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Advice re Acanthus

PhloxgirlPhloxgirl Posts: 2
in Problem solving
I planted an acanthus a couple of years ago and last summer it flowered beautifully. This winter after 6 weeks of continous below freezing temperatures it died back completely( the winter before the green foliage remained) and I thought I had lost it. A couple of weeks ago I noticed new shoots appearing, so happy! But the shoots do not look very robust and seem to have stopped growing. Am I best to leave it and wait? Feed? Any advice welcomed.

Posts

  • rachelQrtJHBjbrachelQrtJHBjb Posts: 819
    Hi. Welcome to the forum. I have Acanthus 'Rue Ledan' and growth has been severely affected by the weather. I looked at the emerging leaves today and they are very small. All top growth was lost in the snow and frosts. My plant had 30+ flower spikes on it last year as it's been in situ 5 years. 

    I'm going to wait it out and see what happens but I expect both your plant and mine will recover, albeit at a slow rate. I don't think you necessarily need to feed it, unless you soil is particularly poor. I added a deep mulch to all borders around 6 weeks ago but that's it. I'm sure all is not lost.
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    Is this acanthus tough-as-old-boots mollis or agapanthus?

    Where are you based? Here in Rutland the winter was a little worse than usual but prolonged temperatures below freezing were only for a few consecutive days not weeks.
    Rutland, England
  • Zoe P2Zoe P2 Posts: 848


    In my experience, acanthus is indestructible; never feed or water it even and yet it multiplies incessantly!  So I think your plant is, most probably, safe  

    Perhaps other gardeners have different experiences?

    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1028639/acanthus-be-warned/p1



    I have a dream that my.. children.. one day.. will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character

      Martin Luther King

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I'm sure it will be fine, just suffering a bit from the cold. It will perk up when the weather warms up.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    We thought we had cleared the bed with the acanthus in it and turfed over it. That was four years ago. It has since been mown every week from late February to early November but still it shoots up in dry summers.

    That’s why I wondered if Claire was asking about agapanthus.
    Rutland, England
  • edhelkaedhelka Posts: 2,351
    Acanthus can regrow from a bit of a root. It's hard to get rid of (the roots go deep) even if you try to.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Mine are much the same, only just showing signs of life.
    no feed needed, they’re tough plants. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • PhloxgirlPhloxgirl Posts: 2
    Thanks everyone! I am just north of  Scottish Borders, it was a particularly prolonged cold spell and I have lost a few plants. Glad to hear it will recover! 
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