Acanthus 'White Lips'

Description and Characteristics

Acanthus 'White Lips' is a striking, clump-forming perennial prized for its bold architectural foliage and tall spires of creamy-white flowers with subtle green or purplish bracts. It is a distinctive cultivar of the Acanthus genus, known for its elegant variation on the traditional Bear’s Breeches flower — featuring pure white upper lips that create a more refined and luminous appearance in garden borders.

This plant forms a lush basal mound of deeply lobed, dark green, glossy leaves that resemble classical acanthus leaf motifs found in ancient Greek and Roman architecture. In summer (typically June to August), it sends up tall, vertical flower spikes that can reach 1.2 to 1.5 metres, adding dramatic height and strong vertical accents to beds and borders.

Unlike some of its relatives, Acanthus 'White Lips' has a slightly softer appearance, and its cleaner flower colour makes it well suited to white-themed planting schemes, modern landscapes, or moon gardens.

• Herbaceous perennial with glossy green, deeply divided foliage

• Produces tall spires of white hooded flowers in early to midsummer

• Height: 90–150 cm; Spread: 75–100 cm

• A strong statement plant for sun to partial shade gardens

• Excellent for architectural, Mediterranean, and formal borders

Growing Conditions and Maintenance

Acanthus 'White Lips' is low-maintenance and easy to grow in the right conditions. It thrives in sun or light shade with well-drained, fertile soil, and is long-lived once established.

• Light Requirements:

  • Best in full sun or partial shade

  • In hot climates, it benefits from afternoon shade to protect foliage

  • Tolerates light woodland conditions

• Soil Preferences:

  • Prefers moist, well-drained, fertile soil

  • Tolerates chalk, loam, or sandy soils

  • pH: neutral to alkaline preferred, but adaptable

• Watering Needs:

  • Water regularly in the first season until well established

  • Once mature, it is reasonably drought-tolerant

  • Avoid waterlogged conditions—ensure good drainage

• Feeding:

  • Apply a balanced general-purpose fertiliser in spring

  • Alternatively, mulch annually with well-rotted compost or manure

• Pruning and Maintenance:

  • Deadhead spent flower spikes after flowering to prevent self-seeding

  • Cut back dead foliage in autumn or early spring to tidy up the clump

  • Stake tall flower spikes in windy areas to avoid flopping

• Root Management:

  • May spread by rhizomes over time — divide every few years if space is limited

  • Avoid planting too close to paths or lawns unless spreading is desired

• Winter Care:

  • Hardy in Zones 6–9 (RHS H5)

  • Dies back in winter; new shoots emerge in spring

  • Mulch in late autumn in colder regions to insulate the crown

Garden Uses, Companion Plants, and Pollinator Benefits

Acanthus 'White Lips' delivers structure, height, and summer colour to gardens. Its tall spires and architectural leaves provide strong contrast to soft, mounding perennials and ornamental grasses.

• Design Applications:

  • Excellent in mixed borders, white gardens, or monochrome plantings

  • Works well as a focal point, specimen plant, or back-of-border anchor

  • Ideal for formal and classical designs, including Mediterranean-style gardens

• Companion Plants:

  • Pairs beautifully with Salvia, Nepeta, Echinacea, Achillea, and Lavandula

  • Contrasts well with grasses like Stipa, Pennisetum, and Miscanthus

  • Complements silver or grey foliage (Artemisia, Santolina) and evergreen shrubs

• Pollinator Benefits:

  • Flowers are nectar-rich, attracting bees and hoverflies

  • Can contribute to a wildlife-friendly border with other summer bloomers

  • Leaves offer some shelter and texture for beneficial insects

• Pest and Disease Resistance:

  • Generally pest-free and disease-resistant

  • May attract slugs or snails to young spring foliage

  • Ensure airflow and drainage to prevent mildew or rot

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

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If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.