Hound's Ear Bupleurum rotundifolium
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- bew-PLUR-rum ro-tun-dih-FOH-lee-um
- Description
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Hare's Ear is an herbaceous annual in the carrot family native to central and southern Europe and sometimes grown in the garden for its unusual flowers and nice foliage. However, in nature, it is often found in cornfields, waste places and waysides, and growing as a weed on cultivated land. The plants mature to 1 to 2 feet tall with few branches and they can be used in the front to middle of a flower border. Hare's Ear blossoms make good cut flowers for flower arrangements because they are long lasting and act as a good contrast to more colorful blooms. Blooming occurs from summer to fall.
Hare's Ear grows best in average, moist to dry, well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. They will self-seed if not deadheaded. The plant has become a weed in western Europe, but is not that common in North America where it is sometimes grown as a garden plant. The common name Thorough-Wax is old English for "through-growing", referring to the leaves that appear to be speared by the stem.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests. Can become weedy.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Griffithii'
Chartreuse color
- 'Griffithii'
- 'Griffithii'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Griffithii'
Chartreuse color
- 'Griffithii'
- 'Griffithii'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Bupleurum
- Species:
- rotundifolium
- Family:
- Apiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used as food and as medicine.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and southern Europe, Asia
- Distribution:
- Britain, south and east to North Africa and the Caucasus. Eastern Canada and the United States south to Florida and into the mid-west.
- Edibility:
- Leaves can be eaten.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 4 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 4 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Oblong fruit are tiny and do not open when ripe.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Long Bloom Season
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Yellow-green striking flowers with 5 to 10 radial petals in an umbel. Oval to ovate bractlets, tips acuminate to cuspidate, with prominent veines.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Blue green leaves are speared through by the stem (perfoliate), simple, alternate, entire margins. Lower and middle leaves oval to oblong and veined. Upper leaves perfoliate, almost orbicular with numerous veins. Can be lobed or unlobed.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cutting Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
