Acanthus hungaricus White Lips - Bear's Breech

The Acanthus hungaricus 'White Lips' is a distinctly bicoloured novelty, with prominent white lips topped with mauve bracts from July to August. It is a medium-sized perennial with an upright habit and narrower and more deeply cut dark green foliage than the species. 'White Lips' Hungarian acanthus is easy to maintain and grows quickly. Plant it en masse on the edge of undergrowth or a patio border in rich, well-drained soil in a warm spot near a wall or rockery.

The Acanthus hungaricus, despite its name, is not found in Hungary today but can be found in some Balkan countries. It is a close relative of Acanthus mollis, found in forests in southern France, from the acanthus family. It is distinguished by its extraordinary floribundance and preference for sunny locations.

The 'White Lips' variety is a deciduous herbaceous perennial with a dense, upright habit that can reach 80 cm (32in) in height and 70 cm (28in) in spread. It produces long, narrow, shiny dark green leaves, deeply lobed but non-spiny. In June-August, while the foliage tends to wither, large spike-like flowers appear, reaching 80 cm (32in) above the ground. These spikes bear large, crumpled, bilabiate flowers, 5 cm (2in) long, pure white. Each flower is topped with a spiny mauve bract, giving a two-tone appearance to the flower head. These bracts add charm to this impressive flowering. Acanthus plants attract large pollinating insects such as bumblebees or carpenter bees. The fruits are shiny capsules containing large seeds. The foliage completely disappears after flowering, reappearing in autumn and remaining evergreen throughout winter. This plant spreads from a stump with large fleshy roots capable of storing water and food reserves during dry periods. It tolerates chalky and rocky soils. Planting in heavy soil and cold climates is not recommended!

The 'Hot Lips' Hungarian acanthus is the hardiest species of the genus and is easy to grow. This truly magnificent plant cannot be ignored. In a dry garden, it is a robust and reliable perennial that pairs well with the blue blooms of Caryopteris, Ceratostigma griffithii, Perowskia 'Blue Spire', or Lobelia laxiflora and Epilobium canum in warm tones. It is ideal for adding verticality and volume to perennial plant beds in all regions. It is also a beautiful focal plant in a natural setting or a large container on the terrace. Like its relatives, the Hungarian acanthus can withstand root competition from old trees such as oaks or pines. It can naturalise in old gardens and cover large areas if it finds the right conditions.