What: The large, glossy, bright green leaves of Acanthus spinosus, commonly known as bear’s breeches, add drama to any setting, but its smaller more compact habit make it easy to fit into almost any ...

As a second generation native of dry Los Angeles, the plants that stand out in my memory are those that have survived our periodic droughts. Many of these were remnants of earlier eras — first the ...

Each year Acanthus mollis returns to gardens in Redlands. In fact, their familiar leaves are already popping up in some yards. Acanthus mollis, commonly called bear’s breeches, is one of the great ...

Acanthus spinosus. Acanthus is native to the Mediterranean area. It takes its name from the Greek word akantha, which means spike or thorn. Greek myth has it that the god Apollo was besotted with a ...

When I look at the Acanthus plants in my garden, I think of the TV detective, Adrian Monk, and how he described his amazing analytical skill: “It’s a gift…and a curse.” That phrase also neatly ...

Imagine a plant in your garden that resembles a living sculpture and dates back before the 4th century B.C.! Its name is acanthus, and it’s possible. Commonly called bear’s breech, leaves of this ...

As I’m a second-generation native of dry Los Angeles, the plants that stand out in my memory are those that have survived our periodic droughts. Many of these were remnants of earlier eras – first the ...

A: Many Acanthus species carry the common name of "bear's breech." One explanation is that the flowers resemble the spinal column of a large animal — a bear, perhaps, why not? — and another is that it ...

We are embarking on a new 26-month-long series at the request of readers and school teachers alike. Back by popular demand, The Architects’ Alphabet will offer a fresh new vocabulary. We will explore ...

For such an elegant plant in flower, its common name of bear's breeches seems less than suitable. But this rather fanciful name has the merit of being easy to remember. The botanical name of acanthus ...

The statuesque Acanthus spinosus makes one of the finest silhouettes in the winter garden. Sturdy stems carry a whorl of 30 or so flowers, each capable of producing a shiny, rich-brown, elliptical ...