2.37 Sweet Cicely

Latin name: Myrrhis odorata.

2.37.1 Growing sweet cicely

From: nmm1.cam.ac.uk (Nick Maclaren):
You have a wild garden, a long way away from anywhere else? No? Then don't grow this. Sweet cicely likes half shade and a moist, rich soil (like angelica), but is horribly invasive when it likes the conditions. It is a perennial 2-3' high, with deep roots. Like most umbellifers, the individual plants are short lived, but it seeds itself like crazy. Its leaves are a pretty mottled green, and are large and fairly deeply cut.

2.37.2 Harvesting sweet cicely

From: nmm1.cam.ac.uk (Nick Maclaren):
Its leaves can be dried, though this is tricky, or its seeds can be collected.

From Henriette: the seeds taste of anise only if they are still greenish. Completely black seed have no taste whatsoever.

2.37.3 Using / preserving sweet cicely

From: nmm1.cam.ac.uk (Nick Maclaren):
It is naturally sweet (like angelica), but has a mild aniseed flavour; very pleasant, if you like aniseed. It can be added to stewed fruits, other puddings etc., or used in pot pourris.