bear's breeches
Acanthus hungaricus
USDA zones5 to 10
SunHandles full sun to partial sun
WaterNeeds moderate soil
Size3 to 4 feet tall2 to 3 feet wide
- Bloom season
- Summer
- Bloom color
- Rose-purple
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, chalk
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Bear's breeches (Acanthus hungaricus) is a perennial for borders and low-maintenance gardens. It is hardy to USDA zone 5, or down to -20°F (-29°C). This plant likes full or part sun, average moisture, and sandy, loamy, or chalky soil. Rose-purple flowers appear from early to late summer on plants that reach 36 to 48 inches tall. Butterflies visit the blooms, and the plant tolerates drought once settled in.
Pairs well with Karl Foerster feather reed grass, Gladiolus, and Cotoneaster.
Native range
Southeastern Europe.