Tim Ingram mystery umbellifer

[Tristan_He]

Hi there,

I've had this pretty little umbellifer for a number of years but can't remember what it is, and the label has long since disintegrated. All I can remember is that it said 'originally from Tim Ingram'. I have a vague idea it may be from the Balkans but that doesn't narrow it down a great deal!

It gets to about 30cm high and is flowering now.

Any ideas?

[johnralphcarpenter]

Try the PlantSnap app.

[Maggi Young]

I asked  Tim!  He  said .... " It's Seseli hippomarathrum. From Central Europe, not sure of its full range, and we don't grow it at present but must get seed again."
 -and he  sends his regards, Tristan!

  Thanks, Tim

[Tristan_He]

Many thanks Maggi and Tim!  Yes, that sounds familiar. There aren't many umbellifers that deserve a place on the rock garden but this is definitely one of them.

I'll see if I can get some seed for the seedex....

[Maggi Young]

Small world - after  puzzling  on Tristan's  question and  getting the  answer  from Tim , I spot this  post  elsewhere  on another  Seseli,  from  Panayoti Kelaidis ....

Panayoti Kelaidis

 "I recall the hue and cry when we proposed Seseli gummiferum for Plant Select "Nobody can sell biennials!" "Nobody wants white flowers!", "It's too weird for words"...the umbel has had the last laugh: it's a stellar performer at the Gardens, and I see it more and more around the city. And if you stick it in a hot and dry enough spot it often rewards you by turning perennial (for a few years anyway!)...and it self-sows in many gardens enough to perpetuate itself...I (for one) will never be without the Moon Carrot--worth growing just for its names! — at Denver Botanic Gardens."

[Tristan_He]

That's another lovely plant Maggi. Personally I love biennials, though they can become a bit of a trial, either because you are forever weeding out seedlings (for those that self seed) or forever propagating (for those that do not).

'Nobody wants white flowers!'
The things some people come out with...

[Rick R.]

And Seseli gummiferum is hardy in zone 4a Minnesota.  From the NARGS seedex, I grew it more than twelve years ago.  I should have realized it could be a biennial.  I didn't save any seed, and it didn't reseed naturally for me.  My photos were pretty crude back then: