I took these photos of Cow Parsley around the lower lake at Sissinghurst.
Cow parsley – Anthriscus sylvestris- is achingly beautiful in a wild setting but not great in a garden bed as it spreads and is a nightmare to contain.
However a good mix of plants in your garden should include the umbellifera shape as it softens formal hedges and topiary, compliments other flower shapes like daisies, balls, bells and spires and gives a general frothy and floating effect.
There are lovely well behaved alternatives.
If you want height you can go for Fennel or Angelica. If you are happy to grow them from seed each year there is Ammi Majus (which looks good with Dahlias or Cosmos al woven together). Other Umbells to look out for are: Selinum wallichianum and the Sweet Cicerly herb- Myrrhis odorata.
If you have shady conditions look at Chaerophyllum hirsute roses with its lilac petals.
