Acanthus : an ornamental deciduous plant
Acanthus, also called "bear's paw," is a group of lasting plants. These plants stand out with pretty, deeply cut leaves that are large. They also have tall flower spikes. Acanthus looks great alone or planted with others.
Acanthus is a showy plant that loses its leaves in winter. Some types are small bushes. Acanthus stems grow straight up. Some short types reach about 16 inches tall. Taller ones can grow up to 6.5 feet.
Leaves grow on long stems from the base. They form a full bunch. Leaves may be divided with sharp tips. Their color is usually dark green, and they might have thorns.
The flowers are small and have both male and female parts. They can be white, pink, red, or purple. Bright, spiky bracts surround them. Flowers grow on tall spikes. Acanthus can grow in gardens or pots.
Cut flowers last long. People use them to make dried flower arrangements. How long they bloom depends on the type and local weather.
After the bloom is done, seed pods grow. These pods can shoot seeds as far as 30 feet.
An acanthus plant can live in the same spot for about 10 years. Most types can handle cold weather.
Acanthus has many kinds. Gardeners grow many kinds, and some grow well as houseplants. The types that like warmth grow in greenhouses. Two examples are Acanthus obtusa and Acanthus star anise.
Acanthus obtusa also goes by mollis or soft acanthus. This plant does not grow very tall. It reaches about 28 inches. In nature, it can reach 5 feet. The large leaves are about 12-24 inches long and 3-6 inches wide. They form a large bunch at the base and are dark green.
The leaves have a nice shape with rough cuts and shiny surfaces. This type of acanthus does not have thorns.