Pimpinella major Rosea

Pimpinella major Rosea is a very pretty plant with pale pink cloudy flowering.  It is related to anise and carrot. This perennial plant with fern-like foliage reveals itself in summer, adorned with delicate umbels of small star-shaped flowers in a tender pink colour. Perfect for gracefully adorning natural areas of the garden where it sometimes self-seeds, Pimpinella major Rose is one of those discreet but talented plants, essential for lightening up all other flowers. It is easy to grow in the sun, in moist but well-drained soil.

Pimpinella major is a plant from the Apiaceae family (formerly umbellifers), related to celery, carrot or astrantia. It is native to Western Europe and the Caucasus. It can be found up to 2000 meters (6562 feet) altitude in meadows, along ditches, in shrubs and at the edge of forests, usually on limestone soil. The 'Rosea' form, rarer than the type, is distinguished by its pale pink flowers and a slightly more modest stature.

It is a perennial herbaceous plant with rhizomatous roots that somewhat resembles a brown carrot. It forms a tuft 55 cm (22in) tall when flowering and on average 40-50 cm (16-20in) wide, depending on the growing conditions: a plant growing in dry soil will be shorter, while one benefiting from moist and fertile soil can reach 90 cm (35in) in height. It is composed of hollow stems branching from the base, furrowed and angular, adorned with leaves divided into oval and toothed leaflets. The leaves located at the base of the plant, carried by a petiole of 20 to 40 cm (8 to 16in) in length, are more deeply divided than those found on the upper part of the stems. Their colour is a slightly satiny dark green. Flowering takes place from May to July-August depending on the climate. Floral stems emerge from the foliage bearing at their tip a flat umbel of flowers, 5 to 6 cm (2in) wide, organized in 10 to 25 ray florets adorned with small star-shaped flowers in a smoky pink colour. The flowering, highly visited by pollinating insects, is followed by the formation of ovoid fruits, 2-3 mm (0in) long, brown, bordered by pronounced ribs. When conditions are favourable, in light and moist soil, the Pimpinella self-seeds spontaneously.

Pimpinella major Rosea, just like thistles, wild chicory, centaureas and poppies, brings the charm of the countryside into our gardens. Undemanding, non-invasive and of infinite lightness, this perennial with its carrot-like appearance and pink flowers has its rightful place in an English-style garden, on a slope, an informal border or a slightly wild area. It pairs well with other unassuming plants such as perennial geraniums and salvias, catmints, daisies, botanical daylilies, as well as shrub roses and herbaceous or shrubby peonies. Burnets, meadow rues, Alliums and perennial peas will also make good companions for it, in the garden as well as in bouquets.

.