What is the difference between Acanthus mollis and Acanthus spinosus?
About this cultivar: Acanthus mollis is very similar to Acanthus spinosus. The main difference being the leaves and flowers: spinosus tends to produce more flower spikes but its leaves are less broad and less soft than mollis. Soil: Almost any soil – grows well in Ballyrobert!
Is Acanthus spinosus invasive?
Acanthus are perennial herbaceous plants from the Mediterranean region which are striking architectural plants but, make no mistake, they are actually also fairly invasive garden ‘thugs’ with quite nasty prickles even on their flower spikes.
What conditions do Acanthus like?
Acanthus like poor soils that are well drained. Too rich a soil will result in masses of foliage and few flower spikes. Full sun will produce plants that flower well but, if planted in the shade, Acanthus will grow perfectly well and will produce larger leaves and fewer flower spikes.
What to do with Acanthus after flowering?
Cut wilted flowers off as they die, this favors the appearance of new buds. If you let them be, your acanthus will go to seed and self-sow for the following spring. In fall, once the foliage has wilted away, cut back as short as you can in November, and protect the foot of the plant with dried leaf mulch for instance.
Will bear’s breeches grow in shade?
In the North and on the West Coast, grow in full sun or partial shade and average garden soil.
How do you control Acanthus?
When digging it up, if there are any small pieces of roots left in the soil, they can become new plants. One trick to help keep it under control is to plant acanthus in a bottomless container in the ground so the roots can keep growing outward.
How do you get rid of Acanthus?
You can try digging down about 30cm or so in the offending area, removing all root you see and then replacing that soil with untainted topsoil. If it were possible, the best method is to cover the ground where it is with thick black plastic sheeting and leave it there for at least 6 months.
Why has my acanthus got mildew?
Your acanthus (aka bear’s breeches) is too dry and there’s not enough air circulation around the plant, which is making perfect conditions for powdery mildew. Add a lot more mulch around the base of the plants – go crazy with leaf mould or homemade compost, and thin out the plants so that the air can move more freely.
Can you divide Acanthus?
Acanthus clumps enlarge slowly. They can be divided by cutting off sections of rootstock with visible leaf buds in fall or spring. They can also be grown from root cuttings taken in late fall or early winter; plant three-inch long root sections vertically in a cutting mix.
What style is acanthus?
The acanthus leaf is a popular architectural design element that developed in the Greek world. It was first used on capitals, or tops, of a style of column called Corinthian. Later, the Romans used the acanthus leaf in an elaborate capital style called Composite.
