Spiny Bear's Breeches Acanthus spinosus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-KAN-thus spih-NO-sus
- Description
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Spiny Bear’s Breeches is a perennial plant with large, spiky leaves, and showy purple-white flowers. It brings a pop of color to shady spots. The arching leaves are what inspired the design of Greek Corinthian columns.
This plant grows well in well-drained soil in partial shade. It 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.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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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: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Erect
- Spreading
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Spines
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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:
- 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a, 10b, 10a
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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:
- Bracts
- 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.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Prickly
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Bear's breeches colorful deeply cut leaves make 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.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Cutting Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
- Weedy
