Cerastium tomentosum columnae SNOW-IN-SUMMER A relatively fast spreader and makes a good ground cover for small to large areas. Used on sunny banks or between stepping stones. Prefers sandy loam with low moisture and low fertility. Grows admirably in rough conditions. The leaves spread an area with silvery gray, dense mats, and flowers bloom in abundance across the foliage.
Cerastium tomentosum columnae
|
6 - 8 in.
|
12 in.
|
white
|
mid spring
|
Su
|
spreader
|
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides PLUMBAGO Forms attractive mats with long lasting deep blue flowers. Has bronze to scarlet foliage in the autumn. Ground cover used to edge borders and walks or planted underneath shrubs. Leaves are dark green, smooth and rounded. Adaptable to most soils provided drainage is good.
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
|
1 ft.
|
18 in.
|
indigo blue
|
l. summer
|
Su-pSh
|
spreader
|
Chelone TURTLEHEAD Coloring semi-shade gardens in early fall, this plant brings clear pink flowers with hints of deep pink highlights. Attractive dark green and shiny leaves are ovate and coarsely toothed. Loves to perform along side ponds, streams and bog, but can be added to your border where the soil is moist to wet and rich, with good air circulation. Low maintenance given their preferences.
Chelone lyonii 'Hot Lips'
|
2 - 3 ft.
|
18 in.
|
rose pink
|
l sum. - e.aut.
|
Su-pSh
|
clump
|
Chrysanthemum superbum, C. maximum SHASTA DAISY: See Leucanthemum
Chrysogonum virginianum GOLDENSTAR Sturdy, soft green foliage bears 1 in. single starry flowers. Even longer blooming where summers are cool, admirable peak bloom occurs in spring here in zone 6. Likes average moisture with moderate fertility and good drainage. If planted in full sun, consistent moisture assures performance. If moisture cannot be steady, light to part shade helps in the heat of summer. Useful for edging. Many respected gardeners hold this an indispensable wildflower.
Chrysogonum virginianum
|
4 - 8 in.
|
12 in.
|
yellow
|
spring - sum.
|
Su-pSh
|
carpet
|
Chrysogonum virginianum 'Pierre'
|
8 in.
|
12 - 18 in.
|
yellow
|
spring
|
Su-pSh
|
spreader
|
Cimicifuga BUGBANE The ferny leaves are arranged in sprays of threes, in groups that branch in threes. The foliage sends tall, wiry stems with bottlebrush flowers of white or cream. Grows in a moist, rich, acid soil. Cultivars range in height from 3 - 8 ft.. Three pure white bloomers are: C. racemosa, an early summer bloomer, while C. simplex 'White Pearl' and C. ramosa 'Atropurpurea' are both sought after as autumn bloomers. C. simplex 'White Pearl' flowers on arching stalks, whereas C. racemosa stands erect with reddish stems. The towering C. ramosa 'Atropurpurea' is purplish tinted in both foliage and buds, but flowers open white with a gentle, sweet fragrance. The newer cultivars: Cimicifuga ramosa 'Brunette' and 'Hillside Black Beauty', have very dark purplish foliage that is more pronounced in more light. All are fragrant to varying degrees.
Cimicifuga racemosa
|
6 ft.
|
2 ft.
|
white
|
summer
|
pSh
|
clump
|
Cimicifuga ramosa 'Atropurpurea'
|
7 ft.
|
4 ft.
|
white
|
autumn
|
Su-pSh
|
clump
|
Cimicifuga ramosa 'Brunette'
|
7 ft.
|
4 ft.
|
white
|
l.sum-fall
|
pSh
|
clump
|
Cimicifuga ramosa 'Hillside Black Beauty'
|
7 ft.
|
4 ft.
|
white
|
l.sum-fall
|
pSh
|
clump
|
Cimicifuga simplex 'White Pearl'
|
4 ft.
|
2 ft.
|
white
|
autumn
|
Su-pSh
|
clump
|
Clematis CLEMATIS Thrive in cool, moist, fertile soil well enriched with leaf mold, peat or compost where it won't be waterlogged. May prefer limy soil but flourish under neutral or slightly acid conditions. Can be grown on trellises, fences and walls or allowed to scramble through loose shrubs and small trees. Keep roots cool and shaded where foliage will thrive in the sun. Can mulch plants or over plant by adding a shallow rooted ground cover.
Clematis 'Blue Ravin'
|
6 - 10 ft.
|
2 - 3 ft.
|
8 in.lilac blue w/ pink mauve
|
e.to l. summer
|
Su-pSh
|
vine
|
Clematis 'Comtesse de Bouchaud'
|
8 ft.
|
2 - 3 ft.
|
6 - 7 in. / pink
|
e. summer
|
Su
|
vine
|
Clematis 'Etoille Violette'
|
12 - 20 ft.
|
2 - 3 ft.
|
4 in ./deep purple
|
l. summer
|
Su
|
vine
|
Clematis 'Gillian Blades'
|
6 - 8 ft.
|
2 - 3 ft.
|
6 - 8 in. /white
|
late spring
|
Su
|
vine
|
Clematis 'H. F. Young'
|
6 - 8 ft.
|
2 - 3 ft.
|
6 - 8 in./ lt. blue
|
late spring
|
Su
|
vine
|
Clematis 'Henryi'
|
10 - 12 ft.
|
2 - 3 ft.
|
6 - 8 in. / white
|
late spring
|
Su
|
vine
|
Clematis 'Jackmanii'
|
10 ft.
|
2 - 3 ft.
|
5 - 6 in. / purple
|
e. summer
|
Su
|
vine
|
Clematis 'Jackmani Superba'
|
12 - 15 ft.
|
2 - 3 ft.
|
2-3 in.blue purple
|
summer
|
Su
|
vine
|
Clematis 'Nelly Moser'
|
6 - 8 ft.
|
2 - 3 ft.
|
6 - 8 in. / pink
|
late spring
|
Su
|
vine
|
Clematis 'Perle d'Azure'
|
16 ft.
|
2 - 3 ft.
|
4 - 6 in./sky blue
|
e.sum - aut.
|
Su
|
vine
|
Clematis 'Poulala' [Alabast]
|
8 - 10 ft.
|
2 - 3 ft.
|
6 in.cream w/yellow
|
l. spring - l. summer
|
Su-pSh
|
vine
|
Clematis 'Ramona'
|
10 - 12 ft.
|
2 - 3 ft.
|
6 - 8in. / lav.
|
summer
|
Su
|
vine
|
Clematis 'Silver Moon'
|
8 - 10 ft.
|
2 - 3 ft.
|
6 - 8 in pale silver lilac
|
summer
|
Su-pSh
|
vine
|
Clematis 'Will Goodwin'
|
10 - 12 ft.
|
2 - 3 ft.
|
6 - 8 in. / blue
|
e. summer
|
Su
|
vine
|
Clematis lanuginosa 'Candida'
|
8 - 15 ft.
|
2 - 3 ft.
|
7 - 9 in. / white
|
e. summer
|
Su
|
vine
|
Clematis maximowicziana (C. pan.)
|
30 ft.
|
2 - 3 ft.
|
1/4-1/2 in. / white
|
l. summer
|
Su
|
vine
|
Clematis montana 'Rubens'
|
15 - 20 ft.
|
2 - 3 ft.
|
2 - 4 in. / pink
|
e. summer
|
Su
|
vine
|
Clematis texensis 'Etoile Rose'
|
10 - 13 ft.
|
2 - 3 ft.
|
cherry purp.w/silver
|
july - august
|
Su
|
vine
|
Convallaria majalis LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY Tolerant of most soil conditions; however, will benefit from periodic additions of organic matter. Fragrant flowers. Good ground cover under shade trees needing room to spread. Will over run other plants if used in a mixed perennial garden. Use instead as an under planting in association with shade loving woody plants and shrubs.
Convallaria majalis
|
6 - 12 in.
|
12 in.
|
white
|
mid spring
|
pSh
|
spreader
|
Coreopsis TICKSEED Tolerant of various soils with good drainage. Relatively drought tolerant, they are easy to grow. When dead-heading the grandiflora kinds, cut spent flowers and flower stalks to improve appearance. All are long blooming. C. rosea likes steady moisture. C. rosea and C. verticillata have thread-leafed green foliage. C. grandiflora 'Sunray' displays a wider green leaf that is lobed near the top and undivided near its bottom end. The much-in-demand C. verticilata 'Moonbeam', a PPA plant of the year, is simply one of the finest and longest blooming perennials, with pale yellow flowers on wiry herbaceous bushes. Plants can be cut or sheared back by 1/4 to 1/3 or more in midsummer to promote more bloom (massive dead-heading in effect). Coreopsis 'Sweet Dreams' has white flower petals with a raspberry base. Coreopsis 'Limerock Ruby' (not hardy in zone 6) has ruby red flowers. Both are new introductions with 1 1/2 inch flowers, a long bloom season, and represent a significant color break for Coreopsis. Both should be pinched or trimmed back to promote a more compact habit.
Coreopsis 'Creme Brulee'
|
18 - 24 in.
|
2 ft.
|
yellow
|
summer
|
Su
|
clump
|
Coreopsis 'Early Sunrise'
|
20 in.
|
21 in.
|
golden yellow
|
e.sum.- ext.
|
Su
|
clump
|
Coreopsis 'Sweet Dreams'
|
12 in.
|
18 - 24 in.
|
white, dp pink
|
summer
|
Su
|
clump
|
Coreopsis grandiflora 'Flying Saucers'
|
15 in.
|
12 - 15 in.
|
yellow
|
e. sum. - aut.
|
Su
|
clump
|
Coreopsis grandiflora 'Sunray'
|
18 - 24 in.
|
12 - 15 in.
|
yellow
|
e. summer
|
Su
|
clump
|
Coreopsis lanceolata 'Walter'
|
18 in.
|
12 - 18 in.
|
yellow w/red
|
summer
|
Su
|
clump
|
Coreopsis pubescens 'Sunshine Superman'
|
12 - 18 in.
|
21 in.
|
gold/ornge cntr
|
june - sept.
|
Su-pSh
|
spreader
|
Coreopsis rosea 'American Dream'
|
12 - 18 in.
|
1 ft.
|
rose pink
|
summer
|
Su
|
clump
|
Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'
|
2 ft.
|
2 ft.
|
light yellow
|
l. spr. - aut.
|
Su
|
clump
|
Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb'
|
12 - 18 in.
|
18 in.
|
yellow
|
e. summer
|
Su
|
clump
|
Coreopsis x 'Limerock Ruby'
|
18 - 22 in.
|
21 in.
|
redm yel cntr
|
summer-frost
|
Su
|
clump
|
Cornus sericea 'Silver & Gold' VARIEGATED GOLDSTEM DOGWOOD Variegated cornus is an old standard in botanical gardens and now this cultivar has caught their eye. Loose habit and wider than it is high, it grows gracefully rounded, multistemmed with nearly horizontal branches at the base. Does well in the full sun in hot summers and is vigorous. Can be shaped or controlled easily in height or width by simple pruning without affecting its beauty, or can be left to grow its own way. Stems are golden yellow and the brilliant leaves are light green with wide creamy white margins. Useful as a backdrop or for architectural framework and is also excellent for massing large areas. Holds soil well on slopes where its golden stems are even more striking in winter scenes.
Cornus sericea 'Silver & Gold'
|
6 - 10 ft.
|
5 - 8 ft.
|
white
|
summer
|
Su-pSh
|
shrub
|
Corydalis lutea YELLOW BLEEDING HEART is best when grown in a moist, slightly alkaline soil. The foliage is lacy and delicate, yet forms in clumps with tiny cool green leaves that scatter densely about. Blooms throughout the season, but profusely in spring, with another surge when temperatures cool off later in the season. Self sows freely.
Corydalis lutea
|
12 - 15 in.
|
12 - 18 in.
|
yellow
|
spring - aut.
|
pSh
|
clump
|
Corydalis elata
|
8 - 12 in.
|
12 - 18 in.
|
cobalt blue
|
spring - sum.
|
Su-pSh
|
clump
|
Corydalis 'Balckberry Wine'
|
10 in.
|
18 in.
|
purple
|
spring-sum.
|
pSh
|
clump
|
Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ CROCOSMIA With scarlet red flowers flaming above iridaceae like foliage, Crocosmia’s beckon hummingbirds to the garden. Plants can be short lived north of zone 6 and hardiness is relative to plant and corm size. In the northeast they are well worth their short stay, adding a sharp architectural form to the full sun perennial border.
Crocosmia 'Lucifer'
|
4 ft.
|
1 ft.
|
scarlet-red
|
l.summer
|
Su-pSh
|
clump,spreader
|
Plant Descriptions: Beginning with Letter D
BOTANICAL NAME
|
HEIGHT
|
SPACING
|
COLOR
|
SEASON
|
LIGHT
|
HABIT
|
Dalea purpurea PURPLE PRAIRIE CLOVER This important prairie legume adds nitrogen naturally to the soil. Grows on most well drained soils preferring dry to medium moisture, in sand, loam or clay. Fine textured leaves and masses of tiny flowers that are dark purple (occasionally crimson or pink)
Dalea purpurea
|
1 - 3 ft.
|
12 in.
|
purple
|
summer
|
Su
|
spreader
|
|