Myrrhis odorata (Sweet Cicely) Herb Plant

Sweet Cicely (Myrrhis odorata) Herb in 1 Litre Pot

Sweet Cicely is a wonderful spring and early summer herb, and are some of the first flowers available for nectar-loving insects. This early flowering perennial plant has a bushy, ‘feathery’ appearance and the crushed foliage has a very strong aniseed scent. Producing umbels of white flowers which are airy and graceful in early summer, these can be left to ripen to form large seeds in late summer, and these will frequently stay on the stems until winter, but cutting down the exhausted flower stems will encourage more young growth if you want to use this as a culinary herb.   

Growing up to 1.2m, Sweet Cicely prefers partial shade and well-drained humus-rich soil, and once established it self seeds readily.

Herb Usage 

Sweet Cicely, otherwise known as Garden Myrrh or Sweet Bracken, was formerly a widely cultivated culinary herb, as it was said to have been strewn on the floors of churches in medieval Britain, presumably for its scent. The flowers, young leaves and seed pods can be used to add aniseedy flavours to salads. It also makes a delicious herb tea. The plant is renowned for its aniseed taste and fragrance and there are many recipes which use different parts of the plant: the roots can be boiled; leaves added to salads; and seeds which are used whole in fruit dishes or ground as a spice added for flavouring. The leaves add sweetness to tart fruit such as rhubarb and can be used in place of sugar. The plant has also been used as a wood polish creating a deep lustre on wooden surfaces. 

Buy Sweet Cicely Online

Our potted Sweet Cicely herb plants are generally available to buy online between March and September