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 sole representative of the genus Myrrhis, sweet cicely (Myrrhis odorata) belongs to the Apiaceae family. Long confined to meadows and mountains, this aromatic plant now appeals to gardeners thanks to its elegant fern-like appearance and its many benefits.
How can you identify sweet chervil (Myrrhis odorata)?
Musk chervil is a bushy perennial that can grow up to 1.2 meters tall. Its hairy, hollow, and branched stems support the foliage.
Musk chervil can easily be mistaken for a fern because of its leaves. The dark green leaf blades are triangular, bi- or tripinnate, and deeply lobed. Like the stem, they have a fine downy fuzz on the underside. But thanks to its distinctive scent, there's no mistaking it. If you smell a hint of anise, there's no doubt about it—it's definitely a specimen of Myrrhis odorata!
Sweet chervil blooms from May through July. The flowers grow in flat, star-shaped umbels of white or cream-colored flowers. These umbels can reach a radius of 20 centimeters and a height of up to 50 centimeters.
At the end of summer, the flowers give way to fruit: a shiny black seed two to three centimeters long.
Every part of sweet chervil is edible! The roots can be eaten cooked, boiled, or sautéed. The sweet, anise-flavored seeds add flavor to desserts, while the leaves are used to season soups. Even its flowers are edible! In addition to these culinary uses, Myrrhis odorata has medicinal properties. And like chives or the Common Basil, sweet cicely isn't just a useful condiment in the kitchen. With its white flowers that attract pollinators, this nectar-producing plant contributes to biodiversity.
Musk chervil can easily be mistaken for a fern because of its leaves. The dark green leaf blades are triangular, bi- or tripinnate, and deeply lobed. Like the stem, they have a fine downy fuzz on the underside. But thanks to its distinctive scent, there's no mistaking it. If you smell a hint of anise, there's no doubt about it—it's definitely a specimen of Myrrhis odorata!
Sweet chervil blooms from May through July. The flowers grow in flat, star-shaped umbels of white or cream-colored flowers. These umbels can reach a radius of 20 centimeters and a height of up to 50 centimeters.
At the end of summer, the flowers give way to fruit: a shiny black seed two to three centimeters long.
Every part of sweet chervil is edible! The roots can be eaten cooked, boiled, or sautéed. The sweet, anise-flavored seeds add flavor to desserts, while the leaves are used to season soups. Even its flowers are edible! In addition to these culinary uses, Myrrhis odorata has medicinal properties. And like chives or the Common Basil, sweet cicely isn't just a useful condiment in the kitchen. With its white flowers that attract pollinators, this nectar-producing plant contributes to biodiversity.
Our care tips
The leaves of Sweet cicely are tastiest when fresh. However, they can be stored for a few days in the refrigerator.
Watering
Keep the soil in your Sweet cicely 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 centimeters 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.
Let the root ball of your Myrrhis odorata soak.
Dig a hole three times larger than the root ball. If you're planting multiple specimens, space them 20 to 30 centimeters apart. You can use stakes if you want 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 it.
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.
Using a cultivator, work the soil to a depth of about 20 centimeters. Break up clumps of soil and loosen the soil. Remove stones, roots, and weeds.
Make furrows two centimeters deep. If you're planting multiple rows of Myrrhis odorata, space them at least 25 centimeters apart.
Sow your seeds, cover them with soil, firm the soil, and water.
Information
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Exposures
- SunHalf-shade
- Substrates
- Humus soilSandy soil
- Planting methods
- Open groundIn potsPlanter
- Categories
- VegetableHerbaceous
- Tags
- Edible fruitBeginnerHardyEdible 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
