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Acanthus spinosus |
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| Common name |
spiny bear's breeches |
| Family |
acanthaceae |
| Life cycle |
perennial (Z5-9) |
| Flowers |
purple (June) |
| Size |
3-4' |
| Light |
sun-part shade |
Pricklier than the A. mollis we've grown for many years, with white veins on the leaves. Reportedly a bit cold-hardier than mollis, although cold tolerance has never been an issue in our garden. So far, despite its hardiness claims, we've yet to get one through an entire season. Perhaps it doesn't like winter wet.
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We left this plant behind in our Pennsylvania garden (and wish it well); we don't grow it in Houston. About my plant portraits
PlantLinks to other web pages about Acanthus spinosus
Visitors to this page have left the following comments| Don | May 25, 2015 | A. spinosus has soft harmless fleshy "spines" on the leaves, and isn't prickly to the touch (except on the flower scape). A. spinosus var. spinosissimus (AKA A. spinosus 'Spinosissimus Group') has sharp stiff spines on the leaves that make it unpleasant to handle. At least the former is hardy in Boston Z6a. A. mollis is usually not hardy in Boston (I've seen one established plant in a sheltered microclimate). All acanthus are slow to establish, need to be spring planted and are best winter protected the first winter.
Thanks for the additional information, Don. My latest attempt is spring-planted (yesterday), so at least on that front I'm good. |
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