Cenolophium spp.

baltic parsley

Apiaceae

Northern and eastern Europe to Siberia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Cenolophium spp. is a genus in the carrot family (Apiaceae) represented by Baltic parsley, Cenolophium denudatum, a hardy perennial of northern and eastern Europe and Siberia. Plants form a clump of finely divided, fern-like green leaves and send up branching stems 2-5 feet (60-150 cm) tall. From midsummer into autumn the stems carry many small, flat-topped umbels of tiny white flowers, giving an airy, lacy effect above the foliage. The open flower heads draw bees, hoverflies, and other beneficial insects to their nectar. After bloom the umbels set small ridged seeds and the dried heads stand through autumn. The genus grows wild on riverbanks, damp meadows, and open ground, and tolerates a wide range of garden soils as long as they do not bake dry. It is grown in naturalistic and prairie-style plantings for its long, late display and see-through structure. Plants can self-seed where conditions suit and may need thinning, and the tall stems can lean in rich soil or shade.

Native Range

Baltic parsley is native to northern and eastern Europe and across Russia into Siberia, with outlying populations elsewhere in Europe. It grows along rivers, in damp meadows, and on open disturbed ground, often in cool, moist situations.

Suggested Uses

Baltic parsley is grown in naturalistic, prairie, and gravel plantings for its airy white umbels and long season. It mixes well with grasses, late perennials, and other meadow plants, adding a see-through layer. The nectar-rich flowers also suit pollinator and wildlife borders.

How to Identify

Look for a clump of finely cut, fern-like leaves topped in summer by branching stems bearing many flat white umbels, much like a refined cow parsley. The flower heads are open and lacy, held well above the foliage on smooth, often reddish stems. Small ridged seeds follow and sit in dry, persistent umbels.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 5'

Width/Spread1'6" - 2'6"

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowering runs from midsummer into autumn, generally July to September, later and longer than many umbellifers. The white umbels open in succession over many weeks and hold their shape as they fade to seed. Bees and hoverflies work the flowers heavily through the season.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-9 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay silt

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years from seed

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants grow in full sun to part shade on most moist, fertile, well-drained soils within a pH of about 5.5 to 7.5. The genus is fully hardy and copes with cold winters, damp ground, and clay, though it resents soil that dries out completely. Steady moisture and an open position give the sturdiest stems, as plants in rich or shaded ground tend to lean. Clumps are long-lived and need little beyond an annual cut-back of the dead stems. Self-sown seedlings appear where the soil is open and can be thinned or moved while small. Few pests or diseases trouble the foliage.

Pruning

No pruning is needed during the season beyond removing any flopping stems. The dead stems and seed heads can be left through autumn and winter for structure, then cut to the ground in late winter before new growth. Cutting back spent umbels earlier limits self-seeding.