Herb & Spice Companion

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HERB & SPICE COMPANION

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SWEET CICELY

Myrrhis odorata

Flavors: sweet anise

and celery

With its feathery leaves, clusters of delicate white flowers, and pleasant fragrance,

sweet cicely is a welcome addition to the garden—for bees, butterflies, and humans

alike. This herb’s anise flavor is an obvious draw in the kitchen, where its sweetness can

serve as a substitute for sugar, a major

boon for diabetics and anyone monitor-

ing their sugar intake. Roots, leaves, and

seeds can all be eaten, with seeds offer-

ing a more potent anise taste. The leaves

are tender and won’t withstand heat for

long, so add to dishes at the very end of

cooking or just before serving.

In the Garden

This cool-weather, perennial herb is easy to grow, but starting from seeds is a little

tricky, so consider purchasing young plants at a nursery. Sweet cicely develops a long

taproot that makes container gardening difficult. Make sure any container you use is

large and deep.

Size: 3 to 6 feet tall

Container: At least 12 inches deep, but the root may outgrow any pot.

Light: Partial shade to full shade

Soil: Moist, rich, well drained; tolerates poorer, dry soils, too

Plant: Young plants, fresh seeds, or divided roots. Plants are preferred, as seeds need

to be stratified for at least two months in order to germinate (see page 14).

Water: Regularly, to keep soil consistently moist

HEALTH BENEFITS

Sweet cicely can stimulate healthy

digestion, prevent or relieve gas,

and serve as a mild diuretic. It’s also

believed to help clear up respiratory

congestion and coughs by thinning

mucus buildup in the airways.

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