Sweet Cicely Seed

Myrrhis odorata

A magnificent, edible, perennial herb.

Lacy, soft green foliage emerges in early spring and has a beautiful, delicate anise flavour that is wonderful in desserts, cocktails, herb dressings, anywhere! In late spring and summer it produces lovely umbels of cream flowers that are also delicious, and attract all manner of friends - ladybirds, butterflies and bees - to your garden. These are followed by lovely, 7mm long, green seeds that are also incredibly delicious chewed as a treat in the garden, candied or used as a garnish. The hollow stems make fantastic, liquorice-flavoured drinking straws, and, when the plants are dormant in winter the root is also edible.

Plants may self-seed and naturalise in your garden.

Plants to +/- 50cm tall, needs cool, moist, well-composted position.

Germination is difficult, Stratification - sowing seed in flats of seed raising mix, covering with 5mm of mix and leaving outdoors over winter, or mixing with damp seed-raising mix and storing in the fridge for a couple of weeks before sowing in early spring will aid germination. Don’t throw away in-germinated trays as seedlings can still emerge the following spring.

Seeds are all able to be sent anywhere in Tasmania and Victoria, please check with your state Biosecurity if you garden in SA, NSW, ACT, QLD and NT.