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Re: [PRIMROSES] Acanthus spinosum

In a message dated 98-01-04 14:48:54 EST, you write:

<<
 In a message dated 98-01-04 01:00:47 EST, [Cindy J.] writes:

 << Acanthus spinosum. >>

 Hi Clyde,

 I'm not familiar with this plant.  What does it look like? Is it aggressive?
 How have you used it in your garden? >>

Hi Cindy:

The plant and its cousin, A. mollis are popularly known as bears breeches--why
it ever got that name, beats me!

The foliage is deeply serrated and about 3' wide; very dark green. Sorta like
mahonia foliage.

I would classify it (almost) as a sub-shrub. The beauty lies in the
"flowers"[more accurately bracts, like dogwood "flowers."The family is
Acanthaceae, from the Greek word, akanthos**, meaning a thorn--referring to
the spiny leaves and bracts. ] These appear on tall, stately scapes. The color
is hardly describable--whitish with a violet overlay?

I use them as accent plants with hostas. The foliage is a great complement to
that of hostas. They are sensational also planted en masse.
Not demanding at all--you can grow these near a maple tree.

Not invasive;indeed, in our zone very few seeds are produced.It is not
stoloniferous.

They seem to withstand out harsh winters quite well. They are best propagated
by vegetative division in the summer.

Clyde Crockett z5 ccredux@aol.com
** See A. Coombes, DICTIONARY OF PLANT NAMES  16(1993)
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