acanthus
Acanthus L.
A genus overview; characteristics vary between its species.
Acanthus brings robust foliage and intricately built flowers to a genus of perennial herbs, shrubs and small trees. Its leaves usually stand in opposite pairs, sometimes in whorls of four. Across the genus, leaf edges range from smooth to deeply divided or armed with teeth, producing markedly different silhouettes. Kew: Acanthus, descriptions from Flora of Iraq and Flora ZambesiacaWorld Flora Online: Acanthus L.
Botanical name
Kew accepts Acanthus L. as a genus in Acanthaceae. This profile describes the genus, without selecting a species. Kew Plants of the World Online: Acanthus L.
Recognizing the plant
Flowers gather at stem tips or in leaf axils, each accompanied by conspicuous bracts that may themselves have spiny margins. A short corolla tube opens into a broad lower lip, divided into three to five lobes. Four projecting stamens rise from the throat; their anthers bear stiff hairs. The calyx is divided into firm segments, thickened toward their bases. After flowering, a glossy woody capsule develops, generally holding only two to four flattened, disc-shaped seeds. The prominent bracts remain an especially useful feature alongside the flowers. Kew: Acanthus, descriptions from Flora of Iraq and Flora ZambesiacaWorld Flora Online: Acanthus L.
Native range
The genus is native from southern parts of Europe through Africa and Asia to northern Australia. Its woody and herbaceous members occupy different portions of this extensive Old World range. Kew Plants of the World Online: Acanthus L.
Botanical sources
- Kew Plants of the World Online: Acanthus L.
- Kew: Acanthus, descriptions from Flora of Iraq and Flora Zambesiaca
- World Flora Online: Acanthus L.
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.