Acanthus mollis (seeds)

The soft-leaved acanthus, in Latin Acanthus mollis, is a robust perennial of Mediterranean undergrowth appreciated for its architectural vegetation. Its large dark leaves with beautifully cut foliage adorn Corinthian capitals, while its floral spikes, laden with long white-pink and purple flowers with spiny bracts, have inspired the Empire style. The acanthus is relatively cold-resistant in the garden and adapts its vegetative cycle according to the climate. It is a plant with a rare elegance, which brings volume, texture, and luxuriance to any setting. However, its spread should be controlled, as where it thrives, for example, in old gardens in the South of France, it self-seeds abundantly—the seeds flower after three years.

The Acanthus mollis belongs to the Acanthaceae family. It is native to northern Greece, Albania, and Croatia. It is a perennial herbaceous plant whose stump spreads through large, fleshy roots. These roots also serve as storage organs, allowing it to survive the summer drought, resting underground. The acanthus is tolerant of soil conditions; it likes rocks and tolerates limestone very well, but in northern regions, it does not appreciate very clayey and wet soils in winter. However, its well-established stump can withstand brief frosts of around -12 to -15°C in well-drained soil.

At maturity, the Soft-leaved Acanthus will form a beautifully spreading clump reaching approximately 70 cm in height and 80 cm in width. In hot climates, it blooms in late spring, avoids drought underground in summer, and its vegetation restarts in autumn, remaining throughout winter if temperatures do not drop below -8°C. In cooler climates, its foliage emerges in spring, blooms in the heart of summer and goes dormant underground in autumn to escape the cold. The foliage, dark green and glossy, is composed of leaves that can reach 1 metre long, deeply lobed.

The flowering is spectacular, from June to August, depending on the region: tall floral stems emerge from the ground, reaching up to 1.25 m or 1.50 m. Very rigid, they do not require staking. Each spike carries many elongated flowers, 5 cm long, tightly packed together and almost horizontally oriented. Each white flower is partially enveloped in purple sepals and equipped with formidable spiny bracts. This flowering attracts pollinating insects such as large black bees (carpenter bees or xylocopes). The flowers are followed by large brown seeds embedded in the spiny bracts, which are impossible to harvest without wearing gloves!

The Great-leaved Acanthus finds its place in undergrowth, in perennial borders, or even along pathways. It can also be planted as a standalone specimen, providing volume and verticality to a somewhat austere ensemble, for example, against a dark background of hedges or conifers. The acanthus flowers, as well as its leaves, enhance large fresh or dried bouquets. The plant pairs well with wildflowers or plants with flexible foliage like grasses, creating a beautiful contrast. As it tolerates root competition very well, it can be planted under a pine or oak tree with periwinkles or variegated ivy 'Gloire de Marengo' used as ground cover.

Properties: Acanthus is still used today in traditional medicine to treat inflammations. It was formerly used to obtain a yellow pigment.