GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE SEED LIST

NOMENCLATURE:
Unfortunately, plant names change on a regular basis and many seeds are submitted with old or obsolete names. This seed list incorporates many updated names. If a particular plant name cannot be found, it may well be because it is now listed under a different name.

Every year I check my online resources to make sure I am using the most current name for all the seeds I receive. I generally don't make the switch to a new name unless there is agreement from several sources, but often some other reliable current source still favors the old name or sometimes even offers up a third option for the name. It can get very confusing and I will be the first to admit to a bias against changing certain names even though the "authorities" have. (Hepatica will always be Hepatica for me!) To help with finding some of these changes you can download or print out this Synonyms List pdf.

Some of the resource I use for plant names include: The Plant List which is a collaboration between Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Missouri Botanical Garden, GRIN and the PLANTS Database which are both maintained by the USDA, as well as the RHS Horticultural Database and various online Floras from efloras.org.

One such recent change was the transfer of several commonly grown Lychnis to Silene; most species names stayed the same, with the exception of Lychnis alpina which is now Silene suecica. I've tried to mark other recent name changes to other genera in the seed list so you should be able to find the species fairly easily under the new genus or species name.

Nomenclature questions can be addressed to me: Laura Serowicz, NARGS Seed Intake Manager, 15411 Woodring St., Livonia, Michigan 48154-3029 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

CATALOG INFORMATION:

ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS used:
sp = species
ssp = subspecies
v = variety
f = forma
ex = parent plant derived from
flr = flower
frt = fruit
lvs = leaves
/ = and/or (i.e. red/blue = red and blue OR red or blue)
- = to (i.e. yellow-orange, 3-5cm)
> = over three donors
(aff) = related to* but not that species
(cf) = compare to* similar to species, may be that species
(ex) = descended from-may differ from parent plant
(x) = hybrid
sp = species not known*
(nv) = name not verified in references/not a valid name*
(op) = open-pollinated (may differ from parent plant)
(hp) = hand-pollinated (should resemble parent plant)
(PI) = Potentially Invasive-do not allow to self sow

* Please try to identify species before passing on the resulting seeds or plants from these seeds.

Metric Measurements:
All plant heights and location elevations are listed in metric units.
Quick Metric to English Conversions:
cm = centimeter to in. = inches
2.5 cm ~ 1 in.
10 cm ~ 4 in.
15 cm ~ 6 in.
25 cm ~ 10 in.
30 cm ~ 12 in. = 1 ft.
100 cm = 1 m ~ 40 in. = 3 ft. 4 in.
m = meter to ft. = feet
305 m ~ 1000 ft
1000 m ~ 3300 ft.
1500 m ~ 5000 ft.
2500 m ~ 8200 ft.
4000 m ~ 13,100 ft.
(Note: ~ means approximately equal to)

EPHEMERAL SEEDS:
This year, members will be able to try some ephemeral seeds that are considered to be difficult to germinate after dry storage, using our selection of moist packed seeds. These seeds are stored and shipped in small plastic bags with slightly damp vermiculite. Moist packing helps prevent them from drying out which can inhibit the germination of the seed. These ephemeral seeds are often spring woodlanders that normally spend the summer in moist soil where they have fallen or been carried by ants or other animals and will need a cold period to trigger germination.

Overseas members should check that seeds packed in vermiculite will clear their import inspection process; if not, you may still order any seeds that are not moist packed. Many dry-stored ephemeral seed will still germinate, but they may be delayed an extra year, so don't be afraid to still order (and donate) seed that hasn't been moist packed. We are very pleased to be able to start offering ephemeral seed packed this way and hope US donors will try this method of retaining viability of ephemeral seeds that they donate in the future.

CULTIVAR NAMES:
Many seeds are submitted under cultivar names (capitalized and in single quotes). To save space we do not usually insert "ex" before these cultivar names, but it is important that growers do not label or represent the resulting plants as the named cultivar, or send their seeds in under that name. Think of the cultivar as the plant that produced the seed, not what the seeds are going to produce.

REMEMBER:
All seeds are from open-pollinated plants (unless it is marked "hp"=hand-pollinated) and may possibly have hybridized with other species. Also, it is possible that some seed may have been mis-identified. When your plants finally bloom, please try to verify or key out the plants’ identity BEFORE you pass the resulting seeds, plants or divisions on to others. There are several online forums including the NARGS forum where you can get help with the identification of your plants if you cannot find it in books or on the web.