Succeeds in most fertile well-drained soils, though it prefers a moist but well-drained rich sandy loam and a neutral or alkaline soil in sun or partial shade. A very ornamental plant, it is often grown in the flower garden and there are many named varieties. The species in this genus do not often hybridize and so seed can generally be relied upon to come true. The plants are self-fertile. Plants usually self-sow in British gardens. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer.

Young shoots - raw or cooked. Root - cooked.

Seed - best sown in an outdoor seedbed in May, the seedlings are transplanted when large enough and then placed in their final positions in the autumn. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 4 weeks at 18°c.

Railway banks in the S.E. and E. Midlands of Britain. Stony banks amongst calcareous rocks in Europe.