My acanthus has been in situ at least six years. Last year it surpassed itself by producing a total of five leaves. It seems to me to be a very pernickity plant … a case of horses for courses … ?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I think the frost got my acanthus spinosus ... planted 2 years ago. Last summer only one flowered out of 4. 3 are definitely dead now. Clearly they didn't like me.
I've seen people claiming that 'x' plant is invasive in their garden and they are desperate to get rid of it. I've tried growing the same plant and it has either died or been perfectly well behaved. So much depends on the conditions where it is grown, although I certainly accept that some plants are so invasive they do need to be banned.
Acanthus spinosus spreads quite slowly here but it's tricky to get rid of (grows back from any bit of root left behind). I've never noticed it escaping into the wild, or growing anywhere except in gardens around here, so I wouldn't describe it as invasive, but I can believe it might behave differently in different conditions. Just don't change your mind once you've planted it.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Conditions vary enormously - soil, climate etc, and that's what will determine how good, bad or indifferent a plant will be. As @KT53 says - what someone finds a problem, someone else can struggle to keep alive - simply because of those factors. Look how many people are demented by Japanese anemones, especially the pink ones. Never a problem here.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
My Japanese anemones are very well behaved I wouldn’t mind at all if they spread but they are resolutely staying in one very small area. My VB self seed into cracks in the paving g but I just pull them out pop them into pots and give them to people. Forget me nots also self seed but are easy to pull up. One of the advantages of having a small suburban garden is it’s easy to keep on top of invasive plants… except for bindweed of course.
I think it rather depends on how you use the term "invasive" doesn't it ? As can be seen from the above posts some plants barely thrive in some gardens whilst others can be difficult to control and vise versa. Just as an example, my present garden which had been neglected for 20 plus years is covered in Vinca major, Ash saplings, bulbs and brambles to name a few. I don't class them as "invasive" simply a PITA due to neglect. Acanthus and J anemones pop up fairly frequently as Problem Plants In my previous garden, Acanthus did need watching. I've only ever grown the J anemone White Swan - much easier than the pink variety but others grow the pink without any trouble. As has been said over and over again on this thread and others - right plant, right place
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Luxembourg
As @KT53 says - what someone finds a problem, someone else can struggle to keep alive - simply because of those factors.
Look how many people are demented by Japanese anemones, especially the pink ones. Never a problem here.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Just as an example, my present garden which had been neglected for 20 plus years is covered in Vinca major, Ash saplings, bulbs and brambles to name a few. I don't class them as "invasive" simply a PITA due to neglect.
Acanthus and J anemones pop up fairly frequently as Problem Plants In my previous garden, Acanthus did need watching. I've only ever grown the J anemone White Swan - much easier than the pink variety but others grow the pink without any trouble.
As has been said over and over again on this thread and others - right plant, right place