Plants of the Week: July 17

Lilium ‘Big Brother’

Lilies are in bloom all over campus. Lilium ‘Big Brother’ gets its name from the large flowers that grow anywherefrom 6 to 12 inches across. It can reach four to six feet in height. The flowers bloom in mid-summer and attract butterflies.

This lily is found thriving in the Theresa Lang Garden of Fragrance among lower shrubs. The soft, creamy-yellow of the flower is eye-catching as are other additional accents of yellow scattered throughout this bed. The perennial’s sweet smell and architectural structure with strikingly large flowers make it a showstopper.

‘Big Brother’ can be found in zones 3-8 and prefers well-drained soil with full to partial sun. This is a great cultivar as it has a sturdy stem that, more often than not, won’t require staking. Cutting the stalks down to a few inches above the ground helps winterize the plant and adding a mulch layer to protect it during colder months is recommended. Photo Credit: L. Whitacre

Acer griseum

On a rainy summer day, the bark of the Acer griseum looks especially attractive. The tones of reddish-orange in the bark become more obvious among the shades of warm brown. A grouping of paperbark maples can be found on the northeast side of Sharples Dining Hall. Originally from Central China, this species was first brought to the Arnold Arboretum in 1901 by E.H. Wilson.

This small, slow-growing tree reaches 20 to 30 feet in height and 15 to 25 feet in spread at full maturity. These deciduous trees are low maintenance and prefer full sun to partial shade. They do well in moist, well-drained soils and are sensitive to drought. The exfoliating bark paired with the placement of several paperbark maples, make the area surrounding Sharples Dining Hall remarkable. Come fall, the foliage turns shades of red and orange which, I imagine, is one of the few times attention is taken away from the beautiful bark. Photo Credit: L. Whitacre

Zantedeschia ‘Florex Gold’

Zantedeschia ‘Florex Gold’ is a plant with an elegant yellow flower; it is found in one of the beds in the Isabella Cosby Courtyard. It is placed among a variety of textures of other herbaceous green foliage, so the vibrant color of this vase-shaped flower is hard to miss. It can be planted in spring once the soil warms up and it blooms during mid-summer.

Also known as calla lily, this tropical species is native to South Africa in the Araceae family. The large arrow-shaped leaves are spotted allowing light to pass through them. Zantedeschia can reach 12 to 18 inches in height and prefers rich, well-drained soil in full sun. It also does well in containers. This is a perfect tropical feature in a sunny border or container and makes great cut flowers as well. Photo Credit: L. Whitacre