Acanthus mollis (Bear’s Breech)

Stately and vigorous, Acanthus mollis (Bear’s Breech) is a semi-evergreen clump-forming perennial boasting strikingly elegant spikes of hooded, creamy-white flowers adorned with dusky purple bracts. Blooming from early to mid-summer, they rise well above a superb foliage mound of large, shiny, deeply-cut, dark green leaves. The foliage is so handsome that Greek artists carved the elegant leaves at the top of their Corinthian columns in the fifth century BC. Bear’s Breech is easy to grow, requires very little care, lasts well in bouquets and makes striking dried arrangements. A bold and architectural perennial that may be grown as a specimen and can be splendid in small groupings. Evergreen in warm winter climates.

• Grows up to 3-5 ft. high (90-150 cm) and 2-3 ft. wide (60-90 cm). Plants can spread aggressively by creeping rootstocks.
• Performs best in full sun or part shade, in average, fertile, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Acanthus is at its best in part shade where summers are hot, but full sun is fine in cool summer areas. It will also survive in deep shade, but may flower little there. Bear’s Breech is not fussy about soil conditions, as long as they are well-drained. Good drought tolerance once established.
• A pretty addition to beds and borders, cottage gardens or Mediterranean gardens.
• Virtually pest-free. Watch for powdery mildew.
• Remove flowering stalks after bloom. Propagate by division or by root cuttings
• Plants may become difficult to eradicate once established since small sections of root left behind can sprout new plants.
• Native to Southern Europe, northwestern Africa.
• Find where Acanthus mollis species is invasive in the United States.