The Balkan Bear Claw is an easy-care perennial, but you should ensure that there is enough planting distance so that neighboring plants are not constricted.
The Acanthus hungaricus is of classic beauty. Even in ancient times, the plant was the inspiration for decorative elements such as the famous Corinthian columns, which are adorned with acanthus blossoms. In summer, the flowers of the Balkan Bärenklau are an ornament for the Mediterranean garden. Learn more about planting and caring for the decorative perennial below.Balkan Bear Claw Origin
The homeland of the Balkan Bear Claw is in south-eastern Europe. The Hungarian hogweed grows there on dry steep slopes or can also be found in sparse forests. The plant belongs to the acanthus family. This genus combines almost 30 different shrubs.
The Balkan Bear Claw is widespread in our gardens, not least because of its robustness and winter hardiness. The plants were already introduced in the middle of the 19th century. The main distribution area of the genus Acanthus is in the tropics and subtropics. Some representatives are also native to the Mediterranean Sea and Asia. These plants are also called Bear's Claw, although they have nothing in common with the actual botanical genus Heracleum.
The spiny hogweed (Acanthus spinosus) or the Syrian hogweed (Acanthus syriacus) have also become native to our gardens as ornamental plants of the genus Acanthus.
| Balkan hogweed (Acanthus hungaricus) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | curved, expansive, clump-forming |
| Growth: | 40 - 100 cm |
| Growth: | 80 - 100 cm |
| Flowering: | July - August |
| Location: | Sun |
| Floor: | fresh, well-drained, loamy, nutritious, stony |
Plant Balkan Bear Claw
➔ Find the right location
A sunny location should be found for the Balkan Bear Claw. The Balkan Bear Claw prefers to grow in stony terrain and on screes. Bear Claw can also be planted near deciduous trees. This will give the plants plenty in the springsun and are protected from the heat in summer.
The Balkan Bear Claw likes to spread out and needs space accordingly. As a result, the inflorescences also come into their own more intensively. In the natural garden, the plant can contribute optimally. The Balkan hogweed does particularly well near watercourses, terrace slopes or stone walls.
» Tip: In combination with yarrow, catnip or iris you can create pretty color accents.
➔ Select the right substrate
The Balkan Bear's Claw prefers fresh, well-drained soil. A loamy soil is ideal as it retains moisture well. On the other hand, soil that is too heavy promotes waterlogging and thus rotting of the roots. By adding sand or gravel, the clay soil becomes looser. On the other hand, loose sandy soil can be improved by adding compost.
Compromises should be made when providing the right substrate. The mixed soil requirements can be traced back to the natural growth conditions of the Balkan Bear Claw. This grows, for example, at the edges of forests, where transitions to other soil conditions are quite natural.
➔ Planting Balkan Bear Claw - step by step
- Set Location
- Prepare substrate
- Note planting distances
- Dig planting hole
- Insert plant
- Fill substrate
- Press the earth well
- Water the plant
» Tip: The location should be chosen carefully. The plants have deep taproots and are difficult to remove.
➔ Planting Balkan Bear Claw in a bucket
Planting in tubs is also possible, taking into account the natural growth conditions of the Balkan Bear Claw. Shallow planters are not suitable due to the deep root formation. Better suited are tall, wide planters like this one:
To prevent waterlogging, a drainage made of sand or gravel should be laid in the bottom of the container. When it comes to the substrate, it is also important to ensure that it is loamy and coarse-grained. Gravel, crushed lava or expanded clay are suitable for loosening up the soil.
➔ Balkan Bear Claw Care
➔ Balkan Bear Clawpour properly
When watering, don't overdo it. Dryness is better for the Balkan Bärenklau than being overwhelmed by water. The plants do not tolerate waterlogging. If the roots begin to rot, the perennials can no longer absorb nutrients and die.
» Tip: In the spring, after planting, the Balkan Bear Claw is watered more frequently. Young plants have a higher water requirement.
➔ Fertilize Balkan Bärenklau correctly
Regular fertilization is not necessary. To strengthen the plant in general, a plant decoction made from stinging nettles or field horsetail can occasionally be added to the irrigation water. In spring, compost or horn meal can be added to the substrate. This ensures an organic long-term fertilizer.
➔ Cut Balkan Bear Claw
The Balkan Bear Claw should not be pruned in autumn. The stable inflorescences are an attractive eye-catcher in the winter garden. Only in spring, just before they sprout, are the stems cut back to the ground.
» Tip: The inflorescences that have been cut off are suitable as cut flowers.
Balkan Bear Claw Breed
Balkan Bear Claw can be reproduced in different ways:
- Division
- Root Cuttings
- Sowing
➔ Balkan Bear Claw multiply by division
Propagation by division can be done in spring. For this, the rhizome must be dug up. The root piece is then cut into several parts. Each section should have sufficient shoots and fine roots. The separated rhizome pieces can be planted immediately in a new location and cultivated as usual.
➔ Propagate Balkan Bear Claw with root cuttings
Autumn is the right time for this form of propagation. The rhizome is also dug up. The root sections are divided into pieces about three inches long. The sections are placed in a sand-peat mixture and covered with soil about two centimeters. The planter is kept moist and placed in a cool place. After budding, the plant pot is moved to a bright spot.
➔ Propagate Balkan Bear Claw by sowing
In order to obtain the seeds, the unripe seed pods are removed from the plants immediately after flowering. For the maturation, the capsules are stored in a screw-top jar. The seeds continue to ripen and the fruit eventually burst open. From November, the seeds can be scattered on potting soil andbe covered with a thin layer of soil.
» Tip: The seeds of the Balkan Bear's Claw germinate in the dark and must therefore be covered with a layer of soil.
The substrate is kept moist and the planter is placed in a bright place at room temperature. After about three weeks, the seeds need a cold shock to encourage them to germinate. The planter should now be kept cool for about five weeks. The temperatures must not rise to four degrees and more. It can take up to ten weeks for the first cotyledons to appear.
Balkan Bear Claw - Diseases and Pests
The plants are robust and are rarely affected by diseases or pests. Occasionally it can come to infestation with downy mildew. In dry and warm weather, there is a high risk that the fungus will spread.
Powdery mildew is easy to recognize because of the whitish, wipeable film that resembles flour. The fungus can be prevented with occasional doses of horsetail broth or nettle manure.
» Tip: A layer of mulch also reduces the risk of mildew infestation.
Overwintering Balkan Bear Claw
The Balkan Bear Claw is generally hardy. If the snow cover is closed, there is no danger. Cold frosts, on the other hand, can damage the plant. Therefore, the ground should be covered with bark mulch, brushwood or straw.
If the plant is in the bucket, place it on a wooden or styrofoam base. This can prevent the planters from freezing through. In colder regions it is advantageous to overwinter potted plants in a light and cool place indoors.
Is Balkan Bear Claw poisonous?
Anyone who looks at the perennial may be reminded of foxgloves and lupins. Although visually there is a certain resemblance, Acanthus species are non-toxic and pose no danger to humans or pets.
Some types are even used in natural medicine for internal and external use in colds, gout or burns.