Re: Acanthus mollis

In a message dated 11/17/2002 12:46:37 PM Central Standard Time, 
mygarden@easystreet.com writes:


>  My experience with both Acanthus mollis & Acanthus spinosus has been that
> they are slow growers for about 2-3 years and then really start to bulk up
> and bloom well.  My spinosus went from 3 bloom stalks to 15 between years 3
> & 4 (or maybe it was years 4 & 5).
> I find the flowers intriguing - very prehistoric looking.

I LOVE my Acanthus mollis - for me, here in the South East part of Texas it 
is a typical perennial - living by the three rules:  Sleep, Creep, Leap.

I planted a very small Acanthus, 4" pot, maybe 3 leaves that didn't exceed 4" 
last fall - this year the plant is a nice full plant about 18" or so tall 
with many leaves.  Next spring I'm sure I will have a plant to be proud of. 

I find these guys to bloom on their own terms.  Several years ago, I had a 
nice large clump of the Acanthus mollis in full sun - it bloomed it's second 
year in the ground.  It was planted from a 1 gallon container so it already 
had a head start.  The third year in the ground it grew larger than the space 
I provided - unfortunately, I lost it when I decided to move it.  I guess 
that is because of the tap root (which at the time I had no idea of).

I find this plant to be wonderfully architectural even when not in bloom - 
for me, the bloom is a bonus.

Kemberly

In the past I 

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