Smyrnium perfoliatum

An old cottage garden plant that is rarely seen today. Euphorbia-like chartreuse flowers contrast perfectly with spring bulbs. Do not cut back until after seed release! This is a biennial plant that needs to reseed in order to maintain a constant supply in the garden. Don't worry, it never becomes aggressive.

Flower arrangers, take note, this is a perfect plant!

Zones: 5 to 8
Family: Apiaceae
Type: Biennial
Height: 24 to 30 in.
Spread: 10 to 12 in.
Exposure: Full Sun, part-shade
Soil Conditions: Average, humus rich, fertile, undemanding
Bloom Time: April to May
Bloom Color: green-yellow
Native Range: Eastern Mediterranean, Crimea, Middle East, naturalized in Denmark, Great Britain

NOTE: Growing this plant has been quite frustrating as it has not behaved as expected in our nursery or gardens. We read this was a tuber forming biennial, but that isn't quite true. Here is what we found. 

• 2023: sowed end of June in the ground. Germinated quickly than died back to the ground in fall. 
• 2024: plants emerged in spring and grew nicely until May. Then they began declining, finally disappearing completely by July. Frustrated, we dug around in the bed and found dozens of tiny tubers in mid-November (see last photo). Will report back on growth in 2025.