History Blooms at Monticello

Peggy Cornett at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello tells us that

English Peas are thriving in this year’s cool, moist Central Virginia spring. We will soon harvest from several historic varieties in the Monticello vegetable garden. Meanwhile the Prickly-seeded spinach, a rare variety Jefferson noted planting in 1809 and 1812, is forming valuable seed heads.

History Blooms at Monticello

Peggy Cornett at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello tells us that

Sweet William, Dianthus barbatus, was one of Jefferson's favorite ornamental flowers. He observed "sweet William began to open" at Shadwell on April 16, 1767, reported flowers in May and June of 1782, and also planted this biennial in an oval flower bed at Monticello in 1807.

A similar variety with the red auricula-eye was called Painted Lady Sweet William and was illustrated in William Curtis’s Botanical Magazine 1792

Plants in Early American Gardens - Wild Petunia

Wild Petunia (Ruellia humilis)

This wide-ranging wildflower is found from southern Pennsylvania west to Nebraska and south to Florida and Texas. It was identified and named by the early 19th century plant explorer Thomas Nuttall, who traveled and collected plants across the continent and who was commissioned by Philadelphia botanist Benjamin Smith Barton to re-collect many of the Lewis and Clark species. Several South American species were commercially available in the mid-19th century and this long-blooming North American species is likewise considered a desirable plant for borders, rock gardens, native gardens, butterfly gardens, and prairies.

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

Plant Lists - 1790s by Clockmaker Wm Faris of Annapolis MD

1789 Charles Willson Peale's (1741-1827) 1789 Depiction of the Statehouse in Annapolis, Maryland

Plants grown (and sometimes sold) by Silversmith & Clockmaker William Faris near the Statehouse in Annapolis, MD in the 1790s.
Southern Garden History Plant Lists

Flowers
Anemonie Anemone coronaria
Asters (China Asters-Callistephus chinensis)
Balsam Apple Momordica balsamina
Bleeding Heart Dicentra eximia
Callamus Acorus calamus
Carnation Dianthus caryophyllus
Chrysanthemum Dendranthema indicum
Columbine Aquilegia vulgaris
Coxcomb Celosia argentea var. cristata
Crocus Crocus
Crusula
Daffodil Narcissus
Emmy (Emoney) Anemone coronaria
Flowering Pea
Fleur-de-Lis Iris
Geranium Pelargonium
Globe Amaranthus Gomphrena globosa
Hollyhocks Alcea rosea
Hyacynth Hyacinthus orientalis
Iceplant Mesembryanthemum crystallinum
Impatiens Impatiens balsamina
India Pink Dianthus chinensis
Iris
Jacobson Lily Sprekelia formosissima (Jacobin Lilley)
Jasmine
Jerusalem Cherry Solanum pseudocapsicum
Job's Tears Croix lacryma-jobi
Jonquil Narcissus
Lady in Green
Lily
Lily of the Valley
Marigold
Mignonette Reseda odorata
Narcissus
Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus
Parson’s Pride
Passion Flower
Polyanthus Primula
Poppies
Primrose
Reason
Rose
Satin Flower Lunaria annua
Sensitive Plant Mimosa pudica
Snapdragon Antirrhinum majus
Commandments
Tube Rose Polianthes tuberosa
Tulips Tulipa gesneriana
Wallflower Erysimum cheiri
Crown Imperial Fritillaria imperialis
Tree (persian) tobacco Nicotiana glauca ?
Indian nutmeg Nigella saliva ?
Amaranthus tricolo Amaranthus tricolor
Lyly of St. Jaego
Sweet Scented Pea Lathyrus odoratus

Shrubs, trees, vines, grasses

Althea Hibiscus syriacus
Boxwood Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa'
Holly Tree Ilex opaca
Horse Chestnut Aesculus
Ivy Hedera helix
Pride of China Tree Melia azederach
Ribbon Grass Phalaris arundinacea 'Picta'
Snowball Viburnum opulus 'Flore Pleno'
Strawberry Tree Arbutus unedo
Sweet Scented Shrub Calycanthus
Tallow Tree Sapium sebiferum
Willow Tree (Golding) Salix alba var. Vitellina
Wallnutt Tree Juglans (regia)
Willow Tree Salix (babylonica)
Laylack bushes Syringa
Unknown:  Formoso

Vegetables

Roshembola onions
(onions of Eagipt)
Allium scorodoprasum
Ocoro Abelmoschus esculentus
Shallots Allium ascalonicum
Onions Allium cepa
Savory Allium cepa
Leeks Allium porrum
Garlic Allium sativum
Horsradish Armoracia rusticana
Asparagus Asparagus officinalis
English Lambs Quarter (Orach) Atriplex hortensis
Beets Beta vulgaris
Broccoli Brassica oleracea
Brussel Sprout Brassica oleracea
Cabbage Brassica oleracea
Cauliflower Brassica oleracea
Colewart or Kale Brassica rapa
Turnip Brassica rapa
Pepper Capsicum annuum
Watermelon Citrullus lanatus
Cantaloupe Cucumis melo ssp. melo
Mush Mellons Cucumis melo ssp. melo
Cucumbers Cucumis sativus
Pumpkin Curcurbita pepo
Squash (Simlings) Curcurbita pepo Simlins
Carrots Daucus carota ssp. sativus
Leetuce Lactuca sativa
Parsnip Pastinaca sativa
Beans Phaseolus
Peas Pisum sativum
Radish Raphanus sativus
Egg Plant Solanum melongena
Spinach Spinacia oleracea
Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus
Orris or French spinge or orris lettuce Valerianella locusta
Bunch beans Vicia faba
Corn Zea mays
Unknowns:
 Rocambole
 Algerian peas ?
 Fossmiano corn
 Greens

Herbs

Bergamot Balm Monarda didyma or Monarda fistulosa
Catnip Nepeta cataria
Ginger
Horseradish Armoracia rusticana
Mint Mentha
Nutmeg (Indian) Nigella sativa
Parsley Petroselinum crispum
Pickling Lime
Cherry Pepper
Poppy Papaver
Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis
Saffron Crocus sativus
Sage Salvia officinalis
Thyme Thymus
Horseradish Armoracia rusticana
Common Balm Melissa officinalis

Fruits and nuts

Apple Malus sylvestris var. domestica
Cherry Prunus cerasus var. austere
Gooseberry Ribes uva-crispa
Mulberry Morus alba
Pear Prunus communis var. sativa
Walnut Juglans regia
Almond Prunus
Currant Ribes silvestre 'Macrocarpum’
Grapevines Vitis
Peach Prunus persica
Plum Walnut
Egg plum or magnum bonum plum Prunus x domestica
Black currant Ribes nigrum

Plants in Early American Gardens - Peruvian Zinnia

 Peruvian Zinnia (Zinnia peruviana)
Although zinnias did not become popular garden plants until late in the 19th century, Peruvian Zinnias were grown in 18th-century gardens and were sold by Philadelphia nurseryman Bernard McMahon in 1804. This South American annual produces flowers in shades of red and yellow throughout the summer. The small but attractive flowers are perfect for cutting and are very different from the improved hybrids now so popular.

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

Peruvian Zinnia (Zinnia peruviana)

1611 Written law on Gardens in Virginia's "Lawes Divine, Morall and Martiall"

Woodcut of man at work in garden by Hans Weidig

The Virginia Company (in Virginia 1607-1624) asked Sir Thomas Gates (1585-1621) to impose a strict set of regulations on the colony. Gates, who became governor of the colony in 1611, and Sir Thomas Dale (c 1560-1619), the marshal, wrote, and enforced the laws, the earliest written English laws in the British American colonies.  These laws were more like a business "code of conduct" intended to regulate the everyday activities of its members, employees, & servants, both men & women, working in Virginia.

What man or woman soever, shall rob any garden, publike or private, being set to weed the same, or wilfully pluck up therein any roote, herbe, or flower, to spoile and wast or steale the same, or robbe any vineyard, or gather up the grapes, or steale any eares of the corne growing, wheter in the ground belonging to the same fort or towne where he dwelleth, or in any other, shall be punished with death.

Plants in Early American Gardens - Johnny-Jump-Up

Johnny-jump-up (Viola tricolor)

Johnny-jump-up, or Heartsease, is a showy, self-seeding annual with small pansy-like flowers, each of them showing three colors: deep purple, yellow, and white. The plant was established in American gardens before 1700, and Jefferson sowed it at Shadwell on April 1, 1767, calling it “Tricolor.”

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