Bear’s Breeches (Acanthus mollis)
Flowers: Late spring to mid summer. Height: Up to 105cm (5ft).
Introduced into cultivation from Italy in 1548, Acanthus leaves have a classical appearance and were the source of the Corinthian leaf motif developed and used as a decoration in ancient Greek and Roman art and architecture. Acanthus is taken from Akantha, the Greek word for thorn. The tale goes that Acantha was a nymph loved by the god Apollo but she rebuffed his advances and scratched his face. As a result, Apollo transformed her into the Acanthus, a plant with spiny leaves. Its name of Bear’s Breeches is believed to be a corruption from its 17th century Cornish name of Brankursine which means bear’s claws and relates to the shape of its flowers.
Medicinal: Brought from the Mediterranean by the Romans, who boiled the roots for poultices to soothe burns and cure sprains, gout and baldness.
Used as a yellow dye.
