Bear's Breeches

This clump-forming herbaceous perennial grows to 5 feet with leaves deep shiny dark green, up to 3 feet long.  Acanthus mollis tolerates a wide range of light from full sun to deep shade and as the hot summer progresses the whole plant goes into dormancy.  It tolerates moderate dry conditions and can spread by way of underground roots.   The inflorescence is a spike of white flowers surrounded by purple calyces.