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Pimpinella spp.
pimpinella
Overview
Pimpinella is a large genus of about 150 to 200 aromatic herbs in the carrot family Apiaceae, native across Europe, Asia, and Africa. The genus spans annual, biennial, and perennial species, including the culinary spice anise, Pimpinella anisum, and the meadow burnet-saxifrages such as P. saxifraga and P. major. Plants form a basal tuft of pinnately divided or compound leaves and erect, often wiry, branched stems 8-48 inches (20-120 cm) tall. The tiny flowers, usually white but sometimes pink or pale yellow, are gathered into flat or domed compound umbels typical of the family, opening from late spring through summer. Dry, ribbed, often aromatic seeds follow; those of anise carry the familiar sweet, licorice-like scent. Pimpinella grows in grassland, meadows, open woodland, and rocky slopes, mostly on well-drained soils. Some perennial species are long-lived meadow plants, while anise is a frost-tender annual needing a long warm season to ripen seed, so cultivation needs differ widely across the genus.
Native Range
Pimpinella is native to temperate and warm regions of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Its species grow in grassland, hay meadows, open woodland, scrub, and rocky ground, mostly on freely draining soils.Suggested Uses
Perennial species are used in meadow, prairie, and naturalistic plantings and as nectar sources for small pollinators. Anise is grown in herb and kitchen gardens for its aromatic seed.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 4'
Width/Spread8" - 1'6"
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
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
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Drought Tolerance
Drought tolerant when established
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Cultivation depends on the species. Perennial and biennial Pimpinella grow in full sun to light shade on moderately fertile, well-drained soil and need little attention once established, tolerating dry spells and a range of soil pH. Anise, an annual, is sown in spring after frost in a warm, sunny, sheltered spot and needs a long, warm growing season of around 120 days to ripen its seed. Steady moisture during early growth supports establishment, while waterlogged ground is poorly tolerated. Plants self-seed where conditions suit, and seed of the aromatic species can be harvested as it browns. Little or no feeding is needed on reasonable soils.Pruning
Cut back spent flowering stems after seed ripens, or leave seed heads to self-sow or for harvest. Remove dead growth of perennial species in autumn or late winter. No structural pruning is needed.Container Growing
Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons