Musk chervil Myrrhis odorata, a fern-like aromatic plant
Myrrhis odorata
- Exposures
- Sun, Half-shade
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 7a (-17.8°C ≤ T° < -15°C)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Family
- Apiaceae
- Genus
- Myrrhis
- Species
- Musk chervil Myrrhis odorata
The only member of the Myrrhis genus, musk chervil or Myrrhis odorata belongs to the Apiaceae family. Long confined to meadows and mountains, this aromatic plant is now winning over gardeners with its elegant fern-like appearance and numerous benefits.
How to recognize musk chervil, Myrrhis odorata?
Musk chervil is a bushy perennial that can grow up to one meter twenty in height. Its hairy, hollow, branched stems support the foliage.
Musk chervil can easily be mistaken for a fern because of its leaves. The dark-green blades are triangular, bi- or tri-pinnate and indented. Like the stem, they have a fine fuzz on the underside. But thanks to their scent, you can't go wrong. If you smell aniseed, there's no doubt: it's a specimen of Myrrhis odorata!
Musk chervil blooms from May to July. It blooms in umbels of white or cream flowers. These flat, star-shaped flowers can reach a radius of 20 centimetres and a height of up to 50 centimetres.
In late summer, they give way to the fruit, a shiny black seed two to three centimetres long.
Musk chervil has it all! The roots can be eaten cooked, boiled or pan-fried. The sweet, aniseed-flavored seeds add flavor to desserts, while the leaves are used to spice up soups. Even the flowers are edible! In addition to its gustatory properties, Myrrhis odorata has medicinal virtues. And like chives and common Basil, musk fern is not just a condiment for cooking. With its white flowers that attract pollinators, this melliferous plant contributes to biodiversity.
Musk chervil can easily be mistaken for a fern because of its leaves. The dark-green blades are triangular, bi- or tri-pinnate and indented. Like the stem, they have a fine fuzz on the underside. But thanks to their scent, you can't go wrong. If you smell aniseed, there's no doubt: it's a specimen of Myrrhis odorata!
Musk chervil blooms from May to July. It blooms in umbels of white or cream flowers. These flat, star-shaped flowers can reach a radius of 20 centimetres and a height of up to 50 centimetres.
In late summer, they give way to the fruit, a shiny black seed two to three centimetres long.
Musk chervil has it all! The roots can be eaten cooked, boiled or pan-fried. The sweet, aniseed-flavored seeds add flavor to desserts, while the leaves are used to spice up soups. Even the flowers are edible! In addition to its gustatory properties, Myrrhis odorata has medicinal virtues. And like chives and common Basil, musk fern is not just a condiment for cooking. With its white flowers that attract pollinators, this melliferous plant contributes to biodiversity.
Our care tips
The leaves of Musk chervil are tastiest when fresh. However, they can be stored for a few days in the refrigerator.
Watering
Keep the soil in your Musk chervil always fresh. When the substrate is one to two centimeters dry, you can water.
Use room-temperature, non-calcareous water. What's best? Recovered rainwater. If you don't have any, you can use filtered water. You can also use tap water, provided you let it stand for a while.
After watering, empty the water stagnating at the bottom of the dish. It may rot the roots.
Misting
Mist foliage to increase humidity and repel pests. Always spray with rainwater. Tap water is too hard and leaves white marks on the leaves.
Repotting
Soak the root ball for a few minutes to rehydrate the roots. Then get a perforated pot and pour in a drainage layer (clay balls or gravel).
On top of this, add a light, rich substrate, such as potting soil for herbs. Place the root ball in the center of the pot, then fill in with potting soil, packing lightly around the plant.
Finish by watering generously: mint appreciates humidity and this will help it to take root.
Fertilization
You can stimulate the growth of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.
Apply herb fertilizer to encourage growth.
Harvest
Give your Myrrhis odorata time to develop before harvesting.
When the leaves are about 20 centimetres long, you can harvest them. Cut the stems flush with the ground using clean pruning shears.
Planting
Once the last spring frosts have passed, you can plant.
Leave your Myrrhis odorata root ball to soak.
Dig a hole three times the size of the root ball. If you're planting several specimens, space them 20 to 30 centimetres apart. You can use stakes if you wish to grow your Myrrhis odorata as a climbing plant.
Plant your Myrrhis odorata. Fill in the hole with garden soil enriched with a little compost and water.
Sowing
Get a pot with a hole about 20 centimetres long in all directions. Fill it with potting soil for seedlings and plantations. Fog the substrate to moisten it.
Sow lightly and broadcast. Cover the seeds with a centimetre of soil.
Place your seedlings outside, in partial shade and under cover (against a wall, for example).
Your seedlings need warmth. Summer is the best time to get started.
Work the soil to a depth of about twenty centimetres, using a claw. Break up any clods and loosen the soil. Remove stones, roots and weeds.
Make furrows two centimetres deep. If you're planting several rows of musk Chervil, space them at least 25 centimetres apart.
Sow your seeds, cover with soil, press down and water.
Information
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Exposures
- SunHalf-shade
- Substrates
- Humus soilSandy soil
- Planting methods
- Open groundIn potsPlanter
- Categories
- VegetableHerbaceous
- Tags
- Edible fruitBeginnerRusticEdible flowerEdible vegetable
- Origins
- Eastern EuropeSouthern Europe
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 7a (-17.8°C ≤ T° < -15°C)
- Leaf color
- Dark green
- Flower colors
- WhiteCream
- Fruit color
- Black
Find out more
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
