Sweet Cicely

A handsome, anise-scented herb all too rarely grown nowadays, Myrrhis odorata has the unusual property of adding sweetness to dishes, so you use less sugar; it’s also an ingredient of Chartreuse. It’s a spreading, mound-forming, herbaceous perennial with a very long (edible) tap-root, so it’s important to get the right position first time, and the plant can’t be grown in a container. The bright green leaves are finely divided and fern-like, making a beautiful clump of lacy foliage, above which the flat heads of tiny, creamy-white, edible flowers appear in May and June. These are followed by shiny dark fruits containing edible seeds, but as the plant self-seeds prolifically, people often dead-head before seeds can form. Sweet Cicely is very attractive to bees and other pollinators, and is a lovely addition to a herb garden or a semi-wild planting.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil
Position: Full sun or dappled shade
Flowering period: Late spring to early summer
Hardiness: Very hardy
Height: 35” (90cm) Spread: 39” (100cm)