Calamintha CALAMINT Aromatic herb that prefers a warm spot in fertile soil. On erect stems, C. nepeta nepeta has 3/4 in. leaves that are rounded, ovate and toothed. Flowers are tiny but profuse. Lightly brush the foliage of the Calaminthas for their refreshing scent. Very long blooming and relished by bees.

Callicarpa BEAUTYBERRY Prefer rich well drained soils. Prune back in spring to 4 - 6 inches from the ground since flowering occurs on new wood. Callicarpa d. 'Issai' is a choice dwarf form with pinkish-lavender flowers in e. summer and highly ornamental purple berries on arching branches in the fall. Plant where this gem can be admired up close.

Callirhoe involucrata  POPPY MALLOW

Campanula BELLFLOWER Thrive in any moist fertile soil. Very useful in the garden and essential to garden designers because of their blue color. Kinds range in height from stately border plants to rock garden specimens. They prefer cool soil for their roots.

Campsis radicans A native trumpet vine with an aggressive nature.  Leaves are rich green and pinnately compound similar to a White Ash.  Orange to scarlet trumpet shaped flowers form abundantly in summer.  Plants have a fast growth rate and can climb to 40 feet, engulfing everything in its path.  Plants do have a place in the garden and its habit can be controlled with some diligent pruning in spring.

Caryopteris BLUE MIST FLOWER These woody plants will prosper for years in loose soil. Each year they grow up from the base to form mounded shrubs with pleasantly scented leaves, stems and flowers. Long lasting flowers that almost encircle the stems are borne from the axils of the silvery leaves. Plants should be cut back in late winter.

Catananche caerulea CUPID'S DART Narrow 12 in. long silvery green basal leaves are entire or sparsly toothed. Drought resistant, will not tolerate wet feet. 2 in. flower heads form on long slender stems held above the foliage. Short lived, and marginally hardy through severe winters, they benefit from frequent division. Excellent cut flower.

Ceanothus americanus NEW JERSEY TEA Small durable native shrub with luxuriant deep green leaves and flowers in clusters. Plants develop a tremendous taproot. Flowers attract hummingbirds. Dry to medium moisture, sandy to loam soils, well drained.

Centaurea montana MOUNTAIN BLUET Silvery white foliage when young. Solitary blue flower heads are highlighted by bracts with black fringed margins. Repeat bloom is achieved by dead heading to lateral buds. After flowering is finished, cut the spent flowering stalks to the ground for a likely rebloom in late summer. Since only a few flowers open at any one time, use mass plantings for the best floral effect. Prefers poor soil and a high PH. Spreading roots can become invasive in cooler northern gardens.

Centranthus ruber JUPITER'S BEARD Thrives in a well-drained site, with relatively dry, gravelly soil preferring lime, otherwise not particular. Effective in large rock gardens, stone walls, terraces and borders. Leaves are glaucous blue green and smooth. Blooms well and dead-heading will further extend flowering.

Cerastium tomentosum columnae SNOW-IN-SUMMER A relatively fast spreader and makes a good ground cover for small to large areas. Used on sunny banks or between stepping stones. Prefers sandy loam with low moisture and low fertility. Grows admirably in rough conditions. The leaves spread an area with silvery gray, dense mats, and flowers bloom in abundance across the foliage.

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides PLUMBAGO Forms attractive mats with long lasting deep blue flowers. Has bronze to scarlet foliage in the autumn. Ground cover used to edge borders and walks or planted underneath shrubs. Leaves are dark green, smooth and rounded. Adaptable to most soils provided drainage is good.

Chelone TURTLEHEAD Coloring semi-shade gardens in early fall, this plant brings clear pink flowers with hints of deep pink highlights. Attractive dark green and shiny leaves are ovate and coarsely toothed. Loves to perform along side ponds, streams and bog, but can be added to your border where the soil is moist to wet and rich, with good air circulation. Low maintenance given their preferences.

Chrysanthemum superbum, C. maximum SHASTA DAISY: See Leucanthemum

Chrysogonum virginianum GOLDENSTAR Sturdy, soft green foliage bears 1 in. single starry flowers. Even longer blooming where summers are cool, admirable peak bloom occurs in spring here in zone 6. Likes average moisture with moderate fertility and good drainage. If planted in full sun, consistent moisture assures performance. If moisture cannot be steady, light to part shade helps in the heat of summer. Useful for edging. Many respected gardeners hold this an indispensable wildflower.

Cimicifuga BUGBANE The ferny leaves are arranged in sprays of threes, in groups that branch in threes. The foliage sends tall, wiry stems with bottlebrush flowers of white or cream. Grows in a moist, rich, acid soil. Cultivars range in height from 3 - 8 ft.. Three pure white bloomers are: C. racemosa, an early summer bloomer, while C. simplex 'White Pearl' and C. ramosa 'Atropurpurea' are both sought after as autumn bloomers. C. simplex 'White Pearl' flowers on arching stalks, whereas C. racemosa stands erect with reddish stems. The towering C. ramosa 'Atropurpurea' is purplish tinted in both foliage and buds, but flowers open white with a gentle, sweet fragrance. The newer cultivars: Cimicifuga ramosa 'Brunette' and 'Hillside Black Beauty', have very dark purplish foliage that is more pronounced in more light. All are fragrant to varying degrees.

Clematis CLEMATIS Thrive in cool, moist, fertile soil well enriched with leaf mold, peat or compost where it won't be waterlogged. May prefer limy soil but flourish under neutral or slightly acid conditions. Can be grown on trellises, fences and walls or allowed to scramble through loose shrubs and small trees. Keep roots cool and shaded where foliage will thrive in the sun. Can mulch plants or over plant by adding a shallow rooted ground cover.
Pruning Your Clematis

Clethra  SUMMERSWEET  No native plant enthusiast should be caught without a Summersweet in his or her garden.  Clethra alnifolia and the varieties associated with this species offer gardeners an array of ornamental features from pure white to dark pink flowers, to delightful sweet fragrances at bloom time, and a variety of heights to suit your gardening needs.  Generally, they prefer full sun conditions with ample soil moisture.  They are adaptable and I have seen them growing out of rock faces in part shade conditions here in the Hudson River valley, New York.

Convallaria majalis LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY Tolerant of most soil conditions; however, will benefit from periodic additions of organic matter. Fragrant flowers. Good ground cover under shade trees needing room to spread. Will over run other plants if used in a mixed perennial garden. Use instead as an under planting in association with shade loving woody plants and shrubs.

Coreopsis TICKSEED Tolerant of various soils with good drainage. Relatively drought tolerant, they are easy to grow. When dead-heading the grandiflora kinds, cut spent flowers and flower stalks to improve appearance. All are long blooming. C. rosea likes steady moisture. C. rosea and C. verticillata have thread-leafed green foliage. C. grandiflora 'Sunray' displays a wider green leaf that is lobed near the top and undivided near its bottom end. The much-in-demand C. verticilata 'Moonbeam', a PPA plant of the year, is simply one of the finest and longest blooming perennials, with pale yellow flowers on wiry herbaceous bushes. Plants can be cut or sheared back by 1/4 to 1/3 or more in midsummer to promote more bloom (massive dead-heading in effect). Coreopsis 'Sweet Dreams' has white flower petals with a raspberry base. Coreopsis 'Limerock Ruby' (not hardy in zone 6) has ruby red flowers. Both are new introductions with 1 1/2 inch flowers, a long bloom season, and represent a significant color break for Coreopsis. Both should be pinched or trimmed back to promote a more compact habit.

Cornus sericea 'Silver & Gold' VARIEGATED GOLDSTEM DOGWOOD Variegated cornus is an old standard in botanical gardens and now this cultivar has caught their eye. Loose habit and wider than it is high, it grows gracefully rounded, multistemmed with nearly horizontal branches at the base. Does well in the full sun in hot summers and is vigorous. Can be shaped or controlled easily in height or width by simple pruning without affecting its beauty, or can be left to grow its own way. Stems are golden yellow and the brilliant leaves are light green with wide creamy white margins. Useful as a backdrop or for architectural framework and is also excellent for massing large areas. Holds soil well on slopes where its golden stems are even more striking in winter scenes.

Corydalis lutea YELLOW BLEEDING HEART is best when grown in a moist, slightly alkaline soil. The foliage is lacy and delicate, yet forms in clumps with tiny cool green leaves that scatter densely about. Blooms throughout the season, but profusely in spring, with another surge when temperatures cool off later in the season. Self sows freely.

Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’  CROCOSMIA With scarlet red flowers flaming above iridaceae like foliage, Crocosmia’s beckon hummingbirds to the garden.  Plants can be short lived north of zone 6 and hardiness is relative to plant and corm size.  In the northeast they are well worth their short stay, adding a sharp architectural form to the full sun perennial border.