Marjolein

None of these plants have I started from seed, most were plants that I got and planted. The Fragrant Gaillardia, Texas bind weed, buffalo gourd and the purple ground cherry were weeds to me, then I became interested in them and discovered that there many that want them. As far as how to grow from seed I don’t know but if they grow here it must not be too hard. I have collected what information I can from the internet to send along with the seeds.

1. pavonia lasiopetala, Rock rose
2. gaillardia suavis, Fragrant Gaillardia (Gyp Indian Blanket)
3. convovulus equitam, Texas bind weed
4. chilopsis, Desert Willow
5. buffalo gourd - Cucurbita foetidissima
6. gomprena globosa - Globe Amaranth Gomphrena globosa Burgundy color
7. hesperaloe parviflora - Redflower False Yucca
8. quincula lobata - Purple Ground Cherry

1. Pavonia, Rose Mallow, Rock Rose, Wright Pavonia, Pavonia lasiopetala Malvaceae

Pavonia is a popular garden accent plant throughout Texas, even though it originates on dry, rocky woods or banks of South, Central or West Texas. Its popularity is no doubt due to its long bloom period and versatility, accepting full sun to half day shade, a variety of soils, and very dry to regularly irrigated conditions. This small, perennial shrub is woody at the base, herbaceous above, bearing light green, velvety, heart-shaped leaves and deep rose pink miniature hibiscus-like flowers which open in the morning and close up by early afternoon in our highest heat. Its naturally loose, open-branching form may be kept more compact by frequent pruning, which promotes new growth and more flowers. Pavonia is reputed to be short-lived: 3 to 6 years, but self sows readily or may be easily propagated by saved seed or softwood cuttings.

Plant Habit or Use: small shrub

Exposure: sun, partial sun

Flower Color: deep rose pink

Blooming Period: spring, summer, fall

Fruit Characteristics: capsule with 5 seeds

Height: 1.5 to 4 feet

Width: 3 feet

Plant Character: deciduous, semievergreen

Heat Tolerance: high

Soil Requirements: neutral, alkaline

USDA Hardiness Zone: 8

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Fresh seed germinates at irregular rates. More uniform germination rates may be achieved by first soaking the seeds in hot water. Pavonia is easily grown from softwood tip cuttings taken in summer through fall. Take cuttings in spring before plant starts to bloom or on nursery plants kept cut back. Cuttings with big buds or blooms are at a disadvantage. They root and grow fast in hot weather.
Seed Collection: Collect the seeds ofter intermittent blooming periods as soon as the capsules begin to turn brown. Spread in thin layers to thoroughly air-dry. Dust with Sevin dust and store in ventilated containers at room temperature. Will remain viable up to two years.
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Mildew is unavoidable - sometimes more sun seems to make it go away sometimes not.

__________________________________________________________________________________
2. Asteraceae (Compositae) - Sunflower family Fragrant Gaillardia (Gyp Indian Blanket)

From this Flora of North America website, we found that this Gaillardia is found naturally only in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Mexico. It blooms March to June, and the seeds should be harvested in June. We found no references to stratification techniques for this plant. We also learned that it is a perennial that comes back up every Spring from roots, but if propagated from seed will not bloom until the second Spring. In the Southwest, we plant seeds in the Fall, ordinarily, so they won't come up too soon and the young plants be blistered in our hot sun. The best we can figure, you are in Zone 6 of the USDA Hardiness Zone, which would mean you would need to plant them in the Spring, after the danger of freezing the emerging plants is past.

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. convovulus equitam, Texas bind weed

Plant these as you would Morning Glory, this is just a min. Glory.

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. Bignoniaceae - Catalpa family (Trumpet-creeper family)

Desert Willow Chilopsis linearis

Flower is about 1 1/2" wide and 2" long. Leaves are very slender and usually 3"-5" long but can reach 12" long. Slender seed pod 2"-4" long. Tree grows to about 30 feet tall and has leaning trunks. This is a desert plant used widely as an ornamental. Cattle do not eat this plant. Flowers make good honey. A variety of birds eat the seeds. Wood is used for fence posts.

Form: multistemmed tree with graceful appearance; can be trained to single trunk. The desert willow with its preference for wash habitats and willow-like foliage is not a true willow (Salicaceae) but rather a member of the bignonia (Bignoniaceae) family.

Seasonality: deciduous
Size: 6-30ft with equal spread
Leaves: simple, solitary, linear, 1/2-3in long, 1/2 to 1/4in wide; long and weeping, willowlike
Flowers: terminal clusters with bell or funnel shape; attractive white, burgundy or pink colors with distinctive yellow throat and venation, bloom strongest in May-June then sporadically
Fruit: dehiscent pod, 4-9in long, cling persistantly on branches throughout winter

Stems/Trunks: smooth when young developing rough fissures with age, prominent lenticils (white spots) on new growth
Range/Origin: along washes throughout SW US and Mexico; elevations to 5000ft
Hardiness: to 0°

Description: Propagate by fresh seed, dormant cuttings, or semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer.
Seed Collection: Gather seeds from late summer through autumn when the pods have dried and turned brown but before they split open to release feathery seeds. Seeds may be stored dry in the refrigerator over winter (other references suggest storage in wet sand) but germinate best if sown fresh.
Seed Treatment: No treatment is necessary. They germinate easily and will volunteer quite readily in the garden. This is true I have to pull the volunteers like weeds from my planting pots, they can be soaked good and pulled up. If you have most of the roots it can replanted. It will with in days start leafing out at the base of the plant.

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. Buffalo gourd (Stinking Gourd) - Cucurbita foetidissima

Flower about 4" wide, 5" long and very thick. Very large leaves. Striped baseball-sized gourds hide under the leaves, pale green turning to bright yellow when ripe. Plant sprawls for 8-10 feet.

Requires a rich, well-drained moisture retentive soil and a very warm, sunny and sheltered position[1, 200]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[117].

This species is not very hardy in Britain, it is usually grown as an annual in temperate climates[200]. The roots can survive temperatures down to about -25°c[160].

Does not hybridize naturally with other members of this genus though crosses have been made under controlled conditions[86].

Seed - sow early to mid spring in a greenhouse in a rich soil. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. Sow 2 or 3 seeds per pot and thin out to the best plant. Grow them on fast and plant out after the last expected frosts, giving them cloche or frame protection for at least their first few weeks if you are trying them outdoors.

__________________________________________________________________________________

6. gomprena globosa - Globe Amaranth Gomphrena globosa Burgundy color

Common Names: globe amaranth, gomphrena, bachelor's buttons
Family: Amaranthaceae (amaranth Family)

Description
Globe amaranth is an annual bedding plant that grows 1-2 ft (0.3-0.6- m) tall with a spread of about 1 ft (0.3 m). The branched stems are erect and stiff and the plant has a bushy appearance. The leaves are opposite, oblong, 4-6 in (10-15 cm) long, and wooly-white when young, becoming sparsely white-hairy as they age. Cloverlike flowerheads, 1.5 in (3.8 cm) long, are borne on upright spikes from summer until frost. The individual flowers within the flowerheads are inconspicuous, but the stiff, papery bracts that form the bulk of the structure are colorful and showy and come in shades of white, pink and purple.

Location
Globe amaranth is native to Panama and Guatemala in Central America.

Culture
Pinch back the tips of young plants to encourage branching. Globe amaranth benefits from mulching in hot, dry weather.
Light: Full sun.
Moisture: Globe amaranth will survive drought, but performs best with regular watering, especially during hot weather.
Hardiness: Globe amaranth is an annual grown as a summer bedding plant. It cannot tolerate frost, but it is quite tolerant of summer heat.

Propagation: Plant globe amaranth seeds in spring after all danger of frost has past. Many gardeners set out 6-8 week old seedlings for a head start on the season. Seeds should be soaked in water for a day or two before planting and will take about a week or two to germinate at 70ºF (21 ºC).

Usage
Gophrenas are used in annual beds and borders. In masses, the round flowerheads produce an interesting texture, and their bright colors last late into the season. Their low stature makes them well suited for edging around taller plantings. Globe amaranth is often grown in containers on the porch or deck. The conelike flowerheads are beautiful in dried arrangements and will hold their shape and color indefinitely. To grow gomphrena for cut flowers or dried arrangements, plant closely together to force longer stems. Cut the stems just as the heads are beginning to open and hang upside down in a warm, dark place to dry.

Features
Gomphrena is an old fashioned bedding plant that just isn't used enough these days. It tolerates poor soils, heat and drought, and was once a favorite in British gardens. It is a true "everlasting" and one of the best flowers you can grow for dried arrangements. As an added bonus, it attracts butterflies.

Common Name: globe amaranth
Zone: to
Plant Type: Annual
Family: Amaranthaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: Panama, Guatemala
Height: 1 to 2 feet
Spread: 0.5 to 1 foot
Bloom Time: June - To frost
Bloom Color: White to yellow with bright magenta bracts
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low

Plant its seeds after soaking them for a day or two in the spring after all danger of frost has past. Plant the seeds close together to force them to produce long stems for flower arrangements and/or dried flower

__________________________________________________________________________________

7. Agavaceae - Agaves family (part of the Lily family)

Red Yucca Hesperaloe parviflora

http://cals.arizona.edu/pima/gardening/aridplants/Hesperaloe_parviflora.html

Flower stalk is narrow with sparse tube-like flowers. Leaves are at base only, 2 foot long, very narrow, arching, and rolled. Leaf edges have long threads.

A clump-forming succulent, red yucca has arching, leathery, linear foliage rising to between 2 and 3 feet tall. Dark olive-green leaves with no thorns or spines are sparsely covered with fibrous strands along the margins. Deep coral pink flowers with golden yellow throats crowd the length of the stalks that reach three feet or more. Foliage has a reddish bronze hue during winter's chill for year-round interest.
Noteworthy characteristics: Simple form, sturdy constitution, and long bloom time. Closely related to yucca. Very heat tolerant, yet cold hardy to Zone 5.
Care: Grow in poor to moderately fertile, sharply drained soil in full sun. Avoid excessive moisture in winter.
Propagation: Pot up offsets in spring.
Problems: Scale insects. Aphids during bloom time.

 __________________________________________________________________________________

8. quincula lobata - Purple Ground Cherry

Family : Solanaceae Longevity : Perennial Origin : Native Season : Warm Purple Ground Cherry is a low sprawling perennial that can reach a foot in length. The bell shaped flower is 3/4 to 1 inch in diameter and is blue or violet in color. The leaves are between one and four inches in length, lobed and shallowly toothed. The yellow fruit is edible and has been used to make preserves. Purple Ground Cherry grows in the various dry soils of the South Texas Plains and Edwards Plateau regions. It can be found in bloom from March until December. The leaves are occasionally eaten by white-tailed deer.

__________________________________________________________________________________