Sweet Cicely
Myrrhis odorata
Sweet cicely is a handsome, shade-tolerant perennial herb with delicate fern-like foliage, white flower umbels, and subtle aniseed flavour. Its leaves reduce the acidity of tart fruits — add a sprig when stewing rhubarb or gooseberries to cut down on sugar. Sow fresh seed in autumn or buy young plants in spring. It prefers moist, humus-rich soil in partial shade and can reach 1m tall. Once established it is very long-lived and low-maintenance. The seeds are also edible and have a sweet, liquorice taste when green.
Plan where to grow Sweet Cicely using our vegetable garden planner.
When to Plant Sweet Cicely
Plant sweet cicely in September, October, March, April. It flowers from May to June.
Time to Harvest Sweet Cicely
Expect to harvest approximately 6 months after planting, usually from March to October.
Companion Plants for Sweet Cicely
- Victoria Rhubarb
Sweet cicely leaves are traditionally cooked with rhubarb to soften its sharpness, and both like moist, rich soil.
- Mint
Both enjoy moist soil and light shade and can share a damp corner, though mint is best kept in a pot.
- Gooseberry
Sweet cicely is cooked with gooseberries to reduce sharpness, and its early flowers attract pollinators.
Expected Yield
One mature plant yields leaves from April to September and decorative seed heads.
Pruning Sweet Cicely
Cut down the stems after flowering to prevent self-seeding and encourage a fresh flush of leaves.
Common Problems with Sweet Cicely
Seeds fail to germinate in spring
Sweet cicely seed needs a cold period. Sow fresh seed outdoors in autumn or refrigerate for 4 weeks before spring sowing.
Powdery mildew on leaves
This usually appears in dry shade. Water the base regularly and thin overcrowded clumps to improve air circulation.
Takes over a small border
Plants spread by self-seeding. Deadhead before seeds ripen, or lift and divide congested clumps in autumn to keep in bounds.
Sweet Cicely: common questions
When should I plant sweet cicely in the UK?
Plant sweet cicely in March–April and September–October.
How far apart should I plant sweet cicely?
Space sweet cicely about 45cm apart. It grows to around 1m tall.
When is sweet cicely ready to harvest?
In the UK, sweet cicely is usually harvested from March to October. It's ready about 6 months after planting.
When does sweet cicely flower?
Sweet Cicely usually flowers from May to June in the UK.
Does sweet cicely come back every year?
Yes. Sweet Cicely is a perennial and comes back every year, dying back or slowing down over winter and regrowing in spring.
When should I prune sweet cicely?
Cut down the stems after flowering to prevent self-seeding and encourage a fresh flush of leaves.
What grows well with sweet cicely?
Good companions for sweet cicely include Victoria Rhubarb, Mint and Gooseberry. See the companion plants section above for why each one helps.
Is sweet cicely frost hardy?
Yes. Sweet Cicely is hardy and survives a normal UK winter outdoors.
Plan your sweet cicely in the allotment planner
Drag and drop plants onto your plot and get personalised sowing reminders.
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