Anthriscus sylvestris
Cow parsley, Keck, Devil's parsley, Woodland beak chervil
Also known as Cerefolium sylvestris, Anthriscus sylvestris (Cow parsley)
- Height × spread
- 1.5m × 1m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Flowers
- Spring, Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
The commonly seen cow parsley of rough places, often seen on unkempt verges and sometimes at the Chelsea Flower Show. It is noticeable when in flower in spring, from April through to June. It is a robust plant with branching stems holding flat heads of white flowers, giving a picturesque, rather airy appearance. The foliage is ferny in appearance with pinnate foliage, overall rather conical in shape. It is not dissimilar in appearance to its poisonous relatives, hemlock and fool's parsley, but is earlier to flower. If it sets seed it will be with you for many years. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked.
- Flower colour
- White
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Fan
- Height
- 1.5m
- Spread
- 1m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer
- Flowers in
- Spring, Summer
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Small scale garden, Prairie garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Ground cover
- Hazards
- Yes, potentially harmful; Humans: Harmful to skin with sunlight
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Planting
Trim dead flowers to prevent self-seeding
Note on self-seeding: If you do not want this plant to set seed it is necessary to promptly remove the spent flowers as they fade.
It's possible to carefully remove the seed heads, complete with seed, and then place them in areas where you would like new seedlings to grow.