• Image of Acanthus senniitaken at Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC by JLBG
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Acanthus sennii

Ethiopian Bear's Breech

This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.

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Item #: 13718

Zones: 7b to 9b, at least

Dormancy: Winter

Height: 36" tall

Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade

Origin: Ethiopia

Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)


Acanthus sennii is a little-known endemic bear's breech from the highlands of Ethiopia, where it can be found in Juniperus-Podocarpus forests as well as in rocky grasslands between 5,500' and 10,000' elevation. Acanthus sennii forms an open clump to 3' tall x 5' wide when mature. The black stems are adorned with glossy black green leaves. We have found it to be surprisingly winter hardy in our area, where it dies to the ground as a perennial. For us, Acanthus sennii begins flowering in early October with splendid terminal spikes of bright scarlet orange flowers. In Ethiopia, roots are used to treat scorpion stings and a concoction from the leaves is used to treat wounds.