Acanthus spinosus flowers.

i like these, very nice :o)

Very nice. I've had these for a number of years. I grew mine from seed which I borrowed from somewhere and this is the first season that it hasn't produced a flower spike.

maybe its having a rest toto, extra big flowers next year

Maybe Sanbaz. I will wait and see.

Does yours creep under the soil and pop up everywhere?

I looooove this - mine came from my sister, via my mum. Mine has two flower spikes this time, still in bud - it hasnt been set long enough to know if it pops up elsewhere Spritz.

It really is a nuisance, Sandra! I inherited the plant, and I really have to keep digging the off-shoots out, or it would take over the whole border!
So watch out...

You have beautiful soil though I would guess Spritz - not my heavy clay - it is getting better though, since I had my delivery of manure.

Good. I do have good soil, yes, but underneath is a layer of stony soil, so if I have to dig deep, like for the new Hydrangea, it's back-breaking and I collect a bucket of large stones. Then I back-fill with compost.

When I set new plants, like you, I dig a deep hole and then mix the clay I take out with the well rotted manure and multi purpose compost and back fill - the plants seem happy with that. It must be hard work Spritz for you, mine is too. I've been mulching with the muck too, thats working well too.

Yes, it is rather - did you see that when I dug the new bed I took out at least 6 or 7 barrow loads of stones? It isn't nearly as bad as clay, though. Poor you! :-(

We all have our cross to bare ..... keeps us fit Spritz :-)

That is very true, Dawn! ;-)
As long as my back doesn't seize up, that is.

Mine has been in the same place for at least 5 years and I've had no problems with it running around. Like Dawn I have heavy clay soil. Like Dawn I have managed to improve it over the years.

I find that I have to dig up little plants from around the main one every year - I try to keep the plant in one area about a metre across. I even found another one yesterday about 2' away! I think they are 'suckers', as they don't pull out, I have to chop them out.

You should pot them up and sell them on your plant stall next year.

I don't think it would work - they don't come out with roots!

Ah!

...so they must be suckers, mustn't they? I dread to think how far down the root system of the main plant goes!

Now you've got me worried.

Why? It only matters if you want to dig it out, doesn't it?

Tha's very true and providing it behaves itself it can stay.

I quite like it for its 'architectural' look in the border. It does stand out, doesn't it! I have to support it, or it flops all over the other plants - do you?

I've never needed to support it. I is very sturdy and supports itself.

Not the flowers, they stand up straight - the leaves! We inherited some steel circular 'bands' on legs, I put one of those on the top of the plant as it grows, then tuck the floppy leaves inside it. It's hidden by the leaves, and it works well.

Not even the leaves on mine need support Spritz. The ones down here in Essex are made of sterner stuff.

I'm amazed! I'm beginning to wonder if we have the same species??

Maybe that's the reason Spritz. They do seem to behave differently.