Acanthus spinosus
Spiny bear's breeches, Oyster plant
- Height × spread
- 1.5m × 0.6m
- 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
With large, handsome, spiny looking and deeply lobed foliage, this is the plant which is thought to have inspired the decoration on Corinthian columns. Stout architectural flowering spikes arise from the centre of the foliage mound during July and August. These carry flowers that are rigidly arched and carried up the entire length of the flowering stalk. It is quite free flowering with handsome purple and white flowers and after the flowers fade, the skeletal remains can adorn the winter garden. Compared with the other popular form, Acanthus mollis, the leaves are noticeably more prickly and deeply toothed with long spines at the tips.
- Flower colour
- Purple
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Cone
- Height
- 1.5m
- Spread
- 0.6m
- 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), Poor soil
- 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
- 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