Sweet Cicely is a beautiful, easy to care, perennial herbaceous plant with large haired finely separated fern alike leaves and umbels of white flowers. Sweet Cicely has a mild Anise flavor and young sprouts, foliage and seeds supply sweetness when cooked with fruit.

Sweet Cicely needs a few years to achieve its full height of 1.5 meters. It could be used fresh for just about the whole year since it is one of the first, if not the first, herb to come out in spring and the last one to die out in fall.

Propagation of Sweet Cicely

Plant directly outdoors in very early spring or fall small plants, sow seeds with a light cover of about 2 cm deep or by root division. Distance plants about 45cm apart and pinch out flower buds to advance development. If flowering is permitted to go ahead the herb will rapidly go to seed.

Pick leaves as needed but for drying out pick them in spring. Roots could be cooked and used as vegetables. Fresh leaves can be added in salads or stewed fruit and since it is very sweet will cut back the amount of sugar ordinarily needed. As well for delightful citrus-sweet herb tea blends some leaves with mint and lemon balm can be used.

Sweet Cicely