Myrrhis odorata (Sweet Cicely ) Herb SEEDS

Sweet Cicely (Myrrhis odorata) Herb Seeds

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.

Growing Instructions 

Sow in autumn directly into a seedbed as a period of winter cold is required for germination. Keep soil moist. Thin as required, young plants to their final positions the following spring.  You can sow indoors at other times of year. Mix seed with damp vermiculite and place in a polythene bag. Place in a fridge for 4-6 weeks. Remove from fridge and sow into moist well-drained seed compost at 18°C. Germination can take many months, but if germination does not occur repeat cold stratification. Once germinated move to individual pots. Plant out to flowering position once danger of frost has passed in late Spring.

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 seeds are generally available to buy online all year round.