SEED LIST
Last updated October 2010.
(Another update will be coming in early 2011... I hope.)
October 2010 Update: I've decided to suspend sales of the Desert Plant Seeds until I have the chance
to make fresh collections. Although they have continued to germinate well for me, they can no longer
be considered truly fresh. The Eucalyptus, Callistemon and Southern Hemisphere Plant Seeds will remain
available as I have been collecting them freshly every year. I still hope to update and expand this page
sometime over the winter depending on what new seeds I am able to collect this fall.
What began as me collecting a few seeds here and there for purposes of
my own plant propagation has now grown into a substantial list with extra seed
to share! Most of the Eucalyptus, Callistemon, etc. seed comes from local trees and
plants, and from my garden. Agave and Yucca seed has been collected on plant expeditions.
How I Collect Seeds
Nearly all of the seed I offer has
been collected by me: I do not rely upon other suppliers to ship me seeds
and then mark up the price, as do many (but not all) seed merchants.
(A few items have been generously given to me by knowledgeable plant co-conspirators.)
This, in my opinion, is the best way to positively ensure that the seed
is fresh as well as correctly identified. Also, it gives me the
ability to describe my offerings in a more meaningful way and field questions
about them, because I myself have seen the parent plants, and,
more importantly, the environment in which the parent plants were growing.
Also, this means I do not put any species on my availability
list until I have it right here with me.
Collection Numbers
In order to stay organized I have finally decided to assign collection numbers to
all the plant propagules I collect. Each plant gets its own number, even very similar plants collected
in the same place (for example, two slightly differing clones of the same Opuntia species). However, if I make a
collection identical to a previous collection (the exact same plant in the exact same place) then the
first collection becomes IBx.1, the second collection is IBx.2, and future collections are IBx.3,
IBx.4, etc. In the United States, collection numbers are never assigned to cultivated plants, but in
other countries, numbers may be assigned to collections from cultivated plants if they warrant it. I am aware that
many of these plants have been collected by others before me from the exact same location, so I make
no special claim on these plants just because I have assigned my numbers to them.
Seed Packets
Unless otherwise noted, seed packets contain about 30 - 40 viable seeds. Some species that are rare,
or produce seeds that are difficult to clean, are sold in smaller quantities or at higher prices. Some
species with very fine seeds such as Callistemon spp. may contain 100 or more seeds per packet.
Wholesale
My goal is to supply seed to hobbyists and specialty nurseries; thus, I offer seed only in rather
small quantities. However, some Agave and Yucca species are available in quantities of 100.
If interested, please e-mail me at
mail@desertnorthwest.com
for a price list.
Seed Germination
I recommend successful germination techniques for each species as follows. These recommendations
are meant only as a general guide: certainly there may be more than one way to germinate some seeds.
Consider that many cacti, succulents and desert plants are accustomed to rocky or sandy soil and should
not be given a common germination mix – use a lot of fine pumice or sand, and little organic matter,
for the best results.
- DS (Direct Sowing) – indicates the seed should germinate freely at temperatures between
65 – 80°F without any special treatment. Note: unless stated otherwise, the recommended germination
treatment for all seeds in the list below is DS!!!
- CS (Cold Stratification) – indicates the seed requires a period of 1 – 2 months cold
stratification to germinate. This can be accomplished by putting the seed in the refrigerator in moist
sand or between layers of paper towel – or, just sow the seed outdoors in winter and wait for it to
sprout in the spring when the weather warms naturally.
- HW (Hot Water) – indicates the seed will germinate better if it is scarified by pouring
boiling water over the seed and allowing it to cool and soak for a day or two. You can also scarify
the seed by hand by nicking a piece off the seed coat of each seed with an x-acto knife, at the
opposite end from the root scar. Just so the seeds are plump after soaking, they should germinate.
- BH (Bottom Heat) – indicates the seed will germinate better with bottom heat, or with soil
temperatures in the range of 80 - 90°F.
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EUCALYPTUS, CALLISTEMON AND SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE PLANT SEEDS
Unless otherwise noted, the following species are all native to Australia.
Acacia dealbata - SILVER WATTLE |
$5/pkt. |
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Vigorous evergreen tree with fine silver-green leaves, masses of yellow flowers late winter. From
a tree in Bremerton, WA. 15°F. HW or CS. |
Acacia melanoxylon narrow leaf form - BLACK WATTLE |
$4/pkt. |
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Vigorous evergreen, leaves revert to narrow "phyllodes", yellow cream ball flowers early spring.
From a tree in Seattle, WA. 18°F. HW. |
Acacia melanoxylon wide leaf form - BLACK WATTLE |
$4/pkt. |
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As above but wider phyllodes, nice. From a tree in Seattle, WA. 18°F. HW. |
Acaena microphylla - SHEEP BUR |
$4/pkt. |
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Creeping mats of blue-purple leaves, red seed heads detach and cling. New Zealand. 5°F. |
Acaena pallida - SHEEP BUR |
$4/pkt. |
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Creeping mats of green leaves, decorative prickly seed heads, very vigorous. New Zealand. 5°F. |
Callistemon linearis - BOTTLEBRUSH |
$4/pkt. |
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Rounded shrub to 5', green leaves, lots of screaming red flowers. 10°F. |
Callistemon macropunctatus - BOTTLEBRUSH |
$5/pkt. |
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Large shrub, HUGE red flowers! 10°F. |
Callistemon pallidus - RIVER BOTTLEBRUSH |
$5/pkt. |
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Upright habit, blue-green leaves, cream flowers. 5°F. |
Callistemon sieberi pink form - BOTTLEBRUSH |
$4/pkt. |
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Slightly weeping, soft leaves, soft pink flowers. 10°F. |
Callistemon sieberi narrow leaf form - PRICKLY BOTTLEBRUSH |
$4/pkt. |
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Syn. C. pityoides. Low shrub with narrow prickly leaves, cream flowers, very hardy. 5°F. |
Callistemon subulatus - BOTTLEBRUSH |
$4/pkt. |
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Spreading, semi-weeping shrub, many bright red flowers late spring, very showy! 5°F. |
Callistemon viminalis - WEEPING BOTTLEBRUSH |
$4/pkt. |
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Tree to 60', weeping branches, red flowers over many months. Tender. 22°F. |
Callistemon sp. 'Dawn of Time' - BOTTLEBRUSH |
$4/pkt. |
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Maybe C. subulatus or C. rigidus. From ancient Seattle specimens. Lots of flowers, showy! 5°F. |
Callistemon sp. 'Hot Pink' - BOTTLEBRUSH |
$4/pkt. |
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Unknown species, somewhat like C. subulatus, rather upright plant with many dark pink flowers,
nice! 5°F? |
Callistemon sp. 'Ken's Favorite' - BOTTLEBRUSH |
$5/pkt. |
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Unknown species, or maybe a C. sieberi hybrid. Medium shrub with dark leaves, cream flowers,
attractive habit. 5°F? |
Callistemon sp. 'Red Giant' - BOTTLEBRUSH |
$5/pkt. |
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Unknown species. Large, very vigorous shrub (tree?), huge red flowers, felty new growth.
15°F? maybe lower. |
Callistemon sp. that may be named after me - WHITE BOTTLEBRUSH |
$5/pkt. |
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Unknown species. Formerly 'Soft White', upright with beautiful soft leaves, weeping branches, pure
white flowers late spring. 10°F. |
Callistemon sp. 'Violaceous' - BOTTLEBRUSH |
$5/pkt. |
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Often considered synonymous with C. citrinus 'Jeffersii', but this form is slightly different and hardier.
Upright plant with larger leaves, nice large purple flower heads. 15°F. |
Callistemon sp. 'Wetlands-Challenged Mutant' - BOTTLEBRUSH |
$4/pkt. |
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Sold as C. salignus, looks like C. pallidus but green. Upright with very showy cream flowers. 10°F. |
Callistemon sp. 'Woodlander's Hardy' - BOTTLEBRUSH |
$5/pkt. |
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Probably C. rigidus, seedlings will exhibit slight variation. Lots of red flowers, excellent
performer in Southeast US. 5°F. |
Eucalyptus barberi |
$4/pkt. |
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Seed from Olympia, WA. Irregular, slender tree with nice deep green leaves, smooth bark. Tolerates
very wet/dry soils, difficult sites. 10°F. |
Eucalyptus bridgesiana - APPLE BOX |
$4/pkt. |
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Seed from Olympia, WA. Contorted tree to 50', alternate heart shaped juvenile lvs, rough bark,
profuse fls. 10°F. |
Eucalyptus dalrympleana x viminalis |
$5/pkt. |
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Seed from Bremerton, WA. Tall, vigorous tree to 100'+, smooth white bark, pendulous adult leaves. 10°F. |
Eucalyptus gregsoniana - WOLGAN SNOW GUM |
$4/pkt. |
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Tree with smooth bark and airy look, sometimes multi-trunked, will remain compact in gardens. 10°F. CS. |
Eucalyptus microtheca - COOLIBAH |
$4/pkt. |
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Seed from Phoenix, AZ. Well known eucalyptus for desert gardens, tall with irregular habit, rough
bark, bluish crown. 10°F if dry, 20°F if wet. |
Eucalyptus neglecta - OMEO GUM |
$5/pkt. |
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Seed from Olympia, WA. Very popular cold hardy euc with large blue-purple leaves, takes heat, cold,
dry, wet, part shade, anything! 0°F. |
Eucalyptus nitida - SMITHTON PEPPERMINT |
$4/pkt. |
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Seed from Olympia, WA. Large tree, very soft green leaves, beautiful weeping habit, smells like
peppermint. 10°F. |
Eucalyptus parvula - SMALL LEAFED GUM |
$4/pkt. |
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Seed from Olympia, WA. Spreading tree to 50' with beautiful soft green-grey foliage, very nice
ornamental. 0°F. |
Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. pauciflora - WHITE SALLEE |
$5/pkt. |
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Seed from a Seattle tree that lived through 1989 and 90 winters unharmed. Beautiful tree to 50'+
with smooth white bark, green leaves, very tropical looking! 0°F. CS. |
Eucalyptus perriniana - SPINNING GUM |
$4/pkt. |
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Seed from Seattle. Perfoliate juvenile leaves spin on stem when dry, adult leaves pendulous,
ghostly white (this form), smooth bark. 0°F. CS. |
Eucalyptus pulverulenta - SILVER MOUNTAIN GUM |
$5/pkt. |
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Seed from Seattle. Heart-shaped juvenile foliage used in arrangements, contorted, spreading habit. 12°F. |
Eucalyptus pulverulenta 'Baby Blue' |
$5/20 seeds. |
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Seed from California. Selected form of above with superior foliage and hardiness, stupid name,
flowers very young. 10°F. |
Eucalyptus sideroxylon |
$4/pkt. |
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Seed from California. Large tree with dark leaves, rough bark, many pink flowers. 18°F. |
Eucalyptus stellulata - BLACK SALLEE |
$5/pkt. |
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Seed from Olympia, WA. Smooth-barked alpine tree to 50', olive green leaves, bronze new growth.
0 - 5°F. |
Leptospermum grandiflorum - SHOWY TEA TREE |
$4/pkt. |
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Seed from Olympia, WA. Attractive contorted shrub with grey leaves, masses of white flowers, large,
showy seed capsules. 10°F. |
Melaleuca quinquiveria - PAPERBARK |
$4/pkt. |
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Contorted, semi-weeping tree, nectar-rich cream flowers, papery peeling bark. 20°F. |
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Terrestrial bromeliad with many low rosettes, unique large yellow flowers on stalks to 5'. Great
for containers! 24°F. |
ODDS AND ENDS
Albizia julibrissin - SILK TREE |
$4/pkt. |
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Deciduous tree with feathery leaves, pink puffball flowers summer. Asia. -5°F. HW. |
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