Pretty & luxurious plant returns each spring. Trimmings spell like pine.

It looks like fennel, horsetail or larkspur, but that is all I can give.

 

fennel grows rather bushy not quite so cylindrical, smells like licorice and had a large umbilifer for a flower. and horsetail is stiff not soft. good thoughts but I don't think any of us are correct at this point.
If you have a smart phone there is an app (Plant snap) you can install that identifies plants. this is one I would say give it a try on.

 

This sounds like redstem wormwood.

 

I have never seen nor heard of that. thanks Odif!

 

Marlingardener not me, it is an artemesia type.