Bear's Breeches

Acanthus spinosus

Plant Details:

Plant Type: Perennial

Plant Family: Acanthaceae

Plant Description: This plant has a clumping, upright habit but can spread aggressively by creeping rootstocks. It has glossy green leaves that arch to the ground and are spiny and thistle-like. It has hooded, pure white flowers with reddish-purple bracts. Its flower spikes can be 3-4 feet tall and resemble snapdragons.

Maintenance:

Maintenance Type: Perennial - Herbaceous

Plant Care: Perennial - Herbaceous (soft-stemmed plants that die back in winter and regrow in spring): Remove spent blooms to promote rebloom later. Some plants tend to flop over after the first bloom and attempt to regrow from the base; in these cases, the old stems can be cut away in summer. As plants become dormant in the fall, remove dead leaves and stems.

Video: Cutting Down Herbaceous Perennials - Spring Cleanup

Plant Attributes:

Mature Size: 3-4' tall x 2-3' wide

Utah Native: No

Nativar: No

Plant Select: No

Pollinator Friendly: No

Localscapes: Perimeter Plant, Foundation Plant, Infill Plant

Evergreen: No

Foliage Interest: No

Foliage Colors: Green

Bloom Colors: Pink, Purple, Red

Bloom Seasons: Summer

Bloom Period: Jun - Aug

Erosion Control: Yes

Ground Cover: No

Foodscape: No

Growing Conditions:

Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9

Light Requirement: Full Sun (6+ hrs sun), Part Shade (4-6 hrs morning sun), Part Sun (4-6 hrs afternoon sun)

Irrigation Requirement:

Moderate (1/2" every 7-10 days)

Salt Tolerant: Unknown

Deer Tolerant: Yes

Garden Location:

Neighborhood Landscapes
- Tradition with a Twist

Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter