The best summer flowering drought tolerant shrub
Let’s not do a preamble. It’s this.
Bupleurum fruticosum.
And if you ever wondered why I prefer Latin names to common names. Its common name is apparently Shrubby hare’s ear.
![](https://www.fruitfulresearch.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3615-rotated.jpeg)
Eh?
Have you ever been up close to a hare’s ear? They look nothing like this beautiful plant.
Silly. Well maybe you don’t warm to its Latin name either.
I don’t usually fall for yellow flowering plants as a rule.
![](https://www.fruitfulresearch.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3627.jpeg)
But this plant is subtle and delicate. It has a good green leaf shape and the yellow blends in the landscape and doesn’t scream overbreeding.
And it’s definitely the right plant if you have extreme weather, drought conditions and a sunny spot to plant it. It is elegant and handsome and will flower for months.
I have two shrubs in the garden.
One is the right plant in the right place.
In the dry garden. Never needs staking. Just a bit of deadheading in winter.
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![](https://www.fruitfulresearch.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3607.jpeg)
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(Sorry about the black oat grass marring the view. I can’t wade in close enough to pull them out just now.)
And the other was planted up in the hedge above my potting shed…
![](https://www.fruitfulresearch.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3602.jpeg)
The wrong place.
The oak tree above it had a growth spurt and shaded everything out. But it copes. Never needs watering and just keeps on growing. Albeit in wonky directions.
It does mean I get to prune the flowers that flops over the path and harvest plenty of long stems for the vases at the same time.
![](https://www.fruitfulresearch.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3462-1024x768.jpeg)
If you grow plants for cut flowers you can’t beat this plant.
It has stiff stems, strong straight stalks. And it will easily last a fortnight in a vase.
I haven’t managed to grow any from seed. I’m forever on the lookout for self-seeders nearby, but so far not one.
But I bought two small plants about ten years ago. And have been enjoying the strong steady growth every year.
A winner.