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L. 1753
Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)
thoroughwax, shrubby thorow-wax, shrubby hare's ear
• Català (Catalan): matabou, matabosc
• Español: adelfilla, costilla de buey, matabuey
• Française: buplèvre arbustif
• Hrvatski (Croatian): prorostlík křovitý
• Italiano: bupleuro cespuglioso
• Português: bupleiro
Native to North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia), Western Mediterranean (Portugal, Spain, France), and Easter Mediterranean (Italy, Sardinia, Sicily, Greece)
This is one of my favorite plants, inexplicably little known and under utilized. The handsome evergreen foliage is enough by itself, but topped with long-lasting greenish-yellow umbels makes it a subtlely extraordinary background plant. The flowers give way to rust-colored seeds which hang on decoratively.
Over time it can become somewhat large, though this is held in check by a sunny exposure and no summer water. But this shrub responds easily to pruning as well.
The etymology of the unusual common name - thoroughwax or thorow-wax - must be very interesting, if I could ever discover it! Anyone with any information about the origins of this name is invited to contact me.
Be sure and read what others say about this plant - those who know it become very fond of its qualities.
Seán A. O'Hara
Annies Annuals - Richmond, California
wholesale/retail nursery
The unusual & graceful, evergreen shrub should be a celebrated garden plant due to its remarkable goodwill in growing so well in many different locations. Unfortunately, it has not won the notice it deserves.
Growing fairly quickly to 4×4ft (1.3×1.3m), it forms a bushy shrub with narrow, oval, waxy, blue-green foliage. From July to September it produces pleasant, 3-4in (8-10cm) across umbels of sulphur yellow flowers, contrasting nicely with the dark foliage. As it matures, the stems arch over giving a nice look & making it perfect for a wall, container or covering old stumps. Though not extremely showy, it makes an excellent foil for plants that are & combines very nicely with purple foliage or flowers. Since it stays bushy at the base it also makes a good hedge subject & takes well to pruning. Coastal folks will love it as it thrives in salt spray. Average to rich, well-drained soil is best.
Jean Vaché - Montpellier, France
President of the MGS
Who complained that nothing interesting flowers in a mediterranean garden during the summer months?
I will make a plea for Bupleurum fruticosum, a remarkable evergreen shrubby tree, a member of the Apiaceae family, which grows wild around the Mediterranean Sea in France, in southern Europe and in Syria, as well as in western Africa. Its rigid multiple stems can reach a height of two metres; its tough evergreen leaves end in a short sharp point and have a visible network of veins and a narrow transparent border. The hundreds of almost flat umbels are a shade of greenish yellow and form a bright summer decoration in my garden. The common English name for this plant (hare's ear) is a mistranslation of its Latin name, derived from the Greek Bupleuron, whose enigmatic meaning is 'ox flank'. The Spanish name keeps the reference to the ox: 'matabou'. I wonder if the English name might not be a misapprehension of the common French name 'buplèvre', where the second syllable has been taken for the word 'lièvre' (hare). But I may be wrong.
Xera Plants, Inc. - Tualatin, OR
online nursery
A subtle but very sophisticated hardy evergreen shrub that is found in all the best gardens. Shiny sea-green leaves are reminiscent of a Euphorbia and are handsome year round. In summer long stems sport umbels of chartreuse green flowers give away its familial affinity to Dill. Tough shrub that is adaptable to all but boggy soils. To 6ft (2m) tall and as wide in several years. Blooms on new wood, may be hard pruned in early spring nearly to the ground to refresh. Equally tolerant of drought and regular irrigation. A great plant that instantly makes a planting look sophisticated. Excellent with Lavenders and Russian sage.
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