Acanthus mollis 'Hollard's Gold'

Hollard's Gold Bear's Breeches

Semi-evergreen Perennial

Bear's breeches (Acanthus mollis 'Hollard's Gold') is selected specifically for its foliage color — leaves emerge gold and settle into acid green as the season goes on, growing up to 3′ long. Bold, glossy foliage like this is great in mixed garden beds, but it makes an especially dramatic subject for a solo container planting. In early summer, tall flower spikes in white, mauve, and grey rise to 4′ above the foliage.

It forms imposing clumps quickly in rich to average, well-drained soil with light, consistent summer water, and takes dry conditions well — under real stress it goes summer dormant. We move on. Evergreen to about 20°F, and it shines in the deepest shade you've got.

Very important to shelter from afternoon sun: direct, intense sun will burn the foliage and mar its appearance.

It's a long-lived, permanent plant — once established, it's difficult to remove, since it regrows from small bits of remaining root left behind. Choose your location carefully, or grow it in a container if you're uncertain.

Growing Conditions

Zone: 7, 8, 9, 10

Exposure: Full Shade, Filtered Sun, Morning Sun, Open Shade

Water Needs: Regular / Even

Description

Size: 30 - 48 tall x 36 - 48 wide
Shape / Form: Mounding, Upright, Clumping
Foliage Texture: Bold
Foliage Quality: Bold

Features: Attractive Foliage, Attracts Bees, Flowers, Low Maintenance

Foliage Color: Chartreuse / Lime, Yellow / Gold

Flower Color: Mutli-color, White
Bloom Season: Jul, Jun, Summer
Flower Shape: Spike /Spire


Uses and Applications

Landscape Uses: Beds and Borders, Container, Drama / Focal Point, Mixed Border, Small Gardens, Specimen
Special Situations: Courtyard / Urban Garden, Deer Resistant, Dry Shade, Rabbit Resistant
Wildlife: Bees, Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant

More Design Considerations

Season of Interest: Spring, Summer, Fall, Late Winter / Early Spring, Late Spring / Early Summer, Late Summer / Early Fall, Three Seasons of Interest
Position / Role: mid-plane filler
Plant Behavior: Aggressive / Crowds Neighbors, Potentially Invasive
Collections: eGardenGo Favorite, Plants That Earn Their Keep

Care and Maintenance

Maintenance Level: low
Maintenance Tasks: Deadheading

Suitable Substitutes

Acanthus mollis | Bear's Breeches

Perfect Partners

Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance' | Brilliance Autumn Fern
Dryopteris erythrosora' Red Radiance' | Red Radiance Autumn Fern
Hakonechloa macra | Japanese Forest Grass
Hakonechloa macra 'Albovariegata' | VARIEGATED JAPANESE FOREST GRASS
Hakonechloa macra 'HakBri2' Lime Zest | Lime Zest Japanese Forest Grass
Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis | Dwarf Sweet Box

Plant Combos