Acanthus mollisis also known as the Oyster Plant or Bear ’s Breeches . It is a industrial plant I very often contain into my gardens .
Acanthus mollisis a striking perennial with large , deep lobed leaves and tall flower spike . The flowers bloom in later leaping to other summer . They are white-hot or pinkish with purple bract and produce a striking and architectural show .
This plant can maturate up to 1.5 meters grandiloquent and wide-cut , make it an fantabulous focal head in any garden . Its lavish foliage remains attractive throughout the growing time of year , providing a verdant backdrop for other plants . It works well with tropical plants orhardy exotics , as in the picture below , and also in more traditionalperennial planting scheme .
Acanthus Mollis (Oyster Plant) bymikecoghis licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Acanthus mollisis a versatile and low maintenance plant . It thrives in a sort of conditions , from full sun to fond shade , and is tolerant of different dirt types , although it prefers well - drain , rich soil . It can be used in interracial perimeter , as a soil cover , or as an accentplant in stately and informal garden designs .
Its bold leaves contrast beautifully with finer - textured plants , bestow optical interest and depth to planting schemes . to boot , Acanthus mollisis deer - immune , making it a reliable selection in area wherewildlifecan be an issue .
Acanthus mollis is drouth - kind once found , making it suitable for gardens with less frequent lachrymation . its full-bodied nature intend it can flourish with minimal care .
Acanthus Mollis (Oyster Plant) bymikecoghis licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Acanthus mollisplant notes
Family
Acanthaceae
Plant Type
Herbaceous perennial
Soil Type
Prefers moist , well drained dirt
read more on ground type here →
Aspect
Can be planted in sun , tad or partial shade
Eventual Size
Will grow up to 1.8 thousand in high spirits and diffuse to 1.5 m panoptic .
Hardiness
Hardy down to at least -20 celsius ( -4 degrees F ) , so hardy in most area .
read more on industrial plant hardiness here
Uses and growing conditions
Acanthus mollisis a clump form , evergreen soft - wooded perennial with anarchitecturalhabit . It grow up to 1.8 m ( 6 foot ) high x and can spread to as much as 1.5 m ( 4 foot ) astray .
It has multiple large ( up to 1 m in distance ) glistening , dark green lob leaves and it its height comes from tall spike of purplish , fleeceable and snowy flower with spiny bracts . These make great cut flowers .
Use it as a full-bodied , lush solid ground blanket in wraith or as a featureplantin mixed borders . with perennials likeThalictrumsorDahlias . Its dark and calendered foliage provides a foil for many flowering plant . Given its size and top it can work towards the centre or back of the borderline , but if planted at the front of the boundary line , the beautiful folio will be more seeable and will nicely cancel theplants growingin front of it .
Interestingly , the striking leaves of this plant life are the 1 used ason the friezes and columnsof classical Greek architecture .
If you plantAcanthusin full Dominicus , it will encourage anthesis but where heat is acute , it is likely to get foliage scorch .
Therefore , it is skilful to develop Acanthus mollis in full to partialshadein hot climates .
In more temperate clime it can be grown in full sun or partial subtlety .
It will grow in any fertile , well drainedsoilbut prefer a deep loam . It is frosthardyto -15to -20 degrees C and is moderately drouth resistant when shew .
Cultivars
Cultivars or varieties ofAcanthusmollis includeAcanthus‘Rue Lodan’Acanthusmollis‘Jardin en Face ’ .
Maintenance
Pruning is only necessary to removespent flowersand old leaves .
Water well to build andmulchwell to maintain moisture in the soil . Apply a general use fertiliser twice a year .
Be mindful that it can be a bit ‘ skinny ’ because , once established , Acanthus mollisis very toilsome to remove .
It rootle deeply and if you dig it up , you will almost for certain find that it re - grows from scraps of roots that are left behind .
Pests and diseases
Can endure the attention of bullet and snails and also be troubled by powdery mildew .
Propagation
you’re able to propagate by seed ( warmth is penury for germination ) , by variance of clunk in spring or fall or by hire root thinning in winter .
FAQs
DoesAcanthus mollislike shade?
This is a interrogation that is often asked , in all probability becauseAcanthus mollisis one of those rareplants that can do well in shadeor full sun .
In sun it will flower more and its leave will not be as large . In shade , the opposite happens – there are less blossom and the leaves be given to be larger . This is because in shade more leaf airfoil country is ask to activate the plantto photosynthesise enough light to let in grow well .
Does acanthus grow in full sun?
Yes , Acanthus will grow well in full sun in most climates . In very hot climates , Acanthuswill survive in full sun , mainly because it roots deeply , but there is every chance that its foliage will scorch .
IsAcanthus mollisinvasive?
As indicated above , Acanthus mollisis a hard plant to remove once it is base . If you dig it up , it will regenerate from any piece root leave behind – in fact it is this capacity that means you may easy propagate theplant figure root cuttings . However , it does n’t usually seed around much in temperate or cool climates .
IsAcanthusan evergreen?
Yes , the leaf remain all twelvemonth around .
Do you cut backAcanthus?
geld back the finished flowers spike heel , although you could leave them overwinter as they put up a point of interest . The leaves are evergreen , but it is a secure idea to cut back old scruffier foliage for a neater facial expression .
DoesAcanthusflower every year?
A healthy Acanthusplant will flower every class , although it will give rise less flush in tad or if it becomes very congested .
What is the difference betweenAcanthus mollisandAcanthus spinosus?
Acanthus mollisandAcanthus spinosusare similar looking plants , with similar looking flower spire . The independent divergence is that the leaves ofSpinisosusare smaller , with more finely cut lobes . They also terminate in a incisive stiletto heel .
References
Martin Cole has been an avid works lover and gardener for more than 20 year and loves to talk and pen about horticulture . In 2006 he was a finalist in the BBC Gardener of the Year competitor . He is a fellow member of the National dahlia Society .
He antecedently lived in London and Sydney , Australia , where he direct a sheepskin course in Horticultural studies and is now establish in North Berwick in Scotland . He found GardeningStepbyStep.com in 2012 . The website is aimed at everybody who bonk plant or has been bite by the horticulture bug and wants to eff more .
garden Step by Step has beencited by Thompson and Morgan , the UK ’s large ring armor rules of order plant retailer , as a website that release expert gardening content .
Acanthus Mollis (Oyster Plant) bymikecoghis licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Acanthus mollis flower
Acanthus mollis, Bougainvillea sp, Euphorbia cotinifolia bycultivar413is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Acanthus mollis flower parts byDwergenpaartjeis licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
