Distinctive Wild Perennial with a Medicinal Heritage
The Sickle-leaved Hare’s Ear (Bupleurum falcatum) is a sun-loving, yellow-flowered wild perennial from the umbellifer family (Apiaceae). Its name derives from its distinctively shaped, sickle-like leaves that rise gracefully from the dense foliage. The flowers appear in loosely branched umbels, adding soft, pale-yellow highlights to naturalistic borders, wild plantings, and herb gardens.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Bupleurum is known as Chai Hu and is considered one of the most important medicinal herbs. Primarily the root is used – for example, to strengthen liver energy and support the immune system. In Europe, however, the plant is primarily valued as a structural wild perennial and long-lasting cut flower.
Thanks to its understated blooms, delicate silhouette, and adaptability, Hare’s Ear is particularly well suited to naturalistic gardens, herb beds, or dry wild plantings. Once established, it reliably self-seeds.
