Bachelor's Button Seeds (Centaurea cyanus). Also known as Cornflower, Bluebottle, and Bleuette, Bachelor's Button is an easy-to-grow, self-seeding, cool-season annual with bright blue flowers that has been popular in America since colonial times. Philadelphia nurseryman Bernard McMahon offered it in five colors in 1804 -- purple, red, blue, white, and striped -- and Jefferson included "French pink bleuette" in an 1806 list of flowers. Jefferson-documented: This plant was documented by Thomas... - Bachelor's Button Seeds (Centaurea cyanus).
Globe Centaurea Seeds (Centaurea macrocephala). Globe Centaurea, also called Great Golden Knapweed, is a robust perennial from the Caucasus, introduced to Britain by 1805. Philadelphia nurseryman Bernard McMahon sent seeds to Thomas Jefferson in 1812. The plant forms clumps 3-4' ... - Globe Centaurea Seeds (Centaurea macrocephala).
Hyssop Seeds (Hyssopus officinalis). Hyssop was well-established in English gardens by the 1400's, and was brought to America by early colonists. Thomas Jefferson listed Hyssop among plants for his kitchen garden in 1794. Sometimes used as an edging plant for gardens, this s... - Hyssop Seeds (Hyssopus officinalis).
Sage Seeds (Salvia officinalis). Sage was a standard in kitchen gardens from colonial times, and Thomas Jefferson listed it for the Monticello garden in 1794. This culinary Mediterranean shrub, grown since the 13th century, was thought to prolong life. It's soft&co... - Sage Seeds (Salvia officinalis).
Foxglove Seeds (Digitalis purpurea). Foxglove, a showy biennial bearing spires of deep pink tubular flowers in late spring and early summer, was grown in American gardens by 1735, and likely became more common after its medicinal properties were discovered in the late ... - Foxglove Seeds (Digitalis purpurea).
Rosemary Seeds (Rosmarinus officinalis). The Normans may have first brought this shrubby, evergreen, Mediterranean herb to Britain as early as the 11th century. Thomas Jefferson noted Rosemary among 14 other herbs for his Monticello garden in 1794. It has long been valued as a c... - Rosemary Seeds (Rosmarinus officinalis).
Red Fig Tomato Seeds (Solanum lycopersicum cv.). Red Fig Tomato is an heirloom variety from Philadelphia dating to 1805. They were traditionally dried or made into a sweet preserve to be eaten in winter like figs, but they are also sugary sweet eaten fresh. The deep red fruits are pear-shaped... - Red Fig Tomato Seeds (Solanum lycopersicum cv.).