Thyselium palustre (L.) Raf.
Marsh Hog's Fennel
Milk-parsley is a native British wetland umbellifer, long known as Peucedanum palustre, found chiefly in the fens and marshes of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads. It grows in permanently damp, peaty ground, especially tall-herb fen that floods in winter, where it forms an upright plant with finely divided, feathery foliage, purplish hollow stems that exude a milky juice when cut, and flat umbels of small white flowers.
About
Milk-parsley is a native British wetland umbellifer, long known as Peucedanum palustre, found chiefly in the fens and marshes of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads. It grows in permanently damp, peaty ground, especially tall-herb fen that floods in winter, where it forms an upright plant with finely divided, feathery foliage, purplish hollow stems that exude a milky juice when cut, and flat umbels of small white flowers.
It needs wet, peaty, base-rich conditions in open, sunny fen and reedbed habitats and is intolerant of drying out or scrub encroachment. Flowering in mid to late summer, it is celebrated above all as the sole larval foodplant of the native British swallowtail butterfly, whose range is tied to healthy fenland populations of this plant; the flowers also feed a range of other insects. A specialist rather than a meadow plant, it is grown for fen restoration, wetland conservation and wildlife schemes on suitably wet ground.
Also known as
Milk Parsley · Milk-parsley
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.