How to Grow Sweet Cicely

Overview

Sweet cicely is a very hardy perennial herb that is not widely known or grown. It loves cool weather and grows best in the cool climate of the far north. It has a slight anise flavor that pairs well with cooked fruits. Although it can reseed itself prolifically in the garden, the seeds only remain viable for a short time. If you're growing it from seed, make sure the seeds are fresh.

Step 1

Pick a spot in partial shade. Sweet cicely is one of the few herbs that like rich, moist, fertile soil.

Step 2

Improve the soil. Add at least 2 inches of compost and 2 inches of peat moss to the surface of the soil in the chosen site. Incorporate these by turning over the soil with a spade. Rake the area smooth.

Step 3

Plant seeds of sweet cicely in mid to late fall. The seeds of this herb need freezing and thawing cycles in order to germinate. Plant seeds ½ inch deep and 4 inches apart. Do not water or mulch the soil. The seeds will germinate the following spring.

Step 4

Thin the seedlings the following spring when they are 2 inches high so they stand 12 to 18 inches apart.

Step 5

Mulch the planting bed with a 3-inch layer of hay, straw or shredded leaves.

Step 6

Provide sweet cicely with the equivalent of 1 inch of rainfall per week.

Step 7

Top dress the soil around your sweet cicely every spring with compost. Pull back the mulch and spread a 1- to 2-inch layer of compost around the plants. Replace the mulch.

Step 8

Dig up and divide the roots of sweet cicely every 4 to 5 years. Set the plant on a hard surface and sever the roots with a spade. Replant the divisions, spacing 12 to 18 inches apart.