Plant Details

Myrrhis odorata

Sweet cicely

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Common names

28 names · 21 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (20)
Dutch
  • Roomse kervel[2]
French
  • Cerfeuil anisé[2]
  • Cerfeuil musqué[2]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • čechřice vonná[2]
Danish
  • Sødskærm[2]
Estonian
Faroese
  • søtur urtakervil[2]
Finnish
  • saksankirveli[2]
German
Icelandic
  • Spánarkerfill[2]
Italian
  • Mirride delle Alpi[2]
Lithuanian
  • Kvapioji garduoklė[2]
Norwegian
  • spansk kjørvel[2]
Polish
  • Marchewnik anyżowy[2]
Russian
  • Кервель душистый[2]
  • Кервель испанский[2]
  • Миррис душистая[2]
Slovak
  • čechrica voňavá[2]
Slovenian
  • dišeči kromač[2]
Swedish
  • spansk körvel[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Myrrhis odorata (L.) Scop. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Sweet Cicely (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 139063; taxon 45DGC.
  • Süßdolde (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 139064; taxon 45DGC.
[2] Myrrhis odorata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • sweet cicely — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • čechřice vonná — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • Миррис душистая — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • Cerfeuil musqué — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • Cerfeuil anisé — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • Sødskærm — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • spansk kjørvel — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • saksankirveli — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • Süßdolde — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • spansk körvel — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • Kvapioji garduoklė — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • 茉莉芹 — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • 茉莉芹 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • 歐洲沒藥 — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • 甜没藥 — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • 欧洲没药 — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • 甜没药 — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • Roomse kervel — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • dišeči kromač — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • søtur urtakervil — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • Mesiputk — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • Кервель душистый — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • Кервель испанский — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • Mirris — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • Mirride delle Alpi — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • Marchewnik anyżowy — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • Spánarkerfill — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.
  • čechrica voňavá — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 51618; Myrrhis odorata.

General information

Scientific name: Myrrhis odorata
Accepted name (Kew): Myrrhis odorata (L.) Scop. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Apiaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Myrrhis (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Sweet cicely
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.00 m
Spread: 1.00 m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: None

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4-8
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Root, Seed, Tea
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Bee forage

Description

Leaves can be eaten both raw and cooked. They have a delicious sweet anise flavor and are loved by most people. The leaves are often used as a seasoning for vegetables and are an essential ingredient in the herb mixture 'bouquet garni'. They can also be added to dishes with sour fruits to reduce acidity. The plant produces fresh leaves from late winter to early the following winter. These leaves can also be dried for later use. It is best to avoid allowing the plant to flower when the leaves are needed for culinary use, as they will lose their flavor then. The root of the plant can be eaten raw or cooked and has a similar taste to the leaf. As long as the root is not too old, it can be cooked and added to other vegetables or salads. The seeds of the plant have an anise flavor and are usually used as a seasoning. They can also be eaten raw when they are still green, before the fibrous layer forms. The seeds also work well as a breath freshener. Tea can be made from the leaves.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/05
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 77946; name ID 2363768; Myrrhis Mill.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 77923; name ID 2363724; Myrrhis odorata (L.) Scop..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Myrrhis odorata

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 716772, ID 45DGC: Myrrhis odorata (L.) Scop. (accepted).

    Source checked on .