bear's breeches
Acanthus hungaricus
Overview
Bear's Breeches (Acanthus hungaricus) is an ornamental plant whose mounds of foliage are as deep and as wide as its impressive flower spikes. Growing up to 1m in height, the stiff, glossy leaves are striped with attractive yellow veins and contrast nicely with the tall creamy-white flower spikes. Its intense but subtle aroma and eco-friendly livelihood has found it in high demand in many gardens. The combination of its vivid pastel shades, spiky flowers and wide, expansive foliage make it truly a sight to behold. Its flowers look like something out of a fairytale and its leaves have a waxy sheen. Bear's Breeches provides endless beauty to any garden and its delightful scent makes it an amazing complement to any landscape.
Care Guide
Watering
Bear's Breeches should be watered on a regular basis, but not too often. During summer months, the soil should be kept moist, which will require weekly watering. The best thing to do is to check the soil before watering, as it should never be too wet or too dry. During the winter months, the plant will need water less frequently, only when the soil is dry enough that it is beginning to pull away from the sides of the pot. In any case, be sure to avoid waterlogging as this can lead to root rot.
Light
Bear’s breeches (Acanthus hungaricus) thrive in full sun which means at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. It should be planted in a place with full sun in the morning and some late afternoon shade. It can also thrive in partial shade, but it won't thrive in full shade.
Temperature
Hardiness zone 5-10.
Pruning
Bear's Breeches should be pruned twice annually. Once in early spring and once in late summer. In early spring, all dead or broken stems should be pruned back to the point where the live tissue begins. Any spent flower stalks should also be removed. During late summer, new flowers may need to be pinched back to control size and promote a bushier form. If needed, the overall size of the plant can be reduced by pruning back each stem by 1/3 of its length.
Propagation
Division, Seed Propagation, Cutting
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