PlantFiles: Bear's Breeches
Acanthus mollis

This is a stunning plant when in bloom. The blooms last forever! Leaves are showy and glossy. Very easy to care for, actually as long as you water they pretty much take care of themselves!

I have had an Acanthus Mollis growing in my garden in Starkville, Mississippi for 10 years. For the first time it is putting up a bloom stalk. Also, beneath the 3 foot long leaves I have discovered some small plants. Is this the time to move them or should I wait until Fall or Winter?

Shirleyd

I love it. Glossy dark green all winter here in zone 8b, needs water to establish and then it's pretty okay. I like stuff that "takes over", though -- I'm all about the green, "going wild" kind of garden.

I have grown this plant in central Ohio for about 8 years. It's difficult to start, but if you give it 2 to 3 years to establish it is a great plant. It does not flower every year but when it does it is different from any plant in my garden.
I have taken starts in early spring and had some success, you really have to patient.

Invasive: YES. But, I love the large foliage, and it can be a great addition to a lush, tropical-esque or woodland garden. To avoid its invasive tendency, I plant it only in large pots/containers. I have one in a mixed border in a 15 gal nursery container which I have sunk into the soil. This has kept it in check very well.

As for potential invasives (many prime garden candidates CAN be), know your plants, know your climate and soil, and adjust accordingly. I even know of a modest stand of "Tree of Heaven" that is beautiful and very well contained. This stand is NOT aggressively managed, and containment is entirely the result of natural barriers to its spread; only the occassional seedling to pull up. I wish Bermuda Grass were this easy to control! And by the way, even running bamboos haven't taken over the world!

I don't know where the 'bear's breeches' name came from...but the plant is great to have in the garden! Every time you think you've seen everything, some variety of plant comes along and broadens your horizons...that's what this plant can do! Amazing toughness yet regal bearing (is that the bear part?). The architecture of this plant is inspiring and the plant is so tolerant and can be a splendid focal part of the garden.

I have three in my garden here in zone 6b. They came up late this year probably because spring was a long time coming. This is their third year and no flowers yet. They are planted in a partially shaded area but still tend to look wilty in hot weather. I just bought 3 more today ("horrors" you say) and will plant them where there is more shade. This is probably an ideal plant for an East Coast gardener who wants a tropical look. Certainly not invasive; at least, not yet. You may hear back from me in a couple years.

Seattle, WA
zone 8
Seattle, WA
zone 8
The acanthus mollis I have has done wonderfully well in a less than ideal spot for years now. It's planted in an alley bed which gets a couple hours of sun in the morning, and often gets really dry in the summer months. BUT- the acanthus blooms every year, and has doubled in size each year since I've planted it. This is a gorgeous architectural plant; if you'd like a little drama in a difficult spot in your garden it's a great candidate. Can't wait till fall so I can do some dividing.
I wonder if there are some varieties of acanthus that are less invasive, like the golden leaved type? It would be worth checking out for those who live in areas where this is a problem.
For those who want to grow it but fear the cosequences, here's a couple of suggestions:
1. Plant them in a tough spot: poor soil, dry conditions, etc, to curb growth, and limit the success of seedlings that appear.
2. Also - sounds to me (from reading all of the negatives) like it's just about a difficult to eradicate as running bamboo (hard to imagine) - SO get creative. Try it in a container above ground or a partially buried container to restrict the runners. Screen the bottom holes to prevent roots from escaping. Since it likes moisture, the added moisture a buried pot adds should make for a beautiful plant.
3. Cut flower stalks for flower arrangements before they set seed. If you're sick of the flowers: bring them to work (someone might take them home); give them to neighbors and friends; maybe start a flower farm. Or if you've got hot compost, compost them.
Hopefully you'll still be able to enjoy the plant without getting swamped with it, and with alot of extra weeding.

This is one of the nuisance plants (along with 'Tree of Heaven,' the most misnamed tree EVER) that came with the house. It's not as invasive as the Ailanthus (which is just slightly behind kudzu) but it's extremely difficult to get rid of. I may have to resort to the dirt-sifting tactic, which will be a pain with my clay soil. Still, needs must, and it will be well worth it to be rid of this pest.

This plant's foliage is depicted on U.S. paper currency.

I have been lusting after Acanthus mollis in catalogs for years now and finally purchased some (from eBay no less). I am looking forward to trying them in my zone 6 garden even though everything I'm seeing says zone 7. I get the impression it's not as invasive in colder climates. I'll report back on my experience if it survives.
Does anyone happen to know if they can survive under the dreaded black walnut tree and the toxic juglone it produces? Thanks!

Extremely invasive unless you have lots of room to let it go. I was given one little piece w/root intact by a 'friend'?? We still laugh about it everytime I mention the 'plant from ???'. You get the picture. It took me 2 years to get rid of it, as the slightest sliver of a stalk re-rooted and it was near my pool and wanted to dive in. We couldn't walk around the pool deck in it's heyday. I keep forgetting to put this in the 'My Biggest Garden Mistakes' thread. It might be beautiful in some settings, but in my yard in full sun, 100°+ summer temps, it was not welcome.

I can't imagine ever wanting to get rid of this plant! It is just beautiful in shady corners of the garden, even when not in flower.

I was interested to hear that Imelling has had success under pine trees. I was just looking for something to plant on a bank under some pines at an orphanage in Ain Leuh (the Middle Atlas Mountains in Morocco).

I was given a couple of starts of Acanthus by a friend several years ago. I have them planted in light shade in my shade garden under a pine tree where they get mostly light morning sun. The plants continue to come up - so far even after the harshest winters here, probably because of the snow cover - but they grow very slowly for me. I can't wait until they get large enough to flower.

The flowers can be dried and make interesting focal or secondary flowers in dried arrangements. To dry, cut the flower at the height of bloom and hang upside down in a cool, dark place to dry. If dryed at a slight angle, you can get some interesting shapes. Make sure to be careful when working with the dried flowers as they do have thorns, but the flowers are wonderful and if dried correctly, hold their color well and will last about a year before browning!

I had been eyeing this plant for years in the catalogs, finally order three 4" starter plants from Spring Hill about two or three years ago. I received them in the heat of this Texas summer and two didnt make it. I have been pampering this one ever since From what some of you are saying 'thank God' the other two didnt make it. Look at where I have it ... I dont have room for it!. I have a place I can move it to but the soil is not that good. I dont want to do anything until I see it flower first.

I was very surprised to find this plant does beautifully in west Texas. Our summers are hot (95 - 105 degrees), not much rainfall, and our humidity stays 35 - 40%. 60% on a great day. She gets quite a bit of total shade, about 4 hours of direct sunlight and 5 hours of dappled sunlight a day. The blooms were wonderful, adding some well needed architecture to my garden. And the bonus was 7 baby breeches to share.

I guess it is too dry in West Texas. I bought a packet of 5 seeds. Three of them germinated. Two of these died almost immediately. I planted the last one in part shade. It lived but looked awful. I finally dug it up and put it in a pot. It is doing pretty well.

This plant can also be known as oyster plant. It may become very large and invasive once it grows old. They take about 1 or 2 years to establish. Their leaves provide interest in a sunny or shaded garden. This is one of my favorite plants. pokerboy.

This is an amazing plant that has survived since prehistoric times. This is the leaf that adorns columns in antiquity, and is the most common plant motif in decoritive arts. I have been painting this gorgeous plant for years and years. I do understand it is hard to eradicate, but the sheer longevity is something to marvel at. The lush green leaves, the strong flower, it is hard NOT to be impressed by this plant that has seen the entire history of our species!

This a terribly invasive plant which I don't find particularly attractive. It's one of those plants I "love to hate" and all too common in the SF Bay Area. That is my prejudice, of course. I think it should be sold with sheet metal to slip down into the soil around the plant to prevent invasion. Atleast nurseries should sell it with a note warning how invasive and hard it is to get rid of. I have seen many neighbors try to get rid of it only to see it pop its shiny leaves back up a little while later.

It's history fascinates me and it goes always with me when I see Acanthus growing.
Acanthus is lead from 'Akantha' the Greek word for thorn. It is also the name of a nimph, loved by Apollo, he transformed her later in a Acanthus flower. 'Mollis' means 'soft'.

It is used as a medicinal herb in earlier days. If you visit the medicinal herb gardens from old monasteries here in Europe you'll always find Acanthus still growing.
Very well known is the representation of the Acanthus leaves on the capitals of the Corinthian pillars. A beautifull example is still seen at the Monument of Lysicratis in Athens. Acanthus also became a symbol for immortality. For that reason it was often used in funereal art (gravestones etc.) During Middle Ages the Acanthus motive became a christian symbol. It's growth and thorns symbolizes the consciousness and pain of sins. Sometimes it 's a symbol that stands for gentle courage because of its soft leaves.
As a christian symbol the acanthusleaf is often used as a motive in architecture and art through ages.

I have Acanthus mollis in my garden. I've sown her in 2002 and planted her out. I thought I had lost her during our harsh winter 2002/2003 with temps down to -18 C. This spring I 've relayed my path and guess what...she's still growing under (!) 5 cm soil. Shows how tough she is. I 'll keep the warnings from you in mind if I ever want to get rid of her.

With several large Acanthus mollis plants in our garden in the San Francisco Bay Area I have to come to loath this plant. Its spreading uncontrolably leaving everything that tries to grow nearby weak and barely viable.
Hard to eradicate is rather an understatement. I have dig up one of the areas several times removing roots and tubers - this just seems to give the plant a growth boost. I am afraid I have to go with the method palmbob described and remove all the soil.

To get rid of this plant, you have to dig up the entire area it's growing in, down about 1-1.5 feet, and either just toss out the soil, or carefully sift through it removing all the tubers and plant bits. Miss just one and it'll be back soon. Round up is a waste of time. I personally opt for tossing the soil, and starting anew.

This plant is definitely hard to eradicate. While it is a hardy green plant with a nice flower stalk that some people like, my husband hates it.

I have two plants in the ground in partial shade; the leaves look like the sun is burning them up, but it gets very little sun. I have a lot of lime in the soil so I do not know if that is hurting them. I live in zone 8 and our summers are killers. One plant hardly has any leaves at all, as soon as the leaves turn burnt brown they fall off. The other is faring a little bit better but it is doing the same only slower.

An architectural beauty! If you have the space in your garden this is the one plant to choose. Takes about two years to establish itself but then goes from strength to strength. Grows to over six feet tall.

Prefers growing in part shade with some mulching. Propagation is easy by division of the plants in the winter time when it has died back.

Easily grown in average, medium wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Tolerates wide range of soils except poorly-drained ones. Appreciates some afternoon shade in hot summer climates such as St. Louis. Not reliably winter hardy throughout USDA Zone 5 where a winter mulch is advisable. Easily grown from seed or may be propagated by root cuttings best taken in early spring. Can spread invasively by creeping rootstocks, particularly in loose soils. Can be slow to establish in the garden, but somewhat difficult to eradicate once established since small sections of root left behind can sprout new plants

In some gardens this is a weed. Jody's comment about it being hard to eradicate is right on... not only is it nearly impossible to get rid of, but any cuttings that happen to hit the soil will root in that spot, doubling your weed problems.

In Southern California flower stalks commonly grow up to 6-8' tall. And they are very prickly (use gloves to prune off).

It is not uncommon for the leaves to die back in summer and sprout again before winter. Once established it can be hard to eradicate.

Bear's breech is a large, ornamental perennial with individual leaf blades almost 1 foot long and as wide. The glossy green leaves appear to come directly out of the ground. Flower stalks have purple and white flowers and stiff bracts along the top 3 ft or so. They can make dramatic and long-lasting cut or dried flowers.

Grow in average, well-drained soil.