C

KEY

*                Plants with nectar- and/or pollen-rich flowers for insects.

(S)             Plants of which seed is either currently available or expected in 2008 (@ £2.70/pack)

                 

Click on plant names in green for photos.  All photos are the copyright of Rosemary Castle. 

Prices include first class postage and packing within the UK as at 1 January 2008.

 

CARDAMINE   BITTERCRESSES

 

Cardamine pratensis*.  Cuckooflower or Ladies Smock.   A slender and graceful plant with (typically) lilac flowers in spring, ideal for naturalising in grass in sun or shade wherever the ground does not get too dry. Caterpillar foodplant of the Orange tip and Green Veined White butterflies.  Many clones of the plant are sterile and spread by rooting from the leaves.  I offer the following:

 

Cardamine pratensis ‘Flore Pleno’

A form of cuckooflower with double lilac flowers, slightly darker in bud.  Rosettes of dark green, pinnate leaves.  A pretty plant, but not as valuable for wildlife as the single form.  £4.50  

 

Cardamine pratensis, white-flowered*

An elegant form of cuckooflower with pure white flowers. Rosettes of dark green, pinnate leaves. £4.50  

 

CAREX   SEDGES

 

Carex pendula.  Pendulous Sedge.   Pendulous sedge is one of our most architectural native plants, forming stout tufts of dark evergreen glossy leaves to around a metre high topped by stems of gracefully drooping flower spikes in early summer.  Most common in woods on heavy damp soils, it is very adaptable in the garden in dry or damp soil, particularly in shade.

 

Carex pendula 'Cool Jazz' 

A variegated form of pendulous sedge: the deep green leaves have subtle, shifting cream stripes which show up best from late summer to early spring and are particularly effective in winter. Good in sun or shade, even dry shade.  £5.50.

 

Carex pendula ‘Moonraker’

In this form of pendulous sedge the new leaves in spring are a striking creamy white turning to pale yellow, then green.  Late summer/autumn and winter foliage is the normal green.  Good in dry shade. £5.50

 

CIRSIUM   THISTLES

 

Cirsium palustre 'Love and Hate'* (S) - NEW

Handsome, vicious, yellow-leaved form of marsh thistle coming true from seed.  It makes the most beautiful golden spiny-leaved rosettes in winter and spring.  Purple flowers June/July.  Biennial.  Ordinary to moist soil in sun. True from seed.  Very limited supply. £5.00

 

 

CYMBALARIA   IVY-LEAVED TOADFLAX

 

Cymbalaria muralis 'Pallidior'* (formerly listed as C. muralis white-flowered)

White-flowered form of ivy leaved toadflax (a non-native wildflower commonly growing in walls), the pure white flowers marked orange on the lower lip.  Pale green leaves.  This particular clone was noticed in a wall during a chaotic round of putting in Worthing . Long in flower.  Will sow itself in walls and banks. £4.50