Myrrhis odorata
Sweet cicely
Common names: Garden myrrh, Anise fern
At a glance
- Light
- Partial shade
- Spacing
- 60 cm, rows 70 cm
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Sowing
- Aug–Sep
- Harvest
- Apr–Sep
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to −20 °C
- Water need
- Medium
- Origin
- Native to Germany
Photo: Public Domain · Source
Description
Sweet cicely (Myrrhis odorata) is a perennial herb of the Apiaceae family, featuring finely dissected leaves and anise‑like fragrance. It is a rare herb in which almost all parts are edible, leaves, flowers, immature green seeds, and the thick root. It begins vigorous growth early in spring, often from mid‑April, and blooms with white umbels before many other herbs. It thrives best in partial shade under light trees or on the north side of a bed, tolerating cooler, moister sites well.
Care instructions
Plant sweet cicely in humus‑rich, moderately moist soil in partial shade; a sunny to light‑shaded spot under fruit trees also works. Allow the root ball some space, 50 to 60 cm between plants, to prevent later transplanting. Keep the soil consistently moist, especially in the first year, but avoid waterlogging. After flowering in early summer (around the end of June), cut back the plant before seed maturity to keep it compact and encourage new leaf growth. As a hardy perennial, it requires no special winter protection and reliably regrows each year.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
SowingAug–Sep
HarvestApr–Sep
Germination
- Soil temperature
- from 2 °C, ideally 8 °C
- Days to sprout
- 60 to 180 days
- Light
- Needs darkness to sprout
- Sowing depth
- 1 cm
- How to start
- Sow straight into the bed
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
humus-rich, moist, well-drained, nutrient-rich
Sweet cicely likes humus-rich, permanently slightly moist soil with good drainage, as it finds at a woodland edge or under open trees and shrubs. Nutrient-rich garden soil with some compost does it good. It does not tolerate waterlogging, and sites that dry out in high summer noticeably weaken the plant.
Feeding
Medium feeder
Months
Mar–Apr
One application of mature compost in early spring is enough for the whole season. Mulch of leaves or grass clippings keeps the soil moist and gradually releases further nutrients. The undemanding sweet cicely needs nothing more.
Overwintering
Sweet cicely is hardy and dies back by itself in autumn. A mulch layer additionally protects the rootstock from frosts without snow cover, but is not strictly necessary in sheltered locations. In spring it reliably shoots again.
Propagation
Methods
- From seed
- Division
Sowing works best fresh in late summer or autumn directly outdoors, as the seeds need a cold period to germinate. Old clumps can be divided with a spade in spring or autumn and planted in a new place. Self-seeding often happens by itself; young seedlings you can simply move.
Companion planting
Good neighbors
amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae)
Umbellifers and alliums confuse each other's pests (carrot fly, onion fly).
For example GarlicOnionLeekChivesWild daffodilRocambole and 12 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
daisy family (Asteraceae)
Calendula and Tagetes next to carrots keep the carrot fly away with their scent.
For example Head lettuceFrench marigoldCalendulaSunflowerButterhead lettuceCommon coneflower and 73 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
cabbage family (Brassicaceae)
You can pair celery and dill with all Brassicaceae because they repel the cabbage whitefly with their scent, a proven companion.
For example White cabbageKohlrabiRadishKalebroccolicauliflower and 41 more species in the catalogue
Source: Bio-Gärtnerei Mixed-culture Practice
legume family (Fabaceae)
Peas and beans provide carrot and celery with nitrogen and grow as shallow-rooted plants without competition next to each other.
For example PeaBush beanPole beanBroad beanSnow peaWrinkled pea and 36 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
Some of these explanations were machine-translated.
For your garden
Grow Sweet cicely yourself
Gartenkern tells you when frost is coming, when to sow and when to harvest, for your location.
Free, no time limit
Notes from real gardens
What other gardeners have written down about this variety, anonymous and voluntary.
No notes shared yet. Will you be the first to write one down?