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Bupleurum fruticosum L.

Modern name

Bupleurum fruticosum L.

An evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub, of lax habit, 5 to 8 ft high, with slender, not much divided branches, and glabrous, purplish young shoots. Leaves alternate, firm, narrowly obovate, stalkless, tapering at the base, rounded or with a short, bristle-like tip at the apex, entire; 2 to 312 in. long, 34 to 112 in. wide; quite glabrous, and of a bluish green. Flowers small, yellow, produced in a terminal umbel 3 or 4 in. across. Bot. Mag., n.s., t. 408.

Native of S. Europe and the Mediterranean region; introduced more than three hundred years ago. It is not completely hardy but grows and flowers well at Kew where protected by other shrubs. It has been grown there as a wall plant, where it reached a height of 10 ft. In most maritime districts and in the south-western counties it succeeds admirably, and its yellow flower-clusters and blue-green foliage make a very effective contrast. It flowers from July to September, and is propagated easily by cuttings. It is one of the best shrubs for planting on exposed cliffs near the sea, and is very well adapted for chalky districts.


Genus

Bupleurum

Other species in the genus

[No species article available]