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Herbaceous Perennial

Selinum carvifolium

Cambridge milk parsley

A clump-forming perennial, to 1m high in flower, forming a dense mound of finely divided, feathery, slightly blue-green leaves. In summer, upright angled stems bear flat, lacy clusters of tiny star-shaped white flowers

Other common names

milk parsley
milkweed

Synonyms

Seseli carvifolia L.

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or 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)

Botanical details

Family: Apiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Selinum are tap-rooted herbaceous perennials with finely dissected leaves and large, flattened umbels of tiny flowers
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well drained soil in sun or part shade, tolerates a wide range of conditions

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sown as soon as ripe; prick out into deep containers to avoid tap root damage. Propagate by division in early spring, taking care to minimise root disturbance

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Prairie planting
Wildflower meadow
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead if seed is not required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews in dry conditions

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