Calamagrostis brachytricha ' Korean Feather Grass'A great grass for the container or border. Dense clumps of foliage erupt skywards and turn varying shades of yellow and orange in autumn. Flowers are produced in late summer, feathery plumes of pale purple to silver; lasting right through the winter. 1m (39”).
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'A fitting tribute to Karl Foerster, a nurseryman and pioneer of post war landscaping schemes. A perennial clump-forming grass with upright green foliage, producing erect panicles of pinkishbrown flowers in midsummer. These age to a lovely golden hue. A very hardy grass, tolerant of shade and drought which makes it an ideal candidate for a container, otherwise use it to good effect in a relaxed planting scheme. 1.8m (6ft).
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Overdam'Forms a most pleasing mound with its green and white variegated foliage, followed by the purplish-pink inflorescences appearing in summer. 120cm (4ft).
Calamintha nepeta subsp. nepetaReward yourself and the local bees, with the elegant pale lilac-mauve flowers of this plant. Grown in light soil in a sunny spot this aromatic herbaceous perennial will flower throughout the summer and well into autumn. 45cm (18”).
Caltha palustris Marsh Marigold AGM.Needing little introduction, the Marsh Marigold or Kingcup has spring-borne, golden-yellow flowers and rounded green leaves; a plant for moist or wet conditions. 30-60cm (1-2ft).
Campanula glomerataStout stems bear clusters of dark purple-blue bell-shaped flowers. A tough, reliable and vigorous perennial, thriving on calcareous soils. Up to 60cm (2ft) high in flower.
Campanula glomerata 'Caroline'This useful border perennial produces massed clusters of pink, tubular flowers along the stem which are set off by the strong green foliage. Cut back after flowering to encourage a second flush. At 45cm (18”) in height it makes it an ideal plant for the front of a bed in a sunny, moist but welldrained position.
Campanula lactiflora 'Loddon Anna' AGM.A well known variety and one of the tallest of the ‘lactifloras’ reaching 120cm (4ft) or more in good soil. Great stands of stems are laden with much branched heads of soft lilac-pink, fivepetalled blooms in summer. A reliable performer for a good rich soil in sun or partial shade.
Campanula lactiflora 'Prichards Variety' AGM.Another excellent garden variety, with the most intense dark violet-blue flowers held on strong stems. At 90-120cm (3-4ft), a plant for the middle or back of the border.
Campanula latifolia var. albaA handsome and vigorous perennial with an upright habit, serrated foliage and stems with well spaced racemes of pure white, cylindrical flowers which are good for cutting. Tolerates a heavy soil and happiest in shade or partial shade. 90-120cm (3-4ft).
Campanula persicifolia 'Blue Bloomers'Open-faced, large, powder-blue flowers in June-July on 60-90cm (2-3ft) high stems. Best in a good loamy soil in dappled shade. Makes a good cut flower.
Carex 'Ice Dance'This sedge has good creamy-white variegated leaves. Evergreen. Forms good strong clumps in sun or shade, 30-45cm (12-18”) high.
Carex dipsaceaFrom New Zealand, the home of many exciting sedges; this species has bronzed, olive-green foliage, produced in dense clumps between 30-75cm (12-30”) high. Flower spikes of creamybrown fading to a dark chocolate-brown are borne freely. Grows in most places, but excels in moist soils.
Carex elata 'Aurea' Bowles Golden Sedge AGM.A first rate sedge that will light up the garden in spring and summer; its bright acid-green growth made up of yellow leaves bordered with narrow green margins. Ideally suited to life by the side of a pond or in a damp border, in sun or partial shade. Tolerates periodic flooding. 60cm (24”).
Carex riparia 'Variegata' Variegated Greater Pond SedgeA real stunner, with almost totally white foliage; intermittently margined with green, against which are held black flowering spikes. A lover of moist conditions and once settled in it spreads quite vigorously. 60cm (2ft).
Centaurea montana 'Carnea'This perennial cornflower has delightful pale sugar-pink flowers – large and open-faced. Growing 45cm (18”) high. Cut back after flowering to encourage fresh foliage.
Centranthus ruber 'Albus'An excellent pure white form of Valerian. Bearing large heads of small flowers that start in spring and only really finish with the first frosts. This long lasting perennial holds it fleshy, greygreen leaves throughout the year, forming compact bushes up to 75cm (30”) tall. It requires a welldrained soil.
Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens'Although it is an annual I feel this plant is worthy of inclusion. Unique, nodding flowers with surrounding bracts of metallic purple-blue. Flowers all summer in a sunny well drained site. Collect some seed. I find it self seeds freely in my gravel garden. 30-45cm (12-18”) high.
Chaerophyllum hirsutum 'Roseum'This Cow Parsley relative produces appealing umbels of pink that appear to hover over the neat mats of heavily dissected foliage. An easy plant, happy in sun or shade. 60cm (24”).
Chamaemelum nobile 'Flore Pleno'A double flowered form of Chamomile, with double buttons of creamy-white flowers held above the aromatic deeply divided foliage. 25-30cm (10-12”).
Chamerion angustifolium 'Album' (Epilobium angustifolium var. album)If you leave your prejudices at the garden gate, this white form of Rosebay Willow Herb makes a spectacular plant. With its neat row upon row of mid-green, lanceolate leaves topped by glorious spires of pure white, open saucer-shaped blooms in mid-summer. Vigorous creeping rootstock. 150cm (5ft).
Chrysoplenium davidianumAn attractive and useful member of the saxifrage family. Forms ground cover in good, moist or even wet shade. Small yellow flowers, surrounded by sulphur-yellow bracts provide a long-lasting effect.
Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum'A popular perennial ornamental thistle, it forms slowly spreading clumps of foliage out of which during summer arise tall, branched flower stems holding many flowers; each flower is wrapped in a deep purplish-black bract topped by a good tuft of raspberry-wine red petals. 120cm (4ft).
Convallaria majalis 'Albostriata'A pretty form of the Lily of the Valley; with strikingly marked leaves of creamy-yellow and deep green; accompanied by pure white flowers in spring. Just as hardy as the common species and requiring similar conditions. 20cm (8”).
Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb' AGM.A dense erect bush made up of mid green, finely dissected foliage covered for most of the summer and into autumn by numerous cheery, bright yellow ‘daisy’ flowers. A reliable performer reaching 60cm (2ft).
Corydalis cashmerianaA stunning species with the most intense sky-blue flowers that appear in early summer, set against sap-green, finely dissected foliage. The height is 15-20cm (6-8”). Originating from the Himalayas at altitudes of 3000m and above it requires a rich acidic soil, cool conditions and preferably good light - although it dislikes full sun and dry soils. If you can satisfy all those conditions then you are in for a treat.
Corydalis elataIn spring this plant produces good robust clumps of bright green foliage, providing a good backdrop for the masses of tubular indigo-blue flowers, which are coconut-scented and produced in early summer. 45cm (18”).
Corydalis flexuosa 'China Blue'During spring and early summer this charming woodlander is adorned with delicately fragrant, pale frosted-blue flowers, appearing alongside sturdy vivid green finely dissected foliage. 30cm (12”).
Corydalis malkensis AGM.Delightful spikes of creamy-white flowers, in early spring. Prefers a cool moist position in dappled shade. 15cm (6”).
Corydalis solidaThis spring flowering tuberous perennial bears spikes of purplish flowers just 10-20cm (4-8”) high. We also have a red flowered form. Summer dormant.
Corydalis solida subsp. solida 'Beth Evans'Dainty spikes of pink flowers in early spring.
Cosmos atrosanguineus Chocolate CosmosAfter emerging in May from its winter rest, this plant produces a long display of the most opulent velvety, deep burgundy flowers. Each flower is shaped like a small dahlia and emits a rich chocolate scent – especially on warm days. To maintain this extravagance it needs full sun and a good mulch during winter to protect the roots, or do as we do and grow in big pots and lift inside for winter. 60cm (2ft).
Cotula hispidaFor raised bed or rockery this neat little plant has fine silver foliage. Yellow button flowers on slender stalks in late summer. 10cm (4”) high.
Crocosmia 'Lucifer' AGM.Needing little introduction, this first rate border plant makes spectacular fiery stands of upright bright green leaves followed by tall, much branched, spikes of tomato-red flowers. Flowering in June-July makes it one of the earliest flowering crocosmias. 120cm (4ft).
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 'Queen Alexandra'A cheery variety with bright orange flowers; paler orange internally with maroon blotching on the throat. The flowers produced in late summer are particularly good as a cut flower. 90cm (3ft).
Cyclamen coumHardy bulbous perennial. Masses of flowers are produced in late winter and early spring. Best in a semi-shaded site, where plants will thrive and increase in size for many years. 6" high.
Cynara cardunculus AGM.There can be few more impressive hardy herbaceous plants than the great Cardoon. Equally handsome in flower or leaf. Grown as a back of the border or dot plant, the silvery-grey foliage erupts into life in spring, quickly reaching 2m (6’ 6”). During the summer even taller flower stems are sent up, each topped with a multitude of mauve, thistle-like flowers. The winter skeleton lasts well into the next year, the seed heads providing food for finches. Best grown in a deep, welldrained soil in full sun.
Cyperus fuscus Brown GalingaleA British native sedge, rare in the wild; with charming pompom inflorescences held on short stems, looking either like a firework display or like a group of quaint hedgehogs! Good for pool margins, seeding itself freely into the muddy edges. 45cm (18”).
Cyperus longus Sweet GalingaleAnother very hardy native perennial. Dense grass-like foliage and upright stems holding branched inflorescences of dark chestnut-brown, surrounded by several long green bracts. The aromatic roots of this species are widely used in the perfume industry. It prefers a moist soil perhaps standing at the edge of a pool. 120cm (4ft)
