code: 931
It spreads very slowly indeed by underground rhizomes
Family: Apiaceae
Common name: Hairy Chervil
Plant Classification: Hardy perennial
Minimum Height: 45 cm
Maximum Height: 60 cm
This attractive, relatively dwarf British native plant has tight umbels of ivory-white flowers on quite short stems held above ferny, feathery foliage, the entire plant smelling of apples! It spreads very slowly indeed by underground rhizomes but never enough to cause trouble.
Sowing advice:
For best results, sow seeds immediately onto a good soil-based compost. Cover the seeds with fine grit or compost to approximately their own depth. They can be sown at any time, and germination can sometimes be quicker if kept at 15 to 20 degrees C. However, we sow most seeds in an unheated greenhouse and wait for natural germination as many seeds have built-in dormancy mechanisms, and often wait for spring before emerging regardless of when they are sown. But spring sowing will obviously give them a full season of growth if successful germination occurs.
Information:
Position: Full sun, partial shade
Soil: Almost any soil, grows well in Ballyrobert
Flowers: April, May, June
Other features: Grows well in Ballyrobert, Bees and Butterflies
Hardiness: Fully hardy – grows well in Ballyrobert!
Habit: Bushy, clump forming
Foliage: Deciduous
Height: 45 – 75 cm (1.5 – 2.5 ft)
Spread: 45 – 75 cm (1.5 – 2.5 ft)
Time to full growth: 2 to 5 years
Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
Colour: Pink, green
Goes well with: –
About this genus:
Chaerophyllum is a genus of flowering plant in the umbellifer family (aka celery, parsely or carrot – Apiaceae or Umbelliferae to be scientific), with 35 species native to Europe, Asia, North America, and northern Africa. They are tap-rooted perennials with fern-like, finely divided leaves and umbels of small white or pink flowers.
These are great plants for any situation or soil as long as it is not to dry or sitting in a puddle.
They have a vary natural look and feel; their delicate seed heads always move about beautifully in the wind. This allows them to be paired with virtually any other plant in the garden; it has a wild feel like cow parsley but also a semi-formal-pottager feel because of its close relation to different vegetables. A great choice for softening parts of the garden.
