How to Grow and Care for Bear's breech

Bear's breech, also known as Bearsfoot, Oyster plant, Sea dock, Grecian pattern plant, Artist's acanthus

Bear's breech is generally easy to grow, thriving in well-drained soil and tolerating a range of light conditions, from full sun to partial shade. Special care points include ensuring proper soil drainage to prevent root rot, and occasional division to maintain its vigor and control spread. Deadheading spent blooms can also encourage a tidier growth habit.

Watering schedule: Every week

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

Toxic to Humans

In This Article

Planting and Growing Bear's breech

Toughness	High
Care Level	Medium
Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Perennial, Annual
Watering Schedule	Every week
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil Type	Garden Soil
Soil pH	6-7.5
Planting Time	Spring, Early summer
Hardiness Zones	7-10
Toxicity	Toxic to Humans

A Botanist in Your Pocket

Scan QR code to download

Varieties of Bear's breech

Bear's breech 'Rue Ledan'

Bear's breech 'Rue Ledan' was supposedly first discovered in a private garden in England, and then introduced to the world by Jean-Pierre Jolivot. It features distinct, pure white flowers with a green hood and glossy, broad, lobed foliage that remains evergreen in most winters. It is taller than the regular A. mollis. Bear's breech 'Rue Ledan' was awarded the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society's Garden of Merit Award in 2016.

Bear's breech 'Morning's Candle'

Bear's breech 'Morning's Candle' was likely bred from Acanthus spinosus and Acanthus mollis. This improved cultivar is known as an extremely adaptable and hardy selection among the Bear's breech species. Combining characteristics of both parents, it is exceptionally drought tolerant and pest resistant.

Bear's breech 'Whitewater'

Bear's breech 'Whitewater' is a striking garden plant that produces big white flower stalks above large, variegated green and white leaves. This unusual hybrid differs dramatically from the parent, which has plain leaves and purple and white flowers. This is a hardy plant that grows easily in almost any type of well-drained soil.

Common Pests & Diseases

Feedback

Common issues for Bear's breech based on 10 million real cases

Plant disease auto-diagnose & prevention

AI-powered plant doctor helps you diagnose plant problems in seconds.

Download the App for Free

The Toxicity of Bear's breech

Feedback

Identify toxic plants in your garden

Find out what’s toxic and what’s safe for humans and pets.

Download the App for Free

More General Info About Bear's breech

Feedback

Quickly Identify Bear's breech

Feedback

Instantly identify plants with a snap

Snap a photo for instant plant ID, gaining quick insights on disease prevention, treatment, toxicity, care, uses, and symbolism, etc.

Download the App for Free

Bear's breech features striking dark green, deeply lobed leaves and white to light pink flowers housed in spiny green and purple bracts. The visible blooms appear atop vertical spikes that reach impressive heights of 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 meters) during the spring and early summer season. Each plant can grow to 3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 meters) tall and 3 feet (0.9 meters) wide. The foliage may become dormant in summer without regular moisture but it is resilient to low temperatures, surviving down to about 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 degrees Celsius). The plant's lush leafy presence may spread via rhizomes, and care may include controlling this spread with root barriers.