perennial plants
Perennial plants are herbaceous plants which die back to the ground during winter and grow back in spring. Some can be left undisturbed for years while others need to be divided every few years to maintain their vigour. You can find a perennial plant for any situation, whether it's a stone wall or a shady corner. Some are grown for their flower displays, others for their beautiful foliage. Evergreen perennials and half-shrubs are included in this category.
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Calceolaria - Slipper flower
The genus Calceolaria belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family. They are low growing plants with a basal rosette of leaves and pouch formed flowers. Most species are native to S-America.
Caltha
Caltha is a genus in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. They grow in moist soil along streams and ponds in cold temperate regions of both northern and southern hemispheres. One species (*) is native to Iceland.
Campanula - Bellflowers
Campanula is the largest genus in the bellflower family, Campanulaceae, with over 500 species spread across the northern hemisphere, most around the Mediterranean across to the Caucasus. The species are very diverse from prostrate high alpines, to tall meadow and woodland plants. Two species, Campanula rotundifolia and Campanula uniflora are native to Iceland (*).
Catananche
Catananche is a small genus of five species in the aster family, Asteraceae, native to dry meadows of the mediterranean region.
Catananche
Catananche is a small genus of five species in the aster family, Asteraceae, native to dry meadows of the mediterranean region.
Centaurea
Centaurea, is a large genus of about 350 - 600 species in the Asteraceae family. The genus is only found in the norther hemisphere, mostly in the Middle East. The main characteristic of the genus is that the composite flower heads are composed of small, fertile disc flowers, surrounded by infertile, colorful bracts.
Cerastium - Mouse ears
Cerastium is a genus of around 100 species in the Caryophyllaceae family, with a global distribution, although most species are native to temperate regions in the northern hemisphere. They grow best in full sun in dry, poor soils.
Chelidonium - Celandine
Chelidonium is a genus with only one species belonging to the poppy family, Papaveraceae. It grows in meadows in Europe and W-Asia and as an introduced species in N-America.
Cicerbita - Blue sow thistles
Cicerbita, is a genus of around 20 species in the aster family, Asteraceae. Many are woodland plants native to Europe and Asia.
Convallaria - Lily of the valley
Lily of the valley is the only species of the genus Convallaria, formerly in the lily family, but currently in the asparagus family, Asparagaceae. It is a woodland plant, native to beech woods in Europe and Asia.
Cortusa
Cortusa is a small genus in the primrose family, Primulaceae, that bears a resemblance to primroses. Most species are spring flowering alpines native to mountains in S- and E-Europe, including the Alps and Carpathians, but a few species are native to China.
Corydalis
Corydalis, is a large genus in the poppy family, Papaveraceae, with over 300 species, the majority native to the Himalayas and China. Many are woodland plants which thrive in moist soil and semi-shade.
Corydalis
Corydalis, is a large genus in the poppy family, Papaveraceae, with over 300 species, the majority native to the Himalayas and China. Many are woodland plants which thrive in moist soil and semi-shade.
Corydalis
Corydalis, is a large genus in the poppy family, Papaveraceae, with over 300 species, the majority native to the Himalayas and China. Many are woodland plants which thrive in moist soil and semi-shade.
Catananche
Catananche is a small genus of five species in the aster family, Asteraceae, native to dry meadows of the mediterranean region.
Cymbalaria
Cymbalaria is a genus in the Plantaginaceae family, closely related to the genus Linaria. They are prostrate plants native to W-Europe and the Mediterranean region.