# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Bear's breeches](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Acanthaceae_-_Acanthus_mollis_%282%29.JPG&width=800) Photo: Hectonichus, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acanthaceae_-_Acanthus_mollis_%282%29.JPG) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Acanthaceae - **Genus:** Acanthus ## 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 - **Leafy Umbrella:** Bear's breeches can grow huge, glossy leaves which help it capture sunlight efficiently and outcompete other plants for light. - **Spiky Shield:** Bear's breeches has spiny bracts around its flowers that help protect the developing seeds from hungry creatures. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Cornu aspersum*) — Feeds on the large, succulent leaves, especially when young. - **Eats:** [Leopard Slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard-slug) (*Limax maximus*) — Also consumes leaves and stems, preferring damp conditions. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Spiky/Thorny](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spiky-thorny): Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## 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? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Woodland Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/woodland-park-zoo) — Washington, US · Zoo - [University of Valencia Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/university-of-valencia-botanical-garden) — Comunitat Valenciana, ES · Park - [Shiranoe Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shiranoe-botanical-gardens) — Kyushu, JP · Park [View all places to see Bear's breeches](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/bears-breeches) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Bear's breeches: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bears-breeches)