Cornus sanguinea

Cornus sanguinea

The Common Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea, syn. Swida sanguinea) is a species of dogwoodEurope and western Asia, occurring north to southern England and southern Scandinavia, and east to the Caspian Sea. native to most of

It is a medium to large deciduous shrub, growing 2-6 m tall, with dark greenish-brown branches and twigs. The leaves are opposite, 4-8 cm long and 2-4 cm broad, with an ovate to oblong shape and an entire margin; they are green above, slightly paler below, and rough with short stiff pubescence. The hermaphrodite flowers are small (5-10 mm diameter), with four creamy white petals, produced in clusters 3-5 cm diameter, and are insect pollinated. The fruit is a globose black berry 5-8 mm diameter, containing a single seed. These berries are called dogberries.

For more information on Common Dogwood, and Dogwoods in general see article Dogwood.

Kingdom	Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision	Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division	Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass	Rosidae
Order	Cornales
Family	Cornaceae – Dogwood family
Genus	Cornus L. – dogwood
Species	Cornus sanguinea L. – bloodtwig dogwood
Subspecies	Cornus sanguinea L. ssp. australis (C.A. Mey.) Jáv.

Consolida orientalis

Consolida orientalis

Consolida is a genus of about 40 species of annual flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native from western Europe through the Mediterranean region east to central Asia. The common name, shared with the closely related genus Delphinium, is Larkspur.

Consolida differs from Delphinium in the flower structure, with the flowers in an open, loose, often branched spike, rather than the dense column of flowers found in Delphinium, and in the fruit, which comprises a single follicle, instead of a cluster of several together. Also unlike most Delphinium species, all Consolida species are annual.

Western variants of the plant are poisonous to cattle, and cattle ranchers are very careful to avoid grazing their cattle near the plant. A common cowboy adage to that effect is that " if you rode the range all day, and were tired of ridin', eat a fistful of larkspur, and you won't be tired anymore."

Kingdom	Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision	Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division	Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass	Magnoliidae
Order	Ranunculales
Family	Ranunculaceae – Buttercup family
Genus	Consolida Gray – knight's-spur
Species	Consolida orientalis (J. Gay) Schroedinger – Oriental knight's-spur

Colchicum

Colchium variegatum

Colchicum is a genus of flowering plants containing around sixty species of perennial plantscorms. It is a member of family Colchicaceae, and is native to West Asia and part of the Mediterranean coast. which grow from corms. It is a member of family Colchicaceae, and is native to West Asia and part of the Mediterranean coast.

Colchicum speciosum

Colchicum autumnale, commonly called "autumn crocus" or "naked ladies", is the best known species. It produces purple, pink or white flowers resembling those of the crocus which appear from September to October in its native latitudes. It forms a rosette of dark green leaves, but only after flowering.

Several other species, such as C. speciosum, C. album, C. corsicum and C. agrippinum, are grown for their flowers.

Colchicum psaridis

Its leaves, corm and seeds are poisonous, containing the alkaloid colchicine. Its roots and seeds have long been considered to have valuable medicinal properties deriving from the use of small doses of this drug, such as to treat gout.

Colchicum balansae

In this genus the ovary of the flower is underground. As a consequence, the styles are extremely long in proportion, often more than 10cm.

In the UK, the National Collection of Cochicums is maintained at Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk.

Kingdom	Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision	Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division	Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class	Liliopsida – Monocotyledons
Subclass	Liliidae
Order	Liliales
Family	Liliaceae – Lily family
Genus	Colchicum L. – colchicum

Clerodendron bungei

Clerodendron bungei

Étymologie : Clerodendrum vient du grec kleros qui signifie "chance" ou "destin" et dendron, "arbre". C'est donc l'"arbre de la chance". Alexander Andrejewitch von Bunge fut un botaniste russe (Kiev 1803 - 1890) qui enseignât en Estonie à l'université de Dorpat. Il étudiât la flore dans le désert de Gobi en Mongolie et en Sibérie occidentale.
Origine : Chine.
Habitat : le Clérodendron de Bunge apprécie une exposition au soleil, mais supporte la mi-ombre, surtout aux heures chaudes de la journée. On évitera les courants d'air froids en hiver.
Il se plaît dans un sol léger, humifère, frais.
Rusticité : zone 7 (il supporte le froid jusqu'à -17°). Les rameaux ne supportent pas le froid en dessous de - 8° C. En cas de gel, la plante repartira du pied.
Croissance : rapide.
Taille maximale : 1 à 2 m.
Port : houppier érigé.
Feuillage caduc. Feuilles simples, opposées, de 20 cm de long, cordiformes, à nervures marquées, grossièrement dentées, vert foncé sur le dessus. Elles dégagent une odeur nauséabonde (qui rappelle celle de l'urine....) lorsqu'on les froisse. D'où son ancien nom : Clerodendron foetidum ou Clérodendron fétide.
Fleurs en juillet-août, groupées en corymbes terminaux, denses, de couleur rose-lilas. Les fleurs sont tubulaires, et possèdent 4 pétales. Elles sont très odorantes.
Fruits : baies sphériques et d'un bleu très foncé, en automne.
Utilisation : en massif isolé, pour décorer un jardin, une allée.

Conseils de plantation : le Clérodendron de Bunge rejette fortement de la souche au printemps. Veillez à le planter isolé et à nettoyer les abords.
Multiplication : le clérondendron de Bunge peut être multiplié par semis, boutures, rejets ou greffage. Les boutures herbacées se pratiquent en juillet, les boutures de racines en octobre, la division des drageons au printemps.

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Verbenaceae
Genus:	Clerodendrum

Clematis viticella

Clematis viticella

This collection of summer flowering clematis (which have as part of their parentage Clematis viticella) are spread around the garden growing up a variety of other plants, as well as on trellises with other climbers. 3 of each plant are maintained as part of the collection but in some cases one or more of these may be in a pot in order we can display them at shows and exhibitions, so yes they are fine in pots! There are currently 46 cultivars 1 species and 1 sub species forming the collection. The time of flowering can vary by two or three weeks according to season, but generally starts in May with Clematis 'Etoile Violette' seen here on the right. With more plants joining in through June and July, and with the latest flowerers starting by August. Most Clematis viticella cultivars will flower for around 3 months with some like 'Purple Haze' and 'Polish Spirit' nearer 4 months. Most years at least 6 different cultivars will still be flowering in October.
	Of the cultivars, most date from the mid 1800's to early 1900's but there has of late been a resurrgence of interest and some some are quite recently raised. Clematis 'Venosa Violacea' (left) dates from 1883, here growing through an excellent, scented, evergreen honeysuckle, Lonicera similis delavayi. While 'Etoile Violet' above is dated1885 colonises a Catalpa tree.
Seen on the right is single denim blue 'Vanessa' it is an excellent late performer and dates from the 1990's while the double flowered Clematis 'Mary Rose' is thought to be Clematis viticella Flora Plena and is the oldest known cultivar still in cultivation, being first mentioned in the 1500's Both plants seen here scrambling through the black stemmed bamboo Phyllostachys niger. Below the fruit cage provides a home for several different cultivars blue flowered 'Emilia Plater' came from Poland in 1988. The nodding flowers of 'Etoile Rose and 'Alba-Luxurians' in the background both date to the early 1900's
	None of the plants in the collection are difficult to grow all will do well dispite poor growing conditions. We find the ability to cut these plants back to the ground during winter one of the most usefull features. If you want to find out more we are always happy to help with any aspects of cultivation.

Kingdom	Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision	Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division	Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass	Magnoliidae
Order	Ranunculales
Family	Ranunculaceae – Buttercup family
Genus	Clematis L. – leather flower
Species	Clematis viticella L. – Italian leather flower

Cistus creticus

Cistus salviifolius L.

Cistus is a genus of flowering plants in the rockrose family Cistaceae, containing about 20 species (Ellul et al. 2002). They are perennial shrubs found on dry or rocky soils throughout the Mediterranean region, from Morocco and Portugal through to the Middle East, and also on the Canary Islands. The leaves are evergreen, opposite, simple, usually slightly rough-surfaced, 2-8 cm long; in a few species (notably C. ladanifer), the leaves are coated with a highly aromatic resin called labdanum. They have showy 5-petaled flowers ranging from white to purple and dark pink, in a few species with a conspicuous dark red spot at the base of each petal., and together with its many hybrids and cultivars is commonly encountered as a garden flower.

The common name rockrose is applied to the species, a name also shared by the related genera Halimium, Helianthemum and Tuberaria, all in the family Cistaceae.

Cistus creticus

Ecology

They are thermophilous plants, which require open, sunny places. As with many other Cistaceae, the species of Cistus have the ability to form mycorrhizal associations with truffles (Tuber) and are thus able to thrive on poor sandy soils or rocks.

Cistus are the only host of Cytinus hypocistis, a small parasitic plant that lives on the roots and is noticeable only for a short period of time when in flower. The presence of the parasite does not seem to hurt the host population.

Cistus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Coleophora confluella and Coleophora helianthemella, the latter recorded on Cistus monspeliensis.

Medical Use

Several research groups have a special extract of the rockrose (C. incanus ssp. Tauricus) can show that the propagation of the virus flu viruses (influenza) significantly inhibits in vitro without resistance. Possibly, this research to a new treatment for the flu virus, including bird flu. ^{[1] [2]} The effectiveness in humans, however, with scientific studies have not yet been established.

Kingdom	Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision	Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division	Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass	Dilleniidae
Order	Violales
Family	Cistaceae – Rock-rose family
Genus	Cistus L. – rockrose
Species	Cistus salviifolius L. – salvia cistus

Chiondoxa forbesii

There is some taxonomic confusion over Glory-of-the-Snow's scientific name. It was formerly called Chionodoxa luciliae after Lucille Bossier, the wife of a Swiss botanist, but it is now called C. forbesii, of which there are three varieties on the market: 1) the wild normal form that is blue with a white to yellowish heart; 2)C. forbesii var. alba or 'Alba' which is a natural white form, & 3) a cultivar with pink flowers, C. forbesii 'Pink Giant.' These are all now reassigned as the species C. forbesii, though catalogs & packagers persist in using both names interchangeably.

One of the even older banished names C. gigantea still turns up on nursery labels or in bulb catalogs. To further confuse matters, there is is a gentian blue variety sometimes listed as entirely the wrong species; these are actually C. sardensis.

Glory-of-the-Snow is so-named because in some climates it blooms early enough that it pokes its little bright blue six-petalled flowers right out of the snow. We have the normal blue variety shown in first two March photos, for 2003 & 2004 respectively. The little patch of the blue grows at the foot of an akebia arbor.

More than two-dozen additional bulbs were added mid-autumn 2003 right in the lawn-turf on the morning-sun side in front of the chokecherry tree, as chionodoxa similar to crocuses can naturalize in grass. This patch buds out in March but is not in full flower until April. These are shown in the third photo. The second patch has done hugely better because it gets more sun.

The other variety that we have is 'Pink Giant,' a recipient of the "Outstanding Plant Award" by the Royal General Bulbgrower's Association in Holland. This small drift is at the foot of a Redtwig Dogwood. That patch has been rather floppy & unappealing for two bloom-seasons, because the area is much too shady for it. If they're ever to do well, I will have to lift the bulbs to place them in better sun.

Chiodonodoxa is closely related to, & formerly categorized as a Scilla. Like Scilla, it is supposed to do in partial shade to partial sun or full sun, & can take soils either dry or moist. But the two patches we placed where they get only a little afternoon sun, though blooming fine, are so weak-stemmed & floppy-leafed with tepid flowering, they might actually qualify as ugly. Only the morning-sun patch of blues is beautiful. So on Puget Sound at least, they need more sun. Inland or further south, the generality that they also do well in partial shade might be truer than it is here.

It can sometimes spread aggressively, & certainly naturalizes well, especially if it is not deadheaded but is permitted to go to seed. It will even do well under walnut trees, being unaffected by walnuts' growth-retarding juglone such as often causes the area under a walnut to be void of plantlife.

These natives of western Turkey were first described in 1877. They are suitable for zones 3-8. Here in Zone 8 they begin blooming mid-March, having first produced two or three slender basal leaves per bulb, with a single flower stalk no taller than about six or eight inches.

Some people treat them like crocuses & plant them in a lawn, wherever there will be no feet tramping. If the mower's blade is set just a bit high, chionodoxa leaves are small enough that they can be missed when it is time to mow the lawn, by which time the Chionodox will be done blooming. Obviously, as with crocuses, they will do better if not competing with sod, but it's a nice planting option to consider.

The bulbs are planted three inches apart, two to four inches deep, in autumn. I remember we got our first bulbs in winter rather than autumn, as they had gone on sale for next to nothing, & we hand-selected each bulb so as to avoid those which had gotten soft or moldy. They seemed to do fine despite not getting into the ground until January, though I would not recommend them so late unless you too see them offered for practically nothing. The later ones we added were also on sale but we got them in the ground early in November which is never a problem.

The natural Blue is on average in fuller bloom a week earlier than the Pink cultivar. I like the Blue best, as it has a glassy transluscence. The Pink is really more of a rose-violet, with white center, & despite being called Pink Giant the flower is a little smaller than the blue.

Not only do they naturalize with great ease, but a single mature corm can produce as many as ten flowers. The strappy leaves form untidy rosettes that die into dormancy come summer.

Kingdom	Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision	Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division	Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class	Liliopsida – Monocotyledons
Subclass	Liliidae
Order	Liliales
Family	Liliaceae – Lily family
Genus	Chionodoxa Boiss. – chionodoxa
Species	Chionodoxa forbesii Baker – glory-of-the-snow