Laserpitium siler

Laserpitium siler, also known as Siler montanum, is a wild plant from mountainous areas. This tall umbelliferous plant grows spontaneously in rocky and dry areas, with no other care than the warmth of sun-drenched stones and water from the sky. This perennial plant stands out in summer when its large hemispherical umbels of pale flowers are visited by butterflies. Invite this wild beauty into your garden. A large rockery or well-drained flower bed will suffice to tame it. It requires no maintenance and will self-seed spontaneously.

It belongs to the Apiaceae family and is a cousin of carrot and celery. This perennial plant is native to central and southern Europe. Its natural habitat consists of light undergrowth and mountain rocks where it mostly grows in limestone soil. It grows at altitudes between 500 and 2000m (1640 and 6562ft).

It quickly forms a flowering tuft of around 70cm (28in) in height on average, with a diameter of about 40cm (16in). It grows from a clump-forming stump, which spreads weakly over time. Its stems are solid, robust, striated, and adorned at the base with large leaves that are divided several times into ovate, elongated, and pointed leaflets. The leaves are glaucous green. The few leaves present on the floral stems are very small. The flowering takes place in July-August, in the form of a large umbel, 15 to 20cm (6 to 8in) wide, composed of 20 to 40 ray florets. The hemispherical and rounded umbel is made up of umbellules (mini umbels) that are very dense and composed of numerous small flowers. The flowers are white to pinkish and fragrance-free. They are nectar-rich and attract many insects. After pollination, they give way to oblong fruits, which are initially green and shiny, becoming brown-pink. The fruits are highly fragrant. The above-ground parts of the plant die in winter and re-emerge in spring.

Laserpitium siler demonstrates great robustness and beautiful elegance. Invite it into large rockeries, impossible embankments, and country-style flower beds, alongside herbaceous perennials, in slightly wild areas of the garden where it will require no particular care. This plant enhances the beauty of perpetual roses and summer-flowering bushes, without overshadowing them. It grows without any care or maintenance, like Damask nigella, wild chicory, perennial flax, perennial jasione, oregano, sainfoin, and many others. With these, it is ideal for creating a garden or flower bed dedicated to wildlife and nature.

Properties: Laserpitium siler is used in herbal medicine for its stimulating and diuretic properties. Its name, Laser, comes from Latin and means "gum", alluding to the aromatic and sticky sap contained in the plant's tissues.