Prefers a warm sunny sheltered position and a well-drained soil. Succeeds in most soils. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c. A plant is growing in a sunny bed at Kew Botanical gardens and appears fully hardy there. This species withstands temperatures down to about -40°c when fully dormant. The flowers are very attractive to bees.

Leaves. No further details are given, but they are most likely to be used as an aromatic flavoring in salads and cooked foods. Seed - raw or cooked. The seed is very small and fiddly to use. The dried flowers and leaves are used to make a herbal tea.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 13°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first year. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Division in spring. Fairly simple, if large divisions are used it is possible to plant them straight out into their permanent positions. Basal cuttings of young shoots in spring. Harvest the young shoots when they are about 10 - 15cm tall and pot them up in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse. They should root within 3 weeks and can be planted out in the summer or following spring.

Moist soils of open hillsides, canyons and mountain valleys, from the foothills to about 2,500 metres.