Acanthus mollis
Bear's Breech · Bear's Breeches · Sea-holly
About the plant
What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.
The plant
- Habit
- Herbaceous Perennial, PerennialExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Habit
- perennialPlants of the World Online
- Height
- 3-6 ft0.9-1.8 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Spread
- 2-3 ft60-90 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Flower
- Pink, Purple/Lavender, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Blooms
- Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Native range
- Algeria, East Aegean Is., Greece, Italy, Lebanon-Syria, Morocco and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
- Hardiness zones
- 7-10Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Soil
- Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow RockyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Moisture
- Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.
Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
Worth knowing
- The plant inspired the Greek sculptor Callimachus to design the Corinthian capital, in the fifth century BCE. Wikipedia: Acanthus mollis
Protocol
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996Difficulty Moderate
Sow and cover
Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark
No stated waiting before sowing. Then 9 days to germinate.
33% germination in 9 days.
How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.
Germination trials
Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials
No trials shared for this species yet.