Native Habitat:
Moist meadows, streambanks, and open forest slopes in western North America, including the Willamette Valley foothills.
 
Bloom Time:
June – August
 
Growth Habit & Mature Size:
Perennial herb forming tall, erect clumps up to 6 feet tall with large compound leaves and broad umbels of small greenish-white flowers.
 
Light & Soil Requirements:
Full sun to partial shade; prefers rich, moist, well-drained soils.
 
Willamette Valley Native Companion Plants:
Achlys triphylla, Polystichum munitum, Camassia leichtlinii, Tolmiea menziesii, Eriophyllum lanatum.
 
Urban Garden Function:
Provides dramatic vertical accents and bold foliage in urban meadows, rain gardens, or large pollinator gardens. Its towering flower umbels create summer interest and texture, serving as a structural focal point. Works well in naturalistic landscapes, along pathways, or in mixed plantings with smaller native perennials and grasses, offering shade and shelter for understory plants.
 
Wildlife Supported:
Flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including native bumblebees (Bombus spp.), mason bees (Osmia spp.), syrphid flies, and butterflies. Dense foliage provides cover for small mammals and insects, while seeds feed songbirds late in the season.
 
Historical Use:
Stems and roots used by Indigenous peoples for medicinal purposes, teas, and as flavoring.