Acanthus spinosus Spinosissimus Group
Spiny bear's breeches, Oyster plant
- Height × spread
- 0.9m × 1.5m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Flowers
- Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This plant is a very spiny indeed. The flowering spike makes vertical lines and the stems are covered with small, shiny jagged leaves and spines. The flowers themselves scarcely notice amongst all this activity. The plant makes a low mound of dark green foliage with intensely jagged edges and spines, all coloured silver. So the whole looks an indeterminate rather shiny shape when caught by sunlight. It stands around 90cm (3ft) in height with a 1.5m (5ft) spread.
- Flower colour
- Grey, Purple, Silver
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Column
- Height
- 0.9m
- Spread
- 1.5m
- Season of interest
- Summer
- Flowers in
- Summer
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Small scale garden, Prairie garden, Mediterranean garden, Gravel garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil, Dry soil, Dry and shady soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Ground cover, Structural, Architectural, Rabbit resistant, Bee attraction
- Maintenance
- Easycare – low/no maintenance
- Hazards
- Yes, leaves are prickly
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Spring · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided in alternate years. Clumps may be divided into two or more pieces. Rhizomes can be cut whilst small bulbs or offsets are detached. The new plants can be grown in a container or planted in the ground.
Found in
More Acanthus
Acanthus mollis
Brank-ursine, Artist's acanthus, Oak leafed bear's breeches
Acanthus
Bear's breeches
Acanthus 'Summer Beauty'
Spiny bear's breeches
Acanthus 'Whitewater'
Whitewater bear's breeches
Acanthus dioscoridis var. perringii
Dioscoridis' bears breeches
Acanthus hirsutus
Hairy bear's breeches
Acanthus hirsutus subsp. syriacus
Syrian hairy bear's breeches
Acanthus hungaricus
Hungarian bear's breeches, Balkan bear's breeches