Plants in Early American Gardens - Giant Musselburgh Leeks

Giant Musselburgh Leeks (Allium ampeloprasum cv.)

The garden leek is a Mediterranean species that was cultivated by the Egyptians as early as 3,200 BCE. Jefferson planted a variety of Flag Leek in his vegetable garden at Monticello in 1812. The Giant Musselburgh Leek originated in England in the early 1800s, and was praised by Fearing Burr in Field and Garden Vegetables of America (1863) as “[h]ardy and of excellent quality.”

For more information & the possible availability
Contact The Tho Jefferson Center for Historic Plants or The Shop at Monticello 

Plants in Early American Gardens - Italian Parsley

Italian Parsley (Petroselinum crispum var. neapolitanum)

Thomas Jefferson grew the plain-leaf or Italian Parsley as early as 1774 and listed it as Common Parsley in his vegetable garden calendar. This flat-leaf type is considered more flavorful than the curled form also planted by Jefferson. Parsley can be grown as an annual or biennial; if allowed to flower in its second year, parsley will attract butterflies and other beneficial insects.

For more information & the possible availability
Contact The Tho Jefferson Center for Historic Plants or The Shop at Monticello