Spring 2009 Plant List C--D
Carex grayii
Gray's or Morning Star Sedge
N. America, z. 2-8. An erect, fountain-form sedge whose 1/2″ wide, semi-evergreen blades rise 1′ to 3′. Its big attraction
is its seedheads: large, round, and studded with spikes like an ancient mace―hence the name Morning Star Sedge. Good for massing
or accents near water, and also in pots. The long-lasting seedheads, which start green and turn a soft gold, are good for
cutting. Moist to wet soil in sun to part shade. $5.00
Carex laxiculmis
Loose-culmed Sedge
N. America, z. 5-9. This local grass relative might well be called "Curling Sedge" because its 1/2" wide, bluegreen leaves
curl outward from the center rather like a mum, making a springy tussock 6"-8" tall. It's happy here in partial to full shade
and average soil and is evergreen, although the leaves will brown at the tip over winter and should be cut back in early spring
to allow for new growth. A good edger, since it doesn't run, and a nice pot plant, too. $5.00
Carex pensylvanica
Pennsylvania Sedge
N. America, z. 4-8. A very fine-textured sedge only 6"-8" tall, Pennsylvania Sedge forms billowy tufts that spread moderately
by short runners. Often found growing in deciduous woods or in sandy soils, it is very shade and drought tolerant and a beautiful,
grass-like groundcover for difficult sites. $5.00
Cercis canadensis
Redbud, Judas Tree
N. America, z. 4-9. A small woodland tree—to 30'—with graceful form and heart-shaped leaves, bearing many dense clusters of
pinkish purple flowers along its branches in early spring. Redbud blooms at the same time as our native dogwood, and the two
together are a quintessential part of the spring woodland scene. A good ornamental whose bountiful seed pods are a food for
wildlife. Prefers partial shade and moist soil, but tolerates sunnier, dryer conditions. Available at the nursery; price
will vary by size.
Chasmanthium latifolium
River Oats, Wild Oats
N. America, z. 5-9. This beautiful East Coast grass grows in 2'-4' upright clumps of rich green foliage with showy, diamond-shaped
flower spikes that start out jade green and turn pale gold in fall, shimmering in the slightest breeze on gracefully arching
stems. At its best in moist soil and partial shade, it will tolerate sunnier and dryer conditions and makes an excellent
waterside, seashore, or pot plant. If used in the border its long-lasting flower spikes should be removed in winter to prevent
self-seeding. $5.00
Chelone lyonii
Pink Turtlehead
N. America, z. 4-9. A sturdy and very attractive perennial whose 2'-4' stems, well clothed in shining deep green leaves, spread
slowly to form dense colonies. In late summer/fall each stem is topped with a tight vertical cluster of deep pink flowers,
vaguely turtlehead-shaped, followed by seedheads that look more like the rattles on a rattlesnake. Pink Turtlehead enjoys
moist to very wet soil in sun or partial shade. It does not need staking and unlike White Turtlehead seems immune to powdery
mildew. $6.00
Chrysogonum virgianum 'Eco Lacquered Spider'
Green-and-Gold, Goldenstar
N. America, z. 6-9. 'Lacquered Spider' takes its name from the fat, furry runners, very like spiders' legs, that arch from
each rosette in spring and rapidly spread over the ground. At the end of the runners new rosettes of softly hairy leaves form
to make a thick, low groundcover. Yellow flowers with a lacquered sheen star the dark green mounds. A good semi-evergreen
groundcover for moist, humusy soil in partial sun or shade. $5.00
Chrysogonum virginianum 'Pierre'
'Pierre' Green & Gold, Goldenstar
N. America, z. 5-9. A fine selection of this excellent, spring-flowering
deciduous groundcover for part to full shade and moist soil.
'Pierre' forms neat 6" clumps which
expand well but do not send out runners. The golden flowers are
larger than the species and produced abundantly over a long period.
Very nice! $5.00
Chrysopsis mariana
Maryland Golden Aster
N. America, z. 5-9. Clusters of rich yellow aster-like blooms rise above gray-green leaves on 12"-16" stems in late summer
and fall. Occurring naturally in dry fields and along road edges, Maryland Golden Aster is a great choice for any sunny,
dry area. It requires excellent drainage and blooms best in full sun, but tolerates light shade. $5.00
Cimicifuga (Actaea) racemosa
Bugbane, Black Cohosh
N. America, z. 3-9. Slow-growing, long-lived, and stately, Black Cohosh produces 2'-3' mounds of handsome dark-green, divided
leaves. Rising well above them are slender, twisting wands of fuzzy white flowers that provide an excellent summer nectar
source for many pollinators. A fine woodland plant for partial to full shade and moist, well-drained soil. $6.00
Coreopsis auriculata 'Nana'
Mouse-ear Coreopsis
N. America, z. 4-10. This delightful little plant makes a 4"-6" high clump of dark green, softly hairy leaves, topped in late
spring and early summer by 1" single flowers of a rich yellow-orange, each as delicately formed as a flower in an illuminated
manuscript. Dead-head for prolonged bloom. Clumps spread slowly but are not aggressive. Nice! Sun to part shade, average,
well-drained soil. $5.00
Corylopsis spicata
Spike Winterhazel
Japan, z. 5-8. A tall, widespreading—easily 8' x 8'—and very beautiful mountain shrub with pleated leaves that open a soft
matte green flushed with purple and turn deep green in summer, and dangling clusters of pale yellow flowers in early spring.
Not as showy in bloom as Forsythia, but a much more elegant shrub. A rapid grower, it prefers moist, acid, humusy soil in
sun or part shade, with some protection from late freezes. $9.00
Delphinium tricorne
Dwarf Larkspur
N. America, z. 4-9. An early highlight of spring woodlands, Dwarf Larkspur shoots up 1-3' stalks of electric blue flowers
that combine beautifully with other early bloomers such as Spring Beauty, Bloodroot, and Celandine Poppy. After blooming it
quickly goes dormant, disappearing under the expanding leaves of later perennials until the next spring. It likes moist soil
under deciduous trees and a bit of lime, and will slowly expand to a clump. $5.00
Dioscorea quaternata
Wild Yam
N. America, z. 5-8. A true yam but not edible, and an unusual and beautiful small vine. Growing no more than 9′ and dying
back in fall, it will twine around a slender support and put out successive whorls of elegant, pleated leaves that flare outward
on long petioles.. The tiny flowers are barely seen, but the large seedpods are curious and pretty, while the leaves turn
deep gold in fall. Something different for shade to sun in humusy soil, it always attracts attention at the nursery. $10.00