• Home
  • About
  • Books
    • My Father is the Gardener
    • God’s Word for Gardeners Bible
  • Devotions Blog
  • Events
  • News
  • Plant Guide
    • Plant Index – God’s Word for Gardeners
    • Plant Research
    • A-to-Z Primer of Plants from God’s Word
  • Contact
  • Search

Mobile Menu

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About
  • Books
    • My Father is the Gardener
    • God’s Word for Gardeners Bible
  • Devotions Blog
  • Events
  • News
  • Plant Guide
    • Plant Index – God’s Word for Gardeners
    • Plant Research
    • A-to-Z Primer of Plants from God’s Word
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Garden In Delight

Grow your garden, flourish your faith

Header Left

  • Home
  • About
  • Books
    • My Father is the Gardener
    • God’s Word for Gardeners Bible
  • Devotions Blog
  • Events
  • News
  • Plant Guide
    • Plant Index – God’s Word for Gardeners
    • Plant Research
    • A-to-Z Primer of Plants from God’s Word
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Books
    • My Father is the Gardener
    • God’s Word for Gardeners Bible
  • Devotions Blog
  • Events
  • News
  • Plant Guide
    • Plant Index – God’s Word for Gardeners
    • Plant Research
    • A-to-Z Primer of Plants from God’s Word
  • Contact
  • Search

Acanthus Everywhere

Home » Garden Design » Acanthus Everywhere
Acanthus syriacus flowers by Snow Monkey Pottery

by Shelley S. Cramm In: Garden Design, Garden Moments on Aug 31, 2017

With the great benefit of garden travel via GWA: The Association of Garden Communicators and the organization’s annual meetings, I have seen gardens north, south, east, and west—from Pasadena’s chaparral to Quebec’s well-watered scenery. What is one plant that surprisingly accommodates such a variety of situation? Acanthus. I have seen acanthus everywhere!

In honor of this revelation, acanthus has been added to the Plant Guide this week.

Acanthus in North America

Acanthus mollis, what North American gardeners refer to commonly as acanthus or bear’s breeches, thrives in full sun where cool summer weather abounds, and fills out equally well where hot summer temperatures suffocate as shady, woodland undergrowth. In the former, the plant will die back during winter freezes; in the latter, steamy summers send this plant underground, to reclaim its fullness in the fall. In the envious west coast conditions—not too hot, not too cold—acanthus is virtually evergreen.

Big, broad leaves make this plant appear massive, forming mounds 2 to 4 feet tall and wide. Their deep greenery is accentuated by towering, dramatic purple and white flower stalks, blooming spring to summer. Acanthus readily naturalizes and spreads by fibrous roots.

Acanthus in the Middle East

Acanthus syriacus, a closely related species, is equally prolific in the Holy Land and Middle East, propagating with weed-like fervor. Syrian acanthus has a more diminutive form, with small spines on its leaf points, and easily overtakes a field or untended ground. Thus many Biblical botanists attribute charul, Hebrew word translated “weed” or “undergrowth,” to acanthus, though the plant is not named outright in Scripture.

I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds [acanthus], and the stone wall was in ruins.
Proverbs 24:30-31 NIV

Traditionally, you will find charul translated “nettles;” however H. B. Tristam in his Holy Land travels of the 19th century, was inclined towards acanthus species:

…the true Acanthus which overruns the corn fields as summer advances, and combines in itself the prickling powers of thistle, brier, quick-thorn, and nettle. It is perhaps the charul or Nettle of our version in Job xxx:7; PROV. xxiv. 31; Zeph. ii.9.
—H.B. Tristam, The Natural History of the Bible, 1875, page 432

Safe to say, A. syriacus is not sold commercially. Bible gardeners, plant A. mollis as a strong substitute.

Acanthus in the Architecture

acanthus leaves on ancient columnWhat propels acanthus to a truly “everywhere” experience is its architectural influence. Classical designers from antiquity captured the sculptural elements of acanthus leaves in Corinthian capitals and embellishing details, a motif perpetuated for centuries.

acanthus in the architectureIt was the earthy, life-like leaves incorporated in Louis Sullivan’s design of the Guaranty Building in downtown Buffalo, NY, backdrop to this August’s GWA meeting, which captured my botanical wonder and gardener’s intrigue. I did discover it growing in neighborhood gardens, too.

Acanthus in God’s Word

Fretfully, acanthus joins the ranks of bay laurel, wormwood, and some of the fig leaves Scriptures as a warning plant, mentioned in God’s Word to highlight behavior with dire consequences. I prefer the “carrot to the stick,” so to speak; permit me to conclude with comforting acknowledgment. When seeing acanthus everywhere, be reminded—God’s Word is grounded in the land, and our Savior walked the land, confirming His willingness, desire, and promise to be with us always, everywhere.

As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them
Luke 24:15 NIV
Let everything the Lord has made praise him everywhere in his kingdom. I will praise the Lord.
Psalm 103:21-22 NIRV
I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
Genesis 28:15 NIV

acanthus in home garden Buffalo CP

Photo Credits:

©2006 Snow Monkey Pottery Creative Commons
Acanthus syriacus This is how the flower looks like, so mundane until you see each small petal.
©2009 Verity Cridland Creative Commons Pillar and Acantus Moulding St Simon Stylites
©2017 Shelley S. Cramm Louis Sullivan detail, Guaranty Building, 1896, Buffalo, NY
©2017 Shelley S. Cramm Acanthus in a home garden, Buffalo, NY

 

FacebookTwitterShare

Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

Forest of Praise

burning bush by Eric Hunt, Flickr photos

Burning Bush

grapevines remind of Jesus' proclamation, I am the Vine

I am the True Vine

detail of garlic chives flowers which shine like stars in sunlight

Shine Like Stars

Bible plant lists from Leviticus 23:40 surrounded in greenery, pencil and pad ready

8 Great Plant Lists

joy in drought? don't ask these leeks, ask the Lord!

Joy in Drought

entwining tendrils of a grapevine

Entwining Hearts

nigella flowers look starry in the garden

Nigella Know-How

flax flowers bring us to Isaiah 19 and God's redemption

Flax Flowers and God’s Redemption

Evergreen Peace in Potted Olive Trees

Blooming Crocus hyemalis one of winter's white flowers

Winter’s White Flowers

seven species heaped on Deuteronomy 8:8 Bible page

The 7 Species: A Garden-to-Table Guide

« Previous
Next »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • A-to-Z Primer of Plants from God’s Word
  • About Shelley S. Cramm
  • Blog
  • Book Table
  • Books
  • Checkout
  • Contact
  • Continuing the Biblical Botanical Gift Book Series
  • Devotions Blog
  • Events
  • Events & Speaking
  • Family Garden
  • God’s Word for Gardeners Bible
  • Home
  • In the News garden in Delight links
  • Modern Calendars Page
  • News
  • Plant Guide
  • Plant Index – God’s Word for Gardeners
  • Plant Research
  • Proclamation of Faith
  • Resources
  • Speaking Calendar
  • Speaking Topics
  • test events

Site Footer

Garden in Delight - with Author Shelley Cramm
FacebookInstagramPinterestLinkedIn

Keep in touch with garden in Delight

Your information will never be shared with any third party.

Copyright © 2023 · Isaac Gardens, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Website by Stormhill Media
Log in