Acanthus mollis
Bear's Breeches

Uses

Edible uses

There are no edible uses listed for Acanthus mollis.

Material uses

The sub-species A. mollis latifolia makes a good ground cover plant^[1]. Relatively slow to cover the ground at first but it can eventually become invasive^[2].

There are no material uses listed for Acanthus mollis.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The leaves and roots are astringent, detergent, emollient and vulnerary^[3]^[4]^[5]. The plant contains appreciable quantities of mucilage and tannin. Traditionally it was used as a treatment for dislocated joints and for burns. A paste made from the plant, when applied to a dislocated joint, tends to normalize the affected muscles and ligaments, simultaneously relaxing and tightening them to encourage the joint back into its proper place^[5]. The crushed leaves have been used as a poultice to soothe burns and scalds^[6]. For internal use, the plant's emollient properties are useful in treating irritated mucous membranes within the digestive and urinary tracts^[5].

Unknown part

Astringent

Detergent

Emollient

Vulnerary

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Soil surface

Ecological Functions

Ground cover

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame^[7]^[8] or outside as soon as the seed is ripe^[7]. It usually germinates in 3 - 4 weeks at 10°c^[7]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on for two years before planting out in late spring or early summer[200, K].

Division in spring or autumn^[9]^[8]. Very easy, they can be planted straight out into their permanent positions.

Root cuttings - winter in a coldframe^[9]^[8].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Acanthus mollis. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.

Cultivation

Prefers a deep loamy soil in a sheltered position in full sun^[10] but tolerates partial shade^[11]^[9]. Grows well in heavy clay soils if they are well-drained but dislikes heavy damp soils^[9] and will not overwinter in wet soils^[8]. Established plants are fairly drought tolerant^[12].

Hardy to about -15°c^[13], though young plants may require protection in the winter^[12] and even older ones may need protection in cold winters^[9]. A very ornamental plant^[10]. The leaves can wilt on hot summer days when plants are grown in full sun^[12]. Plants can become invasive^[2], spreading by suckers, and they are difficult to eradicate due to their deep roots^[12]. Does well in the lawn or wild garden^[9]. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut in the autumn^[14].

Members of this genus are not usually browsed by deer^[14].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Acanthus mollis. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Acanthus mollis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

References

? ^1.0^1.1 Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons ISBN 0-460-12609-1 (1990-00-00)
? ^2.0^2.1^2.2 Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. ISBN 0-304-31089-1 (1989-00-00)
? ^3.0^3.1 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (1984-00-00)
? ^4.0^4.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
? ^5.0^5.1^5.2^5.3 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (1996-00-00)
? ^6.0^6.1 Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. ISBN 0-85613-067-2 (1979-00-00)
? ^7.0^7.1^7.2 Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. (1987-00-00)
? ^8.0^8.1^8.2^8.3^8.4 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
? ^9.0^9.1^9.2^9.3^9.4^9.5 Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge (1926-00-00)
? ^10.0^10.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
? Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland. ()
? ^12.0^12.1^12.2^12.3 Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent ISBN 0460045512 (1982-00-00)
? Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30936-9 (1991-00-00)
? ^14.0^14.1 Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. ISBN 0 460 86048 8 (1990-00-00)
? Polunin. O. Flowers of Greece and the Balkans. Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-217626-9 (1980-00-00)

Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-17" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.

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[PFAFimport-208-1] ? ^1.0^1.1 Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons ISBN 0-460-12609-1 (1990-00-00)

[PFAFimport-197-2] ? ^2.0^2.1^2.2 Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. ISBN 0-304-31089-1 (1989-00-00)

[PFAFimport-7-3] ? ^3.0^3.1 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (1984-00-00)

[PFAFimport-61-4] ? ^4.0^4.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)

[PFAFimport-254-5] ? ^5.0^5.1^5.2^5.3 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (1996-00-00)

[PFAFimport-268-6] ? ^6.0^6.1 Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. ISBN 0-85613-067-2 (1979-00-00)

[PFAFimport-133-7] ? ^7.0^7.1^7.2 Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. (1987-00-00)

[PFAFimport-200-8] ? ^8.0^8.1^8.2^8.3^8.4 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)

[PFAFimport-111-9] ? ^9.0^9.1^9.2^9.3^9.4^9.5 Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge (1926-00-00)

[PFAFimport-1-10] ? ^10.0^10.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)

[PFAFimport-31-11] ? Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland. ()

[PFAFimport-190-12] ? ^12.0^12.1^12.2^12.3 Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent ISBN 0460045512 (1982-00-00)

[PFAFimport-187-13] ? Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30936-9 (1991-00-00)

[PFAFimport-233-14] ? ^14.0^14.1 Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. ISBN 0 460 86048 8 (1990-00-00)

[PFAFimport-45-15] ? Polunin. O. Flowers of Greece and the Balkans. Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-217626-9 (1980-00-00)

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Article is incomplete	Yes +
Article requires citations	No +
Article requires cleanup	Yes +
Belongs to family	Acanthaceae +
Belongs to genus	Acanthus +
Functions as	Ground cover +
Has common name	Bear's Breeches +
Has drought tolerance	Tolerant +
Has environmental tolerance	Drought +
Has fertility type	Bee +
Has flowers of type	Hermaphrodite +
Has image	Acanthus mollis5.jpg +
Has lifecycle type	Perennial +
Has mature height	1.2 +
Has mature width	0.6 +
Has medicinal part	Unknown part +
Has medicinal use	Astringent +, Detergent +, Emollient + and Vulnerary +
Has primary image	Acanthus mollis5.jpg +
Has search name	acanthus mollis + and x +
Has shade tolerance	Light shade +
Has soil ph preference	Acid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil teheavy clayture preference	Heavy clay +
Has soil teloamyture preference	Loamy +
Has soil tesandyture preference	Sandy +
Has sun preference	Full sun +
Has taxonomy name	Acanthus mollis +
Has water requirements	moderate +
Inhabits ecosystem niche	Soil surface +
Is taxonomy type	Species +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soil	No +
Uses mature size measurement unit	Meters +