Fall 2008 Plant List C--D

 
 
 

Carex grayii

Gray's or Morning Star Sedge

N. America, z. 5-9. An erect, clump-forming sedge whose 1/2" wide, light green leavesrise 1' to 3'. Its special attraction is its fruits: large, round, and studded with spikes like an ancient mace—hence the name Morning Star Sedge. A good plant near water, or in pots as an accent; the fruits 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
 
 
 

Carpinus caroliniana

Am. Hornbeam, Ironwood, Muscle Tree

N. America, z. 3-9. The name "Muscle Tree" refers to the unusual and attractive bark of this understory tree, which resembles muscles flexing under smooth, gray skin. A graceful native about the size and shape of a dogwood, it is an excellent small specimen tree for part shade and moist to damp soil. Available at the nursery; price will vary by size.
 
 
 

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Buttonbush

N. America, z. 5-10. A robust native wetland shrub, 4'-10' or more, with a rounded shape, leathery leaves, and perfectly round heads of tiny, tightly clustered white flowers in summer—unusual and attractive. A useful shrub for naturalizing in moist to wet soil, or shallow water. Its flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds and the seeds are eaten by wood ducks. Available at the nursery; price will vary by size.
 
 
 

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. $6.00
 
 
 

Chelone glabra

White Turtlehead

N. America, z. 3-9. A distinguished native with rigid, 2'-4' stems bearing dark green, leathery leaves and terminal spikes of ivory white or pink tinged flowers in late summer/early fall. The 1 1/2" flowers are unusual, shaped something like a turtle's head, and stand out well in the late summer garden. The plant makes impressive clumps, combining well with Lobelias and tall ferns in moist to wet soil, 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 (Heterotheca) 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
 
 
 

Claytonia virginica

Spring Beauty

N. America, z. 3-8. A small plant which nevertheless makes acre-wide sheets of misty color in spring woodlands. Growing from tiny, rapidly spreading corms, it produces tufts of grass-like foliage in late fall/winter and 3/4" white or pink flowers striped with deeper pink throughout the spring season. It's at home in average to wet soil, and since it goes dormant in summer can be tucked in anywhere its delicate spring color is desired. It delights without ever overwhelming, and I can never have too much of it. (Plants shipped in Fall are dormant.) $5.00
 
 
 

Clethra alnifolia

Summersweet, Sweet Pepperbush

N. America, z. 4-9. This common East Coast native has recently become quite popular in the nursery trade, for good reason: It's a 4'-8' shrub with very sweetly scented spikes of white flowers in mid-summer, attract ing butterflies and other pollinators, and neat foliage that turns yellow in fall. It can be cut back in winter to maintain size, or pruned up to show off its smooth, charcoal-gray bark. It does well in shade but needs sun for good bloom, and prefers moist to wet soil. 1-qt/12"-16". Available at the nursery; price will vary by size.
 
 
 

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. $7.00
 
 
 

Delphinium exaltatum

Tall Larkspur

N. America, z. 4-9. Tall Larkspur is a native perennial with admittedly much more modest flowers than the massive garden hybrids, but it is quite attractive in its own right and much easier to grow in warm, humid summer climates. It grows quickly to form a large clump of deeply cut, palmate leaves, out of which rise slender stems bearing spurred flowers in varying shades of blue/purple in mid-summer. Excellent for grouping among other perennials or shrubs since it goes semi-dormant after flowering. Plant in rich, moist soil in part shade. $6.00
 
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