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Callirhoe

Callirhoe involucrata (purple wine cups)


Low-growing mounds of cut-leaves are covered with large, purple, cup-shaped flowers all summer. Can self-seed and spread once established. Grows in hideous clay soil, and heat and drought only slow its growth slightly! An excellent border plant and groundcover. Zone 4

Caltha

Caltha palustrus (cowslip, marsh marigold)

Bright yellow flowers cover this wetland native over glossy green, round leaves in late spring. Grows to 2' tall and goes dormant in the heat of the summer. Zone 3
Calylophus

Calylophus lavandulifolia

Large yellow flowers fade to apricot as they age. Great plains native with excellent heat and drought tolerance. Gray-green, narrow foliage. Plants grow 15-18" high and wide. Plants require full sun and well drained site. Try some paired with a native grass in a large drift. Zone 4
Campanula

Campanula carpatica 'Clips' (bellflower)

Heart-shaped foliage on a compact plant with violet-blue or rose-pink bell-shaped flowers from June to October. Likes moist, well-drained soil, and deadheading will prolong bloom time. Plants grow 8-10" tall and wide. Zone 3
Campanula glomerata 'Joan Eliott'

Violet-blue bell-shaped flowers that are excellent for cutting. This bellflower grows to 18" tall. Zone 4
Campanula glomerata 'Caroline'

Strong uprught stems of shell-pink flowers tinged with darker markings on the petal edges in summer. Easy care plants with long bloom time. Zone 4
Campanula glomerata 'Superba'

Rich violet bell flowers on 20" high plants. Zone 4

Campanula punctata 'Wedding Bells'

Huge white 2" bells in clusters on plants growing to 20" tall over a long bloom period. Very showy, these plants can be divided every few years to increase their presence in your garden or share with friends. Zone 4

Campanula 'Kent Belle'

Glossy purple bells up to 2" across cover this 24" bellflower and continue reblooming all summer. Another must have! Zone 5

Caryopteris

Caryopteris clandonensis 'Grand Blue'

Small shrub is root hardy to zone 4, but usually dies back to the ground in the Vinland Valley Nursery area (hence its listing under perennials). Masses of small blue flowers begin opening in late summer and persist through fall over silvery foliage. Excellent companion to mums, pansies and grasses for fall display. Plants grow up to 3' tall and wide. Zone 5
Caryopteris clandonensis 'Sunshine Blue'

Golden yellow foliage makes a wonderful contrast with other plants, and is topped with blue flowers in late summer through fall. As hardy as 'Longwood Blue' and holds it's bright color well through the heat. Grows 3' high and wide. Zone 5
Caryopteris divaricata 'Snow Fairy'

Green leaves are thickly edged in yellow-cream, and hold their variegation through the hot weather well. Blue flowers emerge in late summer and persist through fall. This plant extends the ornamental usefulness of Caryopteris, but is borderline hardy at zone 6 and could potentially be lost in severe winters.
Centaurea

Centaurea dealbata (perennial bachelor button)

Deeply cut, silvery-green leaves are topped with intricate cones that open up to lavender puffs. Plants bloom in early summer, then sporadically until fall frost. Grows to 24" high and wide. Very pretty foliage! Zone 3
Centaurea macrocephala (yellow bachelor button)

Large yellow blooms on very tall plants that grow to 3-4' make a great show at the back of the border. An unusual perennial in the garden. Zone 3
Centaurea montana (mountain bluet)

Large, glowing blue, spidery blooms all summer and into fall on 18-24" plants. Can self-seed and surprise you from year to year. Zone 3
Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow'

Same great low-maintenance, drought and heat tolerance of C. montana with white petals. Wonderful perennials great for the beginning gardener as well as the collector! Zone 3
Centranthus

Centranthus ruber (red Valerian, Jupiter's beard)

Tiny cherry-red flowers in 2" clusters top the ends of each branch from early summer through fall on plants growing 2-3'. Excellent interplanted with grasses and prairie coneflower for a meadow effect. Zone 5
Centranthus ruber 'Albus' (white Valerian)

Tiny white flowers in 2" clusters top the ends of each branch from early summer through fall on plants growing 2-3'. A wonderful filler perennial to grow through larger flowering perennials. Zone 5
Cerastigma

Cerastigma plumbaginoides (leadwort)

Intense blue flowers in summer are surrounded by glossy green foliage which turns vibrant scarlet in fall. This low groundcover grows vigorously around other perennials and shrubs 6-10" high and has wonderful multi-season ornamental usefulness. Very low maintenance plant. Zone 5
Cerastium

Cerastium tomentosum (snow-in-summer)

Very low-growing groundcover thrives on poor soil and low moisture. Silvery foliage grows 2-3" high and is covered in 1" white flowers in summer. Excellent border or cascading edge, and a wonderful rock garden or green roof plant. Zone 3
Chasmatophyllum

Chasmatophyllum masculinum (hardy tiger's jaws)

Hardy tiger's jaws are an evergreen, ever-bloomer from the moluntains of South Africa. Yellow, daisy-like flowers open in the afternoon. Zone 5
Chelone

Chelone lyonii 'Hot Lips' (turtlehead)

Deep hot pink flowers cover this wetland selection. Glossy, dark green foliage is tinted bronze in spring with red stems. Requires consistently moist location in full sun to part shade. Butterflies are attracted to the blooms. Zone 3
Cimicifuga

Cimicifuga racemosa (cohosh, baneberry, doll's eyes)

Broad leaves are topped with white or ivory flowers in fall. Grows to 5' tall in part to full shade. Requires well-drained but humus-rich woodland soil with regular watering. Attracts butterflies. Zone 4
Clematis

Clematis fremontii (bush clematis)

Pendulous solitary 1" flowers with purple to blue sepals. Choice bush-type clematis grows to 20". Zone 4
Convallaria

Convallaria majalis (lily-of-the-valley)

Thrives in dry shade in poor soil. Excellent heirloom groundcover with dark green foliage spikes topped in spring with small, fragrant, white nodding bells along stems throughout. Zone 2
Coreopsis
Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise' (tickseed)

1989 All-American Gold Medal Winner. Foliage is attractive growing to 18" wide and high, and 1 inch golden yellow double flowers abound beginning in early summer. One of the earliest tickseeds to bloom. Zone 4

Coreopsis lanceolata

This long-lived native sports bright yellow 1 1/2-2 1/2" blooms from June through frost on tall 2-3' tall plants. Zone 5

Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam' (threadleaf tickseed)

Creamy yellow flowers cover this fine, ferny foliaged, compact plant all summer long and into fall. 1992 Perennial Plant of the Year! This 12-16" plant is a must for all gardens. Zone 4
Coreopsis rosea 'Sweet Dreams'

Large bicolor blooms of raspberry surrounded by white and with a center eye of golden yellow on finley cut foliage. Plants grow to 24" tall and around. Zone 5/6
Coreopsis 'Tequila Sunrise' (variegated tickseed)

Olive-green leaves are highly variegated with cream and yellow margins giving this plant extended ornamental interest. Newly emerging foliage is tinged with pink, and fall brings a mahongany flush. Large, golden-yellow flowers have a red eye. Plants grow 16-20" tall with a spread of 12-16". Zone 5/6
Coreopsis 'Autumn Blush'

Similar growth habit to C. verticillata 'Moonbeam', with blooms of peachy-cream with a cranberry eye. Very floriferous cultivar! Likes a well-drained location. Zone 5
Coryphantha

Coryphantha vivipara (pincushion cactus)

2" magenta blooms with yellow anthers open in May and June followed by fleshy purple fruits atop evergreen, ball-shaped cactus that form large clusters in well-drained sites. Fabulous textural contrast. Zone 4
Delosperma

Delospera cooperi (hardy ice plant)

Low-growing succulent green foliage spreads to about 18-24" and is covered sporadically through the growing season with 1 1/2" magenta-pink blooms. Mat grows only 2-3" high and plants cascade over walls. Very drought tolerant, can be used in green roof plantings. Zone 5
Dianthus
Dianthus barbatus 'Midget Mix' (sweet William)

A mix of colors in double flowers on plants growing to 12" tall and wide. Zone 4

Dianthus deltoides 'Zing Rose' (maiden pinks)

Large rose-red blooms cover dark evergreen foliage that turns purplish during winter. Plants grow 6-8" high and spread 12-24" around. Zone 3
Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Firewitch' (cheddar pinks)

Fragrant magenta-pink fringed blooms cover low, silvery evergreen foliage, often reblooming in fall. Plants grow 7-8" tall and spread 12-24" across or more. 2006 Perennial Plant Association of the Year. Zone 3
Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Tiny Rubies' (cheddar pinks)

Double rose pink blooms have a spicy, clove-like scent. Deep green, globe-shaped mounds are evergreen. Excellent underplants for upright perennials and shrubs. Plants are native to Cheddar Gorge, England. Zone 3
Dianthus knappii

Small yellow flowers atop 12" high stems. An easy to grow Dianthus outside of the usual color family. Zone 5
Dianthus plumarius 'Dad's Favorite'

Semi-double fragrant bicolor blooms of maroon and white. Grows 10" x 10". Zone 5
Dianthus 'Bath's Pink'

Silvery-blue, low growing mat of foliage spreads out and cascades over rock edging creating an evergreen groundcover that produces slightly taller stems topped with deep crimson buds that open to pink, fringed single blooms in early summer. Very heat and drought tolerant, these plants will grow in poor soil with little attention. They won't tolerate poorly drained soils, however. A very showy but maintenance free plant that we use a lot. Zone 5
Dicentra

Dicentra eximia (dwarf fringed bleeding heart)

Pink, heart-shaped flowers dangle from a gracefully arching long stem. Foliage is a fern-like texture and is blue green in color. Plants grow to 12" high and wide. Zone 3
Dicentra formosa 'Luxuriant' (fern-leaved bleeding heart)

Cherry-red heart-shaped flowers drip along stems 12-15" tall in late spring and continue longer than other Dicentras. More tolerant of heat and drought, this cultivar with not go dormant in summer given adequate moisture. Zone 3
Dicentra spectabilis (old-fashioned bleeding heart)

Large, bushy clumps of lacy bright green foliage are covered with arching stems lined with pink hearts in late spring. Plants grow 2-3' tall and wide, but usually die back into dormancy in the heat of summer. They work well interplanted among hostas and coral bells, which take their place once the bleeding hearts are finished in arly summer. Zone 3
Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba'

Golden foliage gives this large Dicentra extra ornamental value in the landscape. Grows 2-3' tall. Zone 3
Dicentra spectabilis 'Gold Heart'

Golden foliage gives this large Dicentra extra ornamental value in the landscape. Grows 2-3' tall. Zone 3
Digitalis

Digitalis x mertonensis (perennial foxglove)

A true perennial foxglove with salmon-pink bells clustered along tall spikes in early summer. Spires grow up to 3' high, with a spread of 12-16". Tetraploid. Zone 4
Digitalis thapsi 'Spanish peaks'

12" spikes of raspberry-rose flowers in early summer over a low, furry mat of foliage. This perennial foxglove thrives in a variety of soils and sites, and is an unusual garden perennial. Zone 4
Dodecatheon

Dodecatheon meadia 'Alba' (white shooting star)

Rosettes of foliage are topped in spring with spikes producing several white, pointed, nodding blooms. Truly unique and worth growing, plants grow to about 12". Prefers decent soil and regular watering. Zone 3

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