178 
Hints on Planting 
Penstemon Seed 
By Ralph Sennett, Virginia 
Part of Penstemon Society Circular. 
There is nothing inherently difficult about 
the seeds in Groups A to C as listed below. 
They need only common sense treatment, not 
coddling. Treat them like you would any 
other choice perennial seeds in your locality. 
Many failures result from seed beds or 
flats drying out when seedlings are tiny. 
Shading them by a lath frame or brush 
will prevent that. In wet springs be on the 
safe side and protect from cloudbursts 
with plastic glass covers or glass sash, so 
the seedlings will not be drowned or washed 
together. 
Don’t be one of those who every year 
report plantings ruined by wild beasts, such 
as dogs, cows, children, giraffes and hip- 
popotami. There must be a way to keep 
them out. Chicken wire, 1/2-inch mesh, 
laid over beds or flats will keep out the 
smaller but equally destructive fauna: cats, 
mice, squirrels, birds, etc. Put in the bot- 
tom of the beds it will say “No” to those 
pesky moles. 
Plant seeds any time during the winter 
or early spring, but to be sure of good re- 
sults, do it early enough so you will be 
sure to get some freezing weather to strat- 
ify the seeds. They can be sown on top of 
frozen ground and covered with a little 
sand or something like asparagus tops to 
prevent the wind blowing them away.’ 
Don’t be in a hurry about transplanting 
the seedlings to the garden. They take 
hold better when two or three inches high 
than when tiny. 
Group A 
Easy, perennial, the showy border types. 
Treat as other perennials; they respond to 
good treatment. Dependable in all parts 
of the country except possibly in the ex- 
tremely cold and extremely dry states. 
Arlington Hybrid. 
This is the Gladwyne strain or that 
crossed, in my opinion, with P. canescens. 
The great vigor and extreme variation of 
the seedlings indicate, to me, a hybrid. 
All forms are good; 12-30 inches high, 
purplish pink, purple, lavender to violet. 
Very floriferous. 
Rose Queen. 
Seeds from plants with old-rose flowers 
in Phlox-like heads on stiff, erect stems. 
Some may come in lavender instead of rose; 
30 inches high. 
Smalli. 
Rose-pink flowers set off by showy green 
bracts, extra long-blooming; 18 inches. 
Lavender. Queen. 
Like Rose Queen but in different tones of 
lavender and purplish pink. 
White Queen. 
The best white in P. digitalis; 30-36 inches 
high, Phlox-like plants, pure white, large 
flowers, long-lasting when cut. The strain 
comes true from seed. 
brevisepalus. 
Low growing, about 8 inches, pink to lav- 
ender flowers on arching stems above dense 
clumps of crinkly bright green | leaves 
handsome all the year round, even in mid- 
summer and dead of winter. 
ovatus. 
Sky-blue flowers in. Phlox-like heads on 
strong, erect stems. Does well everywhere; 
2-3 feet high. 
Flathead Lake. 
A universal favorite; 18-24 inches. Pink 
flowers and somewhat like P. barbatus but 
(Continued on Page 179) 
CENTAUREA - CENTRANTHUS 
This seed list continues from page to page and from issue to isue and runs alphabetically. 
CELMISIA. (kla-MIS-ah) Compositae. J 
Perennial plants of New Zealand and Australia; large solitary heads of pure white 
ray or disk flowers. Can be planted on the Pacific Coast. 
—ceriacea Monroii. Striking with silvery fol; lge white fis; SG SERED eecsass CELM-1. 50¢ 
—longifolia. Very hardy mt. daisy; white tipped pink; 6 in; ELP Pa sscccteeses CELM-5. 50¢ 
—laevigata. Sugar-berry. Fr. orange-red; Ind-Tex; to ae Pi eansebratss CELT-9(S).....50¢ 
—iissippiensis: see laevigata. 
—occidentalis. Fr orange-red;Canada-Ala; to 120 ft recesses CELT-11(S). 50¢ 
CENTAUREA. (sen-tau-REE-ah) Compositae. ; 
Herbaeous annuals and perennials. There are many species, all of which have 
garden value, bloomjng from June to frost. Annuals are hardy; plant early. 
BACHELOR BUTTONS, CORNFLOWERS, BLUE BOTTLE; HA, 2, ft; fine cut flowers. 
—Black Boy. Blackish maroon _ fiowers; CLOUT coc tcseascaneeuercessanes'senentelieanescaners CENT-1K. 15¢ 
—Blue Boy. Sky-blue, large GAouble flOWETS........eeceesesessssseesseeenetees .. CENT-1B. 15¢ 
—Emperor William. A lovely clear light blue; one of the best... ... CENT-I1E. 15¢ 
. CENT-1M. 15¢ 
—Maroon. Large Gouble  flOWETS.....csssessseeneensercnenseretsessesesecnssesasnaess ae 
—Mauve. Large double Mauve flOWETS.......s.ssesesererereeesesesseress .. CENT-1V. 15¢ 
—Pinkie. Deep pink, double flowers; excellent Cyn aeub ores perrerosccr OOO ee CENT-1P. 15¢ 
. CENT-IR. 15¢ 
—Red Boy. Large dotible red flOWETLS.....cceeseecesesrerereeesens ee 
uw. CENT-1Z. 15¢ 
—Rose. Large double Tose VaLiety...srccessssssserseersereesnseree 
—Snowman. The best pure white; CGouble flOWETS......cserereeessersereeresceesnes CENT-1W. 15¢ 
—SPICNGENS. .o.ccecsesscescersececsererscecssensnesvenecsessessenssrnencaseneacecsssavensasecesesenses . CENT-28S. 15¢ 
—Blend of Above Varieties. A real hand made LOT creecrcasecorecsetssesesnneses CENT-1X. 15¢ 
C.CYANUS NANA: These grow 12” tall making excellent bedding plants or for pots. 
—Azure Fairy. Double light delf-blue, extra GOuUb1e; DUSHY........sccerrcerseereeeee CENT-2Z. 15¢ 
—Jubilee Gem. Dwarf compact, 12’, double dark blue; edging or pots....CENT-2J. 20¢ 
Polar Gem. A new white variety of Jubilee Gem... CENT-2P. 20¢ 
—Lilac Lady. A pretty lilac or lavender variety; double.. ..CENT-2L. 20¢ 
—Purple Prince. Dwarf purple; pretty cut flower............. ..CENT-2R. 20¢ 
—Mixed Dwarf Varieties. The above kinds POL@TUCL GC eeetecsccesssstececacvectvensomuese CENT-2X. 15¢ 
C. IMPERIALIS: Giant Sweet Sultan. Hybrids between C. moschata and it white var- 
jety; 4 ft. fragrant; flawers soft thistle-like heads; makes nice border plants and cut; HA. 
—Dark Blue. Exellent fOr CuUttING.............c.sccccsesssssesesersssscvserceseccssessessscssonesecsecenerss CENT-28B. 15¢ 
—graxioza. Lilac flOWETS..........sseere ose 
—Rose. Deep pure color strain. ...CENT-28Z. 15¢ 
—White. Pure White Strain... cccecccsseesee cesrereccseessseeres ..CENT-28W. 15¢ 
—Imperialis Blend. A hand made TSM GOs ICOLOLS cen cesvcestteccsescasasévecceuspascaceners CENT-28X. 15¢ 
C. MOSCHATA: Sweet Sultan. Fragrant white, yellow or purple solitary flowers, 2” 
across, beautifully soft and fluffy. Fjne for both border or for cutting, hardy annuals. 
—The Bride. Large pure white, charming, Quits FLAN. ..CENT-45D. 15¢ 
—suaveolens. Yellow Sweet Sultan, 2%) ft, HA........ .CENT-458S. 15¢ 
—Blue. A ich DIVE Strain... ceceeeseeneeeeserseereeeees .CENT-45B. 15¢ 
—Pinks. A LOSE-PINK StVAUM Wo eeecceeserseneseeereescnscessecasectsnnerstnenecarsnensesssanecnensensnansanaseess CENT-45P. 15¢ 
—White. Pure white heads; needed iN CUttpg.........ececeeseseeeseseeessenssneeseneners CENT-45W. 15¢ 
—Moschata Blend. Hand made blend of colors for border or cutting........ CENT-45X. 15¢. 
CENTAUREA SPECIES: 
—americana, Lilac. Basket Flower. Thistle-like fis; 4-5” ac; HA CENT-7L. 15¢ 
—wWhite. Pure white fis; July-Sept; TAs. cccccc.cccssesscssessesessesenee .CENT-7W. 15¢ 
—-ANGLreWife cececcecesesceseccceesssencsccescnscsescenseesnesenscsenssasenserscensssensnsenencenenensenens deat ..C...ENT-8. 20¢ 
—dealbaia, Rose Delight. Mauve-rose; very pretty; 212’; HP.. - 
—depressa. Prostrate; blue heads 142” across; lvs silvery, HP.. CENT-21. 20¢ 
—Fritschii. Rose; heads 42 in. ac; 6 ft; HP... eseeseceseessessessseseeesssesssencerensesesencesesnens CENT-24. 20¢ 
—gymnocarpa. Dusty Miller. Lvs densely white, woolly; 2’;boxes HHP....CENT-30. 20¢ 
—Jacea. Solitary heads, 114” ac; purple; 2 ft; TDP cesses CENT-32(F). 35¢ 
—macrocephala. Enormous double golden fis; 3-4; July-Aug; HP......... .... CENT-38. 20¢ 
—montana. Mountain Bluet. Fls 2” ac; brilljant blue; June-Sept;2-3’;H»....CENT-45. 20¢ 
—_ White. Same with White  flOWETS.........ccescerersseseecessesrssceserserssseesnsnensesesees CENT-45W. 20¢ 
—orientalis. Yellow heads, 242” ac; 3 ft; HP... 
—plumosa. (nervosa) Deep purple; (3075, “TLD iiicscecessousseee .. CENT-55(F). 35) 
—ruthenica. Pale 2” yellow fis in heads; border; 37; HP......ssssssssseeenserers .CENT-62. 20¢ 
—Hardy Centaurea Blend. Just PMO MN AEG Var SP CCLESsosescssssscccesantcsscceneesernceceracduscnshss CENT-X. 20¢ 
CENTAURIUM. (sen-TAW-ree-um) CENTAURY (Erythraea) Gentianaceae. 
Grown in the border or rockery. They are not hardy in the North and require 
protection from the sun and frost. Annuals, a few biennial; best in a light sandy soil. 
—-Massonii. Wee cousin of Gentians; neat 12 in. tufts; pink; HHA.... CENA-4(W). 30¢ 
CENTRANTHUS. (sen-TRAN-thus) Valerianaceae. 
Annuals and perennials growing well from i 
dense terminal clusters. seed in the open border. 
—macrosjphon, Mixed. Pretty rose and white fis; 2 ft, HA 
CENTROPOGON. (sen-TROP-oh-gon) Lobeliacaea. 
Tropical American shrbby plants of a somewhat climbin 
house. They will make excellent basket plants. 
—psitiacimorphus. A species collected in Columbja, TP 
CEPHALARIA. (se-fah-LAY-ri-ah). 
Annuals and perennials with Scabiosa-like fio i 
cutflowers. Colors creamy white and various yellow. tints.  simelAugne wardinary toil 
—alpina. Sulphur-yeilow; heads 1%” ac; to 6 ft; 
_graeca. Yellow fis, long podaucied ends 280" ‘eee sone pitaishancouctsstacaeee CEPH-I(F). 35¢ 
—tataria. Tall robust habit; fls sulphur-yellow; 5 ft; ne ft; BP Merce oe 
ORDERS FOR SEED MAY BE AS LOW AS ONE PACKET; ORDER AS NEEDED 
PIONEER SEED COMPANY — DIMONDALE MICHIGAN 
.. CENT-51(F). 35¢ 
They have 
fosusecassedscsiesvansesssettete CENS-2. 15¢ 
g habit; grow in warm green- 
CROP-2. 25¢ 
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