A name for this plant

[SPR2]

[url][im
It is an extremly prickley plant

[TheEnd]

Norman?

[Sheets Tabuer]

bear breeches

[SPR2]

Thanks.

[Simpo Two]

TheEnd said:

Norman?

Spiny Norman?



Looks South African or possibly Australian to me.

[58warren]

It's botanical name is Acanthus spinosus - native to the Mediterranean. Nice if you like it, but can be very invasive sending up new foliage and flower spikes from an extensive root system as well as producing a lot of seed.

[Z4monster]

I've just planted six of these in my garden. Back of the border against a fence so they won't get touched very often. Beautiful plant and stunning when in flower.

[Simpo Two]

I think in the context of the attractive stone houses behind, something more English like foxgloves or lupins would look more fitting.

[dickymint]

No idea - but I want one now..........Ta.

[SPR2]

58warren said:

It's botanical name is Acanthus spinosus - native to the Mediterranean. Nice if you like it, but can be very invasive sending up new foliage and flower spikes from an extensive root system as well as producing a lot of seed.

They are a stunning flower, and how long to get this tall? Ihad some seeds given to me and they popped so randomly also are they easy to grow from seed?

[58warren]

Will get that tall in the first year after planting. Very easy from seed or take root cuttings. A small piece of root will soon develop into a new plant.

[Shaolin]

SPR2 said:

They are a stunning flower, and how long to get this tall? Ihad some seeds given to me and they popped so randomly also are they easy to grow from seed?

They are surprisingly easy to grow considering their exotic look and rareness. They are also easy to propogate by splitting plants up too and bloody hard to get rid of if you decide it needs to be somewhere else.

Acanthus leaves are the ones that are used in Roman architecture where there are leaf patterns

[Simpo Two]

Shaolin said:

Acanthus leaves are the ones that are used in Roman architecture where there are leaf patterns

They are, but this example has leaves more like a thistle!