Scientific Name:
Acanthus mollis
Pronunciation:
uh-KAN-thus MOLL-iss
Common Name:
common bear’s breeches
Family Name:
Acanthaceae
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Key ID Features:
Leaves shiny, dark green, blades up to 40cm long x 25cm wide with a long petiole; florets up to 5cm long with purple "helmet", on a cylindrical spike 30-60(-100+) cm long, spiny bract under each floret.
Habit:
Arching
Form:
Round
Texture:
Coarse
Mature Height:
0.7 - 1.3m
Mature Spread:
0.6 - 1.0m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
Africa, Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 7: (-18 to -12 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun only if soil kept moist, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Humus rich, Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Accent plant, Cut flower or foliage
Additional Info:
Google. Compare to similar species A. hungaricus (lobing more leaflet-like) and A. spinosus (leaves deeply divided with spines at lobe tips).
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple, Lobed
Arrangement:
Basal
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Lustrous
Colour in Summer:
Dark-green
Colour in Fall:
Yellow
Shapes:
Elliptic, Ovate
Apices:
Obtuse
Bases:
Obtuse
Margins:
Dentate, Pinnately lobed
Additional Info:
Lobing and sinus depth quite variable
Inflorescence Type:
Spike, Floriferous
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Bilabiate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White, Purple
Flower Time at Peak:
Jul, Aug, Sep
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Not showy, Persistent, (two locules)
Bark Morphology:
Smooth
Bark or Stem Colour:
n/a
Organ Modifications:
Rhizomes, Spiny inflorescence
Propagation:
Seed, Division - below ground parts
Maintenance:
Medium
Pest Susceptibility:
Slugs or snails (Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Rabbit resistant)
