How to Grow Sweet Cicely

Growth Stages

Stage	BBCH	Notes
Sowing and cold period	0	Sow direct into a well-prepared seedbed in autumn so seed gets the cold it needs, or chill seed in a fridge for four weeks and sow into pots in spring, one seed per pot (Gardener's Path).
Seedling establishment	1	Thin seedlings to about 25cm as they grow, transplanting in spring if needed, or plant out pot-raised seedlings once all frost risk has passed; water regularly through the first season to root in (Gardener's Path).
Clump development	3	Plants build to 1-1.5m tall and 0.5-1m wide over two to five years in partial shade on moist but well-drained loam; keep evenly moist but not waterlogged (RHS, Gardener's Path).
Flowering, seed and harvest	6	White umbels open in early summer and are followed by large ridged spindle-shaped seeds; leaves are picked through the season, green seeds eaten fresh and ripe seeds used in cooking. Dead-head regularly, as sweet cicely self-seeds freely (RHS, Gardener's Path).

Quick Facts

Factor	Value
Drainage	Moist but well-drained
Lifecycle	perennial
Edible parts	leaves, seeds, roots

Harvest & Storage

When to pick: RHS: leaves, seeds, and roots all edible raw or cooked; when grown as a culinary herb, "remove flower stalks as they develop to improve the quality of the leaves"; fresh green seed pods used to sweeten rhubarb.

Storage

Best used fresh

Sweet Cicely, the Aniseed Herb That Sweetens Sharp Fruit

A substantial clump

Plants build to 1-1.5m tall and 0.5-1m wide over two to five years in partial shade.

Naturalised in the north

Long naturalised in northern Britain, sweet cicely is a familiar hedgerow and roadside plant.

What the research guides add

Sweet cicely is a perennial that grows best in the shade where many herbs struggle.

• An aromatic herbaceous perennial with fern-like leaves and umbels of small white flowers in early summer, followed by aniseed-scented fruits. (RHS)
• Grow it in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in dappled shade. When used as a culinary herb, remove the flower stalks as they develop to improve the quality of the leaves. (RHS)
• Propagate by seed or by division in spring or autumn. If grown in pots, it needs a deep pot to accommodate its deep taproot. (RHS, Missouri Botanical Garden)
• It is generally free of pests and diseases, and should be cut back after flowering. (RHS)

Sources for this section

• Royal Horticultural Society: Myrrhis odorata (sweet cicely)
• Missouri Botanical Garden: Myrrhis odorata (Plant Finder)

Section researched and checked on 25 October 2026 by the SoilCommander Editorial Team. How we check facts: editorial policy.

Sources

1. Gardener's Path - How to Plant and Grow Sweet Cicely

   Aromatic perennial in the Apiaceae (carrot) family with edible flowers, leaves, roots, seeds and stems; bright green lacy foliage with a rich aniseed flavour. Sow direct into a well-prepared seedbed in autumn, watering freely and thinning to about 25cm as plants grow, transplanting in spring if needed; alternatively chill seed for 4 weeks in the fridge then sow into pots in spring, one seed per pot, planting out after all frost risk has passed. Grow in a sunny or lightly shaded spot in moist, fertile, well-drained soil with compost added at planting. Water regularly through the first season to root in, then keep evenly moist but not waterlogged. Green unripe seeds can be eaten fresh or added to fruit salads; ripe seeds go into apple crumbles and pies. Self-seeds freely, so dead-head regularly if more plants are not wanted.

2. GBIF - GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Myrrhis odorata

These 2 sources are specific to this region. The full list of 3 sources behind this guide (Gardener's Path, GBIF, Royal Horticultural Society) is in the references of our UK guide to sweet cicely; they describe the plant itself, which is the same wherever it grows.