Annual. Has large spurless upward-facing flowers borne above the foliage. Compact non-trailing plant habit. Recommended for commercial growers. Edible flowers with spicy sweet fragrance lend a peppery-sweet taste to salads, with each color adding contrast and subtle variations in flavor. Round leaves also edible. 12" plants.
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| Variety | Product Type | Hybrid Status | Days to Maturity | Bloom Color | Lifecycle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Mix | seeds | open pollinated | 60 days | multi-colored | annual |
| Cherrelle | seeds | open pollinated | cherry red | annual | |
| Empress of India | seeds | open pollinated | 60 days | crimson scarlet | annual |
| Cream Troika | seeds | open pollinated | 65 days | creamy yellow | annual |
| Jewel Mix | seeds | open pollinated | 42 days | multi-colored | annual |
|
Jewel Mix Organic |
seeds | open pollinated | 42 days | multi-colored | annual |
| Tall Climbing Mix | seeds | open pollinated | 65 days | multi-colored | annual |
| Peach Melba | seeds | open pollinated | 60 days | primrose cream | annual |
| Whirlybird 7-Color Blend | seeds | open pollinated | 60 days | multi-colored | annual |
Annual. The name literally means ‘twisted nose,’ from the Latin nasus for nose and tortus for twist. Edible flowers with a spicy sweet fragrance lend a peppery-sweet taste to salads, with each color adding contrast and subtle variations in flavor. Round leaves also edible, and seeds can be pickled to make “capers.” Formerly used as a remedy against scurvy.
Culture: Blooms keep coming if cut, needs moisture and cool temperatures for optimal blooming. Intolerant of frost. Germinates in 7–10 days at 65°. Cover the seed. Avoid excess nitrogen, but don’t relegate nasties to the worst soil. Likes full sun. Start indoors or direct seed after last frost.
All flower seeds are open-pollinated except where noted.
Days in parentheses after a variety indicate days to first bloom.
Almost all the flowers we list are open- pollinated and easy to save seed from. Some types cross readily, but who cares! Save the seeds, plant them, and be surprised.
These flowers are especially easy to save seed from: bachelor’s buttons, calendula, cerinthe, cosmos, love-in-a- mist (nigella), nasturtium, poppy, strawflower, sunflower, sweet pea and tithonia.
For the latest results of our germination tests, please see the germination page.
All of our seeds are non-GMO, and free of neonicotinoids and fungicides. Fedco is one of the original companies to sign the Safe Seed Pledge.
From early May through mid-December, items shipping from our garden seeds warehouse ship twice a week, usually Tuesday and Thursday. For quickest turnaround time order online by noon Monday or Wednesday.