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Bear's breeches
ExplorePlants
Bear's breeches
Acanthus mollis
Bear's breeches is a beautiful plant with big, spiky leaves and tall flower spikes. It grows in gardens and can make any place look special with its unique shape and colors.
Habitat: Urban areas
Appearance
The Bear's breeches has striking, deeply cut, glossy dark green leaves, sometimes reaching over a meter long. Its tall, architectural flower spikes bear numerous tubular white or pale pink flowers, each encased by spiny purple or green bracts, creating a bold, upright display.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderLamialesFamilyAcanthaceaeGenusAcanthus
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
4
Interesting facts
Bear's breeches can live for decades, returning year after year with its impressive leaves and flowers!
Its stunning leaves inspired ancient Greek and Roman artists to carve designs on famous columns!
The name 'Acanthus' comes from a Greek word meaning 'thorny,' referring to the spiky parts of its flowers.
This plant is so tough it can grow happily even in very dry, shady spots where many others struggle!
Special abilities
Ability
Leafy Umbrella
Bear's breeches can grow huge, glossy leaves which help it capture sunlight efficiently and outcompete other plants for light.
Ability
Spiky Shield
Bear's breeches has spiny bracts around its flowers that help protect the developing seeds from hungry creatures.
Ability
Underground Explorer
Bear's breeches uses spreading underground rhizomes to create new plants and quickly colonize a larger area.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 60-150 cm
- Spread
- 60-90 cm
- Flower Size
- 4-5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to summer (May-August)
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Visits flowers to collect nectar and pollen.
pollinates
Buff-tailed Bumblebee
Bombus terrestris
Efficient pollinator due to its long tongue reaching nectar.
eats
Garden Snail
Cornu aspersum
Feeds on the large, succulent leaves, especially when young.
eats
Leopard Slug
Limax maximus
Also consumes leaves and stems, preferring damp conditions.
Traits
Aromatic
Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Spiky/Thorny
Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface.
Urban Friendly
This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Bear's breeches?
The easiest way to identify Bear's breeches is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How tall is Bear's breeches?
60-150 cm
How wide does Bear's breeches spread?
60-90 cm
How big are the flowers on Bear's breeches?
4-5 cm
When does Bear's breeches bloom?
Late spring to summer (May-August)
Is Bear's breeches edible?
Yes
Is Bear's breeches toxic?
Mild
What is Bear's breeches's lifecycle?
Perennial
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
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