Sweet cicely seeds
€2.95
Sweet Cicely (Myrrhis odorata) — (approx. 15 seeds per packet) is a hardy perennial herb native to central and northern Europe and long naturalised in Ireland. Growing 60–120 cm tall, it bears delicate, fern-like leaves and umbels of white, honey-scented flowers in late spring. The whole plant carries a soft aniseed aroma — its leaves, seeds, and roots are all edible and have been treasured in traditional Irish and European cookery for centuries as a natural sweetener and gentle digestive herb.
Sweet Cicely thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soil. It’s ideal for woodland gardens, herb borders, and permaculture systems, where it self-seeds modestly and returns reliably each year. A true heritage plant, it enriches both soil and table — one of the first herbs to appear in spring and among the last to fade in autumn.
Quantity
Sowing instructions
Seeds are large and require a period of cold (stratification) to germinate. Sow outdoors in autumn or early winter where they are to grow, or sow in pots and leave outside over winter to experience natural frosts. Alternatively, refrigerate seeds for 4–6 weeks before spring sowing. Cover lightly with compost, 1–2 cm deep, and keep moist. Germination is slow and irregular but rewarding. Thin or transplant seedlings to 40–50 cm spacing. Store seeds cool and dry until sowing.
⚠️ Note: Sweet Cicely leaves resemble those of some poisonous species (such as Hemlock) in the wild — always identify plants carefully before foraging or consumption.
