Bear's Breeches Acanthus spinosus

Phonetic Spelling

ah-KAN-thus spih-NO-sus

Description

Grows well in well-drained soil in partial shade. Does not do well in wet soils. It spreads easily by seed and also root cutting making it almost impossible to eradicate out of a planting bed.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems though slugs and snails can do damage.

Cultivars:

Tags:

#purple #white #showy flowers #partial shade #summer #perennial #cut flowers #mid-summer

Acanthus spinosus Leonora Enking CC BY-NC 2.0

Cultivars:

Tags:

#purple #white #showy flowers #partial shade #summer #perennial #cut flowers #mid-summer

Attributes:
Genus:

Acanthus

Species:

spinosus

Family:

Acanthaceae

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Recommended Propagation Strategy:

Root Cutting

Seed

Country Or Region Of Origin:

Europe, Mediterranean

Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):

Tolerates damage from rabbits.

Dimensions:

Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.

Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.

Whole Plant Traits:
Plant Type:

Perennial

Leaf Characteristics:

Deciduous

Habit/Form:

Creeping

Spreading

Maintenance:

Low

Texture:

Coarse

Appendage:

Thorns

Cultural Conditions:
Light:

Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Soil Texture:

Clay

High Organic Matter

Loam (Silt)

Sand

Soil Drainage:

Good Drainage

Available Space To Plant:

3 feet-6 feet

NC Region:

Coastal

Mountains

Piedmont

Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:

7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

Flowers:
Flower Color:

Pink

Purple/Lavender

Red/Burgundy

White

Flower Inflorescence:

Spike

Flower Value To Gardener:

Good Cut

Showy

Flower Bloom Time:

Spring

Summer

Flower Shape:

Irregular

Lipped

Tubular

Flower Petals:

fused petals

Flower Size:

1-3 inches

Flower Description:

White snapdragon-like flowers surrounded by spiny pink-mauve-red bracts arranged in rows on showy spikes that are 3-4' tall. Blooms late spring to mid-summer.

Leaves:
Leaf Characteristics:

Deciduous

Leaf Color:

Green

Leaf Feel:

Glossy

Prickly

Leaf Value To Gardener:

Long-lasting

Showy

Leaf Type:

Simple

Leaf Arrangement:

Rosulate

Hairs Present:

No

Leaf Length:

> 6 inches

Leaf Description:

Bear's breeches colorful deeply cut leaves makes a bold architectural statement with its large (2'-3'), spiny leaves, which served as the pattern for the design on Greek Corinthian columns. they are arching, glossy, thistle like leaves that emerge from a rosette in the center of the plant.