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Bear's Breeches questions.

13 years ago

This is a plant I've always wanted, but have yet to plant. I have a few questions for anyone who is familiar with it. If I attempted to grow it from seed how long would it take to become a full size, blooming plant? How long do the blooms last, and is it attractive after it blooms? Also, how does it do in shade? I have several spots in my yard in mind. Thanks for any help.

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Comments (6)

maryfaye_tx
13 years ago
I have a Bear's Breeches that I got at Home Depot a couple of years ago. I have it in full shade and it does great, of course I live in Central Texas and it can get really hot. I don't know about growing them from seed. Mine gets huge in the summer and has about a 4 foot flower spike up the middle (lasts about month) which is awesome. In early winter it will lose it's huge leaves and are replaced with smaller ones that stay green through the winter, and then those leaves get huge in the summer again. Hope this helped, and good luck.

Mary
laceyvail 6A, WV
13 years ago
Mine is in full sun in zone 6. It's about 3 feet tall and wide, dies back to the ground completely in winter, and has a tall flower stalk. Might take a long time from seed to get a flowering plant.
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northerngirl_mi
13 years ago
I purchased a plant in a two gallon pot several years ago. It was a nice sized plant, but still took two or three years to grow and settle in before it decided to bloom.

So I would guess that I would never have the patience to grow from seed.

Regards,
Beth
ninamarie
13 years ago
I have never managed to grow it from seed. I suspect our season is not long enough to ripen seed properly.
I am experienced with Acanthus mollis and Acanthus spinosus. A. mollis seems to be more spreading than A. spinosus here, though it may just be a matter of time. If A. mollis was too rambunctious, I would remove it. But if A. spinosus eats the garden where I placed it, I will let it be. I love this plant.
It did take three years before it began to show properly. The flowers and flower bracts are effective here into frost. But I would grow it for the foliage alone if it never flowered.
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
13 years ago
Here where we have warm winters and long summers, A. mollis can become a garden thug. It produces stolons that creep all over the garden. I have been working on getting rid of it for the last four years. Al
jean001
13 years ago
Yep, loved until I grew it and it sprouted 5 or 6 feet from the main plant.

So, here in Portland, I'm in the 6th year of my battle. This year, just a few small sprouts. I *will* win!

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