Description

Acanthus – Bear’s breeches –

Genus of 30 species of perennials originating form dry rocky sites in the Mediterranean.  These are vigorous grower with architectural features.  With bold striking foliage and flowers.  The 36” long leaves are dark green, lance-shaped, rounded to egg shape forming at the base and variously lobed and toothed and sometimes spiny.  On 4-foot tall stems it bears 2-lipped flowers about 1 ½-2” long with spiny bracts with leave segments in combination of white, green, yellow, pink, or purple.

Inside grow in soil based potting mix in full or filtered sun.  Water moderately with a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly, keep moist in winter.

Outdoors grows in fertile moist sand, clay, silt, and organic matter soil, but has to be well drained. In full or partial sun.

Prone to powdery mildew, fungal leaf spots and bacterial leaf spot.

Acanthus spinosus – Found from Italy to Western Turkey this clump forming perennial grows 5 feet tall and 24-36” inches wide.  Produces 3-foot narrow oblong-rounded to egg shape arching dark green leaves cut deeply to midrib with spiny edges. A 3-foot cluster of pure white flowers with purple bracts appear form late spring to midsummer.

Zones 5-9