Did I Mention I Was A Bupleurum Fan?
Bueller, Bueller
Bupleurum is my go-to filler flower. It works with everything and fills up my arrangements. Taking up space is a feature for some of my stems. This is an easy-to-use plant that brings a wild, airy quality to my arrangements. It's one of those underappreciated floral gems. It has great colors and contributes interest in both its bloom and its foliage. It's available late spring to early summer. I'm hoarding it right now.
The name bupleurum comes from the Greek boupleuros, meaning "oxen rib," a reference to the plant's curved, rib-like stems. They can create an armature, like a cage, providing structure in my designs. Customers in my shop have an amusing struggle trying to pronounce the name. Their repeated stammering attempts sound like Ben Stein's droning roll call on Ferris' day off: “Bueller, Bueller.” It's that ‘e’ after the ‘l’ that gets them. If you just start by saying “boo” you'll get the pronunciation right.
Closely related to fennel and dill, bupleurum blooms in compound umbels - clusters of tiny flowers growing from a central point. It's a growth habit common in the carrot family (Apiaceae) and particularly pronounced in Queen Anne’s Lace. You can see bupleurum's umbrels as small canopies opening like little yellow cocktail umbrellas.
The plant's most distinctive feature, however, is its perfoliate leaves. They wrap all the way around the stem. It looks like the stem has punctured the leave and growing right through it. One common name for bupleurum is thoroughwax, It's an old English name meaning “through-growing.” I'm sticking with “bupleurum” for the entertainment value.
Speaking of value, bupleurum, as I mentioned, can really fill up an arrangement. It's bushy, branchy and extremely robust. It's an ideal choice to bulk up wrapped bouquets. While voluminous, it's also lightweight. I order as much as I can and use it in almost everything this time of year. It’s also an excellent candidate for drying as it holds its color and form surprisingly well.
Bupleurum is a cool-season hardy annual that prefers full sun and will reseed itself if left alone. It’s easy to grow, making it a fantastic option for beginning flower farmers looking to diversify their offerings. It also looks great in a garden. Did I mention I was a fan?