Myrrhis odorata
Origin: Southern & Central Europe (via Monhegan Island, Maine)
Improvement status: Cultivar
Seeds per packet: ~20
BOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED
Life cycle: Perennial
Sweet Cicely is an herbaceous perennial in the carrot family, also known as "garden myrrh", used as flavoring and for edible leaves, seeds, and roots. The leaves and especially the unripe seed pods taste very much like licorice (think "Good and Plenty"), while the roots are sweet and delectable, especially after roasting. The white, Queen Anne's Lace-like flowers are much beloved by various pollinators and beneficial insects. It is easy enough to direct seed, and even enjoys shady locations. If you know you have its poisonous lookalike cousin hemlock nearby, be very certain to remove any intruders from your patch of Sweet Cicely that don't look quite right!
This seed comes from a patch of Sweet Cicely established long ago just outside the old post office on Monhegan Island, off the coast of Maine, which now serves as a fine souvenir shop (and one of the only stores on the island, open May - October and well worth a visit!). We're told by the current proprietor (Jan Kornbluth) that this patch of plants likely traces back to the days of Elva Nicholson (nee Brackett), the longtime postmistress for the island. We're grateful to Jan for letting us harvest a large bag of seeds during a day-trip to the island in August 2024!
GROWING TIPS: Expect slow and erratic germination. Soak seeds in room temperature water for 24 hrs, then move to cold stratification for 30+ days before sowing. Germination may be helped by fluctuating temps, so starting in containers outdoors or direct sowing in fall are good tactics. Sweet Cicely is widely adaptable, growing well in full sun to shade in most soil types. Keep an eye out for seedlings beyond where you want it to grow, as in some places it can naturalize and spread.
