Light and airy, with lacy, finely cut, semi-evergreen foliage, this perennial is a frothy filler rather than an architectural plant. It p...Read Moreroduces 5" white Queen Anne's lace-type flowers on upright branching red stems over a long season. It is said to bloom from July to October (England) or May-September (northern California). A good cut flower that dries well, too, it attracts bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects. Deadheading is said to encourage continued flowering and prevent self-sowing.
Clump-forming, to 3-4' tall and 24-30" wide. Needs no staking. It may take two years to reach mature height.
This is said to be easy, vigorous, adaptable, and long-lived. Best in rich moist well-drained soil in full sun, but also tolerates shade and clay soils. Slugs can be a problem for it, but it's not prone to other pests or diseases. Mulch in autumn if self-sowing is not wanted.
Seed should be sown fresh in autumn in containers in a cold frame. May also be propagated by root cuttings in mid-winter.
This plant was on Graham Rice's list of the ten best new perennials of 2008. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/3347379/Top-10-new-pere... It has become a currently fashionable plant in UK fine gardening circles, after making a big splash at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2010.
It is said to be hardy in Z6a-9. Does well in cool summer climates like the UK and the Pacific Northwest. Its native range suggests that it should perform well in eastern N. America, and I'm eager to try this in Massachusetts.
Native to a wide swath of eastern Europe and Asia, growing on steppes, sandy riverbanks, and wet meadows. Its native range reaches north to the shore of the White Sea (USDA Z3-4) and east into China, which suggests its adaptability and greater hardiness than indicated above.
Sometimes incorrectly labeled "Seseli libanotis" in commerce.
Update July 3, 2016: Planted several plugs in several gardens. They're growing happily, though clearly they won't reach mature size for another year or two. I really like the fine-textured foliage. In two gardens, so do the rabbits that nibbled them down to the ground several times.
Sept 2: This is doing well, even in part shade. Only 12" tall and 15" across so far, but the dense, glossy, dark green foliage is beautiful.
Light and airy, with lacy, finely cut, semi-evergreen foliage, this perennial is a frothy filler rather than an architectural plant. It p...Read More