Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris)

Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) is a plant in the annuals and biennials category that can grow 50cm – 1.5m tall and 50cm – 1.5m wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris).

This plant has several common names including: cow parsley, cow weed, deil’s meal, keck, mock chervil, orchard weed, Queen Anne’s lace, wild caraway, wild chervil or wild parsley.

This is a semi-evergreen plant that takes 1-2 years to reach full maturity.

Plant profile

Common name: cow parsley, cow weed, deil’s meal, keck, mock chervil, orchard weed, Queen Anne’s lace, wild caraway, wild chervil, wild parsley
Scientific name: Anthriscus sylvestris
Plant type: Annual / Biennial, Perennials
Habit: Columnar / Upright
Height: 50cm – 1.5m
Spread: 50cm – 1.5m
Foliage: Semi-evergreen
Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial shade
Soil: Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Well drained
Garden type: Wildflower meadow, Wildlife Gardens

Seasonal colors

How to plant Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) – Dominicus Johannes Bergsma, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Annuals and biennials are ideal for formal or informal flower beds, but also for growing in pots and containers of all kinds. They are important plants for their rapid growth, instant color and relatively low cost.

They are also useful plants for filling spaces between newly planted trees and shrubs, as well as in perennial beds that may need to be revived after the first spring bloom.

They are an important ingredient in country house gardens and wildflower meadows.

How to plant

In this section we will learn how to plant Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.

Soil

Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) is a plant that adapts to all types of soils, chalk, clay, loam or sand.

• The chalky soil is pale and contains chunks of calcium-rich rock. It is a fertile and well-draining soil, almost always alkaline.

• Clay soil is composed of more than 25 percent clay particles. These particles have a high moisture holding capacity and the soil is heavy to dig and can be waterlogged in winter (dry in summer).

• The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.

• Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.

It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.

Regarding drainage, Anthriscus sylvestris likes to grow in well drained soil.

Sunlight

Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) is a plant that should be grown in full sun or partial shade positions.

Cultivation profiles – Growing Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) – Dominicus Johannes Bergsma, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons