SEED LIST 2011
Hill View is a small mail order nursery specialising in bulbous plants and this catalogue lists seeds collected in the Mediterranean region and from our own stock plants. A high degree of confidence is placed on the identification and provenance of all the items on offer and some of these will not be readily available elsewhere. There is a strong emphasis on crocus, colchicum and fritillaria with an additional list of choice selections.
Growing from seed may seem like an unassailable challenge to the novice, however many of the species listed here will germinate freely and quickly and there are some important advantages in raising a batch of plants from scratch. The grower gets to know better each species" requirements as well as having the opportunity to develop and hone one's gardening skills. They will also have a range of individual plants from which to select superior forms and try in various garden situations - all at a fraction of the cost of a smaller batch of purchased bulbs.
One packet will include from 15 to 25 seeds unless indicated on the individual listing. Germination and ongoing cultivation notes will be included with each item. I hope that there is something in this catalogue that fits into your personal "must have" list of plants and tempts a try.
Marcus
For Ordering and Freight details plus order form, please see SEED ORDERING.
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COLCHICUM
A large and diverse genus that includes autumn, winter and spring flowering species which are superficially similar to crocus in flower shape though restricted in colour from white to pink and rosier hues. Not given the attention they deserve, in Australia mainly because the available garden hybrids have large flabby leaves. This list includes some really splendid plants, which don't present this problem to the gardener.
COLCHICUM BIVONAE Mt Taygetos, Lakonia, Greece. 1000m Large heavily tessellated rosy purple bell-shaped blooms in autumn. Widely distributed in southern Europe and int
o western Turkey and one of the best. $5.00
COLCHICUM CORSICUM ex cult. No data. Mid-pink flowers over narrow, short, deep-green leaves in autumn. Apparently rare in the wild I find it easy, going well from both seed and offsets. $5.00
COLCHICUM CUPANII Poros, Argolida, Greece. 300m A widespread dainty autumn flowerer with pale pink to deep purple-pink funnel to star-shaped blooms, and purple-brown anthers. $5.00
COLCHICUM FASCICULARE ex Harry Hay, original collection S/L 104, Wadi Musa, Petra, Jordan. Many small pale pink flowers in clusters in late autumn followed by narrow, channelled leaves. Very rare offering.
5 seeds for $4.00
COLCHICUM GRAECUM ex Mt Parnassos, Sterea Ellada, Greece. 900m. One of the earliest autumn flowering species bearing large, bright, rose-pink, open-cupped flowers. These are faintly tessellated in darker pink and held in large clusters of up to 5 flowers. $5.00
COLCHICUM LONGIFOLIUM ex Harry Hay. No collection data. Heavily textured, bright pink, slightly funnel-shaped flowers produced in clusters during autumn. Close to C. neapolitanum but larger and more vigorous. 5 seeds for $4.00
COLCHICUM NEAPOLITANUM var. MACRANTHUM ex Harry Hay from original coll., Mt. Tischka, Morocco. Near to Colchicum autumnale but leaves are shorter and linear-lanceolate. Relatively large, campanulate flowers from purple-pink to white, occasionally tessellated, in early autumn. $5.00
COLCHICUM SFIKASIANUM Porto Kagio, Mani, Greece.100m. Endemic to the coastal limestones of S Greece and a few of the Ionian islands always at low altitudes. "Rediscovered" in 1995, autumn flowers, heavily chequered with amethyst purple on a whitish ground, appear without the narrow, twisted leaves which emerge in spring to lie undulate on the ground. 5 seeds for $6
COLCHICUM SOBOLIFERUM (syn. Merendera sobolifera) ex Holubec, Iranian collection. A distinct little flowering bulb from southern Europe right across to Iran. Stoloniferous corms, similar to C. boisseri, andstarry, white to pale pink flowers over a long period in spring.
10 seeds for $6.00
COLCHICUM TURCICUM Tria Pigada, Mt Vermion, Thessalonika, Greece. 1400m A rare wild collection of a seldom offered species. Similar to C. autumnale but readily distinguished from it by its glaucous, wavy leaves and deep crimson-purple flowers, up to 8, in late autumn. $7.00
CROCUS
A wonderfully diverse genus bearing their goblet and cup shaped flowers from early autumn right through to spring in a mix of colours and patterns. Here in southern Australia they present no problems germinating and can be easily grown in the garden given sensible placement and free-draining soil conditions.
CROCUS ABANTENSIS Abant Golu, Bolu, Turkey 1100m. One of only a handful of true blue flowering crocus. Iit blooms in late winter bearing mid to deep blue flowers with a distinctive, contrasting golden-yellow throat. Found only from this damp, cold area of NW Turkey. A very rare offering. 5 seeds for $5.00
CROCUS BIFLORUS ssp ALEXANDRII Mt Falakron, N of Drama, Macedonia, Greece. 1100m Presently known in Greece only from this site and at Granitis close to the Bulgaian border.. At its best, large, rich violet-blue flowers with snow white inner petals and yellow anthers. Lovely spring flowering race. $4.00
CROCUS BIFLORUS ssp ? BIFLORUS From the most easterly occurring population of this species. Collected by us on Rhodos, close to the Turkish mainland. Some have the black anthers that are characteristic ofssp nubigeus, so maybe not so clear-cut. Richly striped in chestnut-brown on a yellowish ground. $5.00
CROCUS BIFLORUS ssp MELANTHERUS Mantherya, Peleponnese, Greece. 800m An endemic race confined to the central and north of the Peleponnese and only one of two autumn flowering species in this group. Upright goblets always white with variable exterior markings and along with C. biflorus ssp crewii has striking dark maroon anthers. $5.00
CROCUS BIFLORUS ssp PULCHRICOLOR Ulu Dag, Bursa, Turkey. 1200m. Rich, violet-blue, yellow-throated spring flowering race native to the damp meadows of the NW corner of Turkey. Large flowers and a tough constitution. $4.00
CROCUS BORYI ex Taygetos Mts., Peleponnese, Greece. 1200m Large creamy white goblets with striking orange-red feathery styles in the autumn. This original high altitude collection indicates the species has a much wider range than first determined. Found it this trip in Greek Macedonia! $6.00
CROCUS CANCELLATUS ssp MAZZIARICUS Several collections from Poros, Samos and the Taygetos Mts. Large autumn flowering species of great ornamental value. Often white but can be lilac through to lilac-blue, exterior darkly veined. Fine example on the front cover of Chris Grey-Wilson"s latest publication, A Field guide to the bulbs of Greece. $4.00
CROCUS CHRYSANTHUS Mt Parnassos, Sterea Ellada, Greece. 1100m A widely distributed species from Albania, to the Balkans, and into central Greece and Turkey. Found here growing in close proximity to Crocus cancellatus ssp mazziaricus. Beautiful, bright yellow flowers with large thickly textured segments in late winter. The "unimproved" parent of many of the garden hybrids. $6.00
CROCUS CYPRIUS ex D.B. Stephens 96-08 coll. Chionistra, Troodos, Cyprus. Little-known member of the Biflori Series found only from high up in the western Troodos Mountains. Flowers from pale to deep lilac-blue with white inner petals with brilliant red-orange stigmas. 10 seeds for $6
CROCUS FLAVUS Ulu Dag, Bursa, Turkey 700m. The true wild plant native to SE Europe into NW Turkey and found here at the edges and in openings of pine forest. Large, profuse, fiery, orange-yellow flowers in spring make it one of the finest garden plants in the genus. $5.00
CROCUS HADRIATICUS Mantherya, Lakonia, Peleponnese, Greece. 800m Another striking autumn flowering Greek species found growing alongside C. b melantherus here in Virgil"s Ancient Paradise. Glistening white with deep yellow in the throat and erect scarlet styles. $6.00
CROCUS KOSANINII ex Crocus Group, no collection data. Bright mineral-violet flowers sparsely feathered on the outside, paler inside with a bright yellow throat. An excellent species bearing clusters of blooms in spring. A Kosovo endemic. 10 seeds for $6
CROCUS KOTSCHYANUS ssp KOTSCHYANUS ex JCA from original R&R Wallis collection. Slunfeh, Syria 1450m. Elegant lilac flowers, with yellow blotched throats, on tall tubes, in autumn. Easy in the garden where it will gently spread around. $4.00
CROCUS LAEVIGATUS ex Karystos, Evia, Greece. 50m Late autumn to winter flower only found in Greece and some of its islands. Variable over its range in flower size, shape and colouring. In this area the tendency is towards large white to lilac flowers boldly stripped metallic purple externally. $6.00
CROCUS LONGIFLORUS ex M. Salmon Collection A lovely and very easy autumnal species from Italy and Malta. These are from Monte Stella, Calabria, Italy. Large, delightfully scented, lilac to deeper purple flowers over an extended period. $4.00
CROCUS MINIMUS " BAVELLA" A dramatic form originally collected by Alan Edwards on the Col de Bavella, Corsica
. Aubergine-purple on the outer petals and deep lilac on the inner ones, the whole thing set off to perfection by a pure white stigma. Comes true from seed though some may show a narrow white rim surrounding the dark outer petals.
8 seeds for $6
CROCUS NIVEUS Kosmos, Mani, Greece. 800m Autumnal chalices in either pure white or faintly bicoloured with lilac. An unusual collection because of the uncharacteristically high altitude and the locality, this species is most commonly found in the central "Prong" of the Peleponnese at lower levels. $5.00
CROCUS OLIVIERI ssp OLIVIERI Steno, Lakonia, Peloponnese, Greece. 500m Widespread spring-flowering type species found in scattered populations below 1500 metres right across the Balkans, Greece and northern Turkey. Bright orange flowers devoid of external markings, open dish-like, flat to the sun. $5.00
CROCUS PALLASII ssp PALLASII ex Dark Throat Form Large, pale lilac, sometime almost white flowers with bright red styles. Found growing in cracks on flat limestone slabs with iris, fritillaria and Colchicum variegatum. Needs a dry summer rest. $6.00
CROCUS PASCHEI ex HKEP 90-34 collection from "somewhere" in the Eastern Taurus Mts, Turkey. "700-1400m. Lilac-blue, spring flowers, silvery or buff on the outside, with a yellow throat. Trfid, orange-red stigmas. Still very rare in cultivation which is surprising because it appears not too difficult. 10 seeds for $6.00
CROCUS PULCHELLUS ex Ulu Dag, Bursa, Turkey. 1200m Large elegant autumn goblets of lavender blue with a touch of yellow in the throat. Here on Ulu Dag there appears to be a high percentage of albinos, which make equally beautiful garden plants. $4.00
CROCUS SIEBERI ssp NIVALIS Lagada Pass, Lakonia, Peleponesse, Greece. 1000m Mathew has given subspecies rank to this race, which grows, at higher levels in the Taygetos Mountains. He distinguishes between this and the closely proximate C.s. ssp sublimis on the basis of a smooth throat and slight differences in the tunic. $5.00
CROCUS SIEBERI ssp SIEBERI Kallergi Refuge, Omalos, Crete, Greece. 1300m. Beautiful type race, endemic to Crete and rarely seen in gardens. Flowers in spring, white ground variably stippled with purple brush-marks on exterior, orange or deep yellow throat. $6.00
CROCUS TOURNEFORTII Serifos, Cyclades, Greece. 50m A close relative of C. boryi and C. laevigatus this delightful species never "puts it's feet" on mainland Greece choosing to hop the islands instead. Wide- openlilac blue to white flowers deeply veined violet with a yellow throat and frothy orange stigma in mid autumn. $5.00
CROCUS VELUCHENSIS Kajmakcalan, Pela, Greece 1600m Large, pale to deep lilac-blue flowers, often with darker tips, but without the yellow throat of its close relative, C. sieberi ssp sublimis. Likes it cool and not too dry to do well. $6.00
FRITILLARIA
This genus has a strong following amongst dwarf bulb enthusiasts at present probably because there are so many species being currently brought in cultivation.
FRITILLARIA ARGOLICA Poros, Argolida, Greece. 300m Handsome species from abandoned olive groves on the island of Poros near the NE tip of the Argolida peninsula. Early bells in reddish-brown, stippled green and gold on tall stems. $5.00
FRITILLARIA BITHYNICA Mt Ambelos, Samos, Greece. 800m Essentially a Turkish native but crosses over into Greek territory here and possibly Chios or maybe that's F. peliniae? Delightful plant with long elegant bells in a bloomy yellow-green followed by strongly winged capsules. This island race is not well known in cultivation. $6.00
FRITILLARIA CONICA Agios Nicholaos, Pylos, Messenia, Greece. 100m Bright yellow flowered species distinguishable by its very cone-shaped bells on quite tall stems, glossy green leaves. Check the luscious photo, p.350 of the SRGC's The Garden, June 2002. Very local and possibly threatened but easy going in cultivation. $7.00
FRITILLARIA DAVISII Porto Kagio, Mani, Greece. 100m Another Greek endemic found only on the southern end of the middle "prong"of the southern Peleponnese. Deep chocolate bells, sometimes with a soft darker chequering over bright green shiny leaves. $5.00
FRITILLARIA DRENOVSKYI Mt Falakron, N of Drama, Macedonia, Greece. 800m Elegant species with thin, scattered grey-green leaves on slender stems. Long, narrow bells from dark chocolate to honey-brown. Endemic to the Greek-Bulgarian border ranges. 15 seeds for $5.00
FRITILLARIA EHRHARTII East of Karystos, Evia, Greece 100m. Bloomy, yellow-tipped, grape-black bells that glow to ruby in the spring light. A native to a few sites in S Euboea and the Kiklades and rarely offered but has proven an easy species for a dry site. $5.00
FRITILLARIA GRAYANA ex cult. No data. A surprisingly easy American species (I wish there were more!). Closelyrelated to F. biflora, shiny green leaves and shiny purple brown bells with a white blotch on each petal. $5.00
FRITILLARIA MESSANENSIS SSP MESSANENSIS East of Spili, Rethymno, Crete, Greece 850m. This is the Cretan race collected on the foothills of Mt. Kedros,near Spili. Very elegant, urn-shaped, early flowers chequered green and reddish-brown, on tall stems. $5.00
FRITILLARIA PONTICA ex Lake Abant, Bolu, Turkey. Widespread throughout Thrace and northern Turkey this species produces big, fat bells in apple green, tinged with terra cotta to pink at the tips. Rewarding species for the novice and very useful in the open garden. $5.00
FRITILLARIA RHODOKANAKIS Hydra, Argolida, Greece. 100m Widely flaring bells in sumptuous imperial purple broadly tipped yellow, sometimes wholly yellow. Mid-sized fritillaria with strong, green upright leaves. A personal favourite. $5.00
FRITILLARIA SIBTHORPIANA ssp ENGENII ex JCA, NE of Marmaris, Mugla, Turkey. Described in 1995 from ranges inland of the type. Differs in having 4 leaves, rather than 2, and dull-yellow to greenish yellow flowers. Visited the locus classicus in 1999 and found it completely destroyed by forestry operations. 15 seeds for $6.00
FRITILLARIA SPETSIOTICA Profitis Ilias, Spetses, Argolida, Greece. 250m Recently described island species close to F. argolica and F. rhodokanakis. Purple and chestnut-brown flowers with yellow fascia on tall stems. Certainly not a dwarf, as stated by Chris Grey-Wilson's in his otherwise highly commendable recent publication, A Field Guide to the Bulbs of Greece. $5.00
FRITILLARIA THESSALA ssp IONICA ex JCA collection, Pantokrator, Corfu, Greece. 850m. Jim Archibald states this is doubtfully separable from mainland populations but he retained the name for this island race. Big green bells touched with pink and purple tessellations on the margins. Good grower even in the garden. $5.00
OTHER BURIED TREASURES
ALLIUM ACUMINATUM ex Ron Ratko NNS 01-2 Blue Mts., Wallowa Co., Oregon 1200m. An outstanding small onion that bears tight clusters of rose-violet florets, which curve gracefully outwards as they taper to sharp points. $5.00
ALLIUM KARATAVIENSE ex Harry Hay, original coll. Tashkent, Uzbekstan. A standout dwarf species from the Acanthoprason section. Very ornamental plant with a large, tight ball of creamy-white to pink florets nestled betwee
n two broad, gray-green leaves in late spring. $5.00
ALLIUM PENINSULARE ex Ron Ratko collections along the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Butte Co., California. 300m A prolific bloomer and a great new introduction to the late spring garden with its striking urn-shaped flowers of rich amethyst-violet held in a loose umbel on 25cm stems. $4.00
ALLIUM NEVSKIANUM ex JCA 134.200 Varsob Gorge, Tajikistan. 1200m Another outstanding member of the Acanthoprason section bearing very large, spherical umbels of rich dusky-pink florets between 2 broad, blue-green leaves. 10 seeds for $8.00
ALLIUM SCHUBERTII ex cult. No data. A striking allium bearing a large, loosely spherical cluster of star-shaped florets in rose-pink, as big as a soccerball!! Flower heads have up to 200 individual florets each on its own pedical which are variable in length. The overall effect is like a frozen fireworks display. $6.00
ALLIUM SCIULUM (Nectaroscordum siculum) ex cult No data. Large, nodding umbels of white or cream flowers, flushed pink or reddish purple, and stained light green at their base. The flowers are held on tallish stems, and are attractive when dry. A plant that makes a bold statement in the garden or border. $5.00
ANEMONE CORONARIA Charming species with large flowers in an extensive range of shades from pastel pink and smoky blue through to red. This strain is from Frederick Stern's garden at Highdown. $3.00
ANEMONE HELDREICHII Imbros Gorge, Central Southern Crete, Greece. 200m Native to the lowland gullies of Crete. White to bluish-white windflowers set off to perfection by a dark central zone of navy-blue anthers. $4.00
ARUM PICTUM ex R&R Wallis collection. No data. Native to the Balearic Islands, Corsica & Sardinia and the only species to flower in autumn. Short-stemmed, velvety, dark purple spathes with black spadices appear with its superb, dark, lustrous-green, pale-veined foliage. $5.00
ARUM PURPUREOSPATHUM ex JCA , original collection P. Boyce 51, Samaria Gorge, Crete, Greece. 100m Bears huge, velvety, dark purple spathe with black-purple spadix. $5.00
BRIMEURA AMETHYSTINA ex JCA 240.00 Vallee d'Ossoue, Hautes-Pyrenees, France 1500m Very dainty, miniature version of a bluebell bearing elegant clusters of bright blue bells into late spring. $4.00
CALOCHORTUS CLAVATUS ssp AVIUS ex JCA collection, Pollock Pines, El Dorado Co., Cal., USA. 1280m. A distinct, local endemic from the granites of the Sierra Nevada. One of the most spectacular mariposas with huge up-turned buttery-yellow to burnished gold bowls on stems up to 1m. 15 seeds for $5.00
CALOCHORTUS CLAVATUS ssp CLAVATUS ex JCA collection, La Cuesta Ridge, San Luis Obispo Co., Cal., USA. 665m. A massive mariposa with huge yellow, up-turned bowls with striking red-brown central markings. 15 seeds for $5.00
CALOCHORTUS CLAVATUS ssp RECURVIFOLIUS ex Norman Stevens. No data. Coastal subspecies endemic to San Luis Obispo Co., California. Several solid yellow bowls, lined in reddish-brown, on 25cm branched stems. Unlike its relatives this subspecies has coiling, recurved grey-backed leaves. $5.00
CALOCHORTUS FIMBRIATUS ex Ron Ratko collection NNS 01-95
Santa Ynez Mts, Santa Barbara Co., California. Large, squarish upward-facing bowls of opalescent pearl stippled and blotched with purple. Inside heavily speckled purple with a dense covering of yellow hairs. $5.00
CALOCHORTUS LUTEUS ex Ron Ratko collection NNS 00-127 Northern Sierra Nevada foothills, California. Large, upward- facing luminous yellow bowls marked with a dark red central blotch surrounded by bands of fine red penciling. $4.00
CALOCHORTUS OBISPOENSIS ex Ron Ratko collection NNS 01-78 Santa Lucia Range, Obispo Co., California. Golden-yellow, upward-facing, star-shaped flowers densely covered with tufts purple-brown hairs, especially at the tips. $4.00
CHIONODOXA FORBESII Baba Dag, Mugla, Turkey. 1100m. Under Cedars on steep limestone cliffs alongside Sternbergia candida. One of the first to flower for spring. Dazzling blue flowers with white centres. $3.00
CYCLAMEN COUM var. SILVER LEAF ex cult. No data. A stunning selection guaranteed to satisfy the most discerning gardener. Bone hardy, large pink flowers in winter and silver to sage-green leaves, some with a deep green edge or central "Xmas tree" markings. $4.00
CYCLAMEN GRAECUM ex Poros, Argolida, Greece. 50m Variable and wide-ranging species bearing a succession of shell pink to rosy-pink chubby flowers over a long period in autumn. Here's a chance to get some
wild provenance seed. $4.00
CYCLAMEN GRAECUM ex Pylos, Messenia, Greece. 20m Collected just below the old fort almost at sea level. An alternative selection from the opposite end of this species range in the Peleponnese. $4.00
CYCLAMEN HEDERIFOLIUM ssp HEDERIFOLIUM ex Pylos, Messina, Greece A range of pink and white forms with large bright green leaves with variable hastate patterns. This incomparable and iconic autumn-flowering species is the hardiest and best species for the garden. To quote EA Bowles "it pays the rent for most of the year". $4.00
CYCLAMEN HEDERIFOLIUM var. ARROW HEAD SILVER LEAF ex cult. No data. A distinct race carrying broad, arrowhead-shaped leaves washed in silvery pewter,some faintly marked in sage green.Large pink or white flowers throughout autumn. $4.00
CYCLAMEN HEDERIFOLIUM ex "RUBY GLOW" ex cult. No data. Darkest pink selection of this classic autumn flowering race. At its best
it bears a succession of strong magenta pink flowers throughout autumn and marbled leaves for almost the rest of the year. $5.00
CYCLAMEN PURPURASCENS ex JCA collection, Lake Bled, Slovenia 900m. An evergreen woodlander requiring no dormancy. Large, fragrant, carmine-pink flowers are borne throughout the year with a peak Pin summer. Enjoys dappled shade and will tolerate dry conditions. $5.00
CYCLAMEN RHODIUM SSP PELEPONNESIACUM Lagada Pass, Lakonia, Greece. 400m. One of the true gems of the genus with its distinctive large, lobed, mid-green leaves, splashed cream and white and luminous pale pink flowers. 15 seeds for $6
EREMURUS HIMALAICUS ex cult. No data. Tall, upright, elegant spires of densely packed florets in the purest white. One of the earliest and showiest of the foxtails reaching up to 1.7m. $4.00
GALANTHUS REGINAE-OLGAE Lagada Pass, Lakonia, Peleponnese, Greece. 700m A beautiful little snowdrop flowering quite early in autumn usually before the leaves appear. Grows here under plane trees in amongst sheets of Cyclamen rhodium ssp peleponnesiacum. $6.00
GLADIOLUS AUREUS ex cult. Very rare and endangered endemic currently restricted to a single site in the southern Cape Peninsula. Striking golden-yellow flowers on slender stems in late winter and early spring.
5 seeds for $4.00
GLADIOLUS ITALICUS N of Kalou Mani, Peleponnese, Greece. 100m Up to 15 pinkish-purple flowers on 1 metre stems over clumps of neat sword-like leaves. Vernally moist sites drying out during summer.
$4.00
PAEONIA KESROUANENSIS ex cult. No data. Species from the Syrian & Lebanese coastal mountains. Large, soft-pink flowers on t
all stems open very early as the foliage unfurls. 8 seeds for $6.00
PRIMULA BULLEYANA candelabra primula with whorls of orange flowers on tall stemsopening from the bottom upwards. Does best in damp soil in a sunny spot, although will tolerate some shade. Discovered in Yunnan in the same year as Primula beesiana, by George Forrest in
1906. $5.00
PRIMULA JAPONICA ALBA Crisp white form of the Japanese Primrose, a very easy, long-lived species bearing clusters of scalloped-edge yellow/pink-eyed flowers arranged candelabra fashion in whorls on tall stems. Prefers woodland or moist, peaty soil in part sun. $4.00
PRIMULA JAPONICA APPLE BLOSSOM STRAIN Soft pink version of the entry above. A delight when mixed together in clumps.
$5.00
PRIMULA JAPONICA MILLERS CRIMSON STRAIN A fine rich-red strain of this species making robust clumps of red-ribbed, light-green leaves from which emerge whorls of large, deep red flowers on tall stems.
$5.00
PRIMULA VULGARIS ssp SIBTHORPII Tria Pigada, Mt Vermion, Pela, Greece. 1100m True wild species found growing in large clumps through open beech forest and hazel nut groves in moist flushes. John Richards in, Mountain Flower Walks : Greek Mainland, reports that flower colour vary from white through to pink in this area. $6.00
ROMULEA HARTUNGII (syn. R. grandiscapa) ex cult. No data. Large, purple-blue stars with yellow throat over neat,wiry foliage in spring. This species is from the Canary Islands so easy in a sunny pocket. Much neglected but rewarding genus. $4.00
ROMULEA REQUIENII ex Alan Edwards collection, Pointe de Revellata, Corsica, France. 10m. Lovely European species with short, prostrate leaves and almost stemless flowers of the most intense violet set off by bright yellow anthers. $4.00
SALVIA POMIFERA Agios Fokas, Lakonia, Peloponnese, Greece. 20m.Branching, shrubby plant bearing very aromatic, silvery-green leaves and dense whorls of large pale blue to lilac-blue flowers with papery, fuchsia-coloured bracts. 10 seeds for $4.00
SALVIA SCLAREA ex Lambley Nursery from JCA collection, no further data. Superb form of the Clary Sage which is widespread in Greece and Turkey. Soft mounds of broadly lanceolate, crinkly, grey-green leaves from which spring enormous columns of lilac-blue, white-lipped flowers surrounded by pink, white and green bracts. $4.00
SCILLA MORRISSII ex JCA from D. Meikle 4015 collection, Paphos district, Cyprus. 700m. Very local Cyprus endemic bearing erect racemes of 3-5 campanulate flowers in milky-white, tinged lilac, pale-blue anthers. Lovely in early spring. $4.00
SCILLA SIBERICA ex JCA.No data. Flowers of the deepest, rich blue with black anthers and pollen on tall spikes in earliest spring. Easy and rewarding plant to let loose in the garden. $3.00
STERNBERGIA CANDIDA Baba Dag, Mugla, Turkey. 1100m. Under Cedars on steep limestone cliffs. A unique plant in this yellow-flowered genus, discovered by Oleg Polunin in1976. Robust plant with strappy, grey-green leaves and large, pure-white flowers in winter through to spring. Rare offering. 5 seeds for $7
TULIPA CRETICA A dainty tulip endemic to Crete with coiled grey leaves and white to pale to rose-pink star-shaped flowers on 15cm stems very early in the season. A personal favourite. $6.00
TULIPA SP. aff. SPREGERI ex Van Tubergen. A mystery tulip listed by Janis Ruksans under this name but everyone now agrees it isn't. No-one has yet to come up with anything better! Bright crimson flower, with jet
black anthers, and a black base on tall stems. Glaucous leaves, broader at the base. 10 seeds for $4.00