I am really more of a vegetable gardener than a flower gardener, but flowers can renew the soul and lift the spirit.
The old fashioned flowers I offer at Amishland Heirloom Seeds are the few I absolutely can't live without. Their color and pure beauty make every day more lovely. Their fragrance alone is the best aromatherapy.
All seed packs are $2.50 each
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NEW FOR 2012!- CLIFF'S "PRETTY IN PINK" HOLLYHOCK~ (Biennial)-This is a gorgeous perfect pink single flowered old fashioned hollyhock. Be the first to grow this old time single hollyhock beauty where you live. Very hardy to heat and cold. Seeds collected and grown by my friend Cliff in Idaho. Please remember, these hollyhocks make a plant the first year and then will bloom the second year.
10 fresh sustainably grown seeds.
EIDEMILLER "WHITE TO PINK" HOLLYHOCK-Only USA Seed Source!~ (Biennial - 2 years from seed to flower) This hard to photograph heirloom single hollyhock starts out white and then turns a pretty pink color.This hollyhock has been in the Eidemiller family for 3 generations. they described it to me like this: "First day of flower, greenish white, second day, white,
third day white with pink throat, fourth on very pink with white around the fringe." These seeds were collected and saved by the family, I haven't had a chance to grow this flower yet.
10 fresh sustainably grown seeds.
"Lipstick" Hollyhock (Biennial)-Only USA Seed Source!~ This is a gorgeous deep red to purple flower, with a regular leaf. This heirloom Hollyhock has been maintained and saved by the Eidemiller family in Idaho for 3 generations. They have always called it "lipstick" , as its vibrant color is just like ladies lipstick colors. Be the first to grow this old time single hollyhock beauty where you live. Very hardy to heat and cold.
10 fresh sustainably grown seeds.
AUNT HARRIET'S REDBUD TREE -My best friend Chris P. has a pistol of an Aunt in her 90's. In her day she was an expert horsewoman who had raised and showed Palamino horses at her farms in Puerto Rico, North Carolina and New England. These seeds are from a seedling taken from her farm in Tryon, NC. The "seedling" now is over 10 feet high and is in its 6th year. In springtime there truly is nothing more beautiful than a mature redbud in bloom. My photo is of a young tree but in a few years it will be mesmerizingly lovely. 10 fresh organically grown seed pods.
NEW FOR 2012!~ GOLDEN SUNSHINE RUNNER BEAN~ Here is a great new to the USA ,runner bean grown for me by my "beany" friend, Cliff. here in his own words is what he had to say:
"Scarlet flowers, unique because foliage is a light green-yellow-golden color, instead of the usual dark green runner bean leaves. Pole bean, 5-6 foot trellis, produces a dense heavy mat of golden yellow foliage, late spring to summer, does not begin to flower until late summer, early fall. Bred and developed in Europe, is a newer variety of runner bean, that to date has limited distribution in the USA." 10 fresh huge sustainably grown bean seeds.
NEW FOR 2012!~ DESIREE HEIRLOOM RUNNER BEAN~ This runner bean ws grown for me by my "beany" freind Cliff in Idaho. Here, in his own words, is what he had to say:
"An old english variety, been around for a long time. White Blooms, pods 12-15 inches long in clusters of 4-5 pods. Naturalized to various USA climates, does better in hot and dry conditions than most other runner beans. White seed."
I like to use white flowers for a "moon garden" as they glow in the dark after sunset. This is one of the only vining whites I use. 10 huge, fresh sustainably grown bean seeds.
NEW FOR 2012!~ SADIE'S HORSE BEAN - RUNNER BEAN TYPE~ (Phaseolus coccineus ~A member of the Leguminosae, or legume family)~ SUPER RARE !~ One of 2 USA Sources~Limited Quantities~ Order Early!~ I grew these many years ago and now thanks to the help of my "beany" friend, Cliff, I will be able to offer it again in very limited quantities. Cliff adores runner beans which grow so well for him on his Idaho ranch. He sent me these seeds from this season. Here, in his own words, are what he had to say:
"100 yr old variety. All runner beans were native to the Americas, were taken to Europe in early 1800's. So they all came from here, and not from Europe as most people think.... blossom colors, orange/white, white, scarlet, some pink and salmon. This variety of Sadies does very well on my farm, better than any other runner bean so it should work well anywhere in the USA."
Like all runner beans, they are vigorous climbers and can shoot up to 10 feet or more. Not much history on these, although it was said to have been grown by the same family for over 100 years. These are exceptionally large beans that are startlingly lovely. They really must be seen to be believed and are a mix of colors including pink mottled, black, lavender, but this year are mostly mottled brown with tan. The pods, needless to say, are huge to contain such large beans, and can grow up over a foot long. Cliff apologizes for not getting a photo. Due to demand for this rare runner bean , there is a limit of 3 packs each.
5 of my own fresh organically grown seeds.
HEPLER FARM/ MAHANTONGO VALLEY HEIRLOOM SWEET PEA - VERY RARE~EXCLUSIVE~ONLY USA SEED SOURCE -(lathyrus ) I got my original seed stock (maybe 15 or less seeds) of this very rare heirloom sweet pea flower from two of the brothers of the Christiansbrunn Cloister. It is located deep in the countryside near Pitman in the historic Mahantongo Valley of central Pennsylvania. The Christiansbrunn cloister is located on much of the old Hepler farmstead, that was virtually untouched by time since the early 1820's. The brothers live as much as possible an 18th century lifestyle, without electricity, central heating, running water, etc. They farmed until only a few years ago with oxen, but finally broke down and got an ancient tractor, as they no longer had the manpower to do all the farming completely by hand. The trained oxen team was sold at auction, and without the brothers' knowledge, nearly became hamburger. Happily they were saved at the last moment by a man knowledgeable about early farming. The matched team of oxen now demonstrate old time farming techniques, and plowing, at living history museums throughout the East coast.
Now back to the loveliest old time sweetpeas I have ever seen or grown. The Hepler Sweetpea is very hardy and keeps green nearly all winter in my Zone 6A garden. It took me a few years to get them established enough to finally have seeds to sell. Once established they will happily self seed forever. They may date all the way back to the days of the farm's origins in the early 1820's, but I have no more history on them other than they have always been growing there as long as anyone can remember. Great sprays of pale cerise pink flowers bloom in late spring and then bloom again, for me, in the fall. They looked exceptional intertwined with my deep purple "Grandpa Ott's Morning Glory." Not hugely fragrant like some varieties, but sweet enough. I have found the best way to plant sweetpeas is just throw the seed on the ground near a fence or where you want them to climb, in the fall time. The winter will break down the hard seed coat and they will sprout and bloom nicely come spring. 10 of my own fresh organically seeds.
BACK AGAIN FOR 2012~ SWEET AUTUMN CLEMATIS (Clematis Terniflora) -This is a spectacular fragrant vine that literally will cover anything you want to hide. Have an ugly building, fence, outhouse or such you don't want to see? Plant Sweet Autumn clematis and it will be smothered in honeysuckle-like sweet flowers in late summer through fall. The silvery green variegated foliage stays green all winter. And in late fall silvery, fluffy seed heads appear which are also quite ornamental. One old fashioned name for this plant was "Virgin's Bower". When in seed it was called "Old Man's Beard".
I grow it by the corner post of my Victorian house where it can grow up to 20 feet in one summer. I also had it growing all over all my fences. I had a dead maple tree that this clematis covered until it looked just like a spring flowering tree in bloom. When all the other flowers in your garden are dying, this clematis blooms with a wonderful, sweet fragrance that literally perfumes the air. Very easy to grow, and it is a perennial. Self seeds easily but germinates best if seeds can overwinter outdoors lying on the ground or loosely planted, (this is called stratification).
One pack is one small handful of seeds, approximately 30+ seeds.
MORNING GLORY MADNESS MIXED SEEDS ! - ~ I grew a number of morning glories this past year and one section of my fence was full of Morning Glories that had "escaped " from their other divided growing areas and they all grew together. The effect was marvelous but there was no way I could separate the different varieties in this particular spot along the fence, so I am selling them as a super mixture of several rare heirloom types, at a super low price. Here is your chance to get some real rarities for your garden.
I can't guarantee that all the types will be in your particular seed pack, but it may include, among others, my own rare single heirloom types. I have in this mixture: "Grandpa Ott's Deep Purple Morning Glory", "Kniolas Deep Black Morning Glory", my own "Hot Pink with Red Star Morning Glory". Also there was a pale pink one as well as a white with a pink star, which I have never sold before. Please note*** there is also the remote possibility that you may even get the fabulous "sport" (a mistake of nature from crossing) that was a rich deep blue with a lovely purple star, which cropped up in a few places along that fence. You will LOVE this fabulous mixture! 25 of my own organically grown seeds.
NEW FOR 2012!~ LARGE RUDBECKIA aka Black Eyed Susan- My friend Cliff in Idaho has been growing a lot of very pretty, old fashioned flowers and this is one of them. Rudbeckia self seeds like crazy and is very easy to grow. So if you want lots of "bang for your buck" flower wise, this is the flower to grow. Pretty, and always so cheerful. The photo by Cliff says it all.
One pack will be one whole sustainably grown dried flower, thats lots and lots of seeds!!
NEW FOR 2012!~ SMALL RUDBECKIA aka Black Eyed Susan -My friend Cliff in Idaho has been growing a lot of very pretty, old fashioned flowers and this is one of them. Rudbeckia self seeds like crazy and is very easy to grow. So if you want lots of "bang for your buck" flower wise, this is the flower to grow. Pretty, and always so cheerful. The photo by Cliff says it all.
One pack will be one whole sustainably grown dried flower, thats lots and lots of seeds!!
NEW FOR 2012! RUNNER BEAN MIX- PAINTED LADY and SCARLET RUNNER~ My friend Cliff in Idaho who grows so many runner beans for me had a bean mix this year and now so will you. This is a mix of both of these runner beans. Here are my descriptions of both runner beans in this mix:
SCARLET EMPEROR RUNNER BEAN (Phaseolus coccineus). A member of the Leguminosae, or legume family (70+ days). A traditional, and highly successful red flowered bean. Scarlet Emperor is a special variety of Red Runner Bean. It is a great climber and will cover your porch or bean teepee with red flowers and edible beans. A favorite of hummingbirds. The Hummers just "live" in these beans once they are blooming, I have them growing on teepees. Harvest runner beans at 4 to 6 inches long for best quality, but they can get over 12" long pods. This heirloom bean was first grown in the 1600's. Introduced to the United States in the 1800's. Used by native Americans, large vigorous vines over 12 feet long. The flowers are very ornamental, in clusters of the brightest scarlet, good to cook as snap, shell or dry beans. The huge seeds are very colorful, violet-purple mottled in black, sometimes called jewelry beans and strung into necklaces. I personally think they are the original "Jack-in-the-Beanstalk" beans! These beans like fairly cool weather. Even if you do not have a green thumb, these are for you! After planting, they seem to be at a standstill...then suddenly, they are shooting up everywhere. It's simply beautiful. In the photo, is my Scarlet Emperor Bean on the fence along with the wonderful deep purple "Grandpa Ott's Morning Glory" for a superb color combination. My dear friend Eva, whom you have heard so much about on this website, called them "Fire Beans" which is actually the direct translation from the German, Feuer Bohne,
Eva spoke fluent Pennsylvania Dutch (PA German).
PAINTED LADY RUNNER BEAN - also called York or Lancaster Runner - Species coccineus - The name "Painted Lady" refers to Queen Elizabeth I, who wore rouge and makeup in her day. This is the only runner bean with unique bi-colored blossoms. It is considered an ornamental climber in England because of its rapid growth and its many lovely flowers. It will climb counterclockwise, unlike most climbing beans. Very rare seed. The lovely whitish pink and coral red bi-colored blossoms are so decorative. They are edible as well with a rich "beany" taste if picked small. It has huge long pods which get up over foot long and are filled with very large mottled buff and brown seeds. They have a unique little "hook" on the end of the pod that I haven't ever seen before in any other beans.
These are so incredibly beautiful and extremely attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. I grow them all over my fences. This is a prime example of an ornamental edible. It was first introduced to England in 1633 by John Tradescant, gardener to Charles I. Described by Arrabida Flora of Rio Janeiro in 1827, and still very rare. It has a Pole Bean running habit. The locals here in Amishland in the early 1800's used to serve runner beans "whittled" into long shreds called in dialect "Schipple," and made them into a pickled form like sauerkraut called "Schipplebuhne". I have only a limited supply of these seeds. I had searched for years for this rare variety and now you can have it in your gardens too.
Mix is : 10 huge fresh sustainably grown bean seeds.
*BACK AGAIN 2012! PAINTED LADY RUNNER BEAN - also called York or Lancaster Runner -
Species coccineus - The name "Painted Lady" refers to Queen Elizabeth I, who wore rouge and makeup in her day. This is the only runner bean with unique bi-colored blossoms . It is considered an ornamental climber in England because of its rapid growth and its many lovely flowers. It will climb counterclockwise, unlike most climbing beans. Very rare seed. The lovely whitish pink and coral red bi-colored blossoms are so decorative. They are edible as well with a rich "beany" taste if picked small. It has huge long pods which get up over foot long and are filled with very large mottled buff and brown seeds. They have a unique little "hook" on the end of the pod that I haven't ever seen before in any other beans.
These are so incredibly beautiful and extremely attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. I grow them all over my fences. This is a prime example of an ornamental edible. It was first introduced to England in 1633 by John Tradescant, gardener to Charles I. Described by Arrabida Flora of Rio Janeiro in 1827, and still very rare. It has a Pole Bean running habit. The locals here in Amishland in the early 1800's used to serve runner beans "whittled" into long shreds called in dialect "Schipple," and made them into a pickled form like sauerkraut called "Schipplebuhne". I have only a limited supply of these seeds. I had searched for years for this rare variety and now you can have it in your gardens too.
5 huge organically grown bean seeds.
*NEW FOR 2012! POLAR BEAR ZINNIA-
This is the wonderful, new, all white zinnia. It is what is called a dahlia type because of its huge blooms that are truly magnificent. The blossoms are 4-5 inches across. They are the old-fashioned "dahlia-flowering" fully double zinnias on long-stemmed, branching plants. Its tightly-packed petals create a pom-pom bloom that is incredibly full. The "eye" in the center is a cheerful yellowish-greenish color. Polar Bear produces long stemmed plants about 3-1/2 feet to 4 feet tall. Perfect for the back of borders. But it also makes a great cut flower for vases. You can cut these old-fashioned blooms for your bouquets, and flowers will come back again,.The more you cut, the more they will bloom until frost. For long life as a cut flower in a vase, pick when the blossoms first begin to open and the petals are still tight. It will bloom prolifically in any full sun garden, and prefers hot and dry weather. When all your other flowers are dying they thrive. These seeds are from plants grown by my friend Cliff in Idaho.The lovely closeup photo is also by Cliff.
One seed pack is a small handful of sustainably grown seeds.
*NEW FOR 2012! POPPY SEED MIX~ Breadseed or "PAPAVER species" poppies~ My dear friend Cliff in Idaho had great success with his mixed colors poppy seeds growing so luxuriantly as evidenced in this photo. Just a wonderful mixture of just about all the colors that these come in: red, pink, orange, scarlet, Orange-red and white. Glorious and easy to grow. They are considered an annual and self seed easily. They are best sown in Fall time or early spring if starting from your first seeds. Read the turn of the century book AN ISLAND GARDEN, By CELIA THAXTER (WITH PICTURES AND ILLUMINATIONS BY CHILDE HASSAM)
to truly fall in love with poppies.The famous impressionist painter was beguiled by her gardens on the sea and painted her poppies deliciously. Just a must for poppy lovers.Check out this link to see a digital version of a first edition of this 1994 book. These poppies were grown in Idaho by my friend Cliff. He also took this beautiful photo. Since poppy seeds are teeny tiny , they are usually not counted but sold by volume.
For a seed pack you will get a 1/2 teaspoon of the sustainably grown seeds.
*NEW FOR 2012! RED BREADSEED POPPY (papaver species)~
This is a traditional looking single petalled poppy and in the classic color red. Dark centers really bring out their bright color.They grow about 2-3 feet high and are so showy and cheerful. These are the ones to begin with. Glorious and easy to grow. They are considered an annual and self seed easily. They are best sown in Fall time or early spring if starting from your first seeds.
Read the turn of the century book AN ISLAND GARDEN. By CELIA THAXTER. (WITH PICTURES AND ILLUMINATIONS BY CHILDE HASSAM)
to truly fall in love with poppies.The famous impressionist painter was beguiled by her gardens on the sea and painted her poppies deliciously .Just a must for poppy lovers. Check out this link to see a digital version of a first edition of this 1894 book. These poppies were grown in Idaho by my friend Cliff. he also took this beautiful photo. Since poppy seeds are teeny tiny, they are usually not counted but sold by volume.
For a seed pack you will get a 1/2 teaspoon of the sustainably grown seeds.
*NEW FOR 2012! CLIFF'S MARIGOLD MIX~ I am sure you have read all about my "beany" friend cliff in Idaho who raises so many wonderful rare beans, fruit and vegetable for my seed business. Cliff also loves flowers and this year grew many and shared his seed with me. Who doesn't love Marigolds? But besides their cheerfulness and ease of growth they really do have a very ancient and interesting history.
I want to quote a wonderful and helpful article about the history of the marigold written in 2007 by Mitch Fitzgerald.
"Every year on November first and second, the Aztecs relive a little of their past with the Dia De los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Huge altars are set up with food and drinks are given to the deceased members of the household. No altar is ever complete without the gathering of the wild marigolds and the spreading of them everywhere from the family altar, to pathways, and even in the graveyards. This can be traced, in part, to the ancient Aztec celebration of Death.
In the last 2000 or so years these celebrations have changed little in the Aztec world. There is some thought that they started in the Totonacian area, now in Vera Cruz. What is known for sure is that the celebrations are ancient and highly revered in many areas of Latin America today. The ancient celebrations honored Mictecacihuatl, the goddess of the dead and death. The Aztecs believed that the smell could wake the souls of the dead to bring them back for the festival. The Spanish worked hard to get rid of the festival and for a long time the flowers themselves where not liked or loved.
Often in Mexico today the family will visit the cemetery where their loved ones are buried and bring them offerings. The main offerings given across the board, rich or poor, are the marigolds, or Flor del Muerto – Flower of the Dead. The flowers are thought to bring out the dead souls to feast on the offerings laid on the table or headstone.
The marigold came with Spanish traders to Africa and Europe. Wanting to disconnect it from the flower’s past, the breeding programs held in Africa and Europe gave this great flower the name of “African” and “French” marigold. After the flower was disconnected from its past reputation as the flower of death, it was introduced into the gardens of the world.
Today the flowers are prized by gardeners the world over for their long lived blooms that love the heat of summer. They are to be found in gardens across the world, a testament to the wonder of this wonderful flower of the dead."
So now you know, as Paul Harvey used to say:" ...The rest of the story...".
The mix includes just about all the colors that marigolds come in. Nice and easy and fun for anyone to grow, even those with a "black thumb". The lovely photo is by Cliff also of his own flower patch. One pack is a large "pinch" of marigold seeds, about 50+ seeds.
SOLD OUT~ MIRABILIS JALAPA FOUR O'CLOCKS -
1890'S HEIRLOOM! "Yellow Twilight" -Night blooming! - My house dates to 1890 and these easy flowers have been self seeding right there all these years. The fragrant blossoms are reminiscent of apple blossoms in fragrance. Flowers are a brilliant canary yellow with an orange throat on bushy plants that grow 3-4 feet high. Since they bloom in the late afternoon, they are called "four o'clocks." They remain open all night till morning, sending their sweet fragrance all through the evening air. Mine send their sweet fragrance into my bedroom windows. These attract night feeding huge 8-12" luna moths! You have to see a luna moth to believe it.
SOLD OUT~
SOLD OUT HARLEQUIN STRIPED HEIRLOOM MARIGOLD (Tagetes patula). In 1808 Anne Cary Randolph wrote her grandfather, Thomas Jefferson, "We have plenty of the two kinds of Marigolds that you gave us." This suggests the French Marigold, often grown in colonial gardens, was probably cultivated at Thomas Jefferson's home Monticello. The Monticello Striped French Marigold offered here represents the species, or wild, form of the plant as it appears naturally in South America. It has a sprawling, almost vine-like habit to four feet with single, showy, yellow and burgundy striped flowers.
These are real showstoppers, and my neighbors always comment upon them. They are very cold tolerant as well. I never really liked marigolds until I saw these. I wouldn't have a flower garden without these striking blooms! Please note: The blooms may look similar to the "Striped Marvel Marigold", but this is a totally different, non bush plant and a much older heirloom flower.
SOLD OUT
I am really more of a vegetable gardener than a flower gardener, but flowers can renew the soul and lift the spirit.
