• Photo of Acanthus 'Summer Beauty' (Acanthus 'Summer Beauty's)

Plant Profile: Acanthus 'Summer Beauty'

Names

Bear's Breeches 'Summer Beauty'

  • Photo of Acanthus 'Summer Beauty' (Acanthus 'Summer Beauty's)

Phonetic Spelling:ah-KAN-thus

Genus:Acanthus

Species:

Family:Acanthaceae

Bear's Breaches 'Summer Beauty' is a perennial cultivar that forms clumps and results from the hybridization of Acanthus mollis and Acanthus spinosus. Its large, dark green foliage imparts a tropical ambiance, while the striking spikes of white and purple flowers create a dramatic vertical accent. This variety exhibits greater resilience to heat and humidity compared to its parent species and is also resistant to browsing by rabbits and deer. The plant propagates through creeping roots.

For optimal growth, it should be planted in full sun to partial shade within well-drained soil. It adapts to a range of soil types, though it does not thrive in overly wet conditions. Its bold form makes it an excellent choice as a specimen plant or when grouped in small clusters within borders or formal gardens. It's important to select a permanent location for planting, as once established, it can be challenging to remove; even a small piece of root can give rise to a new plant.

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty' Feature Summary

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty' Image Gallery

Tags

#showy flowers
#specimen
#rabbit resistant
#deer resistant
#cream flowers
#glossy leaves
#large flowers
#creamy white
#attractive leaves
#formal gardens
#borders
#english garden
#late spring flowers
#mid-summer flowers
#vertical spaces
#early summer flowers
#small group plantings
#tropical feel

Similar Plants

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty' is often confused with:

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty' Feature Summary

Attributes
Resistant to rabbits and deer
Perennial
Flowers
Large spikes of creamy white resemble hooded snapdragons with spiny purple bracts extend above the leaves 4'-6' in the air
Purple/Lavender
White
Cream/Tan
Spring
Summer
Bracts
fused petals
Leaves
The leaves are up to 2 feet long, deeply lobed and glossy green with soft spines. The basal foliage grows in a rosette.
> 6 inches
> 6 inches
Stem
4-6 ft tall thick flower stem
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Herbaceous Perennial
Clumping
Coarse
Spines
Thorns
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Landscape
Cutting Garden
English Garden
Border
Accent
Small groups
Specimen
Container
Patio
Spines/Thorns

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty' Attributes

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Wildlife Value

Resistant to rabbits and deer

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty' Flowers

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Flower Description

Large spikes of creamy white resemble hooded snapdragons with spiny purple bracts extend above the leaves 4'-6' in the air

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Flower Color

filter_vintage
Cream/Tan
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender
filter_vintage
White

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty' Leaves

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Leaf Description

The leaves are up to 2 feet long, deeply lobed and glossy green with soft spines. The basal foliage grows in a rosette.

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Leaf Color

spa
Green

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty' Stem

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Stem Description

4-6 ft tall thick flower stem

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Stem Color

grass
Green

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty' Whole Plant Traits

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Appendage

Prickles
Spines
Tendrils
Thorns

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty' Cultural Conditions

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty' Landscape

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Acanthus 'Summer Beauty': Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy