Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) — Plotwright

›

›

Chervil

Habit (mature) · Kurt Stüber / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

Limited coverage

Chervil

Anthriscus cerefolium

A fast, fine-textured cool-season culinary annual in the carrot family (Apiaceae), native to the Middle East, Russia, and the Caucasus and now grown worldwide. NC State Extension describes an erect, spreading plant about 1-2 feet tall with light green, feathery, finely divided (tripinnate) leaves — like a more delicate parsley — and a mild aniseed scent. Small white five-petaled flowers open in saucer-shaped umbels 1-2 inches across in spring and summer. It is generally grown as an annual (occasionally biennial in milder areas), prefers cool weather in moist, well-drained soil, and is a classic component of French fines herbes, prized for a delicate flavor best used fresh.

Review: Source-backed

Edible

Container

Pollinator

Light

Full sun / Part shade

Water

Moderate water

Mature size

12-24" tall · 15" apart

Hardy in zones

Annual (biennial in mild winters); NC State lists no fixed USDA zone

Summer heat range

Cool-Warm

cool to warm summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.

Native in Illinois

No

Related products

Sponsored

Winter protection and storage

Frost cloth, plant covers, bulb/tuber storage supplies, burlap, and cold frames.

Search winter protection and storage on Amazon →

Heat and sun protection

Shade cloth, shade hoops, cooling mulch, and heat-stress monitoring tools.

Search heat and sun protection on Amazon →

Container growing

Grow bags, planters, potting mix, saucers, casters, and container irrigation.

Search container growing on Amazon →

Seed starting

Trays, cells, humidity domes, heat mats, grow lights, and seed-starting mix.

Search seed starting on Amazon →

Drainage and aeration

Perlite, pumice, raised-bed mix, aerators, and drainage-focused containers.

Search drainage and aeration on Amazon →

Transplanting and establishment

Trowels, transplant spades, starter fertilizer, root stimulators, and watering bags.

Search transplanting and establishment on Amazon →

Plotwright may earn a commission from purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.

A documented larval host for the Black swallowtail — caterpillars feed on its foliage before becoming the next generation.

Wildlife relationships

Cold hardiness

This plant is grown as an annual; hardiness zones don't apply.

Heat tolerance

°C

°F

Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…

What it needs

Conditions

Light

Full sun / Part shade

Water

Moderate water

Spacing

15"

Habit

Erect, spreading, fine-textured cool-season annual culinary herb

Care tips

•

Direct-sow where it will grow — chervil resents transplanting; press the seed onto the surface since it needs light to germinate.

•

Sow in early spring or fall and give afternoon shade in warm climates; chervil prefers cool weather and runs to seed in heat.

•

Harvest the feathery leaves often and use them fresh — the delicate, parsley-and-licorice flavor fades with drying and long cooking.

Lifecycle

Planting

Direct-sow seed in the garden in early spring or fall, in full sun to partial shade (NC State Extension lists both), in moist, well-drained soil of any texture — clay, loam, or sand — at a neutral pH (6.0-8.0). Press the seed onto the soil surface: NC State notes the seed needs light to germinate. Chervil prefers cool weather, so the early-spring and fall sowing windows suit it best.

Transplanting

Chervil does not transplant well (NC State Extension), so sowing in place is strongly preferred. If you must start in pots, move seedlings out very young, before the taproot is disturbed, and space plants about 15 inches apart.

Early growth

Keep the soil evenly moist while seedlings establish; chervil prefers cool, moist conditions and watch for slugs, which it can attract. In warm-summer climates give the plant afternoon or partial shade to slow bolting. Succession-sow every couple of weeks for a continuous leaf harvest, since plants run to flower quickly in heat.

Maturity

Mature plants form an erect, spreading clump about 1-2 feet tall and 1-1.5 feet wide, with small white five-petaled flowers in saucer-shaped umbels 1-2 inches across in spring and summer. The plant is generally grown as an annual that completes its cycle in one season, though NC State notes it can be biennial in milder areas.

Propagation

Grown from seed, direct-sown (or started in pots) in early spring or fall; the seed needs light to germinate. Plants readily self-sow when allowed to flower, so a single planting often re-seeds itself for the following season.

Sources & citations

Cite this page

For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.

Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/chervil

Sources for every fact

Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited — 18 source-backed.

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

University extension service

Backs 17 fields

Identity

Summary

Plant type

Light

Moisture

Hardiness

Heat zone

Size

Spacing

Habit

Design roles

Seasonal interest

Growth stages

Lifecycle

Regional guidance

Success tips

Designer notes

Wikimedia Commons

Photo · CC BY-SA 3.0

Backs 1 field

Image

Community photos

The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.

Plotwright

Climate-aware plant planning — every plant checked against your zone now and in 2050.

support@arteractive.co

Explore

Reference

Policies

© 2026 Plotwright