General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 5b -26.1 °C (-15 °F) to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
Plant Height: 3 to 4 feet
Plant Spread: 2 to 3 feet
Leaves: Unusual foliage color
Other: 2 to 3 feet long with spines at lobe tips.
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Bi-Color: Reddish purple and white
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Root
Awards and Recognitions: RHS AGM
Other: 2006 Great Plant Picks Award Winner

Image
Common names
  • Bear's Breeches
  • Spiny Bear's Breeches
  • Oyster Plant
  • Armed Bear's Breeches
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Acanthus spinosus
  • Synonym: Acanthus spinosissimus
  • Synonym: Acanthus caroli-alexandri

Photo Gallery
Location: Oxfordshire, England
Date: 2019-07-13
Photo by Lucichar
Location: SunZone 6a
Date: 2014-07-19
Location: Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam
Date: 2013-08-09
Location: Oxfordshire, England
Date: 27 June 2016
Location: Vermont
Date: 2014-08-31
Location: Elizabeth Lawrence Garden at Wing Haven, Charlotte, NC
Date: 2022-06-23
Location: Vermont
Date: 2011-07-03
Location: Poland
Date: 2022-06-13
I can't wait to see the flowers :)
Location: Lucketts, Loudoun County, Virginia
Date: 2011-06-27
Location: Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam
Date: 2013-08-09
Location: Oxfordshire, England
Date: 2016-07-18
Location: Vermont
Date: 2010-07-24
Location: Clinton, Michigan 49236
Date: 2018-06-24
"Acanthus spinosus, 2018 photo, Bear's Breeches, , USDA Hardiness
Location: Elizabeth Lawrence Garden at Wing Haven, Charlotte, NC
Date: 2022-06-23
Location: Crete - Mili Gorge
Date: 2022-05-29
Location: Vermont
Date: 2015-06-20
Location: Zone 5b, Chicago suburbs
Date: June 11, 2021
Location: Zone 5b, Chicago suburbs
Date: May 11, 2021

Courtesy Crownsville Nursery
  • Uploaded by vic
Location: Botanical garden UG, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2015-07-10
Location: SunZone 6a
Date: 2013-07-23
Location: Clinton, Michigan 49236
Date: 2017-10-27
"Acanthus spinosus, 2017, [Bear's Breeches], uh-KAN-thus spin-OH-
Location: Clinton, Michigan 49236
Date: 2017-10-27
"Acanthus spinosus, 2017, [Bear's Breeches], uh-KAN-thus spin-OH-
Location: Vermont
Date: 2014-06-10

Courtesy Crownsville Nursery
  • Uploaded by vic
Location: Crete - Mili Gorge
Date: 2022-05-29
Location: Crete - Mili Gorge
Date: 2022-05-29
Location: San Francisco Botanical Garden.
Date: June 2005
photo by Stan Shebs
Location: San Francisco Botanical Garden
Date: April 3, 2006
photo by Stan Shebs

Courtesy Crownsville Nursery
  • Uploaded by vic
Location: Kannapolis, NC
Date: 2012-05-15
Finally getting blooms!
Location: RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire, UK
Date: 2019-05-04
Location: SunZone 6a
Date: 2013-07-23
Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2015-05-30
Location: Vermont
Date: 2014-05-08
Location: Clinton, Michigan 49236
Date: 2017-10-27
"Acanthus spinosus, 2017, [Bear's Breeches], uh-KAN-thus spin-OH-

Photo Courtesy of Lazy S'S Farm Nursery.
  • Uploaded by Joy

Courtesy Crownsville Nursery
  • Uploaded by vic
Location: Cambridge University Botanic Garden
Date: July
credit: Magnus Manske
Location: Crete - Mili Gorge
Date: 2022-05-29
In it's natural habitat
Location: Crete - Mili Gorge
Date: 2022-05-29
Comments:
  • Posted by Marilyn (Kentucky - Zone 6a) on May 25, 2013 6:08 AM concerning plant:
    "Acanthus spinosus (spiny bear's breeches) is a species of flowering plant in the family Acanthaceae, native to southern Europe, from Italy to western Turkey. It is an herbaceous perennial growing to 150 cm (59 in) tall by 60–90 cm (24–35 in) wide. The deeply cut leaves have spiny margins, and in early summer it bears erect, 1 m (3 ft) long racemes of white flowers with maroon bracts.

    It is thought that both A. spinosus and its close relative A. mollis were introduced to Britain as ornamental and herbal plants from the Mediterranean in Roman times. It has been intermittently cultivated ever since, and is now a regular feature of the herbaceous border. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit."

    Taken from wikipedia's page at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A...
Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Bear's Breeches...up close and personal! by wcgypsy Apr 23, 2012 11:53 AM 0
Acanthus spinosus vs. A. mollis. by eclayne Aug 17, 2015 1:49 PM 6

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