Mathiasella bupleuroides Green Dream

Mathiasella bupleuroides 'Green Dream' is a perennial plant of Mexican origin that deserves to be better known. This umbelliferous plant curiously resembles a stinking hellebore or even a euphorbia with its finely cut foliage topped with clusters of pendulous bell-shaped flowers in jade green with a black heart. They remain decorative for a long time and take on a beautiful pink hue at the end of the season. Moderately hardy, its stump is perennial in good growing conditions in not too cold climates. The spring flowering, which is quite early, appears more reliably in mild climates, when the plant retains its foliage in winter. In the garden, this beautiful exotic plant, which has not yet revealed all its secrets to rare plant enthusiasts, elegantly structures sunny to semi-shaded rockeries and borders. 

Mathiasella bupleuroides 'Green Dream' belongs to the Apiaceae family (formerly Umbelliferae), just like wild carrot, parsley, and celery. Its wild ancestor was discovered by LR Stanford in 1949 in a mountainous region of northern Mexico, specifically on the east and south-facing slopes as well as at the summit of Pena Nevada in the state of Tamaulepis. 'Green Dream' is often listed as a cultivar, but it may simply be a particular form of the wild species. The available literature teaches us that this plant primarily requires very well-drained soil, whether it is occasionally very moist or conversely occasionally dry, with an acidic, neutral, or calcareous tendency. Its cold resistance is estimated at -8°C (17.6°F) at its lowest. It is advisable to protect the stump from frost, as well as from excessive humidity in winter.

Mathiasella bupleuroides 'Green Dream' is a large herbaceous plant, perennial through its slightly trailing stump. Its foliage persists in mild climates during winter, but becomes deciduous from -3°C (26.6°F). It takes a bit of time to establish, eventually forming a large, upright clump measuring an average of 90cm (35in) in all directions. Its branched stems bear large, slightly toothed, lobed, shiny leaves that turn bluish-green. Flowering begins in April. Floral stems rise, carrying large terminal umbels filled with tiny green flowers nestled in a cup composed of bracts similar to very bright green leaves. They turn pink over time, remaining decorative until autumn. Mathiasella bupleuroides is monoecious, meaning it bears separate male and female flowers. Male flowers have small petals, while female flowers are generally devoid of them. The different types of flowers are found in the corolla. Surprisingly tolerant of drought in shaded coastal gardens, this perennial appreciates a regular water supply, especially when planted in the sun.

Mathiasella bupleuroides 'Green Dream' thrives in a sunny border, a not too arid rockery, or a large border, as well as on the edge of woodland. This unique short-lived plant can be used like euphorbias and large hellebores (H. argutifolius, H. foetidus). It is a textural plant that pairs perfectly with tulips, acanthus, and peonies, for example.