Acanthus mollis Reut, Israel
Kosher Bear's Breech
Item #: 9811
Zones: 7a to 10b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Origin: Mediterranean Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
In 2011, while Israeli nurseryman Moti Kopilovitch was visiting and discussing our acanthus selections, we explained that most of the Acanthus mollis we tried did not survive our hot, humid summers. Moti was kind enough to share seed of a form of bear's breech that thrives in Israel's hot climate (Zone 10-11), and it became a 2012 Plant Delights/JLBG introduction. Acanthus mollis makes a 2' tall x 3' wide clump of broad, glossy-green, deeply indented leaves which go into a midsummer lull but kick back into high gear with the return of cooler nights. The clumps are topped with 4' tall spikes of spiny purple and white flowers. Bear's breech is propagated from root cuttings, so if you dig around a mature acanthus, you will create cuttings. Acanthus mollis was named as one of the top 200 plants of the last 200 years by the Royal Horticultural Society...quite an honor.

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Other Attributes
Genus: Acanthus
Flower Color: Multicolor , Purple/Lavender , White/Cream
Leaf Color: Green
Bloom Time: Spring
Container Role: Fillers
Garden Themes: Cottage Garden Plants , Living Wall
Other: Cut Flower Plants , Deer Resistant Plants , Drought Tolerant Plants , Dry Shade Plants , Pollinator Plants , Plant Delights Introductions , Plants Named After Animals , Rabbit Resistant Plants , Tropical Looking Plants , Plant Delights Creations and Discoveries