i was wondering if the acanthus i dug up and mailed to two members here would 'take' on their property. it sounds like it may take work and a couple years to get results.. but at least it sounds doable. if yours don't take root, let me know and i'll send you more

excerpt from the following link:
"The old saw about first year sleep, second year creep and third year leap is very true of Acanthus. A bit of patience is required from transplant to mature stands."
http://www.munchkinnursery.com...q_areaquaternaryid=7

and...
http://www.growsonyou.com/ques...-acanthus-transplant

also...
http://www.gardenguides.com/75995-grow-acanthus.html

i have cut off the dead leaves from this year's plant.. but have left the flower spikes intact. i'll have to go out and look closely to see if i can find 'seeds' as mentioned in this link:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gar...o-grow-Acanthus.html

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bana,

bana, I'm not one that you gave acanthus to but the patience I had with mine (hungaricus)sure paid off, it was lovely this year. Thought I'd lost it-didn't bloom and hardly grew at all last year. I'm in zone 5.

thanks for the encouragement, jmchab, and for validating that results are worth the wait. i hope the recipients of mine see this and that it gives them hope.

I've tried to grow it before but it didn't make it through the winter. I know some of you folks said it was a pest, but I really love the leaves and flowers. So different!

bana sent me some tubers. I planted them almost 2 months ago, but the other day I was looking at where I planted them and LOOK!
I'm EXCITED!
I'm babying mine and intend to mulch it this winter, to make sure that it comes back!

jvelo-The ONLY one that grows/or might make it in zone 5 is "hungaricus". At least for me. Tried another but it didin't make it either.