Delving into family history can be fun and full of surprises, unknown relationships discovered.  But, Ann Marie leaves finding Boyds, Grants and Nelsons to her cousins, and instead has fun researching the plants in her garden.   Until now she had no idea that Horsetail Haven had such an abundance of  members of the Acanthus Family.  Acanthus mollis, or Bear’s Breeches, was an obvious member, but Ann Marie was surprised to learn that other ornamentals in the garden are also in the Family Acanthaceae, and just as cousins vary from tall and blond to short and brunet, the Acanthus Family members at Horsetail Haven have leaves ranging from shiny and green to iridescent purple and have clumping, upright and even vining forms.  For a description of the general characteristics of Acanthacea refer to any good botany book or the useful Shinner & Mahler’s Flora of North Central Texas published by the Botanical Research Institute of Texas.

Acanthus mollis  
This perennial is a native to Southern Europe.  It is a large plant whose shiny green, lobed leaves may grow 2-3 feet long.  They arise from a base as does the tall flower spike with pale lavender and white blooms and showy green bracts.  The leaves may seem familiar to visitors to the garden, their form is seen in sculpture and artwork.  Ann Marie was motivated to obtain her plant after realizing that the leaves were a motif used on a chest that crossed the ocean from Norway with her great grandparents.  Acanthus mollis is a dramatic plant that grows well in Austin, provided it is placed in shade and watered regularly.  The leaves will droop when the soil dries out but a drink quickly brings them back to attention getting form.

Strobilanthes dyeranus
Commonly known as Persian Shield, this is another eye grabbing plant in the Acanthus Family.  It is a tender perennial that flourishes with warmth and humidity, something an Austin summer can certainly offer.  It is not reliably winter hardy but has survived mild winters in protected locations.  Reportedly growing up to 4 feet tall, it has only reached 30 inches in a summer at Horsetail Haven.  It has long 6-8 inch leaves that are variegated dark green, purple and silver with bright purple undersides.  The foliage is far more striking than the small tubular flowers.  It should be grown  in shade and watered regularly.  This year Ann Marie has planted hers in a north facing bed along with red Pelargonium xhortum (the common bedding geranium) and green and white Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya).  The bed is edged with pink blooming, bronze leaf begonias.  Sitting in front of the bed are lively red chairs from Austin’s Zinger Hardware and a table with another red pelargonium.  Gardener’s vision says it will be spectacular, time will tell what reality brings.

Thunbergia alata
Ann Marie was amazed to find that this old friend is also in Family Acanthanaceae.  Most commonly grown is the "Black Eyed Susan Vine" or "Black Eyed Clockvine" with bright yellow, tubular flowers.   The vines at Horsetail Haven are a cultivar grown from seed many years ago that have pastel blooms in shades of apricot and pale yellow.  The are reliably hardy, sprouting from the roots each spring.  In contrast to the family members discussed so far, Thunbergia alata grows in full sun and has low water requirements.  It blooms all summer.

Dicliptera brachiata
This is a member of the Acanthus Family that tagged along with a plant purchased when Horsetail Haven was just a beginning garden.  The plant it came with is long forgotten but this charming Texas native thrives and reseeds without becoming an annoying guest.  During the summer the plant has clusters of purplish tubular flowers.  The Shinner & Mahler text says it is found in moist wooded stream bottoms but it grows beautifully in dry dappled shade at Horsetail Haven.  It is a food plant for the larva of the charming Texan Crescentspot butterfly.

The family tree could go on and on, once source states that there are 3,450 species in the Family Acanthanaceae.  There are more members found at Horsetail Haven including the common shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeana), several Ruellia and the drought tolerant, orange blossoming Dicliptera suberecta.
Pull out the reference books and research the family relationships in your yard, you will likely find few black sheep and many surprising pearls!