Also, check out our Morning Glory Seeds page.
For Clematis vines, check out ourClematis Seed List
1A218 Scarlet Runner Bean Phaseolus coccineus Edible and beautiful. One of the oldest runner beans now in existence. First documented in 1750. Good for use as either small snaps, sliced pods or green shells, and often used in place of limas in cooler climates. Highly ornamental. Needs a trellis, fence or pole to train on, 65 days. Package of 15 seeds $2.15
1A219 Sunset Runner Bean Phaseolus coccineus Edible and beautiful. Unique variety with salmon-pink blooms. Very early blossoming and maturing, nice crops of short and very flavorful beans throughout the season. Excellent for freezing. Needs a trellis, fence or pole to train on, 60-65 days. Package of 15 seeds $2.15
2903 Japanese Hops Humulus scandens Strong twining vine, green flowers in summer. Decorative fast growing vine, excellent for porches and screens. Package of 10 seeds $3.25
FA75 Scarlet Thunbergia Thunbergia coccinea This is actually a tender perennial that is a wonderful evergreen plant grown outside in zone 10 and higher, but is grown mostly as an annual in cooler zones. Does very well any where it can get full sunshine and moisture. This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds with beautiful leather textured leaves and loads of spectactular, tubular scarlet flowers, makes a wonder climbing vine for mailboxes, columns, fences, trellis, etc. Package of 10 seeds $3.25
3211 Blue Pea Vine ( Clitoria ternatea ) A fast growing climber with beautiful blue and sometimes white flowers. It can be grown in baskets and containers, and blooms all year, or it can be grown outside on trellis or fence. A drought hardy plant which can be used as a fast growing screen along fences. Attracts butterflies. Produces a small pea type seed which is used as food in the Phillipines. Package of 10 seeds $2.45
2484 China Fleece Vine Polygonum aubertii Fast grower, massed lacy white flowers, dense green foliage, fragrant flowers, does very well in poor soils, perennial, hardy to zone 3. Package of 25 seeds $2.50
RHM026 Madagascar Rubber Vine Cryptostegia madagascariensis A thin twining vine to 30' with large purple flowers on short stems. Produces twin seed pods laden with silky white floss. Leaves are oval to triangular. Needs warmth and bright light. Always in demand. For warm climate or greenhouse. Package of 5-8 seeds $3.95
1A018 "Old Spice" Sweet Pea Mix Lathyrus Odoratus A mixture of 12 antique varieties of sweet peas in a wide range of colors and delightful fragrance. 1 Tablespoon Package ( about 100 seeds )$3.95
2235 Cypress Vine Mix Ipomoea Quamoclit Ipomoea quamoclit, syn. Quamoclit pennata.) This easy-care vine is great for high-margin container sales. Vigorous and fast-growing with fern-like, feathery bright green foliage and 3/4-inch trumpet-shaped blooms from summer to fall. Easily grows 6 feet; can reach 25 feet. Full sun. Cannot ship to AR, AZ, PR 10 seeds $2.15
D9606 Hyacinth Bean Dolichos Lab-Lab Lablab bean is a twining vine with leaflets in threes and showy bright purple flowers and pods. In frost-free areas the vine becomes woody and can reach more than 30' in length. In zones 9 and colder, the vine remains herbaceous and rarely exceeds 10'. The leaflets are purplish-green, broad-oval or triangular in shape and 3-6" long. The flowers are pea-like, a rich, brilliant purple, and arranged in loose clusters on long stems that extend above the foliage. The pods are just as showy as the flowers. They are flat and curved, about 3" long and bright purple. Easy to grow in poor, acidic to alkaline soils. Lablab beans take 90-150 days from sowing to maturity. Immature pods can be picked sooner. Needs full sun for best growth. Requires well-drained soil. Once established, lablab bean is drought tolerant, more so than most beans. Young immature pods are cooked and eaten like green beans (older pods may need to be de-stringed). They have a strong, beany flavor and some people like to mix them with other beans or green vegetables. Unfortunately, the purple color disappears during cooking. Young leaves are eaten raw in salads and older leaves are cooked like spinach. Flowers are eaten raw or steamed. The large starchy root tubers can be boiled and baked. The immature seeds can be boiled and eaten like any shelly bean. Dried seeds should be boiled in two changes of water before eating since they contain toxic levels of cyanogenic glucosides. In Asia the mature seeds are made into tofu and fermented for tempeh. They are also used as bean sprouts. Lablab bean is a good choice for a quick screen on a trellis or fence. It grows fast, has beautiful, fragrant flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds, and it even produces edible leaves, flowers, pods, seeds and roots. Each summer I train a vine or two of lablab up the clothes line pole just for the color and fragrance. Package of 5 seeds $2.50
New! 2222 Puple Flowered Hyacinth Bean "Moonshadow" Dolichos Lab-Lab With dark purple stems, flowers and leaves, it is a wonderful additon to the garden. Grows like the common Hyacinth Bean listed above. Package of 5 seeds $2.50
2910 Bronze Leaf Hyacinth Bean Dolichos Lab-Lab Vivid bronze/purple leaf variety of this popular vine. Package of 10 seeds $3.50
2223 Scarlet Star Vine Ipomoea hederifolia Annual, Half-Hardy Climber. Freely twining its merry way eight or ten feet up a suitable support, it has attractive, dark green, vaguely Ivy-like, lobed foliage and bears over a long period in summer numerous long-stalked clusters of eye-catching, scarlet, funnel-shaped flowers, each an inch or more across. A most ornamental plant. Cannot ship to AR, AZ, PR Package of 10 seeds $2.50
D8565 Bitter Gourd Citrullus Colocynthis Water melon like vine to 15 ft.or more. Bears small 6" three pound or so fruits. An attractive vine. The fruits have strong medicinal value. Package of 4 seeds $1.95
2640 Giant Granadilla Passiflora quadrangularis The Giant Granadilla forms a larger leaf and is a more vigorous grower than the yellow passion fruit. This plant derives its botanical name from the fact that the stems are quad rangular in cross section. It is a vigorous grower that can grow 50 feet or more in a single season, for zones 10 and higher, or warm greenhouses. Fruit of the giant granadilla reach a length of up to 12 inches and turn yellow when mature. The pulp around the seeds is used to flavor ice cream and to make a cooling drink. In addition, the flesh of this fruit is edible. The green fruit is boiled and eaten as a vegetable. The fully ripe flesh is eaten alone or in combination with such fruits as papaya and pineapple. $2.95 ( 10 seeds per pack )
D8572 India Horse Gram Vine Dolichos biflorus A fast growing annual vine with yellow 3/4" pea like flowers in pairs. Followed by flat, brown pods 2" long and filled with seeds. The seeds can be cooked and eaten. Makes good green manure. The plant is a common twining creeper, native to most parts of India, and is found upto altitudes of 1000 m. Package of 20 seeds $1.95
D8575 Canary Bird Vine Tropaeolum peregrinum Annual vine. Lustrous canary yellow flowers on a vigorous vine with shiny green leaves. Flowers resemble small birds in flight. The flowers are edible. Package of 10 seeds $1.95
D8577 Black Eyed Susan Vine The perfect hanging basket vine. Dainty black-eyed-susan flowers and a healthy vine. Whether cascading from a hanging basket or twining up a trellis, black-eyed Susan vine provides a sunny splash of summer color. This flowering vine is an easy-care annual that provides months of showy yellow-orange flowers. Large, ivylike leaves provide a verdant backdrop for its bright flowers, which sport the distinctive dark center and give it the "black eye" of its common name. Package of 10 seeds $1.95
D8586 Fast Growing Balloon Vine An attractive vine for fences or trellises with dark green foliage, bright perky flowers followed by large paper husk seed pods that look like balloons filled with air. Package of 5 seeds $1.95
D8590 Chilean Glory Vine Eccremocarpus Scaber An exotic looking vine from Chile that bears loads of beautiful, fragrant, trumpet shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds. Good for fences, walls and trellises. Grow anywhere as an annual. Package of 10 seeds $1.95
D9872 Black-Eyed Susan Vine, Orange/White Mix A dainty vine that can be used for ground covers or as a low climber. Excellent for hanging baskets. Triangular leaves and tubular flowers in orange and white with a dark brown eye. Package of 10 seeds $2.50
1A071 Tom Thumb Mix Nasturtium 12-18” A bushy nasturtium with single blooms in shades of yellow, orange and red. Package of 10 seeds $1.95
1A072 Whirlybird Cherry Rose Nasturtium 10” A bushy nasturtium with single blooms that are 2” across, spurless and face upward. Cherry Rose Color Package of 10 seeds $1.95
1A073 Whirlybird Gold Nasturtium 10” A bushy nasturtium with single blooms that are 2” across, spurless and face upward. Beautiful Gold color. Package of 10 seeds $1.95
1A074 Glorius Gleam Mix Nasturtium 32” A trailing nasturtium with double to semi-double blooms in shades of yellow, orange and red with medium-green leaves. Package of 10 seeds $1.95
1A075 Alaska Mix Nasturtium 9” The unique leaves of the Alaska series are dark green marbled with white. The flowers are all shades of red, yellow and orange. The plants are compact bushes. Package of 10 seeds $1.95
1A076 Tall Single Mix Nasturtium 18-24” A trailing nasturtium with single blooms that are 2” across in shades of yellow, orange and red. Package of 10 seeds $1.95
1A077 Dwarf Jewel Mix Nasturtium 8-10". A bushy nasturtium with double blooms that are 1 1/2” across in shades of yellow, orange and red held well above the foliage. Package of 10 seeds $1.95
1A078 Primrose Jewel Nasturtium Primrose yellow blooms that are virtually all double on uniform 8-12" plants. Package of 5 seeds $1.95
D9879 Jewels of Africa Nasturtium with variegated foliage. A variegated Nasturtium with a blend of yellow, red and peachy pink flower with marbled foliage, striped with cream, against a light green background. Excellent container or ground cover specimen. Package of 10 seeds $2.50
D9895 Exotic Love Vine ( Mina lobata ) Half Hardy Annual. Every 1˝" bloom starts out rich red, maturing to orange, then yellow, then white with all the colors on the same plant at the same time, quite a sight!. Excellent vine plant for baskets and planters. Package of 10 seeds $2.50
D9877 Giant Fragrant Moon Vine Giant 6-8" pure white blooms open in the evening to release a sweet smelling perfume-like fragrance. Annual vine is great for fences or trellis. Package of 10 seeds $2.50
D9878 Frilly Gold Canary Bird Vine Birdlike blooms of bright canary yellow frilled and fringed, with a lime green spur. A new and unique flowering plant with attractive lobed leaves. Likes cool weather and a place to climb! Package of 10 seeds $2.50
D9897 Tiny Sugar Lumps Tomato A sprawling tomato plant best suited for hanging baskets and containers. Will bear hundreds of sweet, delicious pea-size tomatoes at a time. Fruits almost year round inside. Package of 25 seeds $2.50
2237 Royal Plum Cup and Saucer Vine ( Cobaea scandens ) 5 Months of Blooms! Flowers mature from green to rich purple. Distinctive 2-inch bell-shaped blooms cover this fast-growing, pest-free 20-foot vine from June through October. Full sun. Treat as an annual. Package of 10 seeds $2.50
D8567 Calabaza Squash Curcubita moschata A vigorous vine that can grow to 60 ft. A single vine can produce over 100 pounds of fruit. When baked, tastes more like sweet potatoes than squash. Package of 3 seeds $1.95
FA48 Blue Wisteria Vine Wisteria sinensis Extremely popular vining plant that that eventually develops a thick trunk to 8'. Mature height is 25' or more. It produces masses of violet blue flowers appearing before the leaves. The racemes of flowers hang to 1 1/2' or more providing colorful display. The pinnate leaves are divided into 13 leaflets. Deciduous. Hardy to zone 5 and easily grown. Package of 5 seeds $3.95
2390 Three Leak Akebia Akebia Trifoliata Zones 6A-9. This woody semi evergreen vine has the most attractive foliage of the species with three leaflets with wavy margins. The vine is smaller and more dainty as are the flowers which cascade in bunches of maroon. An elegant climber with twining stems. Leaves composed of 3 wavy edged leaflets. Shoots, violet when new, turn to brown with age. Small deep purple flowers (both male and female), gathered in clusters are slightly cinnamon scented. Very interesting fruits, resembling a sausage in shape, are bigger than those of akebia quinata (up to 13 cm). Best planted in a sheltered position. It can be trained over various kinds of garden supports, or alternatively, allowed to scale a tree. More vulnerable to frost than akebia quinata. Package of 10 seeds $2.95
2391 Silver Vine Actinidia polygama Another underused ornamental climber deserving more popular recognition. A hardy woody vigorous vine to 15 ft twining in habit with a most bizarre leaf marking. The common name is "silver vine" which does not do it justice. The lower portion of the leaf is coloured with a metallic almost iridescent pigment, looking like a silvery white covering. The effect will stop people in their tracks. There are also numerous flowers in summer that are 1 inch wide, white with an orange centre bearing a sweet melon scent Succeeds in semi-shade but full sun is best for fruit production. Prefers a sheltered position. Plants are hardy to about -30°c. when dormant but young growth in spring can be cut back by late frosts. Fruits are formed on second year wood and also on fruit spurs on older wood, any pruning is best carried out in the winter. The flowers are fragrant. This is a climbing plant, supporting itself by twining around branches etc. The plant is very attractive to cats and can be damaged by them. This species has been confused in literature with A. kolomikta. It is closely related but can be distinguished by the leaves which are tapered at the base whilst those of A. kolomikta are heart-shaped. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus. One report suggests that plants are self-fertile whilst another says that they are dioecious. It is likely that most plants are dioecious but that there are some self-fertile hermaphrodite forms. Package of 25 seeds $2.95
2392 Artic Kiwi, Siberian Gooseberry Actinidia arguta A strong-growing vine with dense, dark green foliage. The fragrant but inconspicuous white flowers appear in early spring. The fruit, which ripens in late summer or fall, is about 3/4"-11/4" long. It tastes much like the commercial kiwi fruit, to which it is closely related, but is somewhat sweeter and has smooth skin. The seeds are very small and not noticeable, so eating the fruits is somewhat like eating large seedless grapes. Most selections should be hardy to around -30° F. In the native Asian habitat of this species the vines typically grow wild in trees, where they are known to climb as high as 100'. Package of 25 seeds $2.95
IM001 Carolina Snailseed Cocculus carolinus Also known as Red-berried Moonseed, Carolina Moonseed, Coral-bead, Coral-seed, Coral Vine, and sometimes Wild Sarsaparilla. In late summer and early fall, Carolina snailseed's long clusters of brilliant red fruits can be seen dangling from high in tall trees as well over shrubs and anything else nearby. It is a slender, twining vine that grows in rich soils, swampy areas, forest margins, often near streams, in the eastern half of Texas. Birds are fond of the fruit and have planted most of the plants found climbing up trees and shrubs. The common name refers to the seed, which resembles a snail shell. Does well in sun or shade, a good fence cover. Hardy for zones 5-7. Perennial. Package of 10 seeds $3.95
2248 Chinese Magnolia Vine Schisandra chinensis Hardy to zone 4. A deciduous, woody-stemmed, twining climber. Similiar in appearance to that of a clematis, and the two vines are quite compatible in terms of their cultural requirements. It will easily grow 10 to 20 feet in a season; and sports beautiful, slightly fragrant blooms. They are similar in form to a peony, four to five inches across and pure white, nestled in a ruffled collar of green-and-white variegated leaves. Only the new leaves surrounding the blossoms are variegated; the leaves along the stem are solid green, grouped in threes, and slightly heart shaped. The blooms of Schisandra chinensis are followed by edible berries on female plants. This is the one major challenge of growing this plant: both sexes must be present if berries are desired, and while the pack of seeds usually will produce male and female plants, you won’t know which is which till they bloom. The berries themselves are brownish red and edible. The Chinese name for the fruit is Wu wei zi, or “five flavored seed,” because the fruit is reputed to be sweet, sour, bitter, pungent and salty. Some say the flavor is reminiscent of cloves. Berries from the plant (Schisandra chinensis) have been one of the primary medicinal agents of Chinese herbal medicine since antiquity. The first recorded use of schisandra is found in China's earliest text of herbal medicine, the Divine Husbandman's Classic of the Materia Medica, which is believed to have originated in the first century B.C.1 In it, schisandra is said to "prolong the years of life without aging," and it is also said to increase energy (called "qi," pronounced "chee"), suppress cough, treat fatigue, and act as a sexual tonic in men. Package of 10 seeds $2.95
D8505 Wooly Dutchman's Pipe Aristolochia tomentosa Hardy to zone 8 outside, good tub or basket plant inside. A vigorous climber with attractive large, downy heart-shaped leaves and peculiar 1 ˝-2 inch flowers with a greenish tube and purple mouth. The handsome, densely cloaked screen provided by this deciduous climber’s mature flush of heart shaped, overlapping foliage will dampen street noise and shield you from the neighbors. A native of the American Southeast, Aristolochia tomentosa’s fuzzy, light green leafage softens any background. Package of 4 seeds $1.50
D8509 Kiwi Fruit Actindia chinensis Cold hardy to zone 4. Kiwis are vigorous vines. They cannot support their own weight and will spread up to 30 feet. They require strong support such as trellis, arbor, or fence. In nature, they grow up into trees. Training to the south side of a building is excellent for the small planting. Kiwi vines are heavy feeders and like their roots to be in warm soil. A mature kiwi vine can produce 200 pounds of fruit. Kiwis require special training and pruning to produce good crops. When planted, the vines should be pruned back to 4 or 5 buds. From these a main stem should be selected and staked to grow to the top of the arbor or trellis, usually 6-7’ high. The trellis should be strong to support the heavy future fruit loads. Kiwis are beautiful vines. Their vigorous spring growth is a spectacular sight. Excellent for a privacy screen, they will rapidly cover a fence and with support will cover a wall or steep slope. Kiwis grow in a manner similar to grapes but more rapidly. They are very high in Vitamin C. (Ten times as much as lemons.) They are excellent for eating fresh and are a tasty addition to salads and desserts. Ice cream, pies, jam and wine are other ways to use kiwis. Package of 10 seeds $1.50
D8581 Issai Kiwi Actinidia Small 1" fruits with a very sweet taste. The vines will grow vigorously and bears loads of small fruit that is great for salads, desert or jelly. A vigorous, fast-growing, deciduous, woody vine that grows 25-30' but can fill a 200 sq. ft. trellis in time. Grown for its foliage and edible fruit. Foliage is a lustrous dark green throughout the growing season. Flowers appear in May-June and are slightly fragrant and greenish white, but are not particularly showy since they are largely hidden by the foliage. This cultivar does not require a separate male pollinator plant. Smooth-skinned kiwi fruits ripen in early fall and are the size of a large grape. It tastes similar to, though slightly sweeter than, its larger-fruited relative, the true kiwi, Actinidia deliciosa, which can not be grown north of Zone 8. Package of 6 seeds $1.95
SO317 Hawaiian Woodrose Merremia tuberosa A very interesting vine with deep cut 5-7 lobed foliage that can easily be grown inside. The yellow flowers are followed by woody pod fruits that when opened, resemble a wooden rose. Package of 4 seeds $2.50
D9807 Baby Woodrose Argyreia Nervosa Tropical, zone 10 or higher, but good tub plant for patio or greenhouse. A very popular tropical climber with wide heart shaped leaves and beautiful rose pink flowers. A native of eastern India and Bangladesh, this vigorous twiner will grow 30 ft (9 m) or more into the treetops, but can be trained over a post or stump and kept trimmed to a moundlike form. A dense white down covers both young stems and leaf undersides. The leaves are ovate-cordate, to 1 foot across, white tomentose beneath with lateral veins conspicuous on the undersides. Tight clusters of trumpet-shaped bright pink flowers about 2 in (5 cm) across on pedicels to 6 inches long appear among the foliage in spring and summer. Poisonous Plant Parts - Not for Human Consumption Package of 8 seeds $2.75
SO111 Purple Kiwi Actinidia Purpurea Zones 3-9. A very hardy kiwi that bears purplish fruit with a slightly tart taste. A different approach to kiwi that has a unique quality and flavor. Package of 5 seeds $2.50
SO143 Chocolate Vine Akebia quinata Zones 4-8. Decorative, twining climber with green foliage and fragrant, drooping flowers in late spring. Need male and female plants to produce sausage-shaped edible fruits. Prefer cool, moist, humus-enriched soil; shade roots. Needs a strong support on which to climb. Can be pruned as a shrubby vine. Cold hardy to 18 degrees. Can be raised as an evergreen vine in warmer climates. Has very fragrant flowers and large fruits that have a tapioca-like flavor. Package of 5 seeds $2.50
D8517 Kangaroo Vine Cissus A great inside plant, or hardy to zone 9 outside. This vigorous climber has green leaves and climbs with tendrils. It bears small flowers and edible fruits. It is most commonly used as an indoor foliage plant in colder areas and prefers well composted soil with ample moisture. Native grapes from the Kangaroo vine were eaten by the Aborigines and the early settlers in Australia, where it is native to. They have a grape-like taste but can irritate the throat if eaten in large numbers. The Kangaroo vine is a favorite for covering screens and other large areas. It grows about 10 ft. tall and covers its supports with leathery leaves. Package of 10 seeds $1.95
D8524 Purple Passion Flower Passiflora incarnata. Said to be hardy to zone 6. Passionflower got the name from early Spanish explorers who found the vine growing throughout the Southeastern part of what is now the United States. The Spanish found numerical relations in the flower parts to Christ's crucifixion, hence the name. The fruit has a translucent pulp surrounding the seeds that is sweet and tasty when ripe A vigorous growing vine to 20 ft. or more. Package of 5 seeds $2.00
D8537 Virginia Creeper Vine Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia creeper is a fast-growing, high-climbing vine that attaches itself with tendrils which expand, disk-like, on their tips. The deciduous leaves are palmately compound with (typically) five leaflets radiating outward from a central petiole (leaf stem) like spokes on a wheel. Each leaflet is about 3"-7" long and an inch or two wide. The leaves turn fiery red in fall and are very showy. The individual flowers are tiny and inconspicuous, and arranged in elaborate long-stemmed clusters, with each flower at the tip of its own peduncle (flower stem); such an inflorescence is called a cyme. The whole inflorescence is about 4"-6" across. The berries are blue-black, less than a half-inch across and much relished by birds. Native to eastern North America, from Quebec to Florida, and west to Texas. Hardy throughout USDA Zones 3-9. Virginia creeper occurs in all kinds of woods and in clearings and on hedge rows. There are another 9 or 10 species of Parthenicissus in Japan and China. Easy to grow, Virginia creeper can get out of hand if not managed. It will send up sprouts and seed itself, and established plantings may smother shrubs and trees. Virginia creeper will thrive in most soils, in sun or partial shade, with or without a structure to climb on. Grow in different shades of light (filtered) shade; part sun; full sun. Virginia creeper is favored for its brilliant fall foliage and as a manitenance-free ground cover. When allowed to clamber over trees or other tall structures, it develops elongated leafy festoons that are especially showy. Where there is nothing to climb, it attaches to the ground with adventitious roots, and makes an excellent cover for slopes or other places where grass is not practical or desired. ( Our thanks to www.floridata.com for use of the photo ) Package of 15 seeds $1.95
D8539 Velvet Bean Mucuna pruriens Grow as an annual in cooler zones, biennial in zone 9b and higher. A fast growing tropical vine to 60 ft. with large leaves and purple flowers in huge clusters. Has 3" velvety pods filled with marbled beans. The seed pods, about 4 inch long, are covered with very small velvety hairs that can be very painful on contact with the skin. The seeds resemble the eye of a bull; they are often collected and made into lovely necklaces and bracelets. The seeds of nescafe in the pods are rich in amino acid L dopa, precursor of the neurotransmitter dopamine. It is applied to patients suffering from Parkinson disease. L Dopa stimulates human growth hormone released by the pituitary gland. Mucuna pruriens increases testosterone levels. Mucuna is indigenous to the Amazon rainforest and also used as an aphrodisiac by the natives. The toasted ground seeds are used as a coffee substitute in Brazil; the young pods are cooked and eaten in India. The seeds, pods and young leaves are edible, but require special treatment to render them non-toxic. A valuable soil improver, and cattle forage. Package of 4 seeds $1.95
D8564 Passion Fruit Passiflora edulis Zone 7 and higher. This vine, native to the Amazon, produces beautiful flowers and sweet-tart fruit. It was named by the Spanish missionaries in South America who saw the Passion (suffering) of Christ represented in its flowers. Passion fruit is widely grown throughout the tropics and subtropics. The fruit is produced on a woody vine from bisexual flowers. The fruit is somewhat tart, has a hard purple or yellow rind, and contains many black seeds. Passion fruit is commonly used in beverages. Grow on fences or trellises, or allow it to scramble over shrubs and trees. Package of 15 seeds $1.95
D8566 Cassabanana Sicana odorifera Needs hot weather to set fruit, best grown in higher zones. The vine is perennial, herbaceous, fast-growing, heavy, requiring a strong trellis; climbing trees to 50 ft (15 m) or more by means of 4-parted tendrils equipped with adhesive discs that can adhere tightly to the smoothest surface. Young stems are hairy. The leaves are gray-hairy, rounded-cordate or rounded kidney-shaped, to 1 ft wide, deeply indented at the base, 3-lobed, with wavy or toothed margins, on petioles 1 1/2 to 4 3/4 in (4-12 cm) long. Flowers are white or yellow, urn-shaped, 5-lobed, solitary, the male 3/4 in (2 cm) long, the female about 2 in (5 cm) long. Renowned for its strong, sweet, agreeable, melon-like odor, the striking fruit is ellipsoid or nearly cylindrical, sometimes slightly curved; 12 to 24 in (30-60 cm) in length, 2 3/4 to 4 1/2 in (7-11.25 cm) thick, hard-shelled, orange-red, maroon, dark-purple with tinges of violet, or entirely jet-black; smooth and glossy when ripe, with firm, orange-yellow or yellow, cantaloupe-like, tough, juicy flesh, 3/4 in (2 cm) thick. In the central cavity, there is softer pulp, a soft, fleshy core, and numerous flat, oval seeds, 5/8 in (16 mm) long and 1/4 in (6 mm) wide, light-brown bordered with a dark-brown stripe, in tightly-packed rows extending the entire length of the fruit. The cassabanana is believed native to Brazil but it has been spread throughout tropical America. Historians have evidence that it was cultivated in Ecuador in pre-Hispanic times. It was first mentioned by European writers in 1658 as cultivated and popular in Peru. It is grown near sea-level in Central America but the fruit is carried to markets even up in the highlands. Venezuelans and Brazilians are partial to the vine as an ornamental, but in Cuba, Puerto Rico and Mexico it is grown for the usefulness of the fruit.
In 1903, O.F. Cook saw one fruit in a market in Washington, D.C. The United States Department of Agriculture received seeds from C.A. Miller, the American Consul in Tampico, Mexico, in 1913 (S.P.I. #35136). H.M. Curran collected seeds in Brazil in 1915 (S.P.I. #41665). Wilson Popenoe introduced seeds from Guatemala in 1916 (S.P.I. #43427). The author brought seeds from Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, to the Agricultural Research and Education Center, Homestead, in 1951. A resulting vine grew to large size but produced a single 2 ft (60 cm) fruit. Dr. John Thieret, formerly Professor of Botany at Southwestern Louisiana University, says that the Cajuns in the southern part of that state grow the cassabanana for making preserves. Verrill stated in 1937, "The fruit is now on sale in New York markets." Fenzi says that the cassabanana is grown from seeds or cuttings. A high temperature during the fruiting season is needed to assure perfect ripening. Brazilians train the vine to grow over arbors or they may plant it close to a tree. However, if it is allowed to climb too high up the tree there is the risk that it may smother and kill it. The cassabanana remains in good condition for several months if kept dry and out of the sun. The fruit has high market value in Puerto Rico. It is cut up and sold by the piece, the price being determined by weight. The ripe flesh, sliced thin, is eaten raw, especially in the summer when it is appreciated as cooling and refreshing. However, it is mainly used in the kitchen for making jam or other preserves. The immature fruit is cooked as a vegetable or in soup and stews. People like to keep the fruit around the house, and especially in linen- and clothes-closets, because of its long-lasting fragrance, and they believe that it repels moths. It is also placed on church altars during Holy Week. Medicinal Uses: In Puerto Rico, the flesh is cut up and steeped in water, with added sugar, overnight at room temperature so that it will ferment slightly. The resultant liquor is sipped frequently and strips of the flesh are eaten, too, to relieve sore throat. It is believed beneficial also to, at the same time, wear a necklace of the seeds around the neck. The seed infusion is taken in Brazil as a febrifuge, vermifuge, purgative and emmenagogue. The leaves are employed in treating uterine hemorrhages and venereal diseases. In Yucatan, a decoction of leaves and flowers (2 g in 180cc water) is prescribed as a laxative, emmenagogue and vermifuge, with a warning not to make a stronger preparation inasmuch as the seeds and flowers yield a certain amount of hydrocyanic acid. Package of 2 seeds $2.00
D8568 Coral Vine Antigonon LeptopusAlso called Mountain Rose. Ideal for dry climates. This slender vine with pointed, heart-shaped leaves grows from 30' to 40'. Masses of small white or rose-pink flowers bloom in late summer and autumn. A rapidly growing climber that holds on by tendrils, it will quickly cover adjacent plants and structures Will grow up to 30 ft. in one summer. Maintenance free, winter hardy vine. Zones 9-10. The tops of this tropical plant are killed back by freezes but will quickly recover from the roots. Use as a landscape plant. It's perfect for covering fences or climbing trellises with a splash of bright color. This vine does well in urban plantings, because it tolerates air pollution, restricted space, inadequate sunshine and poor soil. A rampant grower, it may need periodic grooming when planted in small spaces. Package of 3 seeds $1.95
D8570 American Bittersweet Celastrus Scandens A decorative vine with light green leaves and massive amounts of scarlet berries. A very good landscape vine. It requires little care, grows quickly and has beautiful colored foliage in fall. Trim branches in fall before frost for indoor decoration. A good highlight plant for troubleareas. Hardy for zones 3-8. Flowers small, green, and clustered. Fruits orange clustered pods that open to reveal scarlet seed coverings. Climbs to 60'. Bittersweet fruits are eaten by songbirds, ruffed grouse, pheasant, and fox squirrel. In the dark and superstitious past, shepherds hung bittersweet around the necks of those sheep which were suspected to be under the evil eye. Package of 20 seeds $1.95
D8587 Banana Passion Fruit Passiflora Mollissima For warmer zones, can be greenhouse grown, or in tubs on patio. A beautiful vine with large 3-lobed leaves followed by edible yellow fruits 4" in length. Cannot ship to HI. Package of 5 seeds $1.95
D9874 Love's Chain This slender vine with pointed, heart-shaped leaves grows from 30' to 40'. Masses of small white or rose-pink flowers bloom in late summer and autumn. A rapidly growing climber that holds on by tendrils, it will quickly cover adjacent plants and structures. Needs full sun for best bloom. This adaptable vine will grow in almost any soil. Tolerates drought. Grown in the north as an annual, outside: zones 9-10. The tops of this tropical plant are killed back by freezes but will quickly recover from the roots. Use as a landscape plant. It's perfect for covering fences or climbing trellises with a splash of bright color. This vine does well in urban plantings, because it tolerates air pollution, restricted space, inadequate sunshine and poor soil. A rampant grower, it may need periodic grooming when planted in small spaces. Attracts hordes of butterflies. Package of 5 seeds $2.50
D9885 Boston Ivy ( Parthenocissus tricuspidata ) The famous ivy of the North that grows just about anywhere. Attractive glossy green foliage on a climbing perennial vine that will cover just about anything. Package of 20 seeds $2.50
D8579 Coral Bead Vine Abrus praecatorius Zone 10 outside, can be grown in tubs and baskets inside. A beautiful tropical vine growing to 12' with dainty leaves and showy purple flowers. Flowers are followed by large seed pods containing the shiny red and black seeds that are used as beads. The seeds are very poisonous if eaten. Package of 5 seeds $1.95
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