ACANTHUS. Bear’s breech. Mostly Mediterranean region and Asia Minor. Odd giant perennials, valued particularly for their large, often intricately lobed and sharp-toothed basal leaves. They form dense clumps, from which spikes of hooded, often bicolored flowers emerge in summer. Their typical use is in open borders or along paths and walkways. Avoid using them where space is limited or must be shared with smaller, more delicate plants, which they will simply overwhelm. They make wonderful snail food. Otherwise they are long-lived and nearly indestructible. Sun or light shade (they look their best with afternoon shading in the hotter interior), most soils, moderate to occasional watering. The following are hardy to around 0^oF.

mollis. The one species well known to gardeners. The basal leaves are up to 2’ long and quite broad, with deep, sharply toothed lobes. They are thick and leathery, with a shiny deep green upper surface. The flower spikes may rise as much as 6’, carrying dozens of white to pink flowers with reddish purple “hoods”.

spinosus. This species is distinguished by even larger leaves (often 3’ long), with intimidating spines along the margins. In reality, this is mostly a good bluff. Though prickly, they lack the penetrating power of typical rose and barberry thorns. The flowers are white, in this case with dark purplish hoods, and borne on 3’ stalks. Our material may actually be of a hybrid between this species and A. mollis.