THE HARDY ACANTHUS. 



235 



Culture. 



To flower well in this coun- 

 try they need to be in light 

 well- drained soil and in an open sunny 

 spot, with some shelter if possible, and 

 to be planted in spring in order to get 

 some hold before winter. In many gar- 

 dens of heavier soil — such as strong 

 limestone marls — the Acanthus grows 

 well but is less free in flower and needs 

 deep drainage with some protection, at 

 least until well established. Strong roots 

 may be divided in spring or young plants 

 may be grown from root-cuttings, or 

 seed raised in gentle heat ; as generally 

 practised these ways are slow, but in 

 Paris, where the Acanthus is grown in 

 large numbers for market, fine plants 

 are grown to a useful size in a few months 

 and are in great demand as window 

 plants. 



There are many species of 

 Acanthus with only slight 

 differences in point of effect, consist- 

 ing mainly in modifications of leaf or 

 flower. The hardy kinds commonly 

 found in gardens are : — 



Grecian Acanthus [A. Caroli- Alexandria) . 

 — One of the latest hardy kinds, a small grower 

 with only a few narrow leaves in a loose cluster, 

 and standing from 1 2 to 18 inches high ; dense 

 spikes of flower during spring, white suffused 

 with rose. Greece. 



Stately Acanthus {A. candelabrum). — 

 A plant of uncertain origin, very handsome in 

 bold masses, and doing well in a moist spot even 

 when in partial shade, or grouped at the foot 

 of limestone boulders in the rock-garden. It 

 is a strong grower, with leaves of intense green, 

 flowering in autumn. 



Spanish Acanthus {A. hispanicus). — An 

 old kind which has almost died out of northern 

 gardens, of medium growth (2 feet), with 

 broad deeply-cut leaves of glossy green and 

 spikes of white flowers. 



Long-leaved Acanthus [A. longifolius) . 



Kinds. 



— A bold distinct plant and oneof the hardiest. 

 Its leaves are long and narrow, gracefully arch- 

 ing, and of bright green ; the flowers, of pur- 

 plish-rose surrounded by reddish bracts, are 

 borne upon short spikes of 2 feet in early sum- 

 mer. Dalmatia. 



Common Acanthus (A. mollis). — -The 

 common Italian species, of free handsome 

 growth with dull green leaves cut into broad 

 waved lobes, and loose spikes of rosy-white 

 flowers. 



Broad-leaved Acanthus (A. mollis lati- 

 folius). — A variety of the last but larger, hand- 

 somer, and hardier, with very large leaves of 

 dark green, finely cut and glossy, often remain- 

 ing good all the winter. Stout flower-spikes 

 of 4 to 5 feet during July and August, with 



ACANTHUS IN FLOWER. 



white and rosy flowers set thickly and seed- 

 ing freely. Syn. A. lusitanicus. A beautiful 

 form of this kind is seen in some gardens of 

 southern Europe, with a very distinct erect 

 habit and shining leaves of fine appearance, 

 making it the best for single tufts. 



Black-stemmed Acanthus (A. niger). — 

 An uncommon species from Portugal, with 

 shiningdarkgreenleavesof 3 feet and purplish- 

 white flowers towards the end of summer. 



Spiny Acanthus {A. spinossissimus). — A 

 handsome kind, very distinct, with leaves of 

 3 to 4 feet, deeply cut, blistered, and spiny ; 

 the spines glistening and acutely recurved. The 



