Prefers a sunny position and a dry soil. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil but prefers an alkaline soil. Plants succeed in sandy spots near the sea. Cultivated commercially as a medicinal plant, only the biennial form is considered officinal. Grows well in maritime areas, often self-sowing freely. Older plants do not transplant well due to a brittle taproot. The growing plant inhibits the growth of clover. The flowers emit a sickly fishy smell.

None known

Seed - sow summer in a cold frame and pot on as soon as possible before the taproot is too long.

By the walls of fields, waste ground, near buildings and in stony places from low-lying ground near the sea to lower mountain slopes.