Bupleurum falcatum aka Sickle Leaf Hare's Ear

Bupleurum falcatum belongs to the carrot family, Apiaceae. Its common names include sickle-leaved hare's ear and thorow-wax. The RHS gives its native range as Eurasia. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. Plants For A Future lists records across Europe and western Asia. It grows on hedgebanks and on disturbed, unused ground.

This plant lives as a biennial or short-lived perennial. Its upright form suits beds where space is tight. Garden plants reach about 1.6–3.3 feet (0.5–1 metre) tall. They spread about 0.3–1.6 feet (0.1–0.5 metres) wide. The RHS description gives a height near 3 feet (0.9 metres). Plants reach their mature size within one to two years. The leaves are narrow, ranging from linear to lance-shaped. The plant sheds its foliage rather than staying evergreen.

Slender, stiff stems stand upright and branch above the leaves. They carry open umbels of small, yellow, star-shaped flowers. Each flower cluster can span about 0.2 feet (0.06 metres). Flowering runs from midsummer into early autumn. The plant can sow its own seed. Removing spent flower heads helps limit these seedlings. Gardeners can also raise new plants from seed.

Grow this species in full sun with good soil drainage. The RHS lists chalk, loam and sand as suitable soils. It accepts acid, neutral and alkaline conditions. Soil moisture can range from dry to moist. Both sheltered and exposed sites suit it. South-facing and west-facing sites match its need for sun. The RHS rates it H4 for UK conditions. Plants For A Future gives USDA zones 3–7. These sources use different hardiness scales, so retain both ratings.

The RHS suggests it for informal gardens and flower borders. It also lists wildlife gardens and wildflower meadows as suitable settings. Its low-maintenance listing fits its few reported pest and disease problems. The RHS reports neither as a usual concern. Plants For A Future lists cooked leaves and young shoots as edible. It records the use of fresh spring and autumn growth. These parts also provide rutin. That source reports no known hazards, rather than proven safety. It records traditional medicinal uses, including plant paste applied to boils. Such records do not establish that a treatment works. Old plants also have a recorded use as fuel.