Acanthus Mollis

Description

Acanthus Mollis also commonly known as “Bear’s Breaches”.

An architectural type perennial plant with impressive large shiny deeply lobed and cut leaves with a deep green colour. The impressive lilac and white flower spikes stand approximately 150 cm to 2 metres high. Spikes produce around 100 flowers. Each flower is about 4 to 6 cm long.

Acanthus Mollis is a bee friendly plant, attracting only the larger bees or bumblebees because these are large enough to force their way into the flower.

• Drought tolerant.
• Tolerates shade and full sun.
• Prefers well-drained, fertile soil.
• Bumblebee friendly.
• Will not grow very well at high altitudes.
• Impressive architectural plant with large, shapely leaves.
• Statuesque plant.
• Easy to care for plant because of its tolerance.
• Hardy perennial.

Flower spikes start to appear late spring and flowering during the summer, after flowering cut the flower spikes back to the plant. Acanthus Mollis will die back each year. Just after winter, remove the dead growth from the plant. Be careful when removing the old flower stems because they are incredibly prickly.

Flowering time – May through to August, depending on local climate.

Instructions for packs of seeds.

Sow seeds in a seed tray, ensure you space them out because the roots can grow rapidly. Germination takes 2-3 weeks. Prick out plants into 9 cm pots when two leaves are visible. Plant in garden after any danger of frost has passed.

Instructions for plants.

On arrival, unpack the parcel, water and place the potted plants in a sheltered position for a couple of days, this helps them to acclimatise to your local area. After a couple of days plant them in the garden. Make sure you do not let the plants dry out for the first couple of months, do not over-water.