Chervil, Garden chervil
Anthriscus cerefolium

Family: Apiaceae or Umbelliferae

What it is like

Anthriscus cerefolium is a BIENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) by 0.3 m (1ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from May to June, and the seeds ripen from June to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 0.5

Where it is found

Hedgebanks, roadsides and waste places.

South-eastern Europe. Naturalized in Britain.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

Edible leaves - raw in salads or used as a flavouring in cooked foods such as soups and stews. A mild aromatic flavour that is suggestive of aniseed. The leaves are often used as a flavouring, they form the basis of the seasoning 'fines herbes' and are an essential ingredient of 'bouquet garni'. The leaves should always be used fresh because the delicate flavour does not withstand drying or prolonged cooking. The leaves are ready for harvesting in about 8 weeks from sowing, the plant responds well to cut and come again harvesting. The flowers are used as a seasoning. The root is said to be edible.

Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Condiment: the various plants that are used as flavourings, either as herbs, spices or condiments.

Medicine

Rating: 2

Chervil is not widely used as a medicinal herb, though it is sometimes employed as a 'spring tonic' for cleansing the liver and kidneys, is a good remedy for settling the digestion and is said to be of value in treating poor memory and mental depression. The fresh plant, harvested just before flowering, is digestive, diuretic, expectorant, poultice and stimulant. The juice is used in the treatment of dropsy, arthritis and chronic skin ailments. The bruised leaves are used as a poultice for slow-healing wounds and a warm poultice is applied to painful joints. An infusion of the fresh leaves is also used as an eyewash to treat sore or inflamed eyes.

Digestive: Aids digestion.

Diuretic: Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.

Expectorant: Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.

Ophthalmic: Treats eye complaints.

Poultice: A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.

Stimulant: Excites or quickens activity of the physiological processes. Faster acting than a tonic but differing from a narcotic in that it does not give a false sense of well-being.

Other

Rating:

The growing plant is said to repel slugs.

Repellent: Plants that are said to deter but not necessarily kill various mammals, birds, insects etc.

Scented Plants: Plants noted for their scent

How it is grown

Prefers a well-drained moisture retentive soil. Plants dislike hot dry summers, it is best to give summer crops a cool shady position but winter crops require a sunny position. Tolerates a pH in the range 5.8 to 7.6. Plants are hardy to about -10°c. Chervil is occasionally cultivated as a salad plant, especially in France. There are some named varieties. It can supply fresh leaves all year round from successional sowings, especially if given some protection in winter. Although a biennial, it is usually cultivated as an annual. It often self-sows when grown in a suitable position. Be careful if harvesting this plant from the wild because it is superficially similar to some poisonous species such as young plants of hemlock, Conium maculatum. Chervil is an aromatic plant with pleasantly scented leaves. It is said to be a good companion plant for growing with carrots and radishes, the radishes becoming hotter and crisper. It also grows well with dill and coriander. When grown with lettuces it is said to protect them from aphids and ants, the plant is also said to repel slugs.

Propagating it: Seed - sow in situ in succession from February to October. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 3 weeks. The February, September and October sowings should be made in a very sheltered warm and sunny position outdoors or under some protection such as a frame. Other sowings can be made in a position that has at least some shade from the midday sun since the plant runs to seed quickly if it gets too hot or the soil is dry. The seed only remains viable for about a year.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Hedgerow; Cultivated Beds;

Habit: Biennial

Hardiness: 6-9

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Chaerophylum sativum.