For keen gardeners you may want to learn about all the varieties of plants that you can see and possibly grow. When it comes to plants that begin with the letter C, there is a lot to choose from. From flowers to vegetables and even trees.
In this article we will be discovering 15 of the wide range of plants that start with the letter C.
Cabbage (Brassica Oleracea)
Cabbage is a type of leafy vegetable plant that is grown for its packed heads. There are many varieties of cabbages that you can grow, all which look a little different from one another.
However their general appearance is a round head with smooth flat leaves with very defined veins. As there are a range of varieties this can affect the colour of the cabbages as well, they can come in green, purple or white.
Growing cabbages is quite common. They are associated with cauliflowers and broccolis, as they all look quite similar. This type of plant grows quite quickly and can be harvested after two months of seeding. You can plant these either in the spring or for better results in the late summer/early fall.
Cactus (Cactaceae)
There are thousands of species of cacti. A lot of people love to grow cacti plants as houseplants; the two most popular species to grow are forest and desert cacti. What people love about these types of plants is that they don’t require much maintenance and thrive really well inside.
Indoor varieties of cacti are quite small, but there are some larger varieties as well. They grow very slowly and can produce very beautiful blooms.
Caladium (Caladium)
Known as the elephant ears plant, due to their large, thin, arrow shaped leaves. The foliage can come in a range of colors and patterns, depending on the species of the plant.
These plants tend to have green and white leaves, with splashes of red/pink. Caladium is mainly planted for its leaves, yet they do produce some blooms which start off as spikes.
It is best to plant caladium, once the frosts have stopped, thus sometime in the late spring. These may look like very attractive plants, yet they are toxic towards humans and animals.
Calathea White Fusion (Calathea Lietzei)
Calathea is a very popular choice as a houseplant. This is due to the bold foliage that it produces. This type of plant is commonly referred to as a zebra or peacock plant, because of their leaves.
The top side of the leaves are green with striking white markings. Yet the underside of the leaves are a pink/purple color that also runs down the stems.
This type of plant takes a little more maintenance and care to keep them alive.
Calendula (Calendula Officinalis)
Calendula is an annual plant that is grown in containers and garden beds. They are sometimes referred to as the pot marigold, as it is part of the same family. These flowers have a daisy-like appearance, in their size and petal shape.
Except, they have a rich golden color. Calendula are commonly planted after the last frost, during the spring. They grow quite quickly, as you will begin to see flowers after 6 to 8 weeks after seeding.
Calibrachoa (Calibrachoa)
Calibrachoa is also commonly called million bells. It is a very popular type of plant to grow outside in containers. These flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies, and grow very quickly. Like other flowers, calibrachoa can come in a variety of colors.
The colors are very bold and they can be stripped patterns as well. The blooms themselves are quite small, and their leaves are an oval shape and can be sticky. Best grown in the spring and will continue to grow throughout the season.
Callery Pear Tree (Prunus Calleryana)
This plant was named after Joseph Marie Callery, who sent the first specimens from China to Europe in the 1800s. This plant was then later introduced to America in the 1960s and became a very desirable tree.
This plant is very fast growing and produces small fruits in the fall. Their leaves begin as green and then change colour during the fall to gold, orange, pink and red. This is a very sturdy tree that is resistant to diseases.
In the spring the blooms that are produced are known to give a faint and unpleasant odour. Yet the blossoms that are produced are very attractive to look at.
Camperdown Elm Tree (Ulmus Glabra Camperdownii)
This is a small type of tree that is seen in small yards or anywhere with limited space. The appearance of this tree is like an umbrella. It has long twisting branches and leaves that grow from the centre of the plant and grow down.
This gives its umbrella-like appearance. Originally developed in Scotland, this tree is popular in America, thus sometimes being referred to as the Scottish Elm. Often planted as a memorial, or in landscaped gardens.
Canada Wild Rye (Elymus Canadensis)
Canada Wild Rye is a type of fast growing and clump forming grass. This plant is used as livestock forage or in garden landscapes. This type of plant has a curved stem which can flower. Their leaves are often a blue/green color which changes during the fall.
In the fall, the green flowers look much more like traditional wheat and with their leaves they all turn a light shade of yellow. Canada wild rye is a very low maintenance plant to grow and has self sowing properties. This is why this plant is a very common sight in wild meadows.
Cantaloupe (Cucumis Melo Var. Cantalupensis)
Cantaloupes are part of the melon family. In recent years growing cantaloupes has grown in popularity due to the health benefits that they provide. Cantaloupes have a beige netted pattern that appears on the melons green skins.
Inside the fruit is orange and has a very sweet flavor. These plants love the heat, so depending on the climate that you live in, they can thrive from early spring to fall. These plants will produce fruit after three months from planting.
Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum Morifolium)
Chrysanthemum plants are seen during the fall. They add color and fill up space where your summer plants have died down. These plants provide very warm yet bold fall colors to your garden.
Normally they are sold when they are already fully bloomed, which means they won’t last as long in your garden. Plant chrysanthemums in the spring, which gives them plenty of time to root and then they will regrow back and bloom for multiple years.
Columbine (Aquilegia Spp)
Columbine is the perfect spring plant, which grows during mid spring. They are very common with bees and hummingbirds. This plant looks like an eagle’s claw, with the blooms that are held high above the foliage.
It also has very small and rounded leaves. These look like very delicate flowers that can be found in a range of colors. Yet some popular color choices are blues, pinks and purples. This plant is known to cross breed and also self seed.
Coral Bells (Heuchera)
This type of plant is native to North America. These flowers produce a lot of nectar, which attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. This plant forms around woody mounds, with small bell shaped flowers that will appear in the spring/early summer.
They have tall stems and rounded, hairy green leaves. It is best to plant this type of plant in the late fall/early spring and it will grow at a moderate pace. Coral Bells are ideal for rock gardens, woodlands, containers and borders.
Due to new varieties, traditional coral bells will have green leaves, while new varieties have gold, lime, rose and purple leaves,
Corkscrew Willow Tree (Salix Babylonica Var. Pekinensis ‘Tortuosa’)
A corkscrew willow tree is typically 30 feet tall, yet some can reach up to 40 feet tall with twisted branches. The bark on this tree is a grey/brown bark which starts off as quite smooth when it is young. Once it has matured the bark is much rougher in texture.
Twigs start off an olive green and end up the same grey/brown color when mature. Like the twigs, the leaves on this tree are also twisted. The leaves are oval swapped and even separately. The leaves are green on the top and an off white color underneath.
In the spring, pale yellow/green flowers form, which are also known as catkins. As the blooms matures, the fruit will form and will be an inch long.
Creeping Juniper (Juniperus Horizontalis)
Creeping Juniper is a popular shrub choice, and is seen on rocky slopes where other plants struggle to survive. This plant is drought tolerant, thus it is regularly used in dry regions. The foliage on this plant is very pleasing. During the spring and summer, the foliage gains a blue-green hue, which makes it very attractive to look at.
Creeping juniper is a great alternative ground cover to areas that don’t receive much footfall.
Summary
In this article we have given you 15 plants that start with the letter C. Yet there are still lots of other plants left to choose from that begin with the letter C. You have plenty of choice, and hopefully this article has given you an insight into some of the plants that you can find that begin with the letter C.
Plants have always been a big interest of mine, and I’ve always wanted to learn more about the different types of species. I have gained a vast knowledge of the subject over the years, and I have decided to share this information with others.
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