Try for Free
tab list
PictureThis
English
arrow
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
PictureThis
Search
Search Plants
Try for Free
Global
English
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
This page looks better in the app
picturethis icon
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
Continue Reading
Bear's breech

How to identify Bear's breech (Acanthus mollis)

Bear's breech, also known as Oyster plant

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.

Lifespan

Lifespan: Perennial, Annual

Plant Type

Plant Type: Herb

Leaf Type

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Bear's breech

1

Deeply lobed dark green leaves with shiny texture, up to 24 inches (0.6 meters) long.

2

White to light pink flowers with tubular shape, surrounded by spiny green or purplish bracts.

3

Fruit is green oval capsule, 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long, splitting open to release dark seeds.

4

Flowers bloom May-July, 2 inches (5 cm) long, with purple upper lip and white lower lip.

5

Vertical spikes of blooms can reach 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 meters) in height during spring/early summer.

Bear's breechBear's breechBear's breechBear's breechBear's breech

Detailed Traits of Bear's breech

Leaf Features

The leaves of bear's breech form a mounded basal cluster, emerging directly from the base of the plant. They are large and can reach up to 0.6 meters (24 inches) in length and 10 inches (25 centimeters) in width. Each leaf is deeply lobed and cut with a soft-spiny texture and a shiny, dark green appearance. The long stems support the glossy leaves, which exhibit a deeply veined pattern and a distinctive, lush look, making them easily identifiable.

Learn About the Leaf Glossary
Group
Flower Features

Bear's breech flowers are approximately 2 inches (5 cm) in length, tubular in shape, and grow on spikes 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) tall. Each flower has two lips: the upper lip is purple and forms a hood over the lower lip, which is three-lobed, white with purple or rose-colored veins. The flowers are surrounded by spiny bracts which are green or purplish in color. They bloom from May to July, displaying pink or white hues covered by spiny purple bracts.

Bear's breech Flower image
Learn About the Flower Glossary
Group
Fruit Features

The fruit of bear's breech appears as green oval capsules, which ripen to a distinguished woody texture. Typically, these seed pods measure about 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) in length. Upon maturity, the capsules split open to release numerous small, dark brown or black seeds. The surface of these capsules may be slightly bumpy or ridged, providing a tactile interest. This distinctive fruit develops from a summer to autumn blooming pattern and is key for propagation and identification purposes.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary
Group
Icon code

Scan QR code to download

More Plants You May Like and How to Identify Them
Img topic
Cape jasmine

Gardenia jasminoides is an evergreen shrub with unique, glossy evergreen leaves and stunning flowers. The sophisticated, matte white flowers are often used in bouquets. The exceptional beauty of this ornamental plant has made it a popular and highly appreciated plant amongst gardeners and horticulturalists.

Img topic
Golden pothos

The golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular houseplant that is commonly seen in Australia, Asia, and the West Indies. It goes by many nicknames, including "devil's ivy", because it is so hard to kill and can even grow in low light conditions. Golden pothos has poisonous sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children.

Img topic
Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum is an annual or perennial herbaceous vine native to Central and South America that produces a large, juicy, edible fruit known as tomato. Today there are over 10000 cultivated varieties. Although tomato is the world’s most popular vegetable, botanically it is a fruit.

Img topic
Pepper

The pepper are commonly used for cooking in places such as the Southern U.S. and Central America. Most are moderately spicy, though because there are so many variants, the spice level can vary dramatically. Cayenne powder is also a popular seasoning product made from pepper plants.

Img topic
Swiss cheese plant

The swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) produces bright, glossy leaves and makes a popular houseplant. It is originally native to tropical forest regions in Central America. The nickname swiss cheese plant refers to the small holes that develop in the plant's leaves. The long fruits resemble corncobs and smell sweet and fragrant when ripe.

Img topic
Bigleaf hydrangea

The bigleaf hydrangea is a deciduous shrub native to Japan, and is known for its lush, oval, colorful inflorescence. The two types of Hydrangea macrophylla are mopheads - with large, ball-shaped, sterile flower clusters, and lace capes - with small round fertile flowers in the center, and sterile flowers on the outer side of each inflorescence. Depending on soil pH, blooms can change color from pink to blue.

Identify Bear's breech easily and quickly
We're also capable of identifying over 12,000 types of plants, flowers, succulents, and trees in your surroundings.
Identify a Plant Online

Key Facts About Bear's breech

Attributes of Bear's breech
Plant Type
Herb
Plant Height
30 cm to 1.8 m
Spread
60 cm to 90 cm
Leaf Color
Green
Yellow
White
Flower Size
2.5 cm to 8 cm
Flower Color
White
Pink
Purple
Fruit Color
Green
Stem Color
Green
Purple
The Toxicity of Bear's breech
Identify plants with a snap
Instantly identify plants with AI: Snap a photo, and get accurate results within seconds.
Download the App for Free

Scientific Classification of Bear's breech

Family
Acanthus
Icon allow
Species
Bear's breech (Acanthus mollis)
Learn More About the Bear's breech

Distribution Map of Bear's breech

Bear's breech grows in a range of habitats, primarily forests, across its native Mediterranean rim. It has also been introduced to other parts of Europe, Mexico, Australia and the US West Coast. This plant grows as an invasive species and is classed as such in the state of Oregon, Australia and New Zealand.
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
close
close
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
product icon
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
product icon
Nearly 5 years of research
product icon
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
ad
ad
Botanist in your pocket
qrcode
PictureThis Ios DownloadPictureThis Android Download
Scan the QR code with your phone camera to download the app