From the first crocuses to emerge through the spring’s melting snow, through summer’s warmth and fall’s chill, flowers satisfy our need for beauty (while feeding our allies, the pollinators!).
Xerochrysum bracteatum (80 days) Open pollinated. Light pink to warm rose 2–2½" double flowers bloom lavishly throughout the season for stellar fresh and dried bouquets. Annual.
Lathyrus odoratus Open pollinated. Semi-dwarf 20" bush-type plants need no support, produce full-length stems. Mix includes chianti, pink, blue-violet and lavender.
Ipomoea purpurea (50 days) Open pollinated. Rich deep purple flowers vibrate against lush green foliage. Starts blooming while it is only 2' tall and still vining.
Helianthus annuus Open pollinated. Luxuriant 8" blooms with lemon-yellow petals surrounding striking solid brown centers. Can grow up to 10' tall in rich soil. Organic.
Salvia splendens (70-85 days) Open pollinated. Glowing red tubular flowers grow along spikes on a big bushy low-maintenance shrub-like plant. Pollinators love them. 24" tall.
Gaillardia pulchella Open pollinated. Daisy-type flowers in reds, yellow, rust and orange with a prominent colored center. Free flowering, low maintenance and easy to grow. Attracts butterflies. Good cutflower.
Zinnia elegans (95 days) Open pollinated. Crimson-centered flowers with petal edges that appear dipped in gold. Reliable, long vase life, easy to grow. An excellent replacement for Zowie!
Helianthus annuus (120 days) Open pollinated. A traditional variety of giant single-stem sunflower with large seed heads. One to grow if you want to eat the seeds or plant a maze. 6”12'.
Lathyrus odoratus (75 days) Open pollinated. Mixture of crimson, scarlet, white, lavender, deep rose, medium blue and pink. Long stems make ideal cutflowers. 4-6' staking variety.
Eschscholzia californica (60 days) Open pollinated. Cheery cup-shaped silky blooms range from light orange to deep rust, opening their faces to the sun each morning and closing up again at night.
Xerochrysum bracteatum Open pollinated. Hot pink, light pink, white, gold and deep rose. 2-2½" fully double flowers, excellent for drying. 30-40" tall.
Helianthus annuus (65 days) F-1 hybrid. Also known as Rouge Royale. Gorgeous 5-7" dark red pollen-free blossoms on 5-6' multi-branching stems. Favorite among commercial growers for its color.
Nicotiana sylvestris Open pollinated. Clusters of drooping tubular white blossoms that perfume the garden day and night. Full powerful scent. 4–5' tall.
Tropaeolum minus (60 days) Open pollinated. Named for the dessert. Primrose-cream blossoms with pearly red centers. Sets abundant blooms above compact lily-pad foliage.
Lathyrus latifolius Open pollinated. The traditional English cottage sweet pea. Shades of rose, white and pink in big clusters. Good cutflowers. Climbs 6'.
Phacelia tanacetifolia Open pollinated. Small frizzy lavender-blue flowers. Long bloom period. Excellent for pollinators and beneficial insects. Bushy 18-30" plants.
Phacelia tanacetifolia Open pollinated. The small frizzy curling lavender-blue sprays provide high-quality pollen and nectar. Can be used to increase beneficial insect diversity and populations while suppressing weeds. Great for honey.
Antirrhinum majus (110 days) F-1 hybrid. A marvelous assembly of our favorite pinks and purples from the Potomac Snapdragon series. All colors mature at the same time and have impressively sturdy stems and a long vase life.
Rudbeckia hirta (88 days) Open pollinated. Very large and distinctive. Pointy golden petals with light yellow tips. Branching 24-30" plants have long stems, ideal for cutflowers.
Zinnia elegans Open pollinated. Small 2' plants with flowers 2½-3" across. Wide range of colors includes orange, yellow, white, pink, lavender and scarlet.
Verbena bonariensis (90 days) Open pollinated. Proud strong 3”4' stems topped with vibrant purple flowers that bloom from July to October. Ideal cutflower. Extremely drought-resistant.
Scabiosa atropurpurea Open pollinated. Mix features purple, lavender, red, pink, white and almost-maroon. Each 2" bloom is a rounded mass of tiny florets.
Matthiola incana (90 days) Open pollinated. Soft lovely mostly double blooms sit atop sturdy 24" stems. A bouquet of this stock can perfume an entire room with its deep warm peppery scent.
