Peucedanum rablense

The Peucedanum rablense is a lovely alpine wild plant recently introduced in horticulture for its ornamental qualities. This perennial forms a low clump of very finely cut, bright green foliage from which large, delicately lace-like white umbels emerge throughout the summer, attracting bees. Hardy, robust, and low-maintenance, this montane plant has its place in medium mountain gardens, as well as in rockeries or as a border in a naturalistic-inspired bed.

The Peucedanum rablense (synonym Peucedanum austriacum var. rablense) belongs to the Apiaceae family (formerly Umbelliferae), just like wild carrot, fennel, parsley, and celery. It is a plant native to the Italian Alps and is widespread in mountainous regions of Europe (Austria, Liechtenstein, Germany, Italy, and Slovenia). It is found on sunny slopes where it thrives in limestone soil.

Peucedanum is a deciduous perennial plant, with above-ground vegetation dying in winter and regrowing in spring. It forms a clump of about 40 cm (16in) in all directions. The leaves are divided into wonderful, bright green, thread-like strips reminiscent of carrot leaves. Flowering occurs from June to August. From the foliage emerge robust and branched floral stems, 60-70 cm (24-28in) in height, bearing large flattened umbels composed of creamy white umbellules made of tiny flowers. They are nectariferous and honey-producing. After pollination, oblong fruits with prominent ribs and four whitish wings measuring 6 to 8 mm (0in) in length are formed. The plant can self-seed in light soils.

The Peucedanum rablense prefers well-drained, not-too-rich, and not-too-dry limestone soils. In these conditions, it is a very robust and low-maintenance plant. It thrives in a sunny bed or a not-too-dry rockery. This plant is valuable for bees, and gardeners will appreciate its airy appearance to lighten heavier perennials. In a countryside bed, it can be accompanied by echinaceas, ornamental garlic, centaureas, annual poppies, love-in-a-mist, cosmos, Ammi visnaga, ornamental carrot Dara, or thistles.

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