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Annual Biennial

Smyrnium olusatrum

alexanders

A vigorous, semi-evergreen biennial of the umbellifer family, growing to 75-120cm high with a solid stem which becomes hollow and grooved with age. The leaves are bluntly toothed, the flat segments ternately divided. The plant bears greenish-yellow flowers in umbrella-like clusters with a pungent, myrrh-like scent

Other common names

alisanders
black lovage
see moreblack pot-herb
horse parsley
stanmarch
Thanet celery

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Sand

Clay

Chalk

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Neutral, Acid, Alkaline

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

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: Smyrnium are erect, branching biennials with broadly oblong, divided lower leaves and rounded upper leaves. In late spring and early summer they produce branched umbels of small, greenish-yellow flowers
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Mediterranean

How to grow

Cultivation

Best grown in a free draining soil in full sun. Grows well in coastal areas

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Not required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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