Seeds G-H

Seeds available, by Latin name, starting with 'G-H'; $3.50 per packet; message or email for purchase and shipping information. Shipping is generally the same for one or a half dozen or more packets.

contact: cohanseeds@gmail.com facebook page

Note: Comments on edibility/medicinal use etc are generally taken from internet references, and should be considered only a starting point for further research. Before using any plant, be certain of identification and learn about all potential toxicities: traditionally used plants are not always in favour in modern times, nor suitable for all people!

Gaillardia aristata/ Blanket Flower
Native; I have plants from two sources, though they are not visibly different, you can specify. Grdn ex Abraham Lake, Alberta and Grdn ex Saskatchewan
Variable plants-- some will flower first year and be short lived, others take a couple of years to flowering and live longer, but probably short lived in general; 30/40cm and taller, depending on conditions; drought tolerant; self sows reasonably, make sure to allow to re-sow, or grow new seedlings to replace.

Gaillardia aristata, Blanket Flower, Abraham Lake, Cohan Seeds

Gaillardia aristata/ Blanket Flower/ex Abraham Lake

Gaillardia aristata, Blanket Flower, Saskatchewan, Cohan Seeds

Gaillardia aristata/ Blanket Flower/ex Saskatchewan

Galium boreale/ Northern Bedstraw

Native; edible/tea/dye/medicinal/other uses

A plant and genus with a long history of uses (a coffee relative, the tiny seeds are even supposed to make a substitute for that beverage, but the thought of collecting that much seed seems daunting! I'd think with roasting etc, it must be a an hour or several's work for a cup!); It is a conspicuous wildflower here at the edge of the boreal forest, growing in a wide range of habitatsfrom roadsides and meadows where it can form large dense stends, mounds of tightly packed white flowers in season, to deep, even dry, shade under spruce trees where the whole plant is taller and looser with more airy sprays of flowers. It is rhizomatous, so best used with other strong growing plants, or naturalised, unless you intend to harvest lots, then give it a good garden spot! Some good golds in fall.

Galium boreale/ Northern Bedstraw

Galium boreale/ Northern Bedstraw Seeds

Galium boreale/ Northern Bedstraw

Galium boreale/ Northern Bedstraw with Dianthus and Pea Trellis

Galium triflorum/ Fragrant Bedstraw/ Three Flowered Bedstraw

Native; edible/tea/medicinal See notes on G boreale.

This is a rather unusual looking native plant, with, I think, some very interesting potential in the garden. Bright green leafy stems (leaflets arranged in whorls around the stem) trail out in a ring from the centre, more or less flat to the ground. It is typically found in moist/mesic woodland, and there is real potential for use as groundcover in shade, especially where there is space (with rocks, wood?) for the plant's shape to be appreciated. However, it has appeared in my garden in a few places you would not expect-- dry/rocky soils!- suggesting there are also possible uses in large pots, troughs, rock gardens etc, where its spreading/trailing form could be used to great advantage! This species is really all about the foliage, flowers are *tiny* but reward a good close look. Typical fuzzy/tiny burr seeds do add an interesting almost foamy texture to the plant. Can have nice, pale fall colour.

Galium triflorum/ Fragrant Bedstraw/ Three Flowered Bedstraw

Geum aleppicum/Yellow Avens
Native; Tall plant, adds a splash of colour and lots of texture to meadow plantings (robust leaves are green most/all of the time not covered by snow, like many of its relatives); grows wild in wetlands, but in the garden will grow in pretty much any soil or moisture, including some quite dry spots; smallish yellow flowers, borne in much greater numbers in the garden, and for a longer time, than in the wild, attractive burr like seed heads-- but will self sow generously if you leave the seeds to fall-- deadhead carefully or naturalise in meadow settings where other strong growing plants will keep it in line.

Geum aleppicum/Yellow Avens

Geum aleppicum,Yellow Avens, Cohan Seeds

Geum aleppicum,Yellow Avens, meadow, Cohan Seeds

Geum aleppicum/Yellow Avens-wild

Geum montanum/ Mountain Avens
medicinal; seems to prefer some moisture and/or humus, initially I had it in more typical rock garden conditions, wasn't so happy, added humus, or moved some to more meadow spots, happier; European sub/alpine; Dark green evergreen leaves in tight clumps. Flowering from early spring (main flowering) through fall freeze (occasional all season). Flowers initially open at base, among the leaves, then stems elongate with flowers and later attractive seed plumes to 30cm or more.

Geum montanum/ Mountain Avens

Geum montanum/ Mountain Avens with Viola aetolica

Geum montanum/ Mountain Avens

Geum rivale /Water Avens / Purple Avens
edible/medicinal; Native; wetland/edge; common around here; I haven't grown it, but expect it to be fine in mesic garden conditions; distinctive drooping bell flowers, more sepal than petal, hint of orange, grows from sun to deep shade, but will be floppy in shade, would need to grow with other things to sprawl over. attractive fuzzy burr seed heads. Robust foliage looks good from early spring, some fall colour mostly in sunny spots.

Geum rivale, Water Avens, Purple Avens, Cohan Seeds

Geum rivale /Water Avens / Purple Avens fall foliage

Geum rivale /Water Avens / Purple Avens shade

Geum rivale /Water Avens / Purple Avens

Geum rivale /Water Avens / Purple Avens fall foliage

Geum rivale /Water Avens / Purple Avens

Halenia deflexa/ Spurred Gentian/ Green Gentian
Native; an interesting and elegant rather than showy annual; the flowers are a delicate violet tinged green, and open only slightly. Usually 10-30cm or so here, can get taller, in theory. Grows in moist/mesic sites, sometimes in open grassy areas, but more often woodland/edge.

Halenia deflexa, Spurred Gentian, Green Gentian, Cohan Seeds

Halenia deflexa/ Spurred Gentian/ Green Gentian Pre-fall Colour

Halenia deflexa/ Spurred Gentian/ Green Gentian

Heterotheca villosa /Golden Aster (AB foothills, large form)
medicinal? Native; Mounds of greyish green leaves on spreading stems 30-40cm; Golden yellow flowers in abundance mid to late summer or even fall; drought tolerant.

Heterotheca villosa /Golden Aster Abraham Lake

Heterotheca villosa, Golden Aster, Erigeron caespitosus, Cohan Seeds

Heterotheca villosa /Golden Aster with Erigeron caespitosus

Heterotheca villosa /Golden Aster

Heterotheca villosa /Golden Aster with Campanula rotundifolia

Heterotheca villosa /Golden Aster

Heterotheca villosa/Golden Aster
(ex wild seed, B.C. interior; small upright form)
Very different than the Alberta form listed above, I've been told by a few people this tiny plant from B.C. is the same species; stems are erect, no more than 15-20cm tall. Not flashy, but the upright form can be a nice contrast to mat forming plants, or those with larger leaves. It is also late flowering (I didn't find any shots of the start of flowering, but these shots are from mid-September into October-- well into frost season) another potential advantage in the garden. The bed it is in is a bit tough so some day I will try in another spot see if it changes the form.

Heterotheca villosa small form,Golden Aster, Cohan Seeds

Heterotheca villosa/Golden Aster small form

Hieracium intybaceum/ False Chicory Hawkweed/ Sulphur Hawkweed
European sub/alpine, I grow it in gravelly clay with a bit of humus, but I think it is probably pretty easygoing, and likely best (more compact) in fairly lean conditions. Spreading to decumbent stems 30-40cm, attractive narrow wavy slightly hairy medium grey green leaves, flowers an unusual pale yellow (compared to typical bright yellow of many hawkweeds)-- produced in large numbers, but I never seem to catch many open at once (Iit's occurred to me to wonder if there are more open in the morning-- I never see it then!). Short-lived plants, so leave some of the piles of seed produced to re-sow.. after having it for a number of years, it has not shown signs of getting out of control yet--seedlings are always around, but not huge numbers and not hard to yank extras. I think a lean gravelly meadow would be a good setting, or maybe a very exposed rocky spot to keep it tight. Not sure how it is for drought, mine is in a mesic berm.

Hieracium intybaceum/ False Chicory Hawkweed/ Sulphur Hawkweed

Hieracium intybaceum; fall view with Geranium and Allium

Hieracium intybaceum/ False Chicory Hawkweed/ Sulphur Hawkweed

Hieracium umbellatum/ Parasol Hawkweed/ Narrow-leaf Hawkweed/ Northern Hawkweed edible? Native;
If your life has been ruined by yellow-flowered composite weeds, then keep moving ;) If you have a more open mind about native plants that fill interesting niches in the landscape, stick around! This widespread native of the Northern Hemisphere (variable and due for revision??) has bright yellow flowers typical of many plants in the Chicory Tribe of the Aster family, including a number of weedy cousins. This one has not proven bent on world domination around here, but you always need to watch any plant with flying seeds when grown away from natural habitat! It grows wild here in all sorts of sites from deep moist shade to mesic or dryish open spots. It will tend to be floppy in shade. Besides the flowers, which come from mid summer to frost, adding valuable late season colour, the narrow, slightly toothed leaves are quite nice , and turn interesting subtle shades in fall-- they are very attractive in wooded areas with late season shafts of sunlight hitting the flowers, then later the colourful/pale changing leaves. Many of the plants in my immediate area are in part/shade, but I think it has some interesting potential uses in meadow settings-- say mixed with several native asters to complement their blue/purple shades, maybe grasses or small shrubs for support... A couple have self sown into garden beds where they seem more robust and floriferous than in the wild, so more to explore... The tawny pappus ('fluff' on the seeds) is also attractive.

Hieracium umbellatum/ Parasol Hawkweed/ Narrow-leaf Hawkweed/ Northern Hawkweed

Hieracium umbellatum / Northern Hawkweed leaves

Hieracium umbellatum / Northern Hawkweed seeds

Hypochaeris maculata/Spotted Cat's Ear
edible? European of often exposed sites, sandy or poor soil; attractive bright yellow flowers like dandelions on steroids; long, strong leafless flower stems, low cluster of thick, somewhat hairy basal leaves with attractive dark spots.I think it is quite adaptable, in my garden in a couple of spots with average to rocky/gravel soil, mesic moisture, but it is likely fairly drought tolerant; a lean site probably helps keep it compact-- not too much other foliage adjacent would be good to show the leaves to advantage.