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Acanthus x spinosissimus'(Spiny Bear's Breech) - Interesting spiny-leafed perennial to 18-24 inches tall by 2 feet wide, with dark green deeply-lobed spine-tipped leaves. Vertical flower spikes, appearing in early summer, are 2-3 feet tall, with tubular pale purple flowers subtended by spiny purple bracts.
Plant in light shade or morning sun and water moderately. Hardy to 5 degrees F or below. A bit prickly for some but a uniquely attractive plant.
The name Acanthus x spinosissimus is often used to describe a group of hybrids between Acanthis spinosus and Acanthus mollis with leaves even more spiny than Acanthus spinosus. In some literature the name is considered a synonym of Acanthus spinosus or to be a synonym of Acanthus mollis spp. mollis. According the Royal Horticultural Encyclopedia, most plants sold as Acanthus spinosus actually belong in the A. spinosissimus group. We first got our start of this plant from an auction at an International Plant Propagators (IPPS) meeting in the late 1990s and we built up enough stock to sell it at the nursery from 2003 until 2007.
The information displayed on this page about Acanthus x spinosissimus is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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