and white flowers. This selection has cultivars from 100 to 250 years old. Flowers are smaller but with stronger sweeter scent than modern cultivars. Good cut flower and will scent a whole room. Seed as early as you can in the spring as they like cool soil. LATHYRUS ARTICULATUS has pink and white bicoloured flowers somewhat smaller than standard sweet peas. The seed pods are pinched between seeds so that each seed is in its own compartment.

LAVATERA
ROSE MALLOW (L. trimestris) is a tall (3') sturdy plant with large single pink flowers. It blooms early and continues through most of the summer. I am also offering a MIX with both pink and white-flowered plants.

LEONOTUS
LION'S EAR (L. leonurus) is a member of the mint family, a stiff upright plant around 3' tall, with whorls of vivid orange flowers.

LINARIA
NORTHERN LIGHTS (Linaria maroccana) is a selection of Maroccan Toadflax with 1/2" flowers in spikes, in shades of red to yellow and almost white. Plants up to 2' tall and good for cut flowers.

LINUM
WHITE FLOWERED FLAX (L. grandiflorum alba) is a slender 1'-11/2' annual, free flowering over most of the summer. The inch wide pure white flowers only last a day but are replaced each day with others. Direct seed as they do not like their roots disturbed. May self seed. SCARLET FLAX (L. grandiflorum rubrum) is identical to White Flax except for the colour of the flowers. The two flaxes will cross, giving a mixture of flower colours unless they are isolated.

MATRICARIA
GERMAN CHAMOMILE (M. recutita) is a 1'-2' self seeding annual with finely divided leaves. The white inch wide daisies with yellow centres are sweet scented and used to make a relaxing tea.

MATTHIOLA
EVENING-SCENTED STOCK (M. bicornis) has lilac-pink ¾" flowers that open in the evening to scent the air with a powerful perfume. The 11/2'-- 2' plants self-seed so establish a patch near your patio.

NEMESIA
NEMESIA STRUMOSA blooms in a wide range of brilliant colours most of the summer on plants under 1' high.

NICANDRA
SHOO FLY PLANT (N. Physalodes) has sky-blue, inch-wide bell-shaped flowers that only open wide in full sun. Unusual papery five-winged pods are useful in dried arrangements. Vigorous bushy plants are about 3' tall. Start as a bedding plant and will selfseed. BLACK ROD has deep purple stems and the pods are blushed purple. A bit taller and more slender with somewhat smaller leaves than the preceding variety. SPLASH OF CREAM has green leaves varigated with white.

NICOTIANA
Tobaccos are all started as bedding plants.
FLOWERING TOBACCO (N. alata) is a 3' plant with showy trumpet-shaped flowers in shades from pink to wine-red with perhaps an occasional white.
SWEET-SCENTED WHITE (N. alata) has sweet scented drooping, white flowers with long slender tubes flaring to 1"-2" wide. Grows to 5' with huge leaves.
SMOKING TOBACCO (N. tabacum) grows to about 6' and has rose flowers. Leaves may be soaked to make an insecticide. I am offering:
SHIRAZI (IRANIAN) – strong flavoured and early maturing.
HAVANA – fast maturing; seed grown in Wisconsin.
DESERT TOBACCO (N. trigonophylla) is an approximately two foo t annual from the dry areas of the southwest USA. The white trumpet flowers, to 1" long, are borne in spikes. Was smoked by native peoples of this area.
EASTER ISLAND TOBACCO (Nicotiana sp.) Is a short (about 3') early species that has been smoked on Easter Island. The trumpet shaped flowers are shorter than those of most tobaccos and are pale yellow.

NIGELLA
LOVE IN A MIST (N. damascena) grows about 1' tall and has very finely divided leaves. The white or occasionally light blue flowers are unusual but not especially showy. It is grown mainly for its large oval seeds pods which are used in dried arrangements. CRAMER'S PLUM (N. damascena) is a white-flowered cultivar which is grown mainly for its large burgundy pods.
TRANSFORMER (N. orientalis) has small yellow-green flowers followed by intricate seed pods for dried use. About 11/2' tall.

PAPAVER
All of the annual poppies I am listing here, except Papaver rhoeas, are 2'--3' tall, have grey-green leaves, stiff stems, and large seed-capsules suitable for drying.
PEONY POPPIES (P. somniferum) have very double flowers. I am offering RED, PINK, WHITE and BLACK (or at least very dark maroon) varieties.
HEN AND CHICKS POPPY is very similar to the pink-flowered edible seed poppy, except that a ring of small seed capsules forms at the base of the main seed capsule. It is very striking in dried arrangements. Rogue out off types, i.e. with mauve flowers or lacking "chicks."
THE CLOWN (P. somniferum) has large single flowers, with fringed red petals and a white spot in the middle. Probably not 100% pure seed.
CORN POPPY (P. rhoeas) is a mixture I harvested from my sister's garden, probably mostly lighter shades and maybe a few darker ones.

PETUNIA
KENTUCKY OLD FASHIONED is an early example of petunia breeding work. It has been grown by a Kentucky family for about 100 years. It self seeds here but you will get earlier flowers if you start it as a bedding plant. A mixture of purple, pink, and white fragrant flowers, including bi-colours, on sprawling plants that bloom until frost.

PHACELIA
WILD HELIOTROPE (P. tanacetifolia), a native of the western USA, grows 18"-24" tall, has lavender-blue flowers and blooms freely throughout the summer and fall. Very attractive to bees and also used as a green manure crop.

SALPIGLOSSIS
PAISLEY FLOWER (S. sinuata) is a 1'-2' native of Chile and a member of the Solanum family. It has large funnel-shaped flowers that may be yellow, violet, red or bluish, which are strikingly veined with purple. Blooms all summer and fall.

SALVIA
TEXAS SAGE (S. coccinea) grows 2'-3' tall and is a perennial in its native southern US and Mexico. Has tall spikes of brilliant red blossoms which are very attractive to hummingbirds.

SAPONARIA
SOAPWORT (S. vaccaria) is 24"-30" tall, has grey green leaves and produces large quantities of single flowers. I am offering ROSA BELLA, a pink flowered variety. Very good as a cut flower.

SILYBUM
ST. MARY'S MILK THISTLE (S. Marianum) Striking rosettes of large glossy, dark green, spiny leaves streaked and marbled with white, followed by 2" wide rose-purple faintly scented flower heads on 4-6' stalks. Very attractive to bees and birds who love the seeds. Has been used as food and there is great interest in its medicinal properties. Direct seed.

TAGETES
SIGNET MARIGOLD (T. signata) LEMON GEM produces a low mound of lacy foliage covered by hundreds of small single lemon-yellow flowers. The whole plant is lemon scented and the flowers are a lovely addition to salads. Blooms from early summer to frost. Direct seed or start as bedding plants. RED GEM has red petals with a yellow centre.

TROPAEOLUM
NASTURTIUM (T. majus), a Peruvian native, has been grown in gardens for a very long time. The shield-shaped leaves have a tangy, cress-like flavour and are used in salads. Flowers are also eaten and buds and seeds can be pickled. The original nasturtiums were long trailing plants but I'm offering two compact varieties.
EMPRESS OF INDIA has dark bluish-green foliage with flowers of an intense crimsonscarlet and dates back to the late 1800's.
ALASKA MIX has variegated foliage marked with creamy white and flowers in a range of reds, oranges, and yellows.

VERBENA
VERBENA (V. bonariensis) is a tall plant with rigid stems (to about 3') topped by heads of purple flowers from summer to the first frosts. This perennial, grown as an annual was introduced from South America to England around 1725.

VIOLA
JOHNNY-JUMP-UP (V. tricolor) is an annual or short lived perennial that self-seeds easily. Its cheerful purple, yellow, and white flowers are among the first to appear in the spring and may bloom off and on until frost.
HISTORIC PANSIES MIX (V. x wittrockiana) comes from the huge collection of historic pansies grown by Kees Sahin, a seedsman from the Netherlands. This mix closely resembles those grown by gardeners 150 years ago.

ANNUAL GRASSES

JAPANESE MILLET (Echinochloa crus-galli var. frumentacea) is about 4' tall with quite tight upright decorative heads. Seed is edible. Needs a long growing season so should be started as a bedding plant.
PURPLE MAJESTY MILLET (Pennisetum glaucum) has deep purple foliage looking like a small corn plant (to about 4'). There are three or more dense purple seed spikes, up to 1' long, per plant. Young plants are green and full sun develops the best colour.
BROOM-CORN (Sorghum vulgare) has been cultivated for its edible seeds, to produce sugar (from its stalks), and for making brooms (its inflorescence after the mature seeds have been removed). This mix is offered mostly for its brightly coloured seed-heads – gold, bronze, brown, black, burgundy and cream. This tall corn relative is late maturing and, even started as a bedding plant, probably will not mature in Saskatchewan.

Annual Flowers and Grasses – $2.50 per packet