(Cooba, Willow Acacia)

This acacia has a weeping habit and willow-like foliage, hence the common name. Like many acacias, it is adapted to hot, arid conditions and is very tough. It’s found across much of Eastern Australia in sunny thickets and open areas. In time it becomes a upright tree with a large dense canopy. It has a tendency to sucker, like willows do, which can be problematic in the landscape.

The leaves of willow acacia are long, thin and dark green. It bears clusters of pea-sized flowers that are fragrant,...

(Blueleaf Wattle, Golden Wreath Wattle)

This fast-growing tree is ideal for arid climates where many others will not grow. Golden wreath wattle offers clusters of golden flowers in the spring and an informal but appealing look the rest of the season. It is native to southwestern Australia where it inhabits open plains and rugged lands.

When mature it develops a spreading crown with low branches. Its blue-green leaves are long and narrow, almost needle-like, and widely spaced on the branches. In spring it becomes covered with fragrant...

(Dalby Myall, Shoestring Acacia)

Shoestring acacia has proven its amenability to the harsh low desert where it grows as a graceful, wispy accent or shade tree. It is native across most of Australia, which explains its adaptability to a wide range of soil types and harsh climates.

Its very narrow, waxy green leaves are long and dangle, giving this tough, drought-tolerant tree an unusually delicate and graceful appearance. Its spring blooms are small, pea-sized and shaped, cream-colored and borne in drooping clusters. These are...

(Bear's Breeches, Summer Beauty Bear's Breeches)

The tall and stately Acanthus ‘Summer Beauty’ is a hybrid bear’s breeches that is tolerant of summer heat, if given regular moisture. Huge, glossy, semi-evergreen, lobed leaves with spines on the margins form a large, mounded rosette. Its tall flower stalks appear in late spring through midsummer with an abundance of widely-spaced, snapdragon-like blooms that are white with purple calyces (outer flower cover). The blooms are highly attractive to bees.

Acanthus prefers full to partial...

(Bank Ursine, Bear's Breeches, Oyster Plant)

This interesting Old World perennial has a coarse upright habit that adds texture to sunny gardens. Bear's breeches is quite hardy and summer-blooming. It is native to regions in southwestern Europe, though it has been in cultivation for a long time.

The long, sharply lobed, coarse leaves of bear’s breeches are deep green and form large, showy rosettes. In summer, tall, upright spikes of two-lipped, tubular maroon and white flowers are produced. Once spent, the old blooms should be cut back to...

(Bank Ursine, Bear's Breeches, Hollard's Gold Bear's Breeches)

This interesting Old World perennial has a coarse upright habit that adds texture to sunny gardens. Bear's breeches is quite hardy and summer-blooming. It is native to regions in southwestern Europe, though it has been in cultivation for a long time.

The long, sharply lobed, coarse leaves of bear’s breeches are deep green and form large, showy rosettes. In summer, tall, upright spikes of two-lipped, tubular maroon and white flowers are produced. Once spent, the old blooms should be cut back to...

(Bank Ursine, Bear's Breeches, Oak Leaf Bear's Breeches)

This cultivar of the popular bear’s breech has bigger leaves that are more deeply lobed, almost oak-like. It is an interesting Old World perennial that has a coarse upright habit that adds texture to sunny gardens. Bear's breech is quite hardy and summer-blooming. It is native to regions in southwestern Europe, though it has been in cultivation for a long time.

The deeply lobed, coarse leaves are rich dark green and form large rosettes. In summer, it produces tall upright spikes of two-lipped,...

(Bank Ursine, Bear's Breeches, Tasmanian Angel ™ Bear's Breeches, Variegated Bear's Breeches)

This interesting Old World perennial has a coarse upright habit that adds texture to sunny gardens. Bear's breeches is quite hardy and summer-blooming. It is native to regions in southwestern Europe, though it has been in cultivation for a long time.

The long, sharply lobed, coarse leaves of bear’s breeches are deep green and form large, showy rosettes. In summer, tall, upright spikes of two-lipped, tubular maroon and white flowers are produced. Once spent, the old blooms should be cut back to...

(Mountain Thistle)

This shrubby, spreading, semi-evergreen to evergreen perennial bears spiny, leathery leaves that are sharply divided and have attractive silver markings. For most, this native of West Africa is less of an ornamental and more of a weed. Mountain thistle is adapted to the forest understory and grassy fields, so it grows well in sunny and shaded locations.

Tall, upright spikes of pinkish tubular flowers appear from summer to fall. These are highly attractive to bees. Spent flower spikes should...

(Armed Bear's Breeches, Spiny Bear's Breeches)

Spiny acanthus is a clump-forming, evergreen to semi-evergreen perennial native to southern Europe. It is a bold, old-fashioned perennial that offers tall spikes of interesting flowers of maroon and ivory as well as interesting rosettes of deeply lobed, coarsely edged, dark green leaves that look good through the season.

From late spring to midsummer it becomes topped with spikes of bicolored white and maroon-purple flowers subtended by dark green bracts. The flowers are very attractive to bees....