Selinum wallichianum

Selinum wallichianum impresses with its size, the strength of its gracefully tiered structure, and its extreme elegance. This queen of umbellifers forms large, almost spherical, white inflorescences in summer, woven with lace and remarkably formed, carried by purple-green stems. They emerge from finely cut foliage of a beautiful tender green, contrasting with red petioles. The foliage resembles that of ferns. Hardy and perennial in deep and moist soil, this mountain plant thickens over time until it becomes the true focal point of a bed, and the rare subject that turns a perennial enthusiast's garden into that of a connoisseur.

Selinum wallichianum, formerly named Selinum tenuifolium, is a tall rhizomatous and deciduous herbaceous perennial native to the Himalayas. Related to carrot and celery, this herbaceous plant from the Apiaceae family grows spontaneously in meadows, among bushes and on grassy slopes, at an altitude between 2600 and 4200m (8530 and 13779ft). The plant emerges from the ground quite late in spring. It first produces ground-level foliage, then the stems rise while developing a succession of leafy tiers. At maturity, it forms an imposing hemispherical clump measuring 90cm (35in) to 1.2m (4ft) tall and 45cm (18in) wide when in flower and under good growing conditions. Its triangular, finely dissected leaves of a tender green shade are carried by dark red petioles. Flowering occurs from July to September. Reddish-purple branching stems rise well above the foliage, unfurling like croziers. They bear large buds that straighten up and eventually open into roundish umbels, composed of tiny white flowers. They can reach 20cm (8in) in diameter and are curiously made up of small spheres carried by pinkish to greenish stems, arranged in rays. This umbelliferous plant, resistant to cold down to -15°C (5°F), dies down in winter to reappear in spring.

Selinum wallichianum is above all a plant with a unique sculptural appearance. It should be given a prominent position in a bed composed of plants with the same requirements: Filipendula rubra 'Venusta', Echinacea 'Big Sky Sunrise', or Astrantia major 'Claret', for example. In front of its imposing silhouette, in well-drained soil, one can place for example Sedum 'Vera Jameson' or S. 'Bertram Anderson', or a perennial geranium like 'Sea Spray' or the almost black 'Purple Haze', to play with the colour and texture of foliage and flowers. In mild climates, aciphylla, with its very thin foliage, can also provide an interesting contrast. Libertia peregrinans, like a copper grass in autumn, could also accompany this astonishing selinum. It is sometimes said to be a bit capricious, dying down if its preferred conditions are not met. However, other gardeners report that this perennial has faithfully accompanied them for over 15 years.