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Click on the initial of a plant A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z  or return to the (Main Index).

Plants beginning with 'C'

Callistemons are native to Australia and are usually listed as hardy only in zones 9 and 10 in reference books, but growers in the south know that many are hardy in zone 8 and a few in zone 7. Their aptly-named bottlebrush flowers are typically bright crimson, but lesser-known species and hybrids may have green, yellow, pink, lavender, purple, or cream flowers. The plant stem grows through the center of the flower, and seed clusters form around the stem when the flowers fade, with the branch continuing to grow. The leaves are usually flat and needle-like on these evergreen shrubs. Callistemons bloom on the previous year's wood, and are deer-resistant.

Callistemon pallidus 'Eleanor' bears large purple brushes earlier in the year than most, typically May and June here in the Pacific Northwest. Cold hardy to at least 12°F, zone 8, but flowers best against a south wall for plenty of heat. Blue-green foliage is more leaf-like than needle-like, on a 6' x 4' shrub. A selection by Xera Plants in Tualitin, Oregon.

4" pot $6.00 Limit 3
Callistemon pitytioides 'Mt. Kosciuszko' -- Yellow-flowered Bottlebrush -- A dwarf alpine form collected on Australia's highest peak by Sean Hogan and passed on to us by the folks at Xera plants. It has reportedly grown to just 2' after 5 years, with tiny leaves and a compact habit. Ultimate height in cultivation is unknown, but it will certainly stay small. Tolerates either drought or regular irrigation and intense heat. Pale yellow brushes appear May-July in the northwest. Zone 8, possibly a bit lower.

4" pot $5.00 Limit 3

Callistemon speciosus -- Albany Bottlebrush -- Abundant deep pink flowers with vermillion pollen at the tips of the filaments. An 8-10' shrub with thick, lemon-scented foliage. Zone 8b.

4" pot $5.00 Limit 3
'Woodlanders Hardy' is a Callistemon variety bred at Woodlanders Nursery in South Carolina. It has arching stems 6-10' long, with narrow evergreen leaves, tipped with crimson brushes beloved by hummingbirds and butterflies. Among the hardiest of our Callistemons, possibly to zone 7, but, as with other Callistemons, zone 8 and a south wall might yield better results.

4" pot $5.00 Limit 3
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Carex grayi -- Morning Star -- In medieval times, a battle weapon consisting of a spiked ball on a chain attached to a stick was called a Morning Star, proving that irony had been invented by then. It was also called a Mace, proving not much of anything. This is a grasslike plant growing 2-3' tall, with prominent 1" seed heads reminiscent of a Morning Star. It likes moist ground, and will even grow in shallow water, but a moderately-watered border is OK too. Takes either sun or moist shade, and is hardy enough to grow anywhere in the US, except maybe parts of Alaska. The seed spikes are good in both fresh and dry arrangements.
4" pot $5.00
Limit 3
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Cestrum newellii -- Red Cestrum -- Very nice deep red flowers on a shrub that can reach 8-10' and stay evergreen in warm climates, but only 3-5' in colder ones, dying back to the roots in zones 7 & 8, but root-hardy there when mulched. It's vigorous and free-blooming, so well worth growing in the colder zones as a dieback perennial. Not as strongly scented as the other Cestrums listed, but prettier.

$5.00 Limit 3
Cestrum parqui -- Willow-leaved Jasmine -- Among the hardiest of the "night-blooming Jasmines", this one should take zone 8 winters, and maybe zone 7 as well, though its size will stay somewhere between herbaceous perrennial and small shrub in the colder parts of its range, not the large one that it becomes in the subtropics. Cestrums tend to produce lots of flowers; this one does that, but it does so over a much longer period than most. The flowers are strongly fragrant in the evening, but not during the day. In the greenhouse, we have bloom on 4 in. tall plants in mid March, and expect prolific bloom until frost. Flowers are inch-long trumpets produced in large terminal and axillary cymes. They are dark gold in bud, opening to pale gold. Native to Chile.
$7.00 Limit 3
Cestrum nocturnum -- Night-Blooming Jasmine -- Not a true Jasmine, but a tropical evergreen scrambling shrub of the family Solanaceae (tomato/potato/eggplant family) famous for the delicate perfume emanating from its greenish-yellow flowers from midsummer through autumn. Grows to 8-10' tall and nearly as wide, with long, pendulous branches that become thick and heavy with blossoms. We cut branches from the specimen in the greenhouse and bring them in the house, where they continue to provide evening fragrance for a surprisingly long time. Zone 10 or greenhouse, so we've always believed, although more than one nursery now say it will take 15F as a dieback perennial. A native of the West Indies.
$5.00 Limit 3
Chamaecereus sylvestrii -- Peanut Cactus -- In parts of Mexico, the cheery red blossoms of this little cactus can be seen decorating many a windowsill. Though only a few inches tall, it's a fast grower that makes clumps, its long, narrow arms coming to look like a bucket of snakes. The little spines are not very vicious, making this cactus a favorite of children. Zone 10 or houseplant. Originally from Argentina.
$4.00 Limit 3
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Chasmanthe bicolor -- Winter-growing South African corm related to Gladiolus. They bear double ranks of arching, tubular flowers on tall stems. Since they're winter growers, they need to be grown in a climate no colder than zone 9, or in a greenhouse. In nature, Chasmanthes grow in wet spots on rocky outcrops, where they form small colonies. They prefer sun, but will adapt to partial shade. This genus of 3 species is part of the Cape Flora, a group of plants that live around the cape and nowhere else on earth. This is an early bloomer, with dark vermillion and yellow tubular flowers on 3' spikes. From the Southwest Cape.

$4.00 SALE $3.00 Limit 3

 
Chasmanthium latifolium -- River Oats -- A loosely tufted, slowly spreading perennial grass to 3', with long, broadly lance-shaped, arching leaves. In late summer and fall, it produces open, oat-like seed heads whose weight causes the spikes to droop and bounce in the wind. These may be used for dry arrangements if cut before they mature to bronze. Full sun or part shade in zones 5-9.
$4.00 SALE $3.00 Limit 1
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Cinnamomum camphora -- Camphor Tree -- A subtropical tree, zones 9b and above, used as a tub plant in colder climates because of its attractive glossy leaves which have a delicious camphor fragance when crushed. (Camphor is used is cold medications for its pleasant but penetrating fragrance, and was historically used in confections.) Outside in a favorable (warm, humid) climate, it becomes a 60'+ tree. Our specimens are at least 18" tall.

$5.00 Limit 3

Citrus hystrix -- Kaffir Lime -- Much sought-after for its culinary uses, especially in south Asian cooking, this plant is hard to come by in the US. The small tree typically grows to 5-10', with glossy, two-part (hourglass) leaves, eventually yielding a bumpy fruit. Juice, zest, and chopped leaves are all used in cooking. Our plants are only a few inches tall, in 3.5" pots. Zone 9 outdoors, often grown as a pot plant where strong light is available. CITRUS CANNOT BE SHIPPED TO ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, OR TEXAS.

 

3.5" pot $8.00 Limit 3

Corokia x virgata 'Sunsplash' -- A very different Corokia from the increasingly common C. cotoneaster, this hybrid does have slightly contorted branches and sparse foliage, but has much larger leaves that are splashed with yellow, cream, and sage green. To 5'x3' in a location protected from hot afternoon sun, it's hardy to between 10 and 15 degrees F. Showy specimen or container plant with good drainage.

$4.00 Limit 3
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Correa reflexa -- Australian Fuchsia -- A variable shrub, usually to about 3', suitable for warmer climates. The pendant flowers are two-colored, deep pink on the upper part of the bell, green on the lower, with yellow stamens protuding just beyond the petals. Leaves are a rounded heart shape, slightly hairy, and deep green. Zone 9, greenhouse, or overwintered indoors.

 

$5.00 Limit 3

Cortaderia sellowiana 'Pumila' -- Dwarf Pampas Grass -- The familiar Pampas Grass is very large, up to 10', hardy only to zone 7, and blooms in September. But this dwarf variety grows to 4-6', is hardy in zone 6, and blooms earlier. Not quite sterile, but produces very few seedlings, so it doesn't spread where it isn't wanted. Careful of the sharp leaves!

$5.00 Limit 3

 

Crocosmia 'Constance' -- Crocosmia are vigorous, spreading Iris family members, with yellow, red, or orange flowers. This one manages to incorporate all 3 colors. Grows to 2', with abundant panicles of funnel-shaped flowers. Zones 6-9.

 

SALE $3.00 Limit 3
Cymbalaria muralis -- Kennilworth Ivy -- A charming plant useful in a rock garden, as a groundcover, in a hanging basket, or trailing over a bank. Kidney-shaped leaves are reminiscent of hepatica, but very small, to 1/2". In summer, tiny lilac-tinged flowers are produced in abundance. The species epithet muralis means "of walls", and this species is especially good at trailing out of small dirt pockets in rock walls.Will take a moderate amount of sun, or deep shade, and is hardy to zone 4. Also called Ivy-leaved Toadflax, it is originally from Italy, and was a staple of old English gardens, but is somewhat overlooked today.
$3.00 Limit 3
Cyperus, (pronounced sy PEAR us) includes several of the species it that are are commonly known as Papyrus (pa PIE rus). Where they are not hardy, which is most of the US, they make good houseplants and marginal pond plants that are overwintered indoors. For many years, these have been among our best sellers at Farmers' markets and plant sales, and among our worst sellers online.

Cyperus alternifolius, sometimes called Umbrella Plant, is an old-fashioned houseplant that is due for a revival. Its tall, upright habit is very dramatic in a narrow space and, although naturally a water plant, requires only moderate watering indoors. The terminal umbrella of narrow leaves is adorned with flowers and seed heads from time to time, and although these are not colorful, they are attractive. This plant will grow to 5' or more, given a large enough pot and ample water and fertilizer, but can be kept smaller if desired. Zone 9 / indoors

$5.00 Limit 3
Cyperus alternifolius gracilis, Sparkler Grass, is like the above, but much smaller, growing to about 18", and with narrower leaves and stems. It's a nice pond plant that is less overwhelming than its larger cousin, and good paired with the similarly-sized C. haspan, below. Zone 9 / indoors
$5.00Limit 3
Cyperus diffusus is sometimes called Dwarf Papyrus, though that could refer to other plants as well. It is a rather squat plant, to about a foot tall, with leaves that are broader even than C. alternifolius. This species seems not so fond of water as the others, but it is vigorous in a moist situation. It is very apt to flower in the unspectacular but attractive manner of Cyperus, and is a good companion to its variegated version, below. Zone 10 / indoors
$5.00 Limit 3
Cyperus diffusus variegatus is a very pretty variegated form that has such light green foliage that it can appear white. It shares the predisposition to flower with its green cousin above, its broad leaves, and some, but not all, of that plant's vigor. Zone 10 / indoors
$5.00 Limit 3
 

Cyperus fertilis -- Spider Sedge -- Surely the most dwarf member of the genus, this one hugs the ground, to no more than a couple of inches, except for the arching stolon that bends over to deposit the next baby plant on the gound. In this way, it's much like a Spider Plant, AKA Airplane Plant. Its size makes it perfect for terraria. Zone 10/indoors

 

$4.00 Limit 3
Cyperus haspan is called Pygmy Egyptian Papyrus. Its form is similar to the giant C. papyrus, except that its leaves don't droop. It grows to about 18" and is the perfect companion to C. alternifolius gracilis, above. Zone 9 / indoors
$5.00 Limit 3
Cyrtanthus mackenii -- Ifafa Lily -- Deciduous, perennial South African Amaryllis relative with long, narrow, arching flower tubes on 12" spikes. Narrow, arching leaves to 12". Flowers are pale yellow to light orange, and fragrant. Zones 9-10.
$4.00 Limit 3

Click on the initial of a plant A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z or return to the (Main Index).


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Japanese Maples A-Z Catalog What's New Plant Care Policies Plant Search Contact Us Zones