THE NIGHTSHADES LIST [Solanaceae]

Caution: Many plants from the Solanaceae family are very poisonous and or particularly dangerous for children!

Germination

Seed germination for Solanaceae: cold stratify seeds for 2 months or use GA3 for germination in 3-4 weeks, seeds that are 1yr old+ seem to germinate more easily.

 ANISODUS

  Anisodus luridus 'Asian Belladonna'

(Syn. Scopolia lurida)

Solanaceae: perennial to 140cm,  a rarely cultivated Asian perennial with large pale greenish yellow, bell shaped, nodding flowers followed by a greenish berry in an inflated calyx above large, plain green leaves on loosely branching annual stems, for any humus rich, slightly moist soil in a partially shaded to sunny spot.

The species occurs in China, Nepal, India and Bhutan, in China it is in Sichuan, in southeast Tibet and northwest Yunnan to find. It grows on grassy slopes and near mountain streams at altitudes from 3200 to 4200 m.


Very easy to grow here, the grow tall and have very large deep roots, they also have a habit of failing over, so you will need to support them in some way, a lot of flowers failed to be pollinated for some reason, and in the end I started to hand pollinate them in order to get a supply of seed.

SEED WILL BE AVAILABLE LATE SUMMER 2014?


[Plants Available only when dormant in the winter months, and only available to the UK.]



Anisodus luridus 'Asian Belladonna'





ATROPANTHE

Atropanthe sinensis ‘Chinese Belladonna’

(syn. Scopolia sinensis)

Solanaceae: perennial to 100cm, hardy to zone 6, native to Southeast China, greenish yellow, bell shaped, nodding flowers followed by a greenish berry in an inflated calyx (lantern) above large, plain green leaves, for any rich, slightly moist soil in a partially shaded to sunny spot, a rare plant in cultivation, seeds germinate readily with the use of GA3.

SEED WILL BE AVAILABLE LATE SUMMER 2014?

[Plants Available only when dormant in the winter months, and only available to the UK.]

Atropanthe sinensis ‘Chinese Belladonna’


Anisodus luridus X Atropanthe sinensis

Anisodus luridus X Atropanthe sinensis


ATROPA


Atropa acuminata 'Indian Belladonna'

Solanaceae: perennial to 100 (130) cm, hardy to zone 7, flowers are purple-black, bell shaped flowers followed by dark purple berries on reddish stems, native to open spots in woods of Kashmir (Central Asia), For any humus rich, slightly moist soil in a preferably partially shaded to sunny spot, I have tried to grow this species outside for the last two years, and every plant has rotted away to nothing, plants kept dry in the polytunnel have all survived.

PLANTS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE WINTER MONTHS, UK ONLY, AND SEEDS AVAILABLE END OF SUMMER 2014


Atropa acuminata 'Indian Belladonna'

Atropa baetica 'Iberian Belladonna'

Solanaceae: perennial to 60 cm tall, hardy to zone 7-8, yellow flowers from July which are followed be large black berries, can be found in growing in undergrowth, rocky or stony, sunny, dry slopes in disturbed soils and limestone nitrified, native to central and southern Iberian Peninsula and North Africa, and possesses higher alkaloid content (with only a little scopolamine) than that of Atropa belladonna, a very rare and extremely hard to get a hold of plant which is easily grown from seed, not entirely sure of its hardiness, as I have not risked growing them outside fearing they may rot with the wet, they were kept in the polytunnel on the dry side, all survived.


SEEDS HOPEFULLY AVAILABLE 2015!

Atropa baetica 'Iberian Belladonna'

Atropa belladonna 'Deadly Nightshade'

Solanaceae: Hardy perennial to 3 feet in height, hardy to zone 7, flowering from June to August, and the seeds ripen from August to October, found growing in woods, thickets and hedges, mainly on calcareous soils, native to Central and southern Europe, including Britain, southeast to North Africa and Iran. Although it is poisonous, deadly nightshade has a long history of medicinal use and has a wide range of applications; in particular it is used to dilate the pupils in eye operations, Its name, belladonna, comes from its use by Venetian women to make themselves 'beautiful ladies' by causing their pupils to dilate.

A star of the poison plants and its strong links with witches’ brews, most people will have heard of deadly nightshade plant even if they have never seen it, has a long history of use as a medicine, cosmetic, and poison. Before the middle Ages, it was used as an anaesthetic for surgery; the ancient Romans used it as a poison (the wife of Emperor Augustus and the wife of Claudius both were rumoured to have used it for murder); and, predating this, it was used to make poison-tipped arrows. The genus name Atropa comes from Atropos, one of the three Fates in Greek mythology.

The foliage and berries are extremely toxic, containing tropane alkaloids. These toxins include scopolamine and hyoscyamine, which cause a bizarre delirium and hallucinations, and are also used as pharmaceutical anticholinergics. The drug atropine is derived from the plant.

Very easy to grow and very popular


Notes: a very variable plant, the flowers varies from one plant to the next, in shape and colour, I have a plant that I named 'Humbug' after the stripy sweets, it by far the most decorative belladonna I’ve come across, also plants can grow massive, I have one at the moment that I call 'The Giant', it is well over 6 feet in height and it has a span of about the same, and it’s still growing.

SEEDS AVAILABLE - 100+/£1.50

'Atropa belladonna'

Atropa belladonna var. lutea 
'Yellow Belladonna'

Solanaceae: to 120cm, rare variety with pure pale yellow bell-flowers and yellowish berries, easily grown in any humus rich, slightly moist soil in a preferably partially shaded to sunny spot.

SEEDS AVAILABLE - 100+/£2.50
Atropa belladonna var. lutea

Atropa caucasica 'Caucasica Belladonna'

Solanaceae: perennial to 2′, hardy to zone 5, purplish flowers, black berries, native to the Northern Caucasus.  Used in local medicine, very similar to Atropa belladonna in overall leaf form, flowers and size, the one significant difference is that caucasica has purple stems, as opposed to the green stems of Atropa belladonna, smaller and more slender in growth habit than A. belladonna, easy to grow in shade or sun.

SEEDS AVAILABLE - 50+/£2.75

Atropa caucasica 'Caucasica Belladonna'

Atropa komarovii 'Turkmenistan Belladonna'

Solanaceae: perennial to 120cm, Turkmenistan Belladonna has greenish yellow flowers with violet veins, A taller form of the Middle European Atropa belladonna, native of Central Asia, For any humus rich, well-drained soil in a preferably partially shaded to sunny spot, found only in Turkmenistan, this species is being tested for commercial cultivation as a source of alkaloids. Large and very vigorous plants that produce a vast about of flowers and berries. 

SEEDS AVAILABLE - 100+/£2.75

Atropa komarovii 'Turkmenistan Belladonna' [yellow form]

Brunfelsia

Brunfelsia pauciflora'Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow'

CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE!

Cestrum

Cestrum parqui ‘Palqui’

[Ex. Reserva Nacional Altos del Lircay, Chile]

Woody deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub 2–3 metres (6 ft 7 in–9 ft 10 in) tall with one or more brittle green stems. Light green leaves are alternate and shiny green to 12 cm (5 in) long, giving off a foul rubbery smell when crushed. It has sprays of small, fragrant, tubular yellow-green flowers approximately 2.5 cm long on the ends of the stems, flowering from late spring to autumn. These produce clusters of small, black egg shaped berries during summer to autumn, native to central and South America. Used by the Mapuche and other tribes in shamanic healing practices. Original seeds was collected Talca Province, Chile.

CURRENTLY  UNAVAILABLE
Cestrum parqui ‘Palqui’


Datura

Datura Ceratocaula

[Ex Guanajuato, Mexico]

Solanaceae: Fleshy, water-loving annual up to 3ft. long, toothed, undulated ovate-lanceolate leaves that have hairs on the underside, on hollow grey-green stalks. Night blooming, fragrant white, funnel-shaped flowers bloom from June to September, followed by smooth green pods that look like eggs dangling from the stem. Native to the wetlands of central Mexico.

In Mexico, this Datura is known as Tornaloco (‘maddening plant’), and is apparently identical to the magical plant the Aztecs called atlinan, ‘his mother is water’. The Aztecs regarded it as sister of Ololiuqui (Turbina corymbose). Said to be very potent in its effects, yet little is known about any modern uses. Like all Datura, it is poisonous and care should be taken.

Seeds have already been primed with GA3, Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at 20 °C. Easily grown in moist compost in a warm sunny spot, not frost hardy. Easy!

Harvested August 2014. [GA-3 primed seed]


Approx. 25+ seeds.

Datura Ceratocaula [ex Guanajuato, Mexico]



Datura discolor 'Desert Thornapple'

[Ex. Colorado Desert, California]


Solanaceae: Upright annual to 4ft, sweet scented night flowering, white 4 - 6" trumpets, flushed purple or indigo in the throat. Followed by thorny, pendulous pods, that contain numerous small black seeds. Greyish-green foliage, much like that of Datura innoxia. A relatively rare thorn apple species that extends across the American Southwest and northern Mexico.

The Seri Indians of northern Mexico drink a tea made from the seeds to treat a swollen throat. The ethnomedical use is similar to that of Datura innoxia.

According to the mythology of the Seri Indians, Datura discolor was one of the first plants of creation, as a result, humans should avoid contact with the plant. Because inappropriate use can be very dangerous, the plant is used only by shamans. In the American Southwest, the ritual use of this species is similar to that of Datura innoxia.

Seeds have already been primed with GA3, Germinates in 1 - 6 weeks at 20 °C. Easily grown in moist compost in a warm sunny spot, not frost hardy. Easy!

Harvested August 2014. [GA-3 primed seed]

Approx. 25+ seeds.




Datura ferox 'Chamico'

CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE!
Datura ferox


Datura inoxia 'Toloache'GA3

Solanaceae: a well-branched, shrubby annual or short-lived perennial plant that grows to 1 m high. Persistent glandular hairs cover the stems and leaves, making it clammy to the touch. The stalked, dull green, broadly egg-shaped leaves are alternately arranged along the stem. The trumpet-like flowers are borne singly where the leaf joins the stem. They are 12-19 cm long, with the green base of the flower extending for about half the total length. The upper part of the flower is white, usually with five fine points extending beyond the rest of the flower. At maturity, the prickly fruits are almost globular, 3.5 to 5 cm long and covered by very many short spines. The fruits hang downwards on the plant, and open up into 2-4 segments, shedding a large number of seeds. The brown seeds are the most toxic part of the plant. Native from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America, to northern parts of South America.

All parts of the plant are anodyne, antispasmodic, hallucinogenic, hypnotic and narcotic. It has been used in the past as a pain killer and also in the treatment of insanity, fevers with catarrh, diarrhoea and skin diseases. The plant contains several alkaloids, the most active of which is scopolamine. This is a potent cholinergic-blocking hallucinogen, which has been used to calm schizoid patients. The leaves contain 0.52% scopolamine, the calices 1.08%, the stems 0.3%, the roots 0.39%, the fruits 0.77%, the capsules 0.33%, the seeds 0.44% and the whole plant 0.52 - 0.62%. Any use of this plant should be with extreme caution and under the supervision of a qualified practitioner since the toxic dose is very close to the medicinal dose.

Seeds have already been soaked in a GA3 solution to aid germination. Germinates in 3 - 8 weeks at 20°C.

Harvested August 2014.

Approx. 25+ seeds.




Datura leichhardtii ‘Australian Datura’
Solanaceae: a well-branched, shrubby annual plant that grows to 1 m high. The bright green, broadly egg-shaped leaves are alternately arranged along the stem. They are stalked, with several prominent teeth or lobes on the margins. The trumpet-like flowers are borne singly where the leaf joins the stem. The flowers are 4-7 cm long, with the green base of the flower extending for about half the total flower length. The upper part of the flower is white, usually with five fine points extending beyond the rest of the flower. The prickly fruits are globular, 2-3 cm long, surmounted by very numerous slender spines. The fruits bend downwards or are pendulous on the plant, and open up into 2-4 segments, shedding a large number of seeds. Native range is from Mexico to Guatemala. It was taken to Australia, where today is widespread in Queensland and New South Wales.
All parts of Datura plants contain dangerous levels of poison and may be fatal if ingested by humans or other animals, including livestock and pets.
These seeds have already been soaked in a GA3 solution, and happily Germinate in 3 - 6 weeks at 20°C or above. Easy.
Harvested August 2014.
Approx. 25+ seeds £2.50.



Datura leichhardtii




Datura metel

Datura metel var. alba ‘Indian Thorn Apple' 

[white flowered variety]

Solanaceae: Fast growing annual to 3 - 6 feet, single white trumpets, large, dark green leaves and round knobby or spiny pods. This species most likely originated in northern India but has spread throughout Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and the islands of the Indian Ocean, Africa and even the New World.

An important medicinal and religious plant in the Old World, sacred to Buddhists, Taoists, and Hindus. In china, the white-blossomed Datura metel var. alba was considered to be sacred because it was believed that shimmering dew drops had rained from the heavens onto its flowers while the Buddha was giving a sermon. The Chinese Buddhists called it man-t’o-lo, after a non-translatable passage from a sutra named man t’o lo hua. In ancient china, it apparently was popular too steep the aromatic flowers in wine or sake before consumption.

The whole plant, but especially the leaves and seed, is anaesthetic, anodyne, antiasthmatic, antispasmodic, antitussive, bronchodilator, hallucinogenic, hypnotic and mydriatic. It has a wide range of applications in India, including in the treatment of epilepsy, hysteria, insanity, heart diseases, fever with catarrh, diarrhoea, skin diseases. A poultice of the crushed leaves is used to relieve pain. In China, the plant is used in the treatment of asthma. In Vietnam, the dried flowers and leaves are cut into small chips and used in antiasthmatic cigarettes. Great caution is advised in the use of this plant since excess doses cause hallucinations, severe intoxication and death. The toxic dose is very close to the medicinal dose so this plant should only be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.

Easy from seed, needs warmth to sprout, 20 to 90 days. Start indoors for early bloom. Best in deep, well manured soil, heat and full sun. Not frost hardy.

Harvested: September 2014.


Approx. 25+ seeds.


Datura metel var. alba


Datura metel var. alba



Datura nanakai

Recently discovered species from South America.  It bears large, double yellow flowers on an extremely robust shrubby looking plant.  will likely prove to be a subspecies of the esteemed D. metel.  Its growth habit however, sets this one apart from any D. metel variety.  These guys get Huge!  In a single season they can attain a height of 4-5 feet tall and nearly as wide.  They get thick, woody stems and look more like a Brugmansia than a Datura.  The seedpods are also mammoth with some getting bigger than golf balls.  The pods are irregular and almost brain-like in shape, with conical humps instead of thorns.


CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE!


Datura nanakai




Datura stramonium

Datura stramonium L. var. inermis

Smooth fruits, white flowers and green stalks.

CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE!

Datura stramonium L. var. inermis


Datura stramonium L. var. tatula


Thorny fruits, violet flowers, violet-tinged shoots, leaf stalks and leaf veins.


SEEDS AVAILABLE - 50+/£2.50


Datura stramonium L. var. tatula


Datura stramonium var. tatula


'La Fleur Lilas'


Original bought this flower from Thompson & Morgan 15 years ago, I split some seeds and every year since they have come up in the old greenhouse, original labeled as Datura metel, but this is with out a doubt a cultivated form of Datura stramonium L. var. tatula, the flowers are deeper in colour and smell divine on an evening, said to be a dwarf form but a few years ago I grow a plant way over six feet in height.

SEEDS AVAILABLE - 50+/£2.50

'La Fleur Lilas'



Datura stramonium W&B BG H-1

[Ex. Dimchevo, Bulgaria]

Solanaceae: distinctive, pungent smelling annual to 60cm. grows on cultivated and disturbed soils. The whole plant is poisonous. The flowers are about 7-10cm across, white, fragrant trumpet shaped with 5 lobes, blooming from June-October, flowers open at dusk. The capsules can be up to 5cm long, and are armed with very sharp spines. Widely naturalised in Britain but its occurrence is unpredictable and annual success is weather dependent, growing best in warm summers. Original habitat is obscure, as it is found in many areas of the world.

The thornapple is a bitter narcotic plant that relieves pain and encourages healing, it has a long history of use as an herbal medicine, though it is very poisonous and should be used with extreme caution. The leaves, flowering tops and seeds are anodyne, antiasthmatic, antispasmodic, hallucinogenic, hypnotic, mydriatic and narcotic, the seeds are the most active medicinally. The plant is used internally in the treatment of asthma and Parkinson's disease, but excess can cause giddiness, dry mouth, hallucinations and coma. Externally, it is used as a poultice or wash in the treatment of fistulas, abscesses wounds and severe neuralgia.

Sow the seed in individual pots in early spring in a greenhouse, put 3 or 4 seeds in each pot and thin if necessary to the best plant. The seed usually germinates in 3 - 6 weeks at 15°c. GA3 will help. Easy.

Seeds originally collected Cemetery, Dimchevo, Bulgaria. Seeds collected from plants grown at the Kykeon Plants Nursery August 2014.

Approx. 45+ seeds £1.50

Datura stramonium W&B BG H-1



Datura wrightii


Large white fragrant 8" flowers open at dusk. Sprawling perennial to 3 feet or so. SW U.S. and México.





Fabiana

Fabiana imbricata 'Pichi'

A very beautiful shrub, 3-6′ tall. Tiny, unusual scale like leaves. Bears hundreds of small tubular flowers, white to pale purple in color. Superficially resembles a heather. Native to dry hillsides in southern Chile. Traditionally used as a diuretic for kidney and urinary problems. The dried herb is burned as a ceremonial incense, and is reported to have mild inebriating effects when inhaled. Prefers a well draining soil and full sun. Drought tolerant once established. Cold or GA-3 helps germination. Zone 8.

CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE!


Fabiana imbricata ‘Pichi’
[ex Talca Province, Chile]

Fabiana imbricata 'Prostrata'


Fabiana imbricata 'Prostrata'
Feathery branchlets and pale mauve flowers in profusion.

Fabiana imbricata violacea
Its branches transform into plumes of violet tubular flowers in late spring.

Fabiana imbricata violacea



Hyoscyamus

Hyoscyamus Albus

Hyoscyamus albus grows to a height of about 40 or 50 cm (19”). The plant grows vertically, although it often appears bushy because of its woolly light green stems, serrated leaves, calyxes and fruits. The soft flowers are light yellow on the outside and often have a dark violet interior. The seeds are usually white or ochre, but are sometimes grey, and the berries are orange or yellow. The plant thrives in coastal areas; it is found primarily in southern Europe (Spain, Italy and Greece) and in the Near East. Yellow henbane holds a special place as the most commonly used magical and medicinal plant of European antiquity. It was mostly referred to as white henbane in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries before it became known as yellow henbane in the modern era.


Hyoscyamus Albus 'White Henbane'

[Prov. Mallorca]

Nice large bushy plants, pale yellow flowers with a nicely contrasting black, my favorite white henbane variety for the garden,(Sa Rápita, 20m, Mallorca)

SEEDS AVAILABLE - 100+/£2.75

Hyoscyamus Albus (Mallorca)


Hyoscyamus Albus 'White Henbane'

[Prov. Tenerife]

Intense flowers with a nicely contrasting black, (Playa de los Patos, 50m, Tenerife)

SEEDS AVAILABLE - 100+/£2.75

Hyoscyamus Albus (Tenerife)


Hyoscyamus muticus

NEW FOR 2014

Hyoscyamus muticus 'Egyptian Henbane'

[Prov. Lake Nasser, Egypt]

I have finally found a source of genuine Hyoscyamus muticus seed, this plant has fleshy succulent leaves and flowers are white to pink with dark violet veins or spots, the leaves of Hyoscyamus muticus have a high alkaloid content, with up to 5.2% of dry matter in individual plants. In smaller amounts, alkaloids are also present in roots and stems and the marketed product is a mixture of stems and leaves. The major alkaloid is hyoscyamine, but scopolamine (= hyoscine), tigloidine and tropine are also present. Scopolamine content is of major interest to the pharmaceutical industry, and it is said that the Egyptian government have ban on letting any viable seed from this species out of the country.

These seeds where collected from wild plants on the shores of Lake Nasser, Egypt. Summer 2014.

‘This is a very rare find indeed, these seeds are the genuine thing, and not a H. niger var. that can be found else were on the net.’

Surface sow seeds, keep moist and in place in a bright sunny place, at 20°C, I soaked all my seed in a GA3 solution to promote germination, and germination was very high. Grow plants as for cacti, full sun and free draining soil, humidity needs to be kept to a minim, they seem to really suffer if kept in the shade or in high humidity, but respond well to like regular watering. Spacing for optimal leaf production and alkaloid yield is about 45 cm between rows and 15 cm in the rows or pots.

SEEDS AVAILABLE: 50+ £3.50 / 100+ £4.75

Hyoscyamus muticus
[Ex. Lake Nasser, Egypt]

Hyoscyamus niger

Hyoscyamus niger L. var. agrestis Kit.


Bought these off the internet under the name of Hyoscyamus muticus, which is known as the Egyptian Henbane, which has purple flowers and holds the highest alkaloid content of all Henbane species, the seeds turned to be a very interesting form of the common black Henbane, a pure yellow form called H. niger ssp. Agrestis, this variety has large bright yellow flowers with light green veins, a very rare and exciting form of Henbane.

very vigorous and exceptionally beautiful, and brightens up the darkest corners of the garden. 

SEEDS AVAILABLE - 100+/£3.75

Hyoscyamus niger L. var. agrestis


Hyoscyamus niger L. var. annuus

Bright yellow flowers, this henbane is cultivated in northern Germany. 

CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE!

Hyoscyamus niger L. var. annuus


Hyoscyamus niger L. var. niger [wild form]


This is the common form of black henbane which is an annual or biennial plant that can grow to 3 ft. (1 m) in height. The fetid smelling leaves are alternate, simple, toothed, up to 8 in. (20 cm) long and 6 in. (15 cm) wide. In the early season (annual), or first year of growth (biennial) the plant is represented by a rosette. Flowering occurs in spring to early fall. Flowers are cream to green, five-lobed, 2 in. (5 cm) wide and have purple throats. Seeds are small and black. Prolific seed production increases the spread of this plant, as a single plant can produce up to half a million seeds. Black henbane is native to Eurasia and is poisonous to most mammals. It has been used medicinally for thousands of years.

SEEDS AVAILABLE - 100+/£2.00

Hyoscyamus niger


Hyoscyamus x gyorffyi

Hybrid from Hyoscyamus niger and Hyoscyamus albus, high in tropane alkaloids, hopefully available summer 2014. [seeds lost so I will try and make them available for summer 2015]

Iochroma


Iochroma fuchsioides ‘Yas’

Ranging from Colombia to Argentina, Colombia to Peru, hummingbird pollinated flowers are tubular or trumpet-shaped and red; Iochromas are cultivated as flowering ornamentals and in cooler zones (zones 7-8/9) make useful patio shrubs for summer display or conservatory plants. The majority are not frost hardy and must be overwintered under protection. In warmer zones (zones 9-10) they can be used as landscape plants. Iochroma fuchsioides is taken by the medicine men of the Kamsa Indians in the Colombian Andes for difficult diagnoses the unpleasant side effects lasting several days, a variety of withanolides and hydroxycinnamic acid amides have been isolated from Iochroma species.

I have over wintered this plant in an unheated greenhouse for the last two years, it will lose its leaves, but has always regrown them back in the spring, surprisingly hardy zone 7 if kept dry. 

CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE!



Jaborosa


Jaborosa sativa



A rare and unusual plant from South American, a perennial herb with bell-shaped or tubular flowers and basal leaves. Some Jaborosa species contain medicinally-interesting withanolides.

PLANTS AVAILABLE!

Latua


Latua pubiflora 



Multi-branched shrub 6-20′, grey-green lanceolate leaves 1-3″ long, violet bell-shaped 1.5″ flowers hang from the branches, small yellowish berries. Some clones have long thorns, others are nearly thornless, a monotypic genus endemic to limited regions of Chile, when our colleagues Rob Montgomery and Christian Ratsch first came upon this plant in Chiloe, they literally fell to their knees in awe! Revered by the Mapuche, the plant is used for rheumatism and as a shamanic deliriant, similar to Datura, sun to part shade, well drained rich soil, a stunning rarity is new to cultivation. As yet I haven't had much luck in growing this plant and don't know if I will ever be able to offer the plant for sale.

CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE!

Mandragora


Mandragora autumnalis 

[ex. Algeciras, Cádiz, Spain]


Autumn-flowering Mandrake is a perennial, summer dormant herb with a thick, branched root-stock and a basal rosette of large, elongated, wrinkled, dark green leaves. The whitish green to dull blue upwards facing flowers are bell shaped and born in the center of the rosette. The round, ripe fruits are yellow. For any rich, well drained, deep soil in a sunny to partially shaded spot. This autumn flowering variety is hardier than the spring flowering one. Seeds originally from a wild collection in Chiclana de la Frontera, Cádiz, Spain.

Small plants available £6.50 each [UK only] 


Mandragora autumnalis


Mandragora caulescens 'Himalayan Mandrake'


A rarely available perennial herb with bell-shaped dark purplish black flowers and round green berries, it has a sturdy taproot that may become elongated and branched, southwest Asia and has a Sino-Himalayan distribution, roots have been used in herbal medicines for hundreds of years. They contain several active ingredients with hallucinogenic properties, the roots of Mandragora caulescens contain the tropane alkaloids hyoscine and anisodamine, which are used in local medicine, Anisodamine is used in the treatment of acute circulatory shock in China.

CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE!

Mandragora caulescens 'Himalayan Mandrake'


Mandragora officinarum ‘Common Mandrake’

[Ex. Israel]


Spring-flowering Mandrake is a perennial summer dormant herb with a thick, branched rootstock and a basal rosette of large, elongated, wrinkled, dark green leaves. The whitish green to dull blue upwards facing flowers are bell shaped and born in the centre of the rosette. The round, ripe fruits are turning greenish-yellow. This batch of seeds is from a spring flowering variety which has proved much harder than other clones and it is fully winter hardy in Central Europe. Seeds from the spring-flowering mandrake (Mandragora officinarum var. officinarum) are almost three times the size than those from the autumn-flowering subspecies (Mandragora officinarum var. autumnalis)

CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE!


Mandragora officinarum

Mandragora officinarum

Nicandra

Nicandra physalodes 'Shoo-fly plant'

Sky-blue, inch-wide bells all summer, followed by attractive, unusual papery, five-winged pods which are useful in dried arrangements. Vigorous bushy half hardy annual to 2 - 5 feet tall, with light green, wavy-edged leaves. Peru. An old-fashioned garden favorite, grown for ornament and its fly-killing or repelling properties, which many people swear by. Formerly much grown around farm houses for this purpose. Also grown in greenhouses as it attracts and kills white flies.


SEEDS AVAILABLE - 100+/£1.50

Nicandra physalodes

Petunia

Petunia integrifolia

Solanaceae: annual or perennial, depending on climate, 3 feet or more, Zone 7, Blooming heavily and non-stop from Spring thru to the autumn, 1.5 inch violet flowers form dense mounds, native to Argentina, Synonyms include Petunia inflate and Petunia violacea, reported hallucinogen. It is taken by the Indians in Ecuador to induce the sensation of flight.


Petunia integrifolia

Physochlaina

Physochlaina orientalis

Solanaceae: 17.5cm to 30cm high, Zone 5, flowering in summer, flowers borne in the stem tips and are quite large lavender pink and wide tubular in shape, goes dormant in late summer, native to Caucasus and Turkey, used in folk medicine like Henbane, and was even formally classed as a henbane, Hyoscyamus physaloides. 

CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE!



Scopolia

Scopolia ambigua [prov. Bhutan]

Originally obtained from Edulis nursery, and came with the description: Collected from a village on the Snowman Trek across Bhutan. The small hamlet had large thickets of this growing on rough ground. A statuesque plant to 6' with green bells with purple rims. Source of a truth drug. These are divisions of plants grown in the nursery for 7 years. These plants have not produced viable seed with us. 

I have not seen it flower, but looking at his appearance, this plant is not a Scopolia but a member of the Anisodus branch of the family (see Anisodus luridus 'Asian Belladonna').

CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE!


Scopolia carniolica

Perennial growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.6 m (2ft in), It is hardy to zone 5, brownish-purple to red, bell-shaped flowers from April to June, native to moist rocky beech woods, and damp stony places in hilly areas of Europe - Austria, Hungary and Russia. The dried root is hypnotic, mydriatic and narcotic, it causes a sleep that resembles normal sleep, the medicinal activity of this plant resembles belladonna (Atropa belladonna) but it is more narcotic, it is used internally in the treatment of chronic diarrhoea, dysentery, stomach ache and manic-depressive states, a very toxic plant, it should only be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner, the root is harvested in the autumn and normally processed for extraction of the alkaloids which are used in the pharmaceutical industry. Easily grown in any light, fertile, well-drained soil in a shady to part/sun position, very ornamental plant, it is occasionally cultivated for its medicinal uses.

SEED WILL BE AVAILABLE LATE SUMMER 2014

Scopolia carniolica


Scopolia carniolica ssp hladnikiana


Greenish yellow flowers Feb-Apr as it appears from the ground, Slaty blue marked young leaves.

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Scopolia carniolica ssp hladnikiana


Scopolia carniolica var. brevifolia
'Hladnik's Henbane Bell'

A source of scopolamine, used as a premedication prior to surgery, comes from the golden-flowered Hladnik’s scopolia,Scopolia carniolica var. brevifolia which also commemorates the physician Dr. Giovanni Anton Scopoli (1723-1788).

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Scopolia carniolica var. brevifolia

Scopolia carniolica var. carniolica


CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE!
Scopolia carniolica

Scopolia carniolica 'Zwanenburg'

A more vigorous selection with purple flushed foliage and rich purple-brown flowers in spring. Makes a decent clump fairly quickly but will never be too much. 

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Scopolia carniolica 'Zwanenburg'

Scopolia japonica

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Scopolia japonica


Solandra


Solandra maxima 'Golden Chalice Vine'

Solandra maxima, also known as Cup of Gold VineGolden Chalice Vine, or Hawaiian Lily, is a vigorous vine which is endemic to Mexico and Central America. It has very large yellow flowers and glossy leaves. It was once (and likely still is) used by the Huichol of Mexico and other tribes of the region where it is known by the name "Kieli" or "Kieri" with some archaeological evidence supporting the theory that its use predates that of "Peyote" (Lophophora williamsii). said to be hallucinogenic, aphrodisiac and a magical love potion.

CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE!


Solanum

Solanum dulcamara 'Bittersweet'

Native climber to 5’/150cm, very pretty bright purple/yellow flowers are followed by poisonous red berries, the stems and flowers are used to treat skin problems and rheumatism. It has also used in folk medicine as a sedative and a narcotic agent.

SEED WILL BE AVAILABLE LATE SUMMER 2014

Solanum dulcamara

Solanum ligustrinum 'Hierba De Chavalongo'


Rarely available semi-woody perennial shrub native of woods in Chile, It has numerous beautiful, quite large, rich violet flowers in terminal spikes followed by most ornamental orange to red fruits above entire or slightly undulated, leathery, dark green leaves, for any rich, well drained substrate in a sunny spot throughout the year, in winter keep plants drier, Zone 8.

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Solanum nigrum 'European Black Nightshade'


Black nightshade is a fairly common hardy short lived perennial shrub to 30 – 120cm, white/yellow flowers resembling those of the potato plant; flowers are then followed by shinny black berries. The plant is said to have narcotic effects, and was one of the ingredients in witches’ ointments, in folk medicine as a local analgesic, a sedative, and a stimulating and to treat Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy.

SEEDS AVAILABLE - 100+/£1.50
Solanum nigrum 


Solanum tuberosum 'Wild Potato'

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Solanum tuberosum

Solanum villosum 'Witch's Tomato'



Orange Nightshade is a Mediterranean and Asian native, preferring rich, well drained soils in very sunny positions, an annual, fast growing plant with small white flowers in lax clusters and yellowish-orange berries.

SEEDS AVAILABLE - 100+/£1.50

Solanum villosum


Withania

Withania somnifera 'Ashwagandha'

Half hardy annual/perennial to 2’/60cm, important Ayurvedic herb with ginseng –like properties, it can be grown as an annual, and harvesting the roots, not frost tolerant.

SEEDS AVAILABLE - 100+/£1.50

Withania somnifera

1 comment:

  1. I am feon South Africa, i have ordered solandra maxima seeds from a supplier in France a couple of times at huge cost. If i mayyask what is GA 3,as it is not available here. Could you please email me the info at vici.kiehm@gmail.com?

    ReplyDelete