Acanthus hirsutus

Acanthus hirsutus, Hairy Bear's Breeches, is an unusual herbaceous clump-forming Acanthus from Turkey and Syria with a dwarf habit and handsome deeply-cut spiny foliage. In mid Spring to early summer it produces columnar racemes of creamy-yellow flowers hooded with green bracts that are covered in a soft white hairs. 

Acanthus hirsutus requires a south-facing aspect with full sun and a deep well-drained gritty soil. It is not quite as hardy as Acanthus mollis or Acanthus spinosus and requires a dry location in the winter and a generous mulch of grit or bark.