Many members of the
Acanthaceae family are tropical herbs, shrubs, or twining vines.
Ruellia
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Mexican Petunia (Ruellia ) |
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Mexican Petunia (Ruellia )
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Anisacanthus
Hummingbird Bush
Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii
Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii
Hummingbird bush, flame acanthus begins blooming in late June through October.
My west fence row is covered with flame acanthus, turk's cap and further back, in the shade, abelia, The hummingbirds visits at about 8:00 - 11:30 every day. The shrub receives morning sun. They are semi-deciduous in hardiness zone 7b/8a. I use wire fencing to keep it upright. I use a second shorter wire fence to support the turk's cap, used as a bedding plant lining te front of the flame acanthus. This provides a va-va-voom of red flowers along the fence row.
Acanthus
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| Bear's Breeches, Acanthus mollis The warriors headdress replicates the form of the floral inflorescence. |
"Acanthus mollis, commonly known as bear’s breeches, is a clump-forming perennial that is grown as much for its attractive foliage as for its architecturally bold flower spikes. It is native to the Mediterranean region. Acanthus leaves have a classical appearance and were the source of the Corinthian leaf motif developed and used as a decoration in ancient Greek and Roman art and architecture. It is believed that the leaves of Acanthus mollis or Acanthus spinosis were the model for the sculptured leaves that adorn the capitals of the Corinthian columns that became popular in the 4th century B.C." MBG
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| Bear's breeches (Acanthus mollis) |
Strobilanthes
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| Persian Shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus) |
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2019
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