Shrub ID Please

This is the third year we have lived in this house and this herbaceous plant grows up nice and bushy in the spring. Looks like a peony but no flowers and about 1.5 feet taller than my peonys.

 

Looks like Lovage (Levisticum officinale). If it is, it's worth noting it's a culinary herb that adds a nice spicy celery flavour to almost anything. Proximity to fire hydrant, however, raises culinary alarm bells, but helps explain its lush appearance overall. Could any dog resist such a nicely landscaped hydrant?

 

Well, that is very good news to discover something edible. Yes too bad about the proximity to fire hydrant, but I will try some of the higher leaves. : )

 

Crush a leaf and smell -- the fragrance should be similar to celery.

 

Yes indeed. Smells like something between celery and anise. And tastes like that too.

 

My mom has one, she calls it 'Maggi plant' as it tastes like the condiment.

 

It's a great seasoning plant -soups, stews or any where you use celery. Be careful - it will spread. ;)) barb

 

Yes, it grows vigorously and the flavour it imparts is indeed potent.