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JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University
Acanthaceae
Acanthus 'Summer Beauty'
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 sun and will grow in average soil that drains well but retains some moisture. A bit of afternoon shade is good in climates with hot summers. This is an easy-to-grow plant, but it is known to spread, so it is best divided every three years or so. Summer Beauty’s bold foliage is beautiful throughout the season, and it's a choice for perennial beds and cutting gardens.
9 - 6
6 - 9
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Perennial
Partial Sun, Partial Shade
24"-48" / 61.0cm - 121.9cm (36)
4'-6' / 1.2m - 1.8m (5)
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Hybrid Origin
Neutral, Alkaline
Well Drained
Loam, Sand
Fast
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
Rosette/Stemless
Spring, Summer, Fall
Showy
White, Purple
Bicolor
Dark Green
No
Single
Yes
Bold
Glossy
Semi-Evergreen
Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
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