Color Changing Double Confederate Rose Hibiscus mutabilis versicolor

Hibiscus mutabilis versicolor - A beauty with many names, the two most common names being Confederate Rose Hibiscus or Dixie Rose Mallow. Cotton Rose Hibiscus is another .This rare heirloom has long been a popular favorite among Southern gardeners! Clusters of 4-6" fully double, bright pink, peony-like flowers are born in late summer and into fall. Starting off white, they change to a light pink then dark pink as the day goes on. You can, at times, have all three colors on your bush at once which is really an awesome sight! It is a large deciduous shrub in mild climates or a vigorous perennial in the colder portions of its range. Tough, easy, and reliable! Full sun, Part sun, Part shade. Tolerant of poor soils. Zone 7-10.

Seeds found here: Color Changing Dixie Rose Hibiscus Seeds

Plants Found Here: Color Changing Confederate Rose Hibiscus Plants

 
Peony Hibiscus, Dixie rose mallow, rose confédérée, caprice de femme, cotton rosemallow, Cotton Rose Mallow, Hibiscus immutabilis.

 

Seedless Perennial Morning Glory Ipomoea acuminata

 

What a show this beauty is! It's a perennial and it doesn't reseed. Ipomoea acuminata learii or Ipomoea indica.

Blue Dawn or Oceanblue Morning Glory is a vigorous twining evergreen perennial with heart-shaped or 3-lobed leaves and wide-funnel-shaped flowers to 3-4 Inches across, opening over a long period from late spring to autumn. They don’t really close up like annual morning glories, but stay open most of the day and change color on a daily basis, starting out a bright blue in early morning, then changing to a darker blue by mid-day, then to a purplish-blue and finally to a dark pink at the end of the day. At the end of the year when the weather is cooler, the blooms will remain open into the next day turning a bright fuchsia color. Spectacular! The Plant is sterile and does not produce seeds, like other Morning glories, but can set roots of branched fall to the ground. Zone 8-11. Heavy bloomer. Container suitable.  

Found here:  Perennial Morning Glory

 

Tropical Perennial Pigeon Pea Trees Cajanus cajan

Very cool plant that grows into a small tree like shrub and provides a delicious harvest.
Pigeon peas, or Congo peas and Gungo peas, Cajanus cajan, are grown in warm and tropical regions throughout the world. This short-lived perennial plant can actually grow into a small shrubby tree and makes an excellent low hedge or windbreak. Pigeon pea seeds contain a large amount of protein and three important amino acids. People in the Dominican Republic and Hawaii grow the seeds for canning. The taste of pigeon peas is nutty and grain-like. Because of its high protein content, it is used as a substitute for meats. You can use the green peas like fresh peas, and the dried peas like any other dried peas, beans or lentils. The peas can also be sprouted to make them even more nutritious, and they can be ground into flour. It needs very little watering because of its deep root system. Pigeon peas can be of a perennial in which the crop can last 3–5 years or grown as an annual in cooler climates. Nitrogen fixer. 

 

Seed /Plant Source: Pigeon Pea

 

 

 

Other Names: Guandu, Dhal Gungo, Gandúl, No-eye pea, Red gram, Arhur, Grandul, Dhal, Toor, Grinds pea, Puerto Rico pea, Urhur, Pidgeon Pea, Feijao Guandu, Adhaki, Chieh Tu Tzu, Chieh Tu, Gandul, Guaduli, Guandul, Pois Cajan, Pois D'Angolie, Shan Tou Ken, Kachang gude, African Vegetables, Vegetables from Africa, Vegetables from Puerto Rico, Vegetables from Jamaica, Perennial vegetable, versatile vegetable, high protein vegetable

Magnificent Tree Marigold Tithonia Tithonia diversifolia

 

Tithonia diversifolia, also known as Bolivian Sunflower, Tree Marigold and Mexican Sunflower is a wonderful perennial subtropical plant - resilient and adaptable, very showy and unusual, unbelievably fast growing, comes back every year. Zone 8-10. This species grows fast and large and needs plenty of space in the landscape. Plants can easily grow to 12 feet tall and wide in a single year. The bright yellow to orange, 6-inch diameter flowers can appear anytime there is active growth, but bloom production peaks in late summer and fall. There is a slight, pleasant fragrance, highly attractive to bees and butterflies. They need a full sun location for best flower production, but the plants will also tolerate some shade. Also suitable for container culture in colder climates if pruned regularly.
Tithonia diversifolia enriches the soil and can be used as a green fertilizer, it has the ability to restore phosphorus in high amounts to the soil. As a green fertilizer it contains N - 1.76% P - 0.82% K - 3.92%. It can also be used as chicken feed, fuelwood, soil erosion control, and building materials. For fertilization, it is used as a mulch which can be spread on top of the soil or buried beneath it.

• Plant Source
  

Nine Star Perennial Broccoli !!

What do we have here? Rare 18th century heirloom. Finally got my hands on some Nine Star Perennial Broccoli. Nearly impossible to find in the USA.
This hardy, over-wintering brassica is a splendid and useful plant, producing a largish, central, cauliflower-like white head each spring, surrounded by anything from 5 to 15 smaller white multi-heads. Tastes slightly stronger in flavor than cauliflower, more like a cross between cauliflower and broccoli. Cropping improves if unused heads are removed before they go to seed. Very vigorous, this plant should go on for years. Hardiness zone 6+. It’s very possible to harvest up to 50 sprouting florets from one plant per season. Requires very rich soil. Tastes like a mild cauliflower with a hint of broccoli – very delicious.
This  is so exciting! 

Found Here: Brassica oleracea botrytis aparagoides

perennial vegetable, 9 star broccoli, 9 star cauliflower, ninestar broccoli, ninestar cauliflower, ossi seeds, rare heirloom, ancient vegetable, medieval vegetable, 9 star perennial, nine star perennial, rare seeds

Water Caltrop Bat Nut or Ling Nut Wicked Looking Aquatic Food

Happy Halloween! How about that! This in an interesting aquatic food that grows well in a container. 

The Ling Nut, Trapa bicormis, is a floating aquatic plant that grows best in slow moving or stagnant water, such as a pond, container or aquarium. It develops corms that are cooked, the interior eaten plain, fried or made in to butters and dips (similar to humus) for consumption. 

Very nutritious containing high amounts of fiber, potassium, magnesium, copper, vitamin B6 and riboflavin. Most of their calories come from carbs. Leaves, shells and nuts have also medicinal properties.

Submerged stem are anchored into the mud by very fine roots. It has two types of leaves, finely divided feather-like submerged leaves borne along the length of the stem, and undivided floating leaves borne in a rosette at the water's surface. 

 The plant can become invasive in some areas, a large container is recommended. Needs at least 6 months of frost free growing time.

Excess nuts can be dried are highly sought after and used for crafting for amulets, key ring adornment, ornaments and many other crafts.

Viable corms (USA):  Found here

 
Rare plant, rare aquatic, aquatic edible, water chestnut, Buffalo Nut, Bull Nut, Devil's Pod, Horn nut, Lucky Nut, Goat Head, Bat Nut, Ling Kok, Kacang Tanduk, Ling kio, Singhada, aquarium seeds, aquarium plant, unusual plant, edible shtf, wild food, pond food.

Rare Harry Potters Mandrake Root Atropa Mandragora officinarum

Mandrakes are stemless, perennial herbs with dark green leaves, resembling somewhat the leaves of chard and a have large taproots that can grow up to two feet in length, resembling somewhat a human.
The pale to vibrant bluish purple flowers emerge in a cluster from the center of the plant. The fruit, orange to red berries, resembling tomatoes, ripen by late summer. The fruit is highly fragrant, one ripe fruit placed in the middle of the room will perfume the whole room with a pineapple like scent.
It requires good drainage for best growth and is not too picky about soil types.
This plant gets dormant in the summer times. Every autumn the root grows a new rosette of leaves. The leaves grow fast and in only a month they are fully developed. Zone 5-8.
It's one of the oldest and most famous plant in witchcraft, rituals and medicinal use. It's also mentioned in several references in the bible. According to the legend, a dog had to pull up the man-like roots as their scream reputedly killed all who heard it! Today the plant is best known from the movie "Harry Potter".
This plant belongs to the nightshades family (Solanaceae) and all parts are poison.


Rare Seeds found here: Mandragora officinarum Seeds

Other Names: Atropa mandragora, Mandrake, Devil's Apple, Dudaim, Love Apple, Harry Potter Root, Harry Potter Plant

Rare Fothergills Calceolaria Sand Lady Slipper Flower from the Falkland Islands

The most sought after Calceolaria. Native to the Falkland Islands, Calceolaria fothergillii is a hardy little plant, forming a rosette of tiny, spoon-shaped, pale-green hairy leaves. From this rosette a single stem bears a lady’s slipper flower in yellow with red or violet spots and a white bar across the ‘toes’. Wonderful choice rarity for rock garden and containers.

For best results grow in moist but well-drained soil in a cool spot in partial shade. Never allow the soil to dry out and deadhead plants regularly. Likes a moist but well-drained acidic soil mix Perennial, zones 5-9. Counterfeit seeds are already on the market. Beware of "bargains" from China.
Note this is not Calceolaria Uniflora, which is shorter.

 
Also called Slipperwort, Darwin' slipper flower, Chamber Maids, Darwin's Slipper. Syn: Fagelia fothergillii, Fagelia bellidifolia, Calceolaria bellidifolia, Calceolaria cavanillesii, Calceolaria neeana

Seeds are available here: Calceolaria fothergillii 

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Pinhão Monkey Puzzle Chilean Pine Araucaria araucana

  Very unusual, rare and exotic looking prehistoric specimen Tree.  

The Monkey Puzzle Tree is an exotic South American evergreen tree that will grow from the warmest parts of zone 6 to zone 10. It will grow in any soil that is well-drained and typically grows to around 50 feet tall in gardens, although in the wild it can reach 130 feet. This tree grows in a symmetrical conical shape with a strong central trunk and the leathery leaves clasp the stems and persist for many years. The leaves have a sharp point and the way they are wrapped around the stems is almost like a strange kind of snake. The symmetrical shape and dense growth makes this an unusual and attractive tree for larger properties and it is always a conversation piece.

The name "Monkey Puzzle" comes from the fact that the branches have consistent 

 diameters and curve around like a long monkey's tail, where the scaled leaves make the branches look hairy. The scaled leaves look like pieces of a puzzle with their even and angular shape.

In their native range, Monkey Puzzle Trees are prized for their edible pine nuts which are large and delicious. Seeds germinate easy and plant grows zone 6-10.

 

• USA Seeds: Rare Seeds COTW
• USA Plants: Conifer Kingdom Plants
• UK Plants: Jacksons Nurseries
  
  
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Real or not Real? Regal Birdflower Crotalaria cunninghamii

It's real, however real seeds are hard to get to. 

Called a green birdflower or regal birdflower, this stunning plant belongs to the legume family (chickpeas and alfalfa). Scientifically known as Crotalaria cunninghamii, named after the 19th century botanist Allan Cunningham, the small green shrub is native to Northern Australia. According to the Australian Native Plants Society, aboriginal people often used the plant's sap to treat eye infections.

Looking directly at the entire plant, it’s as if a dozen green hummingbirds gathered together to enjoy a feast of flower nectar—beautifully suspended in mid-air. And when holding one of these flowers in your hands, it's easy to think it's the real thing.

This hummingbird-shaped flowers originate from Australia and plant lovers can not easily purchase seeds. While some seeds appear to be available in the US on a_mazon and a few other market places, one must be very careful to find a reputable source. Most seeds are offered from China are actually Crotalaria spectabilis seeds according to several of my plant collector friends, which is a yellow invasive rattlebox, toxic to some wild life, and the seeds look similar to Crotalaria cunninghamii. Be aware of this.

Below are a few reputable sources listed:

• Australia: Australian Seeds
• USA: Centerofthewebb Seeds

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Rare and Unusual Roundleaf Star Creeper

The Star Creeper Lobelia nummularia is a herbaceous perennial ground-cover, native to Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Demure, white to pale purple flowers with pointed lips bloom in June and July on this small trailing herb. Large, purple-red berries follow that stand up curiously and ornamental on delicate vines. Small, toothed, and rounded light green leaves line the trailing branches and cascade if given a chance. Growing 3-4" tall in light shade and moist conditions.
The relatively large purple fruits are very ornamental and fruits and young shoots were wild collected, eaten cooked by local people. Has medicinal properties. Hardy to 15F.  Rare, unusual, different. 

Seed and Plant Sources:

• Plants: (no resources found - let us know if you have one!)
• Seeds: for sale found here

The unusual Waratah from Australia

Waratah is the Aboriginal word for the NSW Waratah Telopea speciosissima.

Telopea is from the Greek telepos meaning "seen from afar". It is a spectacular slender, erect shrub, to 6' tall and about 3' across. It has stiff, wedge-shaped and usually coarsely toothed, dark green, leathery leaves to 6" long.
The large, bright crimson flower heads consist of many small flowers densely packed into conical or peaked dome-shaped heads to 6" across, and surrounded by a collar of large red, smooth bracts. The ‘flower’ is in fact a conflorescence that comprises, depending on the species, as many as 240 individual flowers.
It flowers during spring, October to November. Makes an excellent long lasting cut flower. Hardy to 25 F. Needs well drained soil.


Plant and Seed Sources: 

• Plants found here
• Seeds found here
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Wonderful Perfume Flower Bush Fagraea Ceilanica

Fagraea ceilanica, the perfume flower bush, is classified under the Loganiaceae family. This evergreen plant can be pruned back to maintain it as a manageable small shrub but if it is left alone, it can grow into a small tree with a height of about 10ft. When not in flower, the perfume flower tree still makes a very attractive shrub because it has very attractive foliage.
The perfume flower tree is said to be a plant that can be grown in large containers. It has average water needs and hence its roots should be kept moist and not allowed to dry out. Like most other flowering shrubs, to ensure that a perfume flower plant grows healthily and blooms, each specimen should be grown in an area with at least filtered sunshine (semi-shade), although it can tolerate full, direct sunshine outdoors.  Sought after by collectors. 

•  Seeds found here: Seeds for Sale
  
•  A couple of plant places

• 1) Plants for Sale and also
• 2) variegated Plants for Sale