Pincushion Flower Seeds (Scabiosa atropurpurea). When Thomas Jefferson requested roots and bulbs of the "Mourning bride" from his neighbor, Isaac Coles, in 1811, he may have been referring to the Pincushion Flower. Also known as Mourning Bride because of its association with grieving widows in 18th-century England, this long-blooming annual boasts velvet-like flowers all summer in mixed shades of purple, blue, white, and red, and makes a good cut flower. Jefferson-documented: This plant was documented... - Pincushion Flower Seeds (Scabiosa atropurpurea).
Cardinal Flower Seeds (Lobelia cardinalis). Harvested from the gardens at Monticello. The brilliant scarlet-colored flower of this summer-blooming North American species was considered the finest red in nature upon its introduction to Europe in 1629. Cardinal Flowers grow in moist woodland are... - Cardinal Flower Seeds (Lobelia cardinalis).
Blanket Flower Seeds (Gaillardia aristata). As the Lewis and Clark Expedition crossed the Continental Divide on July 6th, 1806, this showy native species was collected. Blanket Flower blooms from summer through autumn, with yellow ray florets sometimes tinged red at the base&... - Blanket Flower Seeds (Gaillardia aristata).
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).