Flower Seeds

Calendula officinalis. Sprinkle salads and decorate cakes with these edible, tangy petals. The single flowers are the deepest orange from spring through to fall. Single Orange is a great cool-season cutting flower with straight, sturdy stems. Direct seed Single Orange Calendula seeds in spring. Sow 5mm (1/4") deep. Calendula seeds germinate in 6 to 14 days, depending on conditions. Collect the edible flower petals to decorate summer meals, and add colour to hot drinks. Calendula look their tidiest when the spent flowers are removed, but once established they can be good candidates for xeriscaping.

Annual

schscholzia californica. XL Jelly Beans is a new California poppy that features very large, semi-double blooms that feature splashes of bubblegum pink, lemon yellow, and raspberry red. These contrast beautifully against the feathery foliage with its restrained, matte silver-blue colour. The eye-catching flowers appear over a long period from spring through summer, and work well in beds or containers. XL Jelly Beans grows to about 25cm (10") tall, and is somewhat drought tolerant. It's also deer resistant.

Hardy Annual - it may overwinter in Zones 8-10

Papaver nudicaule. The Iceland Poppy is a hardy, but short-lived perennial, grown as a biennial in Coastal gardens. Either way, they self sow readily, so will last for years at a time. The large, cup shaped blooms have a texture like crepe paper and appear in a range of subdued pastel colours - apricot, gold, tangerine, and white. Sow Iceland Poppy seeds in early spring or late fall where they are to grow permanently. The flower stalks grow to around 30c (12") tall, and are among the longest-lasting poppies as cut flowers. They are highly attractive to honeybees and bumblebees, with seeds that are easy to collect and disperse. Unlike the California Poppy, this variety usually remains where it was planted. All parts of the plant are mildly toxic, but acrid enough that animals will not eat them.

Perennial

Spencer Giant Mix Sweet Peas grow a beautiful mixture of sweetly scented flowers. This heat tolerant variety is widely used for beautiful flower arrangements and garden decorations.

Growing Information: Safe for bees & good for pollinators

Days to Germination: 10 to 14 days

Grows Best In: Full Sun

Growing Height: 2.1m (7')

Lathyrus odoratus. Its rich colour range is dominated by blues and purples, but accented by the occasional highlight of scarlet or pure white. The stems are long, sturdy and uncommonly straight for excellent cut flowers. The vines are not huge at five feet tall, but larger than described them in our catalogue. We have them on a trellis growing quite upright, and they are still very much in bloom in early August. We rate the fragrance at medium-strong (6/10), but as cut flowers, they are among the best. Keep cutting flowers or removing any seed pods that form in order to prolong the flowering period. Try Bijou sweet peas in large containers to bring colour and fragrance to your patio garden.

Annual

Lathyrus odoratus. Royal Family Blend sweet pea seeds produce tall vines that bloom after Mammoth and before Late Spencer, so they can be sown with these other varieties for a whole summer of cut flowers. These graceful and elegant plants have more heat resistance than the Spencer Series, very large flowers, and long stems on vines that reach 150-180cm (36-48"). Blooms of crimson, lavender, mid-blue, navy blue, rose pink, salmon pink, scarlet, and white appear over a long period, especially when plants have all their spent flowers removed. Try Royal Family in a hanging basket or decorative patio container.

Annual

Echinacea purpurea. Purple Coneflowers Echinacea seeds produce plants that are long-blooming from July to October. At home as a border feature or in the vegetable garden. Bright mauve-pink petals surrounding a distinctive rich plum center cone. Sow 5mm (¼") deep. May bloom in the first year if planted in early March, but it’s their third year that is really spectacular. These perennial coneflowers attract hoverflies and parasitoid wasps, so they’re useful for pest control in companion plantings. Echinacea plants are sturdy and drought tolerant once established, so they are useful in xeriscaping. Plant height to 80cm (32").

Perennial

CERTIFIED ORGANIC! Large, substantial fruits grow in clusters of three to four on sturdy, relatively short vines. Get Stuffed Organic features blocky, striped fruits that are almost the shape of a bell pepper. They can be hollowed and stuffed for cooking, or used raw as a delicious, edible serving vessel. They were a big hit in our tomato trials and are worth growing for their beautiful appearance alone.

Indeterminate (vine)

Matures in 75days (Open-pollinated seeds)

Agastache foeniculum. With heavily licorice-scented leaves and tall spikes of edible lavender flowers, Licorice Mint has been used medicinally for generations. It also happens to be one of the key suppliers of nectar to Skippers and other butterflies and is highly attractive to bees. A beautiful non-invasive mint for the corner of the garden. Also known as Anise Hyssop. Agastache seeds grow to heights of 120cm (48").

Companion Planting: Agastache is fragrant and highly attractive to pollinating insects. Plant a row of Agastache away from the garden to lure cabbage moths away from Brassica crops. Avoid planting near radishes.

Perennial

Rudbeckia hirta. We did a double take when we saw this remarkable Rudbeckia during the summer flower trials. Large and very attractive bronze and chocolate coloured blooms appear over a very long flowering period from mid summer to frost. Cappuccino Rudbeckia seeds are an excellent garden performer with huge, richly coloured flowers to 10cm (4") across covering plants growing to 45-50cm (18-20") tall. This Rudbeckia would work well in a half-barrel or other large containers, and it looks sensational in big plantings. Impressive, low maintenance, and drought tolerant for xeriscaping. Deadhead spent flowers for a longer display. In very mild conditions, this plant may survive to bloom a second, or even third year. We treat it as an annual.

Annual

Asclepias speciosa. Native to western and central North America (including BC's Okanagan region), Showy Milkweed is the plant at the center of Monarch butterfly conservation efforts. This is the particular species of milkweed that the Monarch caterpillars feed on after hatching, so it is highly prized by egg-laying adults. The flowers are notoriously generous with nectar, so they attract a host of other butterfly species, as well as bees, hummingbirds, and many other pollinators. The plants grow to around 90cm (36") tall, with greyish green foliage topped by spherical clusters of pink flowers. Once the seed pods form, they can be cut and dried to good effect. Plant Showy Milkweed seeds anywhere to help with pollinator conservation.

Note: This species spreads by self-seeding as well as spreading its rhizomatous roots. In favorable settings, it can spread aggressively. For this reason, we recommend it for larger containers or for areas where it can be controlled through regular pruning. To avoid self-sowing, simply cut the seed pods off before they mature.

Showy Milkweed also happens to be pretty much deer-proof.

Perennial

The ball-shaped flowerheads of these long bloomers resemble small strawberries--the red blooms feature tiny yellow flecks, just like seeds on a strawberry. Virtually maintenance-free, they are heat and drought tolerant, flowering from summer through to fall. Growing to 80cm (30"), the plants have a branching habit but upright stems, making them excellent as cut flowers, both in fresh and dried arrangements. Gomphrena is also used medicinally and makes a subtly sweet tea. AGM Award of Garden Merit RHS

Annual

Tropaeolum minus. This sumptuous mixture includes flowers from solid blood red to cream with red flecks and edges. Bloody Mary Nasturtium seeds produce low growing, clump-forming plants with darker than average leaves. The edible flowers are typically spicy, but also have a certain sweetness. This annual works well in containers, and blooms continuously from June to August. It was a very popular hit in our summer trials, and drew a lot of attention.

Annual

Royal Family Sweet Peas have long sturdy stems loaded with huge blooms. The ruffled tissue-like flowers bloom in a colorful range of purples, pinks, reds, and white. Features a lovely fragrance and exceptionally long lasting blooms. This variety is ideal for growing on trellises.

Growing Information: Safe for bees & good for pollinators

Days to Germination: 10 to 14 days

Grows Best In: Full Sun

Growing Height: 2.1m (7')

Viola cornuta. Pink and maroon tipped petals surround a bright yellow centre streaked with distinctive black markings. Rose Antique Gem are hybrid pansies that are heat tolerant, but also have strong overwintering ability. Flowering occurs in early spring through late May, and again in the fall, into early winter. Masses of flowers appear atop short plants that only grow 15-25cm (6-10”) tall. This is a good candidate for containers or edging, and it looks great around the edges of raised vegetable beds. The flowers are edible, and are sensational if they are candied before adding to fancy desserts.