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Acanthus mollis (Bear's breeches)

Other names: Brank ursine, Common bear's breech, Soft-leaved bear's breeches

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Species
A. mollis is a clump-forming perennial with glossy, deeply lobed, dark green leaves and erect racemes of white flowers with purple bracts borne on purple-tinted stems in late summer.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
1.5 m 1.5 m 2-5 years
4 ft 4 ft 2-5 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Chalky
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Partial Shade
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • East
  • West
  • South
  • North
Exposure
  • Exposed
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

Prefers deep, fertile, well-drained loam but tolerate most soils. Drought tolerant once established.

Suggested uses

Architectural, Flower Arranging, Beds and borders, Mediterranean, Cottage/Informal, Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance

UK hardiness

USDA zones

Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10

Sunset zone

5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Unknown
Central Valley = Unknown
South Coastal = Unknown
South Inland = Unknown
High and Intermediate Desert = Unknown
Low Desert = Unknown

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Upright, Clump-forming

Native to

Europe, Mediterranean

Drought tolerant

Yes

Flood tolerant

No

Toxicity

Not toxic

Plant care

Pruning

Cut down old flower stems.

Propagation methods

Division, Root cuttings

Propagation

Propagate by sowing seed in spring or by root cuttings in winter. The easiest way is to divide the roots at any time between autumn and early spring.

Pests

Generally pest free

Diseases

Powdery mildew

Divide and replant clumps in autumn or early spring

Take root cuttings

Remove faded flower stems in early summer

Protect in winter with dry mulch (in cold areas)

Plant container grown plants in moderately fertile, well-drained soil

Plant container grown plants in a sunny postion

Plant in full sun or partial shade (autumn or spring)

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (13)

Acanthus

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Acanthus mollis 'Hollard's Gold'
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Acanthus mollis 'Hollard's Gold' Bear's breeches 'Hollard's Gold'
Acanthus hungaricus
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Acanthus hungaricus Long-leaved bear's breeches
Acanthus mollis Latifolius Group 'Rue Ledan'
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Acanthus mollis Latifolius Group 'Rue Ledan' Bear's breeches 'Rue Ledan'
Acanthus hirsutus
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Acanthus hirsutus Hairy bear's breeches
Acanthus mollis 'Summer Beauty'
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Acanthus mollis 'Summer Beauty' Bear's breeches 'Summer Beauty'
Acanthus mollis
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Acanthus mollis Bear's breeches
Acanthus spinosus
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Acanthus spinosus Spiny bear's breeches
Acanthus mollis 'Tasmanian Angel'
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Acanthus mollis 'Tasmanian Angel' Bear's breeches 'Tasmanian Angel'
Acanthus 'Whitewater'
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Acanthus 'Whitewater' Bear's breeches 'Whitewater'
Acanthus hirsutus subsp. syriacus
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Acanthus hirsutus subsp. syriacus Syrian bear's breeches
Acanthus spinosus 'Lady Moore'
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Acanthus spinosus 'Lady Moore' Spiny bear's breeches 'Lady Moore'
Acanthus 'Morning's Candle'
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Acanthus 'Morning's Candle' Bear's breeches 'Morning's Candle'
Acanthus 'Colin's Folly'
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Acanthus 'Colin's Folly' Bear's breeches 'Colin's Folly'
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Companion plants (27)

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Ballota nigra
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Ballota nigra Black horehound
Astragalus utahensis
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Astragalus utahensis Utah milkvetch
Ballota hirsuta
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Ballota hirsuta Greek horehound
Astragalus angustifolius
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Astragalus angustifolius Narrow-leaf milk vetch
Ballota pseudodictamnus from Crete
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Ballota pseudodictamnus from Crete False dittany from Crete
Potentilla (any perennial variety)
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Potentilla (any perennial variety) Cinquefoil (any deciduous variety)
Potentilla nepalensis
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Potentilla nepalensis Cinquefoil
Potentilla nepalensis 'Shogran'
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Potentilla nepalensis 'Shogran' Cinquefoil 'Shogran'
Ballota pseudodictamnus 'Candia'
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Ballota pseudodictamnus 'Candia' False dittany 'Candia'
Potentilla nepalensis 'Helen Jane'
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Potentilla nepalensis 'Helen Jane' Cinquefoil 'Helen Jane'
Potentilla 'Monsieur Rouillard'
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Potentilla 'Monsieur Rouillard' Cinquefoil 'Monsieur Rouillard'
Potentilla 'Melton Fire'
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Potentilla 'Melton Fire' Cinquefoil 'Melton Fire'
Potentilla nitida
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Potentilla nitida Shining cinquefoil
Potentilla nepalensis 'Fire Dance'
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Potentilla nepalensis 'Fire Dance' Cinquefoil 'Fire Dance'
Potentilla eriocarpa
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Potentilla eriocarpa Cinquefoil
Potentilla nepalensis 'Ron McBeath'
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Potentilla nepalensis 'Ron McBeath' Cinquefoil 'Ron McBeath'
Potentilla nepalensis 'Miss Willmott'
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Potentilla nepalensis 'Miss Willmott' Cinquefoil 'Miss Willmott'
Allium cristophii
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Allium cristophii Star of persia
Bergenia 'Silberlicht'
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Bergenia 'Silberlicht' Elephant's ears 'Silberlicht'
Rosa 'Morning Mist'
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Rosa 'Morning Mist' Rose 'Morning Mist'
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Related content

Discuss Acanthus mollis with other Shoot members

Re: How do we get rid of acanthus

Penny Bainbridge
16822 0
I also seem to have acanthus in various places all over my garden. Have tried to dig out painstakingly removing all the little tubers but that seemed to encourage it so I tried the dig out approach followed by weedkiller on every little sprout that appeared -still no success!
I do love the plant but have taken to keeping it in pots and refuse to give it to friends unless they know what to expect!

I have now identified an area of garden where I would dearly love to have a raised bed with some Autumn raspberries but of course there's an acanthus there. Should I risk it if I dig it out first then leave the area covered with plastic over the winter?
Posted: Friday 12th of September 2014 02:58 PM

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: No flowers

Shoot User
1039 0
Thank you!
Posted: Friday 21st of February 2014 12:45 PM

Re: Re: Re: Re: No flowers

Robert Cooper
1039 1
By the way took 3 years for mine to flower. Be patient, 'nature always wins'.
Posted: Thursday 20th of February 2014 07:15 PM

Re: Re: Re: No flowers

Shoot User
1039 1
It's in partial shade so, thank you , I'll try moving it into a sunny spot.
Posted: Thursday 20th of February 2014 03:06 PM

Re: Re: No flowers

Robert Cooper
1039 1
Moved my mollis and Spinoza about every year till they told me the site they liked, was full sun in the end. They'll tolerate partial shade.
Posted: Tuesday 18th of February 2014 09:16 PM

Re: How do we get rid of acanthus

Robert Cooper
16822 0
If not established as soon as leaves appear dig out. Takes time but works.
Posted: Tuesday 18th of February 2014 09:12 PM
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