Unusual and Exotic Fruit and Nut Plant Seeds From Around the World

SF079 Paradise Apple ( Malus pumila )

An heirloom apple with many uses. Can be eaten raw, cooked in pies, cakes etc. or fermented into cider. The taste is sweet and pleasant when fully ripe. This is a common rootstock plant as well. Zones 4-9.

D2225 Russian Mulberry Tree ( Morus Alba )

Commonly called white mulberry, this is native to China. It is a rounded, fast-growing, deciduous tree that typically grows to 30-50′ tall and as wide. It usually develops a wide-spreading crown with age. The leaves of this tree have been used in China since at least 2600 B.C. as the primary diet for silkworms used to make silk. Trees were introduced into North America in colonial times in an effort to establish a silk industry. Although the industry never took hold, the trees did take hold and have over time escaped cultivation and naturalized in fields, waste areas, forest margins and along roads throughout much of the U.S.
This tree has also been planted in various areas for erosion control and windbreaks. White mulberry is usually dioecious (separate male and female trees), but sometimes is monoecious. Small yellowish-green flowers in drooping catkins bloom in spring (March-April). Fertilized flowers on female trees are followed by sweet, edible blackberry-like fruits (cylindrical drupes to 1″ long) that mature in June. Fruits ripen to white or pink, but sometimes to darker reds or purple-blacks. Fruits are loved by birds.
Best suited for zones 4-9.

D2226 Black Mulberry ( Morus nigra )

A heavy fruiter like the Russian Mulberry but is preferred because it grows only a third as tall and is easier to harvest. Great pies and wine can be made from the fruit.
I’ts said that if you like blackberries, then you will love mulberries. No thorns and it is easy to grow your own tree! Each tree produces succulent mulberries that are both delicious and nutritious and offer even more juicy flavor than blackberries.
The fruit grows in abundance from June to August. The berries ripen over an extended period of time, providing a delicous snack all summer.
These tress grow quickly, and in few short years uou can pick baskets full of large, black mulberries so sweet there’s no need for sugar, and mulberry lovers know this fruit is to be prized because its intense flavor is like no other. A lovely specimen tree whose fruit will keep you in jam and wine all winter long. Berries also freeze very well. One of the few trees that actually prefers heavy soil to achieve its lifespan of a hundred years or more.
Grows about 15 feet tall and spreads about 12 feet, does well in zones 4-10.

D2228 Common Olive ( Olea europaea )

A most useful tree that can be grown in any temperate climate ( zones 8-11 ).
It also can be grown in containers. The tree itself is
attractive and usually becomes gnarled with age. It bears the
olive of commerce that reach up to 1-1/2″ in dia. and are
filled with oil. The flowers are tiny and yellow, the foliage a
light grey-green.

SF408 Tango ( Passiflora edulis )

Tango is a selection from a hybrid between two well known Passiflora edulis cultivars, ‘Pandora’ and ‘Panama Red’. It produces excellent, large, reddish fruits that are full of sweet pulp and juice. It is also quite tolerant of cool conditions and can take brief freezes.

JF747 Perfect Passionfruit ( Passiflora popenovii )

The rare P. popenovii produces arguably the most delicious fruit of all Passiflora. The translucent and very juicy flesh inside the bright yellow fruit is extremely sweet and has an exquisite, exotic and perfumed flavor. It was native to rainforests in Colombia and Ecuador between 1600 and 6200 feet, but is believed to have gone extinct in the wild and only persists in cultivation locally.
It will easily adapt to being grown in a wide range of tropical and warm temperate climates. We think the Perfect Passionfruit has the potential to become far more popular than Passiflora edulis, which is a common sight in fruit markets worldwide.
The plants do extremely well in containers and are hardy in the landscape in USDA zone 9-11.

D9930 Maypop ( Passiflora incarnata )

A North American species that grows to only six feet or so, making it an easier variety to keep under control. This is a very herbaceous vine and dies back every Winter, only to pop back in May, hence the name Maypop ( though I think the names comes from stepping on the fruit and the pop it makes ).
It climbs by means of clinging tendrils and can be kept as an container plant. The long tendrils need lots of support for climbing. It may be grown as a houseplant in a sunny South-facing window. It has large scented flowers, from June to November, with pale lavender petals and purple filaments which are kinked at the tip. These are followed by sweet edible fruits which are yellow when ripe. The leaves are tri-lobed and 15 cm large. Pruning is a must to keep the vine healthy. Prune off less vigorous growth and occasionally prune back vigorous growth to promote flowering.
When established, and without care, the passion fruit can easily overtake other garden plants, shading them from sun. One of the easiest Passiflora to grow and has the best cold hardiness. Keep the atmosphere humid through the Summer and place in full sun, can tolerate partial shade. You may need to water your plants on a daily basis during the hottest Summer months. During the Winter the roots should be kept moist, but as growth will be much slower you will probably only need to water once a week, depending on growing temperature. It will do best in a loam based mix with a little peat moss.
Fertilize at least once every two weeks in the growing season.
If their pot is too large or if they have an unrestricted root run then the whole plant will simply get bigger and bigger but it will refuse to flower and therefore produce the fruits. By limiting the pot size you are limiting the ability to grow and this is seen as a threat, so the natural mechanism is to produce seed for the next generation. A suitably sized pot for an adult plant would generally be of 12 inches in diameter.

Hardiness zone 8-11.

IP189 Sweet Granadilla ( Passiflora ligularis )

A vigorous vine that is woody at the base and climbs onto structures or high into trees using tendrils with heart-shaped 4 to 8 inch long leaves that are of a medium green color and paler below with prominent veins. In the warmer months of the year appear the 4 inch wide sweetly fragrant flowers, often in pairs at the leaf base. These flowers have greenish white sepals and light pinkish-white petals with 2 ranks of filaments that are banded with bluish purple.
The outer shell is hard and slippery, and has soft padding on the interior to protect the seeds. The seeds, which are hard and black, are surrounded by a gelatinous sphere of transparent pulp. The pulp is the edible part of the fruit and has a soft sweet taste. It is very aromatic and contains vitamins A, C, and K, phosphorus, iron, and calcium.
Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F

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

3552 Chinese Lantern ( Physalis alkekengi )

An easy to grow perennial that is normally grown as an annual as it re-seeds easily. Edible berries are borne inside fascinating orange chinese lantern-like calyces. Berries are eaten raw, or in preserves and pies. Recommended for fevers and gout.

SF368 Chilean Carob Tree ( Prosopis chilensis )

A small tree with feathery foliage in the Fabaceae (pea family), native to the arid regions of northern Chile, southern Peru and northern Argentina. The fruits are similar to carob and are used to make a rich sugary flour.
The dried fruits are placed in a blender and the resulting flour is sifted and added to desserts, pastries, soups and even ice-cream. The dried pods are also nibbled on as a delightful snack. These trees are beneficial as Nitrogen fixers. They grow quickly and are extremely hardy. The variety offered here is one of the larger fruited forms from the Atacama desert in Chile.
In cultivation, Prosopis chilensis can take moderate freezes and severe droughts and can be grown in dry climates of USDA zones 8 to 10.
Seeds are easy to sprout but need to be scarified and soaked before sowing.

TRZ122 American Plum ( Prunus americana )

In our opinion, nothing is better than eating a fresh plum directly off the tree! The American Plum is a fast growing selection with many uses. This plum will grow as a small tree or large shrub which will readily sucker from the ground up around the root zone. When suckers are not trimmed regularly, it will transform into a large erect shrub and form a dense spreading thicket as it ages. In the spring, clusters of 1″ white flowers will form, usually some of the first flower blooms in the woodlands. Fruit will form over summer, and mature in August and September. The plums can be used in jellies, preserves, and even eaten raw.
Prunus americana thrives in USDA hardiness planting zones 3 to 8 and prefers thicket, open field, or woody habitats which get at least 16″ of rain per year and is often seen along roadsides and in pastures. It does best in well-draining soil and is a good choice for windbreaks and general landscaping beautification. Due to its bushy, slightly tangled foliage structure, this tree is a great choice to add visual interest to any yard.

3395 Chickasaw Plum ( Prunus angustifolia )

TRZ054 Mexican Plum ( Prunus mexicana )

Prunus mexicana, commonly known as Mexican plum and also Bigtree plum, is a small, upright tree that may grow to a shrubby 8-15’ tall but most frequently matures to 15-25’ tall. It is native from the southeastern corner of South Dakota to Ohio south to Alabama, Texas and northeastern Mexico. Trees are also widely cultivated on the West Coast.

Main features of this tree are the fragrant showy white flowers in small clusters which bloom in spring before or as the leaves appear, the leaves that are 5” long and 2” wide which are yellow-green above and soft hairy beneath with double-toothed margins, and the edible plums that reach to 1” diameter which emerge yellow but ripen on the tree from July to September to rose, lavender or purple covered with a gray-glaucous bloom
It also has smooth reddish-gray bark which matures over time to blue-gray with a rough texture, darker horizontal striations and exfoliating patches, and yellow, but sometimes a more attractive orange and red, fall foliage color.

Plums may be eaten fresh off the tree or made into tasty preserves and jellies.
For zones 6-8.

3394 Sloe ( Prunus spinosa )

Prunus spinosa is a large deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 15 feet tall, with blackish bark and dense, stiff, spiny branches. It is hardy to zone 4. The leaves are oval, 2-4.5 cm long and 1.2-2 cm broad, with a serrated margin.
In late February and early March, the blackish branches are hidden underneath dense clouds of fluffy white flowers. The mid-sized, dark green, oval leaves emerge after the flowers and the fruit, called sloes or sloe berries, ripen in late autumn, with a bloom of pale blue powder over the dark purple skin.
The fruit, called a “sloe”, is a drupe about half an inch in diameter, black with a purple-blue waxy bloom, ripening in autumn, and harvested traditionally, at least in the UK, in October or November after the first frosts. Sloes are thin-fleshed, with a very strongly astringent flavour when fresh.
Blackthorn is much prized for walking sticks and only blackthorn or oak wood is used to make a real Irish sail eille (shillelagh in English). In Southern Ireland, County Kerry, there is a town called Killarney, which means “church of sloes”.
It makes good firewood.
Prunus spinosa is self-fertile and Sloe berries are traditionally used for infusing with gin, vodka and brandy, but they also make good jam. In colder parts of the country where frosts come early, you can try leaving ripe Sloes on the branch; a touch of frost will make them surprisingly sweet.

PR02 Wild Black Cherry ( Prunus Virginiana )

For zones 2-6. A medium size cherry tree; height usually not
over 20 to 25 feet, diameter 4 to 8 inches; with an irregular,
rounded crown. Bright green, broadly oval leaves, paler
underneath; length 3 to 4 inches, width 1 to 2 inches. Fruit is
in dense clusters; reddish, turning nearly black when fully
ripe; each berry containing a single seed, skin of fruit thick;
flesh thin and dark; very astringent to the taste, but edible.
Popular tree for birds. Most widely distributed tree in North
America, extending from the Arctic Circle to Mexico and from
the Atlantic to the Rockies.

TRZ053 Schubert Chokeberry ( Prunus virginiana Shubert )

‘Schubert’, sometimes called purpleleaf chokecherry, is a deciduous, suckering tree or shrub with a pyramidal habit which grows 20-30′ tall. It is best known for its purple foliage: elliptic to obovate leaves to 5″ long emerge green in spring, gradually maturing to dark purple by early summer.
White flowers in racemes in spring give way in summer to clusters of reddish cherries about one third inch in diameter which mature in fall to a dark purple.
Fruit is very astringent, hence the common name. Fruit may be used in sauces, jellies and preserves, however. Fruits are attractive to wildlife.

D2261 Strawberry Guava ( Psidium cattleianum )

Can be grown indoors in containers or as a tree outdoors to 15 feet, in containers it will be limited to the size of the container. The fruits are very versatile. They can be eaten out of hand. Makes great juice, jelly, mousse, Guava butter and Guava pudding. Cold hardy to 25 degrees.
This guava does well in limestone and poor soils that would barely support other fruit trees. It is shallow-rooted but is fairly drought tolerant.

A delicious puree or tart-filling can be made by trimming and cooking 6 cups of red cattleys with 1 cup water and 2 cups granulated sugar and pressing through a sieve.

3341 Apple Guava ( Psidium guajava )

A shrub or small tree, sometimes growing as high as 30ft, but usually no more than 10-15ft.
Highly fragrant fruit usually with green or yellow skin, about the size of a baseball, with pink or white flesh. The guava is one of the most common fruits in the world and its sweet pulp is used in a wide assortment of drinks, desserts, and other food products.

Hardiness: The guava is highly adaptable to tropical and subtropical environments and can be grown outdoors as far North as the San Francisco Bay Area in California, as well as most areas of Florida and gulf coast states. Protect from temperatures below 30F, which can cause defoliation. Harder freezes will kill the plant. In cool winter areas, guava’s may partially defoliate, but should begin new growth flushes in spring and summer.

D2267 Pomegranate ( Punica )

A very decorative ornamental that has a pleasant tasting fruit. It has vermilion red flowers and small glossy leaves.
Pomegranates are adaptable to many soil types, though they grow best in loamy soil with good drainage. The ideal climate is zones 7 to 12, with short, mild winters and low humidity. They may be grown in containers in colder places, and kept indoors or in a greenhouse over winter.
It is not necessary to prune your pomegranate trees, but it can help with ease of harvest, better fruit, and for a shapelier tree. Pomegranates naturally grow in bush-form, and produce lots of suckers. This is ideal for hedges or living walls, but not for most other situations.

3182 Firethorn ( Pyracantha coccinea )

A plant of many uses: Impenetrable shrub for informal hedges, hedgerows. dense screens or property lines. Also effective when massed to cover slopes. Group in shrub borders. May be sheared as a hedge, but severe pruning performed after flowering will adversely affect fruit production. Espaliers trained on wall or fence. Best planted in areas where the thorns will not present a problem.
Birds love the fruit. They are greatly favored by Black Birds and Cedar Waxwings, which have been know to strip a tree of all its berries.
Here is a link to a great web page about Firethorn and includes a recipe for Pyracantha Jelly.

Firethorn is a large, evergreen shrub that is cherished for its spectacular fall and winter display of scarlet fruits and ability to withstand dry and droughty conditions. Shooting long lanky stems in all directions, firethorn typically grows into a tangled mound up to 10 feet in height and 12 feet wide. It is armed with sharp thorns that hide among the dark,glossy green leaves.

Clusters (corymbs) of small white flowers appear in spring. These are up to 2 inches across and are borne close together creating the appearance of nearly solid surface of flowers. In fall the 1/4 inch berries begin to ripen, their color mellowing from green to shades of red, orange, or yellow. These persist through winter and into early spring depending on climate and appetite of the local bird population. Under bright sunny conditions the berries are plentiful but expect smaller crops in shadier situations. The color of both leaves and berries tends to be darker in cooler climates.

Culture: Not particular about soil and requires little or no supplemental fertilization.
Light: Full sun preferred but will grow in partial to fairly heavy shade. Flowering and fruiting will not be as heavy.
Moisture: Moist to very dry, well drained soil. Hardiness: Zones 5 – 9.
Usage: Pyracantha is often used as an espalier. Held flat against a wall, it can be shaped quite creatively. Because of its fast growth rate, sprawling, spreading habit, and ease of care, it can be used on slopes to great advantage requiring little maintenance or care. The wide-reaching stems may be pruned back as needed during warm weather as the shrub blooms on old wood. Even consider using it as an informal hedge! This will require some trimming and shaping for the first few years but the effort will produce impressively beautiful and secure
(thorny) hedges.

Landscapers love the firethorns for their fast rate of growth and ability to withstand drought and neglect. The shrubs ruggedness and disease and pest resistance makes this plant a very popular item in commercial landscapes.

3396 Asian Pear ( Pyrus pyrifolia )

Pyrus pyrifolia is a deciduous Tree growing to 32 feet.
It is hardy to zone 6 and is not frost tender. It is in flower in April, and the fruit ripens in September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.
Asian pears are cousins to the pears that are typically seen in grocery stores, but this fruit is similar to an apple and its many names reflect that characteristic. Other names that this fruit goes by are: Chinese pear, Japanese pear, Sand, Nashi, and apple pear.

Asian pears differ from the traditional European ones. These pears are usually round, firm to touch when ripe, and are ready to eat after harvest. Asian pears reach prime quality when they ripen on the tree, like an apple and peach. These pears will be crisp, juicy, and slightly sweet with some tartness, especially near the core.
Note: These seeds will require cold stratification, you may need to purchase our Cold Stratification Kit

Image: By Doug Goldman. USDA-NRCS-NPDT United States, NY, Tompkins Co., Dryden. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

JB070 Alleghany Blackberry ( Rubus allegheniensis )

These plants are hardy to zone 3 and provide loads of delicious sweet fruit in the summer. Does have thorns, but this variety will outproduce ( fruit ) the thornless varieties we have tested.
Alleghany Blackberry is a deciduous Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft 10in) at a medium rate.
It is hardy to zone 3 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from May to July, and the seeds ripen from Aug to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Apomictic.The plant is self-fertile.

Hardiness zones: 3-9

3358 Thimbleberry ( Rubus parviflorus )

A decidious shrub growing to 4 feet. Has large maple-shaped leaves. White flowers in spring produce edible red fruit. It does not like wet, soggy soil and prefers some light shade.
Thimbleberries are good subshrubs for use as streamside erosion control. It forms thornless bramble thickets with good soil-binding attributes. Because it is vigorous and adapts well to sun or shade, it makes a fine native species for re-vegetating disturbed moist areas, especially those spots located in shade.
The raspberry-like fruit make tasty jams, jellies and syrups.

SF170 Salmonberry ( Rubus spectabilis )

Attractive pink/ magenta flowers, attracts hummers, golden stems lightly covered with prickles, edible raspberry-like fruit. Thicket forming.

The upright, arching branches vary from nearly thornless to quite thorny, and are apt to grow to ten feet, if left unpruned. It blooms in early spring shortly before the full development of the large, palmate leaves. The flowers are an eye-shocking pinkish-purple that are a magnet for hummingbirds, and are a striking contrast to the bright green of the new leaves that follow. The fruit, which also resembles the raspberry, is small, orange to red. The flavor can vary widely, but it is generally considered tastier than thimbleberry. But even if you don’t like the taste, birds finding their way to your garden definitely will. Found along streams and in moist woods, this is the one for wetter areas. It too will create a formidable thicket that birds find good protective cover.

Fruit can be used raw, cooked or dried for later use. Juicy with a very good flavor. The fruit can be made into jams and jellies. The fruit can range in color from yellow, through orange to red, it is about the size of a cultivated raspberry but is rather inferior in flavor and often has a distinctive bitterness, especially in cooler summers. Young shoots can be peeled and eaten raw or cooked like asparagus. They are harvested in the spring as they grow above the soil and while they are still tender. Flowers can be eaten raw. The leaves are used as a tea substitute.

Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade. Grows well in the shade of trees though it is less likely to fruit well in such a position. A very ornamental plant, but it can be invasive. This species is a raspberry with biennial stems, it produces a number of new stems each year from the perennial rootstock, these stems fruit in their second year and then die.

Can be grown in containers, hardy to zone 5.

H078 Black Elder ( Sambucus nigra )

This herb has long been used to heal hemorrhoid problems.
It gives immediate relief. To make a compress, mix the flowers of elder and honeysuckle
together and pour boiling milk over them. Let the mixture steep for about 20 minutes.
Dip a towel into the mixture and apply to the area of pain. An ointment can be made
from the green leaves that is also beneficial to hemorrhoids. Apply the ointment while it
is still hot. A perennial for zones 6-8.

3522 Magnolia Vine ( Schisandra chinensis )

Schisandra chinensis, commonly known as the Magnolia vine, is one of the most ornamental edible vines you could ever wish to grow. Scratch the bark and an intense, clean fragrance that’s a combination of Daphne odora and lime peel will greet your nose. The flowers of the Magnolia vine are insignificant, but the 4″ clusters of shiny red berries are gorgeous. They ripen in late summer on year-old wood. If the Magnolia vine is very happy, it will send up suckers from the rootball and you can propagate new vines from them.

Known as Wu We Zi in Mandarin (five taste fruit), Schisandra chinensis berries are one of the 50 essential ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine. Fresh Schisandra berries are much better tasting than the dried fruit, although both fresh and dried fruit are packed with nutrition.
This is a deciduous woody vine native to forests of Northern China and the Russian Far East. It is hardy in USDA Zone 4.

The plant likes some shade with moist, well-drained soil. The species itself is dioecious, thus flowers on a female plant will only produce fruit when fertilized with pollen from a male plant. There is no way to know if a plant is female or male until it blooms. ( Each seed pack contains 10 seeds, so you are assued of getting both male and female plants from each packet ).

Fruit is eaten raw or cooked. Usually dried and used on journeys, it is very sustaining and rich in sugars, it has a sweet/sour flavor.

The fruit is about 6mm in diameter and is borne in a grape-like bunch about 10cm long.
Extracts from the fruits (seeds) of Schisandra chinensis are one of the components of medicinal preparations designed for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, liver diseases, diseases of the central nervous system related to the old age, as a supplement in the treatment of neoplasms, diabetes, etc. Schisandra extracts are also used for the production of nutraceuticals (soft drinks and health foods), preparations for oral hygiene and for the care for the skin and hair.

D8566 Cassabanana ( Sicana odorifera )

An annual that needs hot weather to set fruit, best grown in higher zones 7 and above. The vine is perennial, herbaceous, fast-growing, heavy, requiring a strong trellis; climbing trees to 50 feet 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 foot wide, deeply indented at the base, 3-lobed, with wavy or toothed margins.
Flowers are white or yellow, urn-shaped, 5-lobed, solitary, the male 3/4 inch long, the female about 2 inches long.

Renowned for its strong, sweet, agreeable, melon-like odor, the striking fruit is ellipsoid or nearly cylindrical, sometimes slightly curved; 12 to 24 inches in length, 3 to 4 inches in diameter, 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.
The cassabanana is believed native to Brazil but it has been spread throughout tropical America.
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.

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.

TRZ108 Jojoba ( Simmondsia chinensis )

Pick up a bottle of lotion at the store and you may recognize the name of this oily plant. Known for its moisturizing properties, Jojoba is widely found in cosmetic products. If you find this large bush in your area, you can also eat the nuts that are found on the female variety of the plant, containing seed pods. The nut has a bitter flavor similar to an almond.
This woody, evergreen shrub grows up to 8 feet tall and about 10 feet wide with leathery, grayish-green leaves. Jojoba occurs throughout the Sonoran Desert where annual average rainfall exceeds 5 inches. It extends beyond the desert into the coastal mountain ranges of southern California. Use jojoba plants as a screen, barrier, hedge, or desert revegetation.
Zones 9-11 or can be container grown in cooler zones.

IP151 Dwarf Tamarillo ( Solanum abutiloides )

A small, fuzzy, orange fruit related to the Tree Tomato. It has large, furry leaves, white flowers and the small, slightly furry, orange fruits are sweet when fully ripe with an aroma that reminds of peaches or abricots. It makes a fair ornamental for warm temperate regions but is more often grown for its fruits.

Great for containers. Grow in full to filtered sun. Water regularly during growth season. Use well-drained soil.

D9927 Naranjilla Juice Plant ( Solanum quitoense )

The Naranjilla is a tomato relative native to the northern part of South America and it’s cultivated usually at high elevations, between three and seven thousand feet. The plant can grow to heights of six to ten feet with very large spiny leaves, often measuring 18 inches long, and five to eight inches wide or bigger. The dark green leaves have purple veins on the upper surface and whitish or purplish on the lower surface.
It can be grown in tubs on patios and in greenhouses, where the size of the plant is controled by the size of the container it is grown in.
All parts of the plant are very pubescent and contain many thorns. The globular shaped fruit usually measure an inch and a half to two and a half inches diameter at maturity. They are bright orange and covered with short brittle hairs, which can be easily removed by rubbing. When cut open, the fruit
resembles a tomato with green, acid pulp and many small seeds. A delicious and refreshing green colored juice is prepared from the fruits and the fruits can be made into drinks, or used in preserves and pies.
Production of the naranjilla is pretty much year round, although more fruits are produced during the summer months because of better growing conditions. Most plants begin to bear at six to twelve months of age and continued production can be expected for three to four years, before the plants begin to decline.

TRZ096 Tamarind ( Tamarindus indica )

The tamarind is a large tropical tree with a short massive
trunk, ferny pinnate leaves, small yellow flowers and fat
reddish brown pods. The tree can get 90 ft (27.4 m) tall but is
usually less than 50 ft (15.2 ft). It has a short, stocky
trunk, drooping branches and a domed umbrella shaped crown
about as wide as the tree’s height. The leaves are about 10 in
(25.4 cm) long with 10-18 pairs of 1 in (2.5 cm) oblong
leaflets. Tamarind drops its leaves in pronounced dry seasons;
in climates without a dry season it stays evergreen. The
flowers are about 1 in (2.5 cm) across, pale yellow with purple
or red veins. They have five unequal lobes and borne in small
drooping clusters. The velvety cinnamon brown pods are 2-6 in
(5.1-15.2 cm) long, sausage shaped and constricted between the
seeds. The pulp that surrounds the 8-10 seeds is both sweet and
extremely sour.
Tamarinds are grown as ornamental shade and street trees, and
for the edible pods. The pods are fed to livestock, and the
pulp within the pods is used to make beverages, curries,
chutneys and sauces. Tamarind pulp is made into a soft drink
known as refresco de tamarindo in Latin America, and tamarinade
in Jamaica. It’s also the basis of a popular drink in the
Middle East. Tamarind is used extensively in Indian and
Southeast Asian cuisine, and is an important ingredient in
Worcestershire sauce. The juice is used to pickle fish in
India. Several medicinal uses of tamarind are reported in
Grieve’s A Modern Herbal. The fruit is said to improve
digestion, relieve gas, soothe sore throats, and act as a mild
laxative.
The tamarind tree is a beautiful, fine textured tree and it
makes an excellent shade tree in large landscapes. It often is
planted in public parks and as an avenue tree in tropical
cities. Best for zones 10 and up.

3240 Chilean Cranberry ( Ugni molinae )

Botanically its in the Myrtaceae ( Myrtle ) family and is not related to the cranberry ( which the small red berries resemble ). The delicious 3/4″ fruits have a wild strawbery taste. Although this fruit is relatively unknown to most of the civilized world it is expected to make a commercial impact in
the future. It had been introduced to England in 1844 and became a favorite fruit of Queen Victoria. The processed fruits are beginning to enter the world markets. It is a handsome shrubby tree to 7′ laden with small oval leaves, glossy and spicy scented when crushed. It develops small profuse pink
tinged blossoms which have the fragrance of strawberries. Hardy to zone 8, once established it is drought resistant and can tolerate some frost. Makes an excellant ornamental tree and may be pruned to desired height. Requires bright light and well draining acid soil.

FDR97 Highbush Blueberry ( Vaccinium corymbosum )

A deciduous medium to large multi-stemmed sized shrub that can grow to 10 feet tall, but normally in the 7-9 feet range. The flowers bloom from May to June. The blooms are typically numerous and somewhat showy. The highbush blueberry fruits are small (1/3 inch), dark blue and covered with a white film. The berry ripens in mid to late summer. The fruits are sweet and delicious. For this tree the ideal soil is moist, high in organic matter and well-drained. It prefers an acidic soil (4.5 to 5.5). The blueberry tree likes to have mulch around the roots and full sun to partial shade. More sun translates into more into more blooms, more fruit and enhanced fall foliage color. Hardiness zones: 3-9.
Pre-stratified seeds need to be planted immediately upon receipt.
Germination instructions are not on seed packets, click here for germination instructions.

SF186 Cranberry ( Vaccinium macrocarpon )

Cranberries can be grown in-doors, in a garden, in planter boxes, raised beds, etc. Cranberries have huge health benefits and can be dry stored for extended periods of time.
Cranberries are native to North America do not need to be grown in a bog. Cranberries do require some soil preparation that is well worth the effort.
Cranberry plants can also be grown in large pots as ornamentals. These attractive, spreading plants are a unique addition to any garden.
With proper care, you can harvest berries the first year from the cranberry plants.
Zones 2-8 if grown outside.

Germination instructions: Sow at 64-71F for 2-4 weeks, move to 24-39F for 4-6 weeks, move to 41-53F for germination. Cover seeds 1/4 inch. Sowing Rate: 2 – 3 seeds per plant. Moisture: Keep seeds moist until germination.

W253 Mountain Cranberry ( Vaccinium vitis-idae )

Depending on where you are at in the world, Mountain Cranberry may also be called: Lingonberry, Cowberry, Foxberry, Quailberry, Beaverberry, Red Whortleberry, Bearberry, Lowbush Cranberry, Cougarberry, Mountain Bilberry, Partridgeberry, Redberry, and more.
Mountain Cranberry is a short evergreen shrub in the heath family that bears edible fruit, native to boreal forest and Arctic tundra throughout the Northern Hemisphere from Eurasia to North America. Lingonberries are a staple in Northern Scandinavia, picked in the wild and used to accompany a variety of dishes.
Hardy for zones 2-7.

Germination instructions: Sow at soil temperuture of 41°F or lower, needs to planted in cold soil, the warming soil triggers germination, germination irregular, often several months.
Average Germ Time: 6-12 weeks. Light Required: Yes.
Depth: 1/8-1/4 inch. Sowing Rate: 4 – 5 seeds per plant.
Moisture: Keep seeds moist until germination. Plant Spacing: 18-24 inches.

IP309 Amur Grape ( Vitis Amurensis )

This plant is native to the Far East (China, Japan, Korea, and Siberia). This is a rarely offered species with exceptional fall coloring. This robust, fast growing vine attains a height of 18-24 ft (6-8 m), with up to 6 ft (2 m) of annual growth.

This plant is suitable for growing up tall fences, arbors, and sturdy supports.A splendid and vigorous climber with reddish flossy shoots, when there young. The leaves are broad, ovate and large (3 or 5-lobed), up to 10 in. across (15-25 cm). In autumn the rather fine foliage turns a rich crimson and purple. This plant climbs by means of tendrils. This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds.

The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by insects. They bloom from May to July, and the seeds ripen from September to October. After the flowers the fruits appear, they are small (1-1.5 cm) colored purple to black, and they taste very good, making wonderful jelly.

Hardiness zones: 4-9. Even if it has small soil requirements, this plant prefers a deep rich moist well-drained moderately fertile loam. The plant does best in calcium rich fertile loamy evenly moist soils for best production and flavorful fruit. Vitis Amurensis succeeds in sun or partial shade; though a warm sunny position is required for the fruit to ripen. This vine is very hardy, tolerating temperatures down to about -40 degrees.

Note: These seeds need to be cold statified before
sowing.
We recommend using the Seedman’s Cold Stratification
Kits for cold stratification.

IP296 Riverbank Grape ( Vitis Riparia )

Also commonly known as Frost Grape, it is a Native American climbing or trailing vine, widely distributed from Quebec to Texas, and Montana to New
England. It is long-lived and capable of reaching into the upper canopy of the tallest trees. This plant is highly valued by wildlife and perfect for naturalizing woodland areas or along fences. This vine is a strong climber reaching 12m (2m of annual growth).

This plant is recommended for covering tall fences and various supports as well as concealing unsightly buildings. It can suppress the growth of other plants. The growth form is that of a woody vine. There are well-developed tendrils that wrap around nearby plants or other objects to help the vine climb.

Mature vines have loose, fissured bark, and may attain several inches in diameter. Leaves are alternate, and lobed (there can be dramatic differences in the lobbing pattern from one leaf to the next). The lobes are generally sharp-pointed and there are also large sharp teeth along the margin. The leaves often have opposite tendrils or inflorescences; they are about 2-10 inches long and 2-8 inches broad, sometimes with sparse hairs on the underside of veins, and are glossy green on both surfaces.

The vine has large panicles of delightfully Mignonette scented flowers, a most unusual feature, in early summer. The inflorescence is 6 inches long and is loose, and the flowers are small, fragrant, dioecious, and white or greenish in color. V. riparia blooms in May or June and produces a small 6-15 mm blue-black berry (grape) with a bloom, seeded, juicy, edible, vinous-herbaceous in flavor (not foxy), but usually sour.

Hardiness zones: 2-9. The vine is extremely cold hardy and easily survives temperatures as low as 40 degrees below zero. The riparia vine prefers a deep rich moist well-drained moderately fertile loam. This vine does best in calcium rich fertile loamy evenly moist soils for best production and flavorful fruit. It will grow best in a calcareous soil. It will succeed in sun or partial shade though a warm sunny position is required for the fruit to ripen. This is an undemanding, drought tolerant and fully hardy species.

Note: These seeds need to be cold statified before
sowing.
We recommend using the Seedman’s Cold Stratification
Kits for cold stratification.

IP297 Common Wine Grape ( Vitis vinifera )

Vitis vinifera is also called California Grape Vine and is a species of Vitis, native to the Mediterranean region, central Europe, and southwestern Asia, from Morocco and Spain north to southern Germany and east to northern Iran. It is a liana growing to 35 m tall. It holds on to supports with twining tendrils.

An interesting climber with green leaves covered with silvery down. This plant is ideal for color compositions with shrubs, other climbers or trees with dark leaves or flowers. The leaves are alternate, palmate and lobed, about 5-20 cm long and broad.

The flowers of the vine are of color yellow-green and are gathered in bunches. They are intensely fragrant, hermaphrodites (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by insects. Since it has both sexes, you need only one plant to be able to enjoy the fruits. The flowers will bloom from May to July.

The sweet edible fruit is a berry, known as a grape; in the wild species it is 6 mm diameter and ripens dark purple to blackish with a pale wax bloom; in cultivated plants it is usually much larger, up to 3 cm long, and can be green, red, or purple. Fruits ripen from September to October.

Hardiness zones: 5-10. Tolerating temperatures down to about -20 degrees. Best grown in fertile, moist but permeable soil that is rich in calcium, but it will also succeed moderate soil. This vine does best in calcium rich fertile loamy evenly moist soils for best production and flavorful fruit. It likes sunny, warm and well-aerated spots. When grown in shade, the leaves turn green. It can freeze during severe winters. The species typically occurs in humid forests and stream sides.

Note: These seeds need to be cold statified before
sowing.
We recommend using the Seedman’s Cold Stratification
Kits for cold stratification.

Stan Shebs: Wikipedia

TRN799 Banana Yucca (Yucca baccata)

A small, short trunked or often trunkless Yucca with very hard, thick, bluish, deeply concave leaves. It is widely distributed over northern Mexico and the southwestern United States and is found in mountain areas up to 7900 ft. It is extremely hardy to frost and considered to possibly being the hardiest of all trunked Yucca. Slow but easy to grow and very ornamental.
Most yuccas have dry hard fruits, but the fruits of banana yucca are fleshy and succulent. They look roughly like short fat green bananas, thus the name. These fruits were a traditional food of the Apache and Navajo. They were prepared by roasting or baking, stripping out the seeds, pounding the remaining flesh into a pulp, forming the pulp into flat cakes, and sun-drying them for later use.
The resulting product is said to be nutritious, sweet, and delicious. The fruits were often picked before maturity and ripened off the plant to keep wildlife from eating them before they could be harvested
Hardy for zones 6-11.

1A030 Chinese Jujube ( Zizyphus jujuba )

The tree has a weeping ornamental growth pattern. The fruits are smooth and round like an apple and can be eaten right off the tree. Very high in vitamin C. Very fragrant flowers.
Jujube grows throughout most of the southern half of North America. For best crops, the tree needs a long growing season and hot and dry weather during ripening. About the only parts of the United States where jujube can’t grow are in the North (USDA Zones 5 and colder) and the Gulf Coast where summer rain and humidity prevent optimum fruiting.

TRZ088 Inidan Jujube ( Zizyphus mauritania )

A smaller version of the Chinese Jujube, it needs zone 9 and
higher to produce fruit. A bushy, deciduous tree to 20′ with
ovate leaves. It’s 1 inch, acidic tasting fruits are used
preserved, dried, pickled, and in confections. Fragrant
flowers.