Pollinator plant

Bear's breeches

Acanthus mollis

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Common names

50 names · 28 languages
EnglishYour language
+6 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (27)
Dutch
French
  • Acanthe à feuilles molles[2][3]
Afrikaans
Basque
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
  • Meki primog[3]
Czech
  • paznehtník měkký[3]
Danish
  • Bjørnetidsel[3]
Estonian
  • pehme karusõrg[3]
Finnish
  • kreikanakantti[3]
Galician
German
Hebrew
  • קוציץ רך[3]
Italian
Japanese
  • ハアザミ[3]
Lithuanian
  • Švelnusis akantas[3]
Polish
  • Akant miękki[3]
Portuguese
+3 more namesShow fewer names
Russian
  • Акант мягкий[3]
Slovak
  • akant mäkký[3]
Slovenian
  • mehki akant[3]
Spanish
Swedish
  • björnklo[3]
  • björnkloört[3]
  • mjukakantus[3]
Turkish
  • Ayı Pençesi[3]
Welsh
  • Troed yr arth[3]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Acanthus mollis — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Bear's Breeches — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Acanthus mollis.
  • Bear's Britches — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Acanthus mollis.
  • Bearsfoot — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Acanthus mollis.
  • Oyster Plant — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Acanthus mollis.
  • Sea Dock — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Acanthus mollis.
[2] Acanthus mollis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Bear's breeches — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Wahrer Bärenklau — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Weicher Akanthus — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • bear's-breech — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Bear's-Breeches — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Sea-Dock — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Sea-Holly — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Acanto del Mediterráneo — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Alcachofera hembra — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Trompetillo — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Acanthe à feuilles molles — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Acanto — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Branca orsina — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Brancalupo — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Breedbladige Acanthus — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Zachte Acanthus — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Acanto — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Acanto-manso — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Branca-ursina — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Erva-gigante — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Gigante — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Pé-de-urso — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
[3] Acanthus mollis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Bear's breeches — results[20].names[1]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Wahrer Bärenklau — results[20].names[4]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Weicher Akanthus — results[20].names[6]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • bear's-breech — results[20].names[44]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Bear's-Breeches — results[20].names[27]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Sea-Dock — results[20].names[28]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Sea-Holly — results[20].names[29]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Acanto del Mediterráneo — results[20].names[2]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Alcachofera hembra — results[20].names[17]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Trompetillo — results[20].names[13]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Acanthe à feuilles molles — results[20].names[5]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Acanto — results[20].names[8]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Branca orsina — results[20].names[37]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Brancalupo — results[20].names[38]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Breedbladige Acanthus — results[20].names[9]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Zachte Acanthus — results[20].names[10]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Acanto — results[20].names[3]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Acanto-manso — results[20].names[30]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Branca-ursina — results[20].names[31]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Erva-gigante — results[20].names[32]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Gigante — results[20].names[34]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Pé-de-urso — results[20].names[33]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Acant — results[20].names[7]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Акант мягкий — results[20].names[11]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • paznehtník měkký — results[20].names[12]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • ハアザミ — results[20].names[14]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • 虾蟆花 — results[20].names[15]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • 蝦蟆花 — results[20].names[16]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • mjukakantus — results[20].names[18]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • björnklo — results[20].names[19]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • björnkloört — results[20].names[20]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Akant — results[20].names[21]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Akantus — results[20].names[22]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Bjørnetidsel — results[20].names[23]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • pehme karusõrg — results[20].names[24]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • mehki akant — results[20].names[25]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Acanto — results[20].names[26]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Švelnusis akantas — results[20].names[35]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • קוציץ רך — results[20].names[36]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Akant miękki — results[20].names[39]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Ayı Pençesi — results[20].names[40]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Molorrika — results[20].names[41]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Troed yr arth — results[20].names[42]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • kreikanakantti — results[20].names[43]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • Meki primog — results[20].names[45]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
  • akant mäkký — results[20].names[46]; taxon id 70045; Acanthus mollis.
[4] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Acanthus mollis ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Weicher Akanthus (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 159208; taxon 92T9.
  • Bear's-breech (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 159207; taxon 92T9.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Acanthus mollis is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Acanthaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.91–1.83 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.61–0.91 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Clumping

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
NW. Africa, Sardegna to E. Medit.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Unknown suitability
Nectar value Unknown
Pollen value Unknown
Plant profile

About this plant

Bear's breeches (Acanthus mollis) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from July to September.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Acanthus mollis — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 3630000; ID 92T9; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 3630000; ID 92T9; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Acanthus mollis — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureFlowering season
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Acanthus mollis — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 435640; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1131476, 1131478, 1131479, 1131481, 1131482, 1131483, 1131484, 1131485, 1131486, 1131490, 1131491, 1131492

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.