Sweet Cicely
Ready to harvest
Sweet cicely (Myrrhis odorata) is a feathery-leaved perennial herb with a natural sweetness and aniseed flavour. It’s a wonderful herb, and one we’re very enthusiastic about here at IET.
What it's used for
The chopped leaves reduce the need for sugar, honey, or other sweeteners when cooking tart fruit like rhubarb and gooseberries. Its seeds and roots are also edible, possessing an aniseed flavour, also working well with savoury dishes.
Grow your own at home
Sweet cicely prefers moist but well-drained, partly shaded soil. It self-seeds readily once established. Removing the flower stalks as they develop improves the quality of the leaves.
It’s best sown in autumn as fresh seed, or by division in spring.
You can harvest the leaves through spring and summer.
Our planting guides are designed to help you get the best from your fruit, vegetables, and herbs. Every garden is unique, so growing conditions, weather, soil, and climate can affect results. Use this information as a helpful guide, and adapt it to suit your local conditions and gardening experience. Happy growing!
