Acanthus brings bold, structural foliage and form to the shady border. Join gardening expert Katherine Rowe in exploring the handsome architectural perennial that thrives in partial sun and shady garden sites. Acanthus is an architectural perennial with bold vertical interest and handsome, lush leaves. The scrolling foliage unfurls to form broad, frond-like leaves with a tropical look. Distinctive bloom spikes emerge in early summer on tall stalks, densely lined with creamy white and purple flowers to steal the show. The lush, glossy specimens grow primarily for their ornamental leafy structure with the added benefit of the towering bloom spikes. In the right situation, Acanthus grows easily with little maintenance and long-lasting display qualities. Acanthus Overview What is Acanthus? Acanthus, or bear’s breeches, comprises about 22 species from Europe, Asia, and Africa, with a long garden history. The architectural specimen has dark, glossy, deeply lobed leaves. The name is from the Greek “akantha,” meaning spines, in reference to the spiny leaf margins on some species. The specimens appear as early as the fifth century in architecture and art. As a leaf motif in ancient Greek and Roman architecture, they adorn Corinthian column capitals. In Greek mythology, Akantha was a nymph who rebuffed the god Apollo’s romantic advances, for which he turned her into a thorny plant. Acanthus is stately in formal and informal settings as specimens or small groups. Pair them with hosta, heuchera, ferns, iris, astilbe, epimedium, and Solomon’s seal for gorgeous layered combinations. Annuals like begonia and caladiums share the same growing conditions. Their blooms also make striking cut flowers. The vigorous growers spread through rhizomes to form clumps. In optimal conditions that mirror their Mediterranean climate, they spread aggressively. Some are invasive in Oregon and California. They root easily and can be difficult to remove once established. Most varieties benefit from being kept in bounds by walkways or edging. In areas with winter climates or hot summers, plants are more well-behaved with less spread. Hybrids are more compact and better behaved, suited to various garden situations. Characteristics Bear’s breeches’ long, basal leaves have sturdy central spines and form a rosette. In spring and summer, tall bloom spikes appear with vertical rows of creamy white flowers and purple-rose bracts. The hooded, two-lipped blooms line the spikes and resemble a large foxglove or oversized snapdragon. The perennials are drought-tolerant, deer and rabbit-resistant, with few pest and disease issues. They may be slow to establish but settle in by the second growing season. Several of the species are in cultivation. A. mollis and A. spinosus and their cultivars are the most widely grown for ornamental landscapes. A. mollis is a popular, historic European species that grows four feet tall and two to three feet wide. The bloom spikes top five feet in late spring and early summer. Individual flowers measure one inch. A. spinosus grows three to four feet with summertime blooms in June through August. The flower stalks rise three to four feet tall above the foliage. Leaves are deeply cut with spiny margins. A. hungaricus resembles A. spinosus but with slightly less divided, spiny foliage in dense clumps. It has pale pink to white flowers with attractive, ornamental leaves. This species is synonymous with A. balcanicus. A. montanus, or mountain thistle, is indigenous to tropical climes of West Africa. Hardy in zones 7 to 10, plants reach four to six feet tall. The shrubby perennial has deeply lobed, symmetrical leaves up to one foot long in silver and dark green. Mountain thistle is most susceptible to winter damage in lower zones. A. dioscoridis is native to Turkey, Syria, Armenia, and Iran. It has pink petals in early summer and divided leaves on one to two-foot plants. Acanthus sennii, or Ethiopian bear’s breech, grows at high elevations. Dark, glossy leaves have black stems. Late summer and fall flowers are bright red-orange. Native Area The ornamentals are native to Mediterranean climate zones with loose, well-draining soils and moderate temperatures. They grow in woodlands and slopes as understory spreaders. Occurring naturally in arid, mild climates, they may fade in heat and humidity or extreme winter conditions. Some hybrids perform well across zones without aggressive spreading. Planting As a rhizomatous spreader, Acanthus gradually forms a clump and continues to sprawl in optimal conditions. Planting it near a walkway or bounded bed helps keep it in check. Root barriers or areas where it has room to run work, too. When planting, space plants three feet apart to allow for air circulation.

Black-eyed Susans are wonderful native plants that look beautiful and attract a multitude of pollinators. Among the many varieties, 'Cherokee Sunset' is one of the prettiest cultivars. Join gardening expert Melissa Strauss to grow this wonderful summer and fall flower. Black-eyed Susans are an excellent plant to have around, and ‘Cherokee Sunset’ is a particularly special cultivar. They are wonderfully adaptable and attract a wide range of pollinators. They make wonderful companions in the vegetable garden, and they self-sow freely, multiplying year after year. Growing this plant is easy and straightforward, and quite rewarding. They’re also native to most of North America, making them beneficial to the ecosystem and local wildlife. Of the many varieties, ‘Cherokee Sunset’ black-eyed Susans are one of the prettiest. What Is It? ‘Cherokee Sunset’ black-eyed Susan is an eye-catching, ornamental variety loved for its boldly hued blooms. This dramatically beautiful cultivar is an incredibly prolific bloomer and a pollinator’s dream. It’s wonderful for the cutting garden and is the recipient of a Fleuroselect Award. It also won an All-America Selections award in 2002. Characteristics When it comes to special varieties of classic flowers, ‘Cherokee Sunset’ is at the top of the list. This black-eyed Susan cultivar has the same velvety stems and foliage as the original. This characteristic protects its flowers from ants. It’s a medium-sized variety that’s typical in all respects except for its flowers. Where the standard for this species is a cheerful yellow single bloom with a dark eye, this one is bolder. The flowers are double-petaled and, rather than the run-of-the-mill, solid yellow, they come in a range of warm shades. This ideal autumn flower has excellent variation between blooms. Some are orange, some brown, some yellow, but most are a melange of colors. All have a signature, dark chocolate center where you’re likely to find a native bee or two. Native Area The species, Rudbeckia hirta, is native to a significant portion of North America. It spans from one coast to the other, and from Florida well north into Canada. When it comes to their environment, these are adaptable and tolerant. You will find black-eyed Susans in prairies, meadows, open woodlands, and on rocky slopes. They grow in both moist and dry soil types. They are commonly used in the restoration of disturbed areas. Planting The ideal planting times are in the fall, before the first frost, or in spring, after the last frost. In mild climates, fall planting is preferable, as it results in earlier flowering and better reseeding. In cooler climates, it’s wise to start your seeds about six weeks ahead of the last frost date for a better and longer bloom time. While you can grow these in a container, they tend to grow larger when planted in the ground. These plants require about one foot to 18 inches of space between them, in loose, well-drained soil.

Are you looking for a tree that produces intense flowers and delicious fruit? Look no further than productive and easy-to-grow ‘Rainier’ cherry trees. In this article, plant expert Matt Dursum covers how to plant, grow, and care for these wonderful cherries. It’s hard to beat cherry trees for your edible landscape. They’re easy to grow and thrive in a variety of climates. Plus, they put on a show of soft blooms in the spring. ‘Rainer’ varieties produce tons of golden-red fruits and big, beautiful blooms. Their fruit is juicy, sweet, and perfect for eating raw, right off the tree. If you live in a colder climate, these cherry trees will thrive. Let’s dive into how to grow and maintain these highly productive and stunning stone fruits. What Is It? The US produces two types of cherries: sour and sweet. While sour cherries are great in canning, pies, sauces, and infusions, sweet cherries are delicious when eaten fresh. There are around 900 varieties of sweet cherries on the market, including our beloved ‘Rainiers.’ ‘Rainier’ cherries are varieties bred for their sweet, golden to soft red fruit. They have a mild, very cherry-like flavor that’s juicy and nutritious. They are vigorous fruit producers and stay relatively short in stature, which makes them easy to harvest! Besides their fruit, they explode in gorgeous blossoms in the spring. The white flowers put on a light, floral scent that’s hard not to adore. Plant them in entryways, landscapes, or home orchards, and you’ll quickly fall in love with them. Characteristics These small cherry trees grow up to 30 feet tall and produce dense clusters of beautiful white flowers in the mid-spring. They mature and bear fruit in around 4 to 5 years after planting. When they fruit, they form dense clusters of cherries that are easy to harvest. As they grow, they form an easy-to-maintain pyramidal shape. Besides their flowers and delicious stone fruits, they’re fantastic at attracting pollinators. Birds also love them as food sources and nesting grounds. They make great additions to a pollinator-friendly garden outside their invasive range. Native Area Cherry trees are native to Europe and Asia, where they’ve been cultivated for centuries. There are hundreds of species in the Prunus genus. Many, like Japanese Sakura, are grown for their ornamental blooms. Botanist Harold Fogle bred ‘Rainier’ cherries for the first time in 1952 at Washington State University. Fogle crossbred ‘Bing’ varieties and ‘Van’ varieties to get a new variety of Bings that would last for longer in the season. ‘Rainiers’ arrived in nurseries in 1960 and continued to accompany ‘Bing’ cherries in orchards. People propagated them as pollinators for the more common ‘Bing’ varieties. In the 1980s, that all began to change when growers and customers realized ‘Rainiers’ had such amazing fruit. The parent species of this tree, Prunus avium is invasive to areas of North America. Make a note of these areas before planting, as sweet cherries escape cultivation in these regions, crowding out native species. Planting Plant these wonderful cherry trees in the spring, just before they break out of dormancy. They’ll thrive in well-drained soil in an area that’s elevated for better drainage. Make sure the area gets full sun. If you’re growing a transplant or bare root sapling, moisten the root ball before planting. Dig a large hole, about twice the size of the root ball, and gently place your young tree inside. The area where the roots connect to the trunk should be barely visible. If you’re planting a grafted tree, ensure the graft is above the soil line. Add loamy soil around the newly planted tree, covering the roots. Give your transplant a good amount of water so the soil stays moist. Try adding a layer of moss or mulch around the base of your tree. ‘Rainier’ cherries are not self-fertile. Therefore, plant yours with another cherry variety for cross-pollination. ‘Bing’ or ‘Stella’ varieties are recommended companions.