Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Sickle-leaved Hare's-ear bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Sickle-leaved Hare's-ear, Sickle Hare's Ear, Falcate Thorow-wax (Bupleurum falcatum).
More about sickle-leaved hare's-ear
About Sickle-leaved Hare's-ear
Bupleurum falcatum · also called Sickle-leaved Hare's-ear, Sickle Hare's Ear · flowering
Bupleurum falcatum is an upright perennial in the carrot family (Apiaceae), native to dry, calcareous grasslands and stony slopes across central and southern Europe, with a handful of historical sites in Essex in the UK where it is now extremely rare. It bears small compound umbels of yellow-green flowers on branching stems from midsummer into autumn, and is highly tolerant of drought and poor, stony soil once established. The most important care requirement is sharp drainage — waterlogged conditions are fatal. It is not listed as toxic by the ASPCA; however, some Apiaceae relatives are toxic, so treat with caution.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Self-seeding aggressively: Can self-sow prolifically in suitable dry, open conditions; deadhead spent flower heads before seed sets if unwanted spread is a concern.
The reasons sickle-leaved hare's-ear isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming sickle-leaved hare's-ear traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:
- Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
- Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
- The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
- Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
- It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.
Feeding sickle-leaved hare's-ear a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
The fix — how to get sickle-leaved hare's-ear to flower
- Maximise sun. Give sickle-leaved hare's-ear the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
- Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
- Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
- Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.
Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for sickle-leaved hare's-ear and get the feeding right with the sickle-leaved hare's-ear fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.
Bloom season and what to expect
Sickle-leaved Hare's-ear flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
Post-bloom care so it flowers again
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full sickle-leaved hare's-ear care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Sickle-leaved Hare's-ear blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my sickle-leaved hare's-ear flower?
Sickle-leaved Hare's-ear blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
How do I make sickle-leaved hare's-ear bloom?
Give sickle-leaved hare's-ear the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
When does sickle-leaved hare's-ear normally bloom?
Sickle-leaved Hare's-ear flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with sickle-leaved hare's-ear after it flowers?
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping sickle-leaved hare's-ear flowering?
Feeding sickle-leaved hare's-ear a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Sickle-leaved Hare's-ear care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Sickle-leaved Hare's-ear light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Sickle-leaved Hare's-ear fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 4114 bloom guides in the Growli library