Bupleurum Griffithii

Bupleurum rotundifolium 'Griffithii' Hare's Ear / Thorow-Wax 'Griffithii'

Zesty lime-green starburst flower heads above oval blue-grey leaves that wrap around the wiry stem — Bupleurum 'Griffithii' is the cottage garden's secret weapon for any bouquet that needs lifting, brightening or making to look more expensive than it actually is.

If you have ever envied the bright lime-green Euphorbia stems that florists work into expensive arrangements, Bupleurum 'Griffithii' delivers the same effect for a fraction of the price and without the irritating sap. The lime-green flowerheads are technically umbels (it is a member of the Apiaceae family, like Ammi and fennel), surrounded by showy bracts that hold their colour exceptionally well both fresh and dried. The stem and leaf form is genuinely architectural — pierced rounded leaves that wrap right around the stems. As a cut flower, Bupleurum is one of the most useful "lifters" any bouquet can include: it brightens dark colours, complements warm tones, and adds a sophisticated, almost-glowing quality to any arrangement. Hardy annual that grows to 60–90cm.

A note on growing

Crucial growing note: Bupleurum is one of the very few seeds that needs darkness to germinate. If you surface-sow as you would for most flower seeds, they will simply refuse to germinate. Sow directly outdoors from September (for overwintering) or March to April. Cover the seeds completely with soil or vermiculite to exclude light. Bupleurum prefers cool temperatures to germinate (13–15°C) — do not put them in a hot propagator. Germination takes 14–21 days. Full sun, well-drained soil. The plant resents transplanting due to its taproot, so direct sowing produces the strongest plants. Stems are wiry but can become top-heavy in full bloom; planting close together (20cm apart) lets the plants support each other.

Where it shines

In the cutting garden as a primary "lifter" — the lime-green is the colour every florist wants more of, and Bupleurum delivers it in abundance with exceptional vase life. As a dried flower, the bracts hold their colour for years if kept out of direct sunlight (UV light is the enemy of green dried flowers). In the cottage border, the unusual stem-and-leaf form provides genuine textural interest among more conventional shapes. We grow Bupleurum specifically for our dried flower range here in Norfolk — it is one of the most reliable and most useful varieties in the everlasting cutting garden.

Plant alongside

The classic florist combination: Bupleurum with hot pink (Geum 'Mrs Bradshaw' or Achillea 'Cerise Queen') for high-energy contrast, with deep crimson (Amaranthus 'Love-Lies-Bleeding') for sophisticated drama, or with white (Ammi majus or Cosmos 'Purity') for a cool, cool-toned bouquet. Also outstanding alongside Bells of Ireland for a green-on-green architectural cutting scheme.