Hare's Ear is an herbaceous annual in the carrot family native to central and southern Europe and sometimes grown in the garden for its unusual flowers and nice foliage. However, in nature, it is often found in cornfields, waste places and waysides, and growing as a weed on cultivated land. The plants mature to 1 to 2 feet tall with few branches and they can be used in the front to middle of a flower border. Hare's Ear blossoms make good cut flowers for flower arrangements because they are long lasting and act as a good contrast to more colorful blooms. Blooming occurs from summer to fall. Hare's Ear grows best in average, moist to dry, well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. They will self-seed if not deadheaded. The plant has become a weed in western Europe, but is not that common in North America where it is sometimes grown as a garden plant. The common name Thorough-Wax is old English for "through-growing", referring to the leaves that appear to be speared by the stem. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests. Can become weedy.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 4 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 4 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Oblong; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire; Lobed
Leaf value
Showy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Blue green leaves are speared through by the stem (perfoliate), simple, alternate, entire margins. Lower and middle leaves oval to oblong and veined. Upper leaves perfoliate, almost orbicular with numerous veins. Can be lobed or unlobed.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower value
Good Cut; Good Dried; Long Bloom Season; Long-lasting; Showy
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Radial
Flower detail
Yellow-green striking flowers with 5 to 10 radial petals in an umbel. Oval to ovate bractlets, tips acuminate to cuspidate, with prominent veines.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Black
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Oblong fruit are tiny and do not open when ripe.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Central and southern Europe, Asia
Distribution
Britain, south and east to North Africa and the Caucasus. Eastern Canada and the United States south to Florida and into the mid-west.