The MGS Forum

Plants for mediterranean gardens => Perennials => Topic started by: Joanna Savage on August 18, 2013, 04:38:22 PM

Title: Bupleurum fruticosum
Post by: Joanna Savage on August 18, 2013, 04:38:22 PM
Bupleurum fruticosum is making a cheerful sight in a dessicated August garden at 300m in Toscana. The first photo shows the abundant flowering, I am hoping to germinate seed from it. The second photo shows a younger plant with lavender flowering and white butterflies in the foreground. These butterflies used to be called Cabbage Whites. I wonder if they still are.

This Bupleurum looks as though it might be a good subject for pruning and shaping in the same way as box.
Title: Re: Bupleurum fruticosum
Post by: Umbrian on August 19, 2013, 06:37:20 AM
A useful shrub providing good foliage and flowers when many things are well past their best. I have read that it tolerates hard pruning (in the spring) making it a useful subject possibly for different positions within the garden.
Title: Re: Bupleurum fruticosum
Post by: Joanna Savage on August 19, 2013, 07:29:14 AM
I forgot to sat that the Bupleurum is growing in a dump of old builder's rubble (with an occasional shoe or razor blade). It receives only natural rainfall.
Title: Re: Bupleurum fruticosum
Post by: Fleur Pavlidis on August 19, 2013, 08:57:00 AM
This grows well at Sparoza but my only attempt at taking cuttings wasn't very successful. I had just one rooted cutting to pot on which has now been destroyed by rampant hedgehogs in my nursery (along with lots of other precious plants). And to think I had a hedgehog box made to help them hibernate in my garden - totally ignored of course.
Title: Re: Bupleurum fruticosum
Post by: jmw on August 19, 2013, 09:51:17 AM
Definitely easy to germinate the seed. Looking forward to my plants flowering!
Title: Re: Bupleurum fruticosum
Post by: Alice on September 01, 2013, 07:15:11 PM
I have wanted this plant for many years, as it is considered tough, but have found it difficult to get it to germinate. The one plant that grew died in its first summer. I wonder if seed has to be fresh?
Title: Re: Bupleurum fruticosum
Post by: jmw on September 02, 2013, 10:37:52 AM
My seed was 6 months old when sown, and I germinated my tray outside in late spring conditions rather than on a heat bed.
Title: Re: Bupleurum fruticosum
Post by: Alice on September 02, 2013, 11:20:44 AM
Thanks, JMW. I will bear that in mind.