Seseli spp.

Europe, temperate Asia, and North Africa

HardinessZones 5–8

Overview

Seseli spp. is a genus of biennial and perennial herbs in the carrot family, comprising roughly 80 species across Europe, temperate Asia, and North Africa. Plants form a basal rosette above a stout taproot and send up branched, ridged flowering stems 8-48 inches (20-120 cm) tall. Leaves are finely divided two to three times into narrow segments, gray-green to blue-green, and somewhat leathery in many species. Tiny white to pinkish flowers are grouped into compound umbels 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) across, opening from mid summer into autumn. The umbels are followed by small ribbed, oval dry fruits 0.1-0.2 inch (2-5 mm) long. Foliage and seed of several species are aromatic when crushed. Plants grow on dry, rocky ground from a deep taproot that resists transplanting. Many species are short-lived, behaving as biennials or persisting only a few years, and self-sown seedlings often replace aging plants. Growth is slow in the first year, with most flowering beginning in the second or third season.

Native Range

Seseli spp. species are native to Europe, temperate Asia, and North Africa, with centers of diversity in the Mediterranean region and Central Asia. They grow on dry calcareous grasslands, rocky slopes, cliffs, and steppe, generally in full sun on well-drained soils.

Suggested Uses

Grown in gravel gardens, rock gardens, dry borders, and naturalistic prairie-style plantings, spaced 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart. The umbels are visited by a range of small insects. The need for lean, dry soil leaves Seseli spp. poorly suited to rich, moist borders.

How to Identify

Recognized within the carrot family by compound umbels of tiny white to pinkish flowers held above finely dissected, gray-green to blue-green foliage on ridged stems. Umbels are 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) across with narrow bracts beneath. Crushed foliage and seed are aromatic in many species, and the ribbed oval fruits are 0.1-0.2 inch (2-5 mm) long.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height8" - 4'

Width/Spread8" - 1'6"

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowering runs from mid summer through autumn, typically July to October, later than many umbellifers. Individual umbels remain in flower for two to four weeks, and a plant produces successive umbels over six to ten weeks. Bloom is heaviest in the second or third year of growth.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to pinkish

Foliage Description

gray-green to blue-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 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 Range6.5 - 8.0(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand chalk rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-3 years from seed

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun on lean, sharply drained, often alkaline soils and withstands drought once established. Wet or heavy soils cause crown and root rot, especially over winter. Most species are hardy in USDA zones 5-8. The deep taproot makes division impractical, so plants are raised from seed sown fresh in fall. Aphids may gather on flower stems but rarely cause lasting harm. Many species are short-lived and rely on self-seeding to persist.

Pruning

No routine pruning is needed. Flowering stems can be cut down after the seed ripens, or left standing for self-seeding and winter structure. Removing spent umbels before seed set limits volunteer seedlings.