Bupleurum (Hare's Ear) Seeds

• Bupleurum
• The Bupleurum Plant
• How to Sow Bupleurum
• How to Grow Bupleurum
• Growing Tips for Bupleurum
• Diseases and Pests of Bupleurum
• Uses and Curiosities of Bupleurum

Bupleurum

Bupleurum (Bupleurum griffithii), also known as Hare's Ear or Thoroughwax, is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the Apiaceae family, the same family as fennel and carrots. Little known outside the professional florist trade, where it changes hands at specialized auctions at prices comparable to roses, this unusual lime-yellow flower has in recent years become a much-loved discovery among amateur cut flower growers too, thanks to its understated, versatile elegance.

The Bupleurum Plant

This is an upright, branching plant that develops a single main stem which branches heavily toward the tip, generally reaching 60-90 centimeters in height. The foliage is one of the plant's most decorative features: rounded, almost perfoliate leaves in a blue-green shade reminiscent of eucalyptus, pierced through by the stem in a striking effect. The flowers, gathered into small compound umbels of bright, almost chartreuse lime-yellow, bloom in abundance along the terminal branches, creating a delicate starburst effect that holds remarkably well both fresh and dried.

How to Sow Bupleurum

Bupleurum can be sown either in a protected seedbed, five to eight weeks before the last expected frost, or directly in the ground about six weeks before the end of cold weather, since this plant tolerates low temperatures well during its early development. The seeds should be placed just a few millimeters deep and kept consistently moist until germination, which can take up to three to four weeks, somewhat slower than other flowering annuals. Seedlings started in a seedbed should be transplanted with care, disturbing the root system as little as possible, spacing them 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) apart.

How to Grow Bupleurum

Bupleurum prefers full sun or light partial shade, and adapts well to a wide range of environmental and soil conditions, as long as the soil is well-draining. Once well established, this plant shows fair drought tolerance, though it benefits from regular watering during the hottest, driest periods of summer to maintain lush foliage and abundant flowering. Given its upright, branching growth, in particularly windy areas it can be helpful to provide support or a support net, especially ahead of harvesting as a cut flower, to obtain straighter, more even stems.

It doesn't require particular fertilizing during the growing season: moderately fertile, well-draining soil is generally enough for healthy, vigorous plant development, which tends to naturally rebloom abundantly throughout the summer if well cared for.

Growing Tips for Bupleurum

For harvesting as a cut flower, cut the stems once the umbels are well open but not yet fully faded, which ensures a long vase life both fresh and once dried. For drying, the stems retain their natural green-lime color remarkably well if hung upside down in a dark, cool, well-ventilated place, almost as if treated with glycerine. In milder climates, this plant tends to self-seed easily, reappearing spontaneously the following year in the same spot in the garden.

Diseases and Pests of Bupleurum

Bupleurum is generally a hardy plant, not particularly prone to significant diseases or pests, a trait that makes it an appealing choice even for those wanting a low-maintenance garden. As with many Apiaceae, the main risk remains linked to excess standing moisture in the soil, which can encourage root rot, particularly in the early growth stages of young seedlings: well-draining substrate remains the best prevention against this occurrence.

Uses and Curiosities of Bupleurum

Thanks to its distinctive lime-yellow color and remarkable durability both fresh and dried, Bupleurum has become one of the most appreciated "filler" flowers among floral designers worldwide, able to brighten any arrangement without overpowering other flowers, and pairing beautifully with both bold colors and softer shades like white. An interesting curiosity: despite its remarkable versatility and its commercial value comparable to roses at Dutch cut-flower auctions, Bupleurum griffithii remains a relatively little-known plant to the general public, making it an original discovery for anyone wanting to enrich their garden with something truly out of the ordinary.