Myrrhis odorata

RHS Plant Profile
sweet cicely

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sweet cicely RHS 2002
sweet cicely visionspictures.com
sweet cicely visionspictures.com

Other common names

anise, British myrrh, garden myrrh, great chervil, myrrh, sweet bracken, sweet chervil, sweet fern, sweet Mary

Herbs - Culinary Herbaceous Perennial
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An erect, aniseed-scented perennial with bright green, 2- to 3-pinnate leaves and white flowers in umbels, followed by spindle-shaped fruits

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage Fruit
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Apiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus
Myrrhis is an aromatic herbaceous perennial with fern-like leaves and umbels of small white flowers in early summer, followed by aniseed-scented fruits
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Europe

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in dappled shade. When used as a culinary herb remove flower stalks as they develop to improve the quality of the leaves

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by division in spring or autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Wildflower meadow
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free