Pimpinella major

RHS Plant Profile

greater burnet saxifrage

Synonyms

Pimpinella magna

Herbaceous Perennial

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A clump-forming perennial with bushy, upright growth, reaching 1.2m tall and 0.6m wide. It has grooved stems, glossy, green divided leaves, and flat-topped white flower umbels in June to July

Position

Full shade, Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Apiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Pimpinella can be annuals, biennials or herbaceous perennials with simple or pinnately divided leaves and branched umbels of tiny flowers
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Europe, SW Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Thrives in a sunny position in fertile, moist but well-drained loamy soil. See Creating wildflower meadows for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by sowing seeds outdoors

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildflower meadow
Wildlife gardens

Pruning

For more information see our page on cutting back herbaceous perennials

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, slugs, snails and mice

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews and downy mildews