Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Smyrnium perfoliatum (Perfoliate alexanders)
1 hour care
per year
per year
1.5m
Max height
Max height
0.6m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Smyrnium perfoliatum
Other names
Perfoliate alexanders, Yellow alexanders
Genus
Smyrnium Smyrnium
Species
S. perfoliatum - S. perfoliatum is an upright biennial with ribbed stems bearing pinnate, perfoliate, rounded, yellow-green leaves, bright yellow on the flowering stems, and dome-shaped umbels of yellow-green flowers in spring.
Smyrnium perfoliatum is: Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming, Upright
Flower
Yellow-green in Spring
Foliage
Bright-yellow, Yellow-green in Spring
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Dies in summer after flowering. Remove plant at this time.
Propagation
Sow in situ in late spring or autumn. Sow containers in a cold frame in spring.
Propagation methods
Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Smyrnium perfoliatum (Perfoliate alexanders) will reach a height of 1.5m and a spread of 0.6m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Low Maintenance, Flower Arranging, Cottage/Informal, Containers, Beds and borders, Wildflower, Woodland
Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Self-seeds readily. Flowers in the second year after germination.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
Botanical name
Smyrnium perfoliatum
Other names
Perfoliate alexanders, Yellow alexanders
Genus
Smyrnium Smyrnium
Species
S. perfoliatum - S. perfoliatum is an upright biennial with ribbed stems bearing pinnate, perfoliate, rounded, yellow-green leaves, bright yellow on the flowering stems, and dome-shaped umbels of yellow-green flowers in spring.
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming, Upright
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Yellow-green in Spring
Foliage
Bright-yellow, Yellow-green in Spring
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Dies in summer after flowering. Remove plant at this time.
Propagation
Sow in situ in late spring or autumn. Sow containers in a cold frame in spring.
Propagation methods
Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Smyrnium perfoliatum (Perfoliate alexanders) will reach a height of 1.5m and a spread of 0.6m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Low Maintenance, Flower Arranging, Cottage/Informal, Containers, Beds and borders, Wildflower, Woodland
Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Self-seeds readily. Flowers in the second year after germination.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
Smyrnium perfoliatum (Perfoliate alexanders)
Smyrnium perfoliatum (Perfoliate alexanders)
Smyrnium perfoliatum (Perfoliate alexanders)
Smyrnium perfoliatum (Perfoliate alexanders)
Smyrnium perfoliatum (Perfoliate alexanders)
Smyrnium perfoliatum (Perfoliate alexanders)
Smyrnium perfoliatum (Perfoliate alexanders)
Smyrnium perfoliatum
Smyrnium perfoliatum
Smyrnium perfoliatum
Smyrnium perfoliatum
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
COMPANION PLANTS
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
The RHS Back to Nature Garden, designed by The Duchess of Cambridge and award-winning landscape architects Andree Davies and Adam White of Davies White Landscape Architects, is based in a woodland… read more
M&G Investments, the title sponsor of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, commissioned designer Andy Sturgeon (Best in Show winner 2010 and 2016) to create this incredible garden. read more
Sponsored by Savills, the global real estate services provider and award-winning artist and sculptor, David Harber. Designed by Andrew Duff MSGD. read more
A piece of medieval history will be taken to RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2016 after Welcome to Yorkshire unveiled the design for its biggest garden to date. read more
The Telegraph Garden for the 2015 RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been designed by the renowned landscape and garden designer Marcus Barnett. read more
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login