Plant ID card |
|
|---|---|
Botanical name |
Acanthus mollis. |
Common name |
Soft-leaved acanthus, Soft acanthus, Broad-leaved acanthus. |
Family |
Acanthaceae. |
Origin |
Asia Minor, Mediterranean basin. |
Dimensions |
80 cm to 1 m for the foliage, approximately 1.5 m for the flower stems. |
Foliage |
Persistent foliage in mild climates, semi-persistent elsewhere. |
Bloom |
White and purple flowers, between June and August depending on the region. |
Exposure |
Sun to partial shade. |
Ground |
Humus and well drained. |
Rusticity |
Very hardy, down to -15°C. |
The soft-leaved acanthus, a spectacular silhouette
Acanthus
mollis
does not go unnoticed in the garden!
Its ribbed foliage, shiny dark green, is very cut and gives this beautiful perennial an exotic look.
The spectacular flowering takes place between June and August, depending on the region.
In spring,
tall flower stalks
emerge from its heart and exceed the foliage by about 1 m.
Solid, they do not require a tutor.
Each stem bears clusters of white flowers, enveloped in purple sepals and thorny bracts.
Melliferous, the soft-leaved acanthus attracts many pollinators, including carpenter bees.
Soft-leaved acanthus is non-toxic.
It is even a medicinal plant, known since Antiquity for its anti-inflammatory, healing, emollient, antidiarrheal and even expectorant properties.
The ribbed, shiny dark green and very cut foliage gives Acanthus mollis an exotic appearance.
Copyright (c) 2018 Ugo Matone/Shutterstock.
No use without permission.
Where and how to plant soft-leaved acanthus?
Planting is carried out at the beginning of autumn in the Mediterranean basin or in spring in less warm regions.
Choose a location in full sun or partial shade.
The soft-leaved acanthus does not fear root competition and can be installed at the foot of a tree.
It appreciates
well-drained and stony soils.
If your soil is clayey, add a shovelful of coarse sand to the substrate.
Leave 80 cm in all directions around the plant, to let it develop at ease.
Then water it regularly until the first signs of recovery.
How to care for an acanthus?
Soft-leaved acanthus is
very easy to grow
and requires little care.
Just give it some compost in the spring.
In the event of prolonged drought, observe its leaves and water it abundantly when they sag, a sign of a lack of water.
The strain is hardy down to -15°C.
The acanthus will lose its leaves if the frost continues, but will start again from the stump the following spring.
If you live north of the Loire, consider mulching the base in autumn, to protect the stump from the cold.
Soft-leaved acanthus is very easy to grow and requires little care.
Copyright (c) 2023 tamu1500/Shutterstock.
No use without permission.
Resistant, the plant can however be sensitive to
powdery mildew
.
Furthermore, slugs and snails are fond of its leaves during wet springs.
Finally, the soft-leaved acanthus does not require any particular pruning.
Only cut its flower stalks before they fruit, if you don't want it to reseed itself.
Indeed,
Acanthus is a plant that
can be invasive
!
Wear gloves when cutting flower stems, as they are thorny.
They also form magnificent bouquets.
How to propagate soft-leaved acanthus?
You can simply propagate Acanthus
mollis
by sowing.
Then collect the brown seeds contained in the thorny bracts which follow flowering.
Gloves must be worn!
Store the seeds dry and away from light, and sow them the following May.
Avoid dividing the clump, because the soft-leaved acanthus hates to be disturbed and the risk of regrowth is then not assured.