Family List Of C Plant Specimens Continued

Ceiba - Silk Cotton Tree - There are only four species of this genus, but each one has its unique characteristics. They are native to the tropics of Asia, the Americas, and Africa. The most dominant of this plant specie is the Kapok. It is Africa's largest tree on the continent. The tree can mature over 200 feet tall. The branches grow horizontally from the trunk, resulting in a pyramid resemblance. The local people use this tree as sources of fiber, fuel, and timber. It grows also in zone twelve and in South America. These are fast growing specimens that thrives in tropical and wet climates. The Ceiba needs moist and well drained soil, full sun and constant warm temperatures. The flowers are a vibrant white, yellow ,or light pink. Once the flowers are done blooming, fruit will appear. This plant family is different from the Banyan tree, but each of their distinct trunks puts them into a class of their own.

Ceratostigma - Chinese Plumbago - A beautiful perennial shrub. This particular Ceratosigma is native in the Himalayan and East Asia region. There is one specie that will grow in the Horn of Africa. The Chinese variety grows anywhere from two to four feet tall and the flowers are a lilac- blue color. The Chinese Plumbago grows well in zones six through ten in the United States. This specie can be propagated from seeds or by semi-ripe cuttings. In cooler climates, this colorful shrub is deciduous. This is a wonderful garden shrub and will accent other evergreen shrubs especially if planted in a mass setting. In the tropics section, there is a page with more information and a couple of photos on the Plumbago specimen.

Cercis - Judas Redbud tree - This small family of specimens are deciduous trees and shrubs. They are native to North America and grow well in zones seven through nine. The Cercis is also native to Asia, and southern Europe. They love full sun and tends to thrive in a hot and dry summer location. This Redbud specimen will germinate from seeds, and considered to be slow growers. One of the highlights of these trees and shrubs is the clusters of rosy pink to a crimson flower that emerges in the spring. A dynamic variety is the Judas Love tree. It is native to the Mediterranean and Black Sea coastlines. The beauty of the bluish tone leaves and the sparkling deeper pink flowers, make this specie a fantastic ornamental plant.

Chaenomeles - Flowering Quince - This is one of the most popular deciduous small trees or shrubs that will do well in zones four through nine in the United States. The Quince family is native in Japan, China, and Korea. This family is noted for its early springtime blossom of apricot, pink, white, and red flowers. The specie is cold hardy and blooms can even be seen in late winter. It will grow in a sunny location, and a well drained soil. Pruning can be done yearly to allow the specie to produce the following year. The gorgeous round shaped fruit appears in the summer months and some people enjoy making jelly from the fruit. The Quince is a great accent plant for a garden, but I don't usually recommend it for mass planting. The Quince will compliment evergreens planted close by. The Japanese Quince is a smaller specie and only grows to around three feet in height. The flowers of the Japanese Quince are a orange-red color with a tint of crimson.

Chamelaucium - Geraldton Waxflower - This is a twenty member genus of the Myrtle family. It is an evergreen shrub with brilliant clusters of pink, white and purple tone flowers. It is well known in its native origin of Western Australia. This is also one of the most popular cut flowers in this region. The Chamelaucium family also will grow in other countries and will flourish in zones nine through eleven in the United States. This specie loves full sun, a gravel base soil and good drainage. This shrub should be pruned well after flowering. This can be a tricky shrub to grow if environmental conditions are not right, as it doesn't do well in high humidity or harsh winters. The Waxflower is also considered a short lived specie. It can be propagated in the summertime from cuttings. If grown properly, this is truly a delightful shrub in many style gardens.

Chimonanthus - Wintersweet - This is a small family of six species. The Wintersweet is a deciduous shrub and native to China. It is related to the Magnolia group, but the Wintergreens flowers are a lot smaller in size. This shrub will do well in zones six through ten in the United States. It is cold hardy and in colder climates the scented flowers make their appearance on bare branches. In warmer climates, the last leaves intermingle with these pale yellow to white and light pink to red coating in each flower. This is a beautiful specie for a winter focal point and in front of an evergreen backdrop.

Chionanthus - Fringe - There are actually only two species of this family. One the Chinese Fringe is native to China and Taiwan. The other is the American Fringe, which is native to North America. The Chinese variety grows well in zones six through ten and the American specie grows well in zones five through nine. The Fringe belongs to the Olive group and considered deciduous. It should have a sunny location but with some shelter. Considered a cool climate tree, the growth rate is slow and patience is a must for the development of flowers. It can take this tree seven to ten years for its first blooms to appear. It can mature up to thirty feet, and in late spring, clusters of white flowers cover the entire tree. A great tree to highlight a specific garden or landscape area.

Clerodendrum - Glory Flower - Blue Butterfly Bush - this is a big genus of over 450 species and grows in a variety of tropical and warm weather climates. There are only a couple of varieties from China and Japan that can take cooler climates. This family contains trees, shrubs, climbers, and deciduous and evergreen varieties. They will thrive in a sunny location, but need shelter from any strong winds or the intense summertime heat. The Glory flower is native to China and the Himalayas, and will do well in zones seven through ten in the United States. The Blue Butterfly bush is native to South Africa and will only grow in zones ten and eleven in the United States. They range in size from six to twenty feet high. The Harlequinn Glory Flower is one of the cold hardy varieties and nave to Japan and China. This particular specie will do well in zones seven through ten in the United States.

Clethra - Lily-Of-The-Valley and Japanese - These are deciduous trees and shrubs that will grow well in North America and eastern Asia. The Clethra is a specimen that prefers partial shade and an acid and moist base soil. The plants are considered a spreading plant and in the summer to fall months, tiny white flowers appear. The Lily-Of-The-Valley tree that will mature around twenty feet tall. It will do well in zones eight through ten in the United States. The Japanese Clethra is known in the mountainous regions of Japan. The tree can grow to thirty feet, and the shrub variety to around nine to ten feet. This specie will grow well in zones six through nine in the United States.

Coprosma - There are 90 different species in this genus and are native to New Zealand, southeastern Australia and Islands in the South Pacific. They are evergreen shrubs that love full sun, and a light and well drained soil. The small flowers are not noticed too often, but the red, purple, white, or blue color fruit highlight these species. The Kiwi Silver specimen is a low growing mound plant only maturing to around a foot tall, and spreads three feet wide. It does well in zones nine through eleven. The Mirror Bush or Looking Glass Plant is popular at the New Zealand shoreline. It can mature three to six feet tall. Grows well in zone nine through eleven. The flowers are beautiful and abundant, followed by tiny orange-red colored fruit. A great sea coast plant!

These 10 different family members are just a few more letter C trees and shrubs. Each plant family represent a wide range of climate zones, beautiful natural characteristics, and a true show of nature at its best.