| Scientific Name: | Acanthus mollis |
| Common Name: | common bear’s breeches |
| Family Name: | Acanthaceae |
| Origin: | Africa, Europe |
| Hardiness Zone: | Zone 7: (-18 to -12 °C) |
| Plant Type: | Herbaceous perennial |
| Mature Size: | 0.7 - 1.3m x 0.6 - 1.0m (height x width) |
| Habit: | Arching |
| Form: | Round |
| Texture: | Coarse |
| Landscape Uses: | Accent plant, Cut flower or foliage |
| Exposure: | Full sun only if soil kept moist, Part sun/part shade |
| Soil or Media: | Humus rich, Well-drained |
| Leaves: | Simple, Lobed, Basal, Soft flexible, Pinnate venation, Lustrous, Elliptic, Ovate, Dentate, Pinnately lobed |
| Flowers: | Spike, White, Purple, Jul-Aug-Sep |
| Fruit: | Capsule, Brown, Sep-Oct, (Persistent) |
| 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. | |