Bear's Breeches

About Bear's Breeches

Spiny bear's breeches is a clumping perennial plant in the Acanthaceae (acanthus) family. It is native to Europe and the Mediterranean. The showy spikes of purple-white flowers that resemble snapdragons bring a pop of color to shady spots and make attractive additions to cut-flower bouquets.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Acanthus spinosus

Genus

Acanthus

Family

Acanthaceae

Order

Lamiales

Also known as

spine acanthus and spiny bear's-breeches

How to care for Bear's Breeches

💦 Water

How often to water your Bear's Breeches

Bear's Breeches needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Bear's Breeches in your home

Bear's Breeches love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Bear's Breeches does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Bear's Breeches in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Bear's Breeches

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Bear's Breeches: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Bear's Breeches after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

How to grow more leaves for this plant?

Browse #Acanthus

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Bear's Breeches is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

💦 Water Needs

Bear's Breeches prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Bear's Breeches requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Greg does not have confirmed data on this plant’s toxicity. If you, a family member, or a pet consumes plant material of unknown toxicity, it’s always best to consult a medical professional.

If you or someone else ingested this plant, call Poison Control at US (800) 222-1222. If a pet consumed this plant, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA at US (888) 426-4435.

🪴 Soil

Bear's Breeches does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Bear's Breeches is a clumping plant, meaning new growth will emerge from the soil around the parent plant.

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Bear's Breeches can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 7a-10b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

🌱 Propagation

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.