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Family description Acanthus.

Acanthus is a majestic perennial plant that requires a reasonable amount of space to show its full beauty. It is evergreen in milder areas but the foliage is always susceptible to a sudden frost. The leaves can grow an impressive 1 metre or so under ideal conditions, and the flower spikes that appear in late summer will reach 1.5-2 metres tall. The white flowers are covered with dark pink casings creating an exotic appearance.

General care.

Remove the flower spikes once they are finished and have turned brown unless you want seeds. Cut away old or badly damaged leaves on a regular basis. If you are unlucky enough to get a severe frost and the foliage is badly pulped, cut the entire plant down to ground level. During the winter months, mulch under the leaf area with a thick layer of manure or garden compost, and apply an application of slow acting fertilizer. The main pest to watch for is snails. Acanthus acts as a magnet for them, and they can shred the leaves down to a few stalks if left uncontrolled. Mildew may also be a problem with this plant, and the only remedy is fungicide spray.

Notes on Toxicity or Culinary usage.

No toxic, culinary or medicinal properties known.

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Species description. Acanthus mollis.

A. mollis has the largest leaves and these are broader and more rounded than other varieties. The shape of the leaves has been copied from the design of the motifs on the classical Greek coloumns.

Display characteristics for Acanthus mollis.

• Plant type: Dicotyledon. Evergreen
• Habit:
• Type: Perennial.
• Height: 2.00 mtr.
• Spread: 1.50 mtr.
• Attractive to wildlife: None
• Preferred soil type: Clay. Gravel. Loam. Sand. Silt.
• Soil moisture requirement: Medium
• Soil ph: Undefined
• Suitable position: Border.
• Light requirements: Full sun. Part sun.
• Summer water requirements: Low
• Winter water requirements: None
• Minimum temperature: -12 °c
• Safe Minimum temperature: -5 °c
• Safe Maximum temperature: 30 °c
• Maximum temperature: 0 °c
• Wind tolerance: Low
• Salt tolerance: None
• Drought tolerance: Medium
• Waterlogging tolerance: Low
• Toxicity-Edibility: Unknown
• Bloom attributes: Showy display.
• Foliage attributes: Undefined
• Berry attributes: Undefined
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