Species bear's breeches
Striking perennial plant with large, white-brown flower and tall green stems with green leaves.

bear's breeches

Acanthus hungaricus

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.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Seed Propagation,Cutting

Hardiness Zone:

5 - 10

Flowers:

Rose-purple Flowers

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Thorny:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

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.

sunlight

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.

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.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Bear's breeches typically start flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Bear's breeches typically start flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Hardiness Map